December 11, 2025 • 44 mins
On this episode, hear from Browns OC Tommy Rees, DC Jim Schwartz, STC Bubba Ventrone, OG Joel Bitonio, and LB Carson Schwesinger on Thursday's availability ahead of a Week 15 game in Chicago against the Bears.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
It's the week fifteen, Thursday edition of the From the
Podium podcast. I'm Gabe Klea. It's coordinator Day at the
Cross Country Mortgage Campus as the Browns continue to install
their game plan for this Sunday's game in Chicago against
the Bears at Soldier Field. In this episode, you'll hear
from offensive coordinator Tommy Reese, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, special
teams coordinator Bubba Van Trone, offensive guard Joel Batonio, and
(00:27):
linebacker Carson Swessengers. We'll start with offensive coordinator Tommy Reeves,
who discussed how the forecasted frigid elements in Chicago affect
the offense in.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Chicago at this time of the year.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
It is how I mean, three days out, how does
it really affect your preparation. I mean we'll be outside,
which obviously the weather's beautiful in Cleveland this time of
year too, so helps prepare us there. Look, in this
time of the year, you have to account for some
of that. You know, we'll see what ends up being
like come come game day, and you know, the win
(00:59):
can swirl there as we know, and it's right off
the lake, so we'll see how that affects it. We'll
see how you know, the real cold temperatures affect it.
But like our focus is strictly on our preparation and
getting our game plan ready to go, and then we'll
adjust as need be. But there's that's not really something
that you you know, put into a huge part of
the factor during the week, and your focus is really
(01:20):
on where you need to be and making sure that
our guys are in their playbooks and understanding what we're
asking them to do and making sure we're ready to go.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Some of the things that Or showed you this past
game to making a leak that he's taking those next
steps forward.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Yeah, I think the improvement.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
You know, you're looking at all your players, all your
young players, to see just gradual improvement on the areas
that you're focused on. I thought, you know, he did
a really nice job of moving in the pocket, stepping
up in the pocket. You know, he had some opportunities
to step up and attack the defense, whether it was
you know, throwing the ball in the move. We hit
Harold on a good one there in two minutes and
we're climbing in the pocket and finding Jerry on the
(01:58):
incode or climbing in the pocket and running when it
when it needs be. I thought, you know, those are
signs of improvement in those areas. I thought operationally we
were clean. And you know, that's what you're after with
all your players, specifically the young guys, is are the
things that you're trying to ask him to do and
are the things that you're focused on, you know, being
accomplished and credit to him and you know, credit to
(02:21):
coach Musk for continuing to get him ready to play.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
There's one thing that you could hit point from the
spring to now that you've really like tangibly, that.
Speaker 7 (02:30):
You're really been improved with.
Speaker 8 (02:32):
Should know or what would that one thing to be
going out?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I think just what I just talked about, really
like the overall improvement of our footwork and our understanding
you know what footwork applies to what concepts and our
ability to work through progressions. And you know he's put
a lot of work in these last few weeks to
get ready to play these games, and you see the
steps as he progresses, which is again what you're after
with your young players. What you're after with all your
(02:56):
players is are they are they coachable? Are they you know,
applying some of the things that you're trying to ask
them to do, and he has shown that. And you know,
obviously he played played a nice game for us last
week and really made some plays that showed those signs
that you know he is improving in those areas.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
It's the same answer, but that sixty the touchdown of Jerry,
we talked about how he's been better seen around a
second time or what that man. You see that as
an example of that, and what did you like best
about that?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Yeah, we ran that play the first drive or first
play of our second drive. We hit Harold on the
on an inbreaker for like sixteen or seventeen yards there
to our left.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
It was the same play.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
We just aligned in it a little differently and they
played a different coverage which would get you to your
second or third part of your progression, which is what
happened on the second play. And it's always a good
thing when you're in the box yelling, but when you're
talking about getting to a route and then it happens
in that moment like you got you and the player
are on the same page as you're watching it. And
(03:58):
that's what happened on that long play to Jerry, which
is you know, it just shows the you know, the
signs of improvement, like our ability to see the coverage
get through a progression play on time, play within the pocket,
you know, the part that should be noted on all
those plays where you're getting through them. Like our protection
was excellent there and so we were an empty protection,
no help on the tackles, and we were able to
(04:21):
really stay in the cylinder and deliver a great throw
and then Jerry did the rest for us. But like
you said, that was a repeated call in the first
half there, and we were able to continue to get
through our progresion versus a different look.
Speaker 7 (04:35):
The second two point play.
Speaker 9 (04:37):
Understanding that you guys practice those types of situations a weekly,
not to a game. You have certain plays in mind,
and you probably go into that drive kind of with
that pig in the back of your mind, like if
we score here, we're.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
Going to do this play. Yeah.
Speaker 9 (04:50):
Are there ever conversations when you get to that point
about we're doing something different, running a different play.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
There's been a lot well you took yeah, no, I
hear it.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
If that play works, it's totally different conversation, right, And
so unfortunately we got to do a better job as
coaches to make sure that we can execute in those
moments we had you know, you have a menu of
two point plays when you go into a game. You know,
we rep those every Friday. It's the very last thing
we do against our defense. So it's full speed, full reps.
The two two point plays that we ran in the
(05:22):
game or the two that we repped on Friday. You know,
we had success like as we rep them. So you know,
like we had confidence in that call. It's one that's
been up for probably a month and we just didn't
execute it in the moment when we needed to, and
as coaches you try to, you know, figure out why
so you can get it corrected moving forward. There's a
lot of conversations that take place, you know, in those
(05:44):
critical moments. We knew early that if we score on
this first two minute, we're going for two. Being down,
you know, in that situation, we were going to go
for two. We knew what the first call was. There
was a conversation that takes place leading up to the
next drive. Hey, this is going to be the call.
Let's make sure our guys are prepared for it, and
then away we go. You know, like that's more about
(06:06):
the play than any individual. I think like we were
we had confidence in that play, We had confidence in
our guys to execute it, and you know, we got
to make sure that we do our job as coaches
so that they can.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
Yeah, I think like it's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think, as you know the two point play conversation,
with it being used more frequently, that menus increased probably
a lot over the last ten to twelve years. You know,
you have certainly have low red zone plays that you
also kind of tab as these are also backups.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
For two pointers if if you need to have one.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I don't want to go to the specifics on how
many we carry, but there are there is a menu
there that get carried over week to week that you
know can be used in those situations. And then there's
going to be game plan calls that are used for
inside the five that can also be used in those situations.
Speaker 10 (06:55):
Ask you one other thing on that is short gardage package,
different two point back.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
It's a really good question, and you don't see I
bet if you studied over the last however many years
in the NFL, like the success of running the ball
and two point plays, it's probably pretty high you know,
especially like maybe in those non last play of the games,
like the two point plays you're trying to get in
short yarde and two minute are Like when you say
short yards mean like goal line.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Yeah, anywhere in the field.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
You get different defenses a little bit in the two
point play than you would in a short yardage in
the field. So I would say there's some similarities, but
probably not the exact same menu. There might be one
that you say, hey, this works in this zone because
of the defense you're getting, but doesn't always carry over
the same.
Speaker 8 (07:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I don't want to get into the specifics on how
it should or shouldn't be. I just look at it as, hey,
we got to do our job to make sure our
players execute the plays when they're called.
Speaker 10 (07:53):
So you think I would have been executed? There's green
brass in front of the intended runner.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I don't play that, you know, I don't.
Speaker 8 (08:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I can't foresee the future there. I know they have
good players on defense, we have good players on offense.
Speaker 11 (08:06):
Sore work that you interviewed for the Penn State job,
Just what is your feeling on you know, you kind of.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Wanting to be here or whatever? The case may be,
or these opportunities that are probably going to come your way.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yeah, I'm really focused on trying to play good offensive football,
get a young quarterback ready to play, you know, support
our players and look, some of those things are flattering
and you listen as a competitor, but you know, for me, like,
my focus is really how can we go score.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Enough points to win a game.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
How can we put our young players, put our quarterback,
put our offense in the right position to have success,
how to lead our staff? Like, that's really where my
focus is right now. What you said, I'm gonna just
keep my focus here right now. Yeah, yeah, the first.
Speaker 12 (09:00):
On the snap exactly do you think it was an
issue with Luke coming in there and even being out
and what's important to you? I mean, I know they
work together when.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
In the backup hole.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, they've worked. You know, we've had plenty of snaps
with Luke and Shador. You know, they got snaps beforehand.
It's a quick hitting play. You know, we've got to
stay in there and we've got to execute the exchange
and not much more to it than that. Then you
just got we got to execute the exchange on a
play that's going to hit pretty quickly and.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
That's about all there is to it.
Speaker 10 (09:32):
The week before the famine, Humble on a fourth count. Yeah,
So the commonality there guys touching the ball and are
all first year players. Is that a generalization or is
that the lack of success?
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Yeah? I don't.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
I think anytime, you know, you see guys across the
league have issues, I don't want to put a blanket
statement on it like that. I think our job as
coaches is to ask them to do things that they
can handle, and then we got to have some ownership
on executing those And look, you're gonna we're pouring everything
we have into our young players right now to make
sure that they can execute at a high level.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Like the big coaching point for samp on the one
down the stretch there was like, you know, we're where
the ball is, which shoulder we're leading with in relation
to which shoulder we're carrying the ball in. Like, we
try to look at all these things for our young
players as opportunities to improve them, to coach them, to
get them better moving forward. You know, That's really been
our message this week, is like let's look at some
of these things that did not execute the way we
(10:32):
wanted to. And let's boil it down to what thoughts
are we having pre snap? What's our communication fundamentally? Is
there something in ball security that we can be doing better?
You know instead of just saying, hey, you need to
get the snap or you need to take care of
the football. Well, why are those happening? Like what can
we coach? What can we improve upon them to make
sure that those don't happen?
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Move them forward?
Speaker 13 (10:53):
We say that that Harold is like ahead of schedule
or better than advertise, better than expected.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
That act to say, probably wouldn't say it that way.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
I mean, we thought he was pretty good when we
drafted him, you know, and yeah, look, the guy's a
football player. I mean he's from the day he came
here in rookie mini camp and you guys were here
and you watched him catch however many balls he did
in training camp, Like he's been an impressive rookie. I'll
say that, like he's come in he doesn't play like
a rookie all the time, and he makes a ton
of plays for us. He's competitive, he's tough, he does
(11:23):
a lot of stuff in the run game well for us,
Like I mean, he's an impressive young player that h
CJ's done a really nice job with.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
The rest of those guys in the room have done
a really.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Nice job with and you know, he's hit the ground running.
You know, I'm excited for him in his future and
you know the player that he'll continue to be and
grow into.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
How much you guys can put out Heath's plate, especially
the rickey quarterbacks. So yeah, without EA and how do
you kind of give me up the responsibilities.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, we have a lot of confidence in Whip where
he's at mentally. You know, he's a guy that works
really hard at it. You know, he can be annoying
if you know Whip he talks too much. He's into
it and he loves it. And he's like even in
his backup role, like very similar to how a backup
quarterback needs to prepare. It's the same as for a
backup center. He's always taking snaps when the ones are
(12:12):
going making the calls. He's always into the protection meetings,
he's always into our protection walkthroughs. He's on it, you
know what I mean. Like he's a he's a good
fit for what we're asking him to do. I think
as you see the quarterback continuing to grow and be
comfortable and confident. And while we're doing, you know, you
can start to put a little bit more there as well,
and so you start working together up front. You know,
(12:33):
we want our guys to see it through one set
of eyes. So shoot, we should have all eleven knowing
what we're trying to get to in certain calls. But
we have a lot of trust and whip to get
those things done.
Speaker 10 (12:44):
He'p go line in short guards. You haven't had Huntington
available for less, Yes, sir, fair to say that you've
got to expand your men as.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
We've helping, probably doing some different things without you know,
without his role. You know, certainly we probably looked a
little differently in our short yardge opportunities last week than
we did the week before. And you know we're gonna
find ways to attack what they do defensively and put
our guys in the right spot. You know, Aiden's been
a great contributor for us all year and where you know,
when he comes back, we'll be excited hav him back.
Speaker 11 (13:13):
Shador starting the final four games of the season for
a total of seven. Uh, what what can you know
about a quarterback in a seven game sample size.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Can you know everything that you need to know for Well.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Yeah, we're gonna take it one day at a time.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I don't think I think you learn about quarterbacks in
year five and year ten, and you're like, I don't
think you ever stop learning and evolving with those players.
You know, certainly we're gonna pour everything we have into
our group right now, and we're going to continue to
find ways to improve and find ways to you know,
put emphasis on certain things and continue to get him,
(13:51):
you know, ready to play.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
You've already seen some growth.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
You know, we're excited to continue to take that one
day at a time and continue to see growth take place.
And look at the end of the air evaluated, and
you know, we'll continue to move forward in our and
our focus on improvement of our players.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
This airs defense kind of what stands out and specifically
in their like run defense, I guess what kind of
challenges that.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, they've done a great job all year of taking
the ball away. I mean I believe they lead the
NFL and takeaways.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
You know, two of their dbs.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I think between the two of them, ten or eleven
interceptions they've I mean, they've done a really nice job
of taking it away. You know, they they play well
within the scheme. You know, they try to get you
in minus situations. They have a really good pressure package
that I think they lead the league in third and
seven to ten percentage, and they're pretty complex there. So
you know, coach Allen does a great job, well respected obviously,
(14:40):
and they have really good personnel at all three levels.
You know, ninety eight, it's a great player up front,
they have some size inside, which you know can cause
some issues in the run game. And then you know,
thirty one, twenty six, they've taken the ball away at
a high clip, so they present a lot of challenges
that way as.
Speaker 12 (14:56):
Well, like well the turnovers.
Speaker 9 (14:59):
Shandors Aar talked about his interception from this past weekend
and how it was just him kind of feeling like
the office was kind of stuck trying to make a play.
Just what was the conversation like with him sort of
teaching off of that.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Yeah, sort he had made you know, one of the
things that we had talked about throughout the entire game
is like he was making great decisions right when to scramble,
when to step up, when to throw it away, when
to play the play as it's intended to be played, like,
just continue to make those great decisions, right, Like, don't
get bored with making the right decision. You know, we
had hit a good chunk there to harold two plays
(15:32):
three plays before. Then we come right back to a run,
we get called for a holding. Now we're first and twenty.
We're incomplete on first and twenty. Now we're second in
twenty and don't feel like we need to press. Let's
just get half it back. We're kind of right there
on the fringe of field goal range. So like all
those situations that come up in a game, you know,
they're learning opportunities for him, Like, hey, if we get
half this back, we're back in a scoring position or
(15:54):
third and manageable to continue to drive going. We don't
need to get it all back at once. Its just
continue to make the right decisions. Let the game come
to you, and you'll know when the players are there
to be made, and you'll know when to make the
right decision and.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
You know, find the outlet.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
Cool.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Up Next, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz talked about shiring up
the run defense against a top three rushing attack in
the NFL.
Speaker 8 (16:15):
Reminds me of the old story of a scout.
Speaker 14 (16:18):
A scout here guy named Rob Marsonak learned a lot
from him, and he always had three stop watches and
and he was just so like attention to detail and
everything else. He had three stopwatches and he had this
thing like like there was one time another scout asked, like,
(16:39):
my watch the battery went bad. Hey you got look
at let me let me use one of your stopwatches.
And he goes, no, I can't let you use that.
It's like you got three of them. And he's like, yeah,
well if I let you know, you use that, I
won't have a backup for my backup. So everybody's got
h everybody's got a thing that's most important, scout stop watch.
Speaker 12 (17:02):
Okay, Jim, I guess just to start the run defense
on Sunday, what was going on there and what needs
to be recified facing the number two rushing.
Speaker 14 (17:12):
Offense in the NFL is feet Yeah, you know. The
run defense was really two plays. It was a sixty
five yard or our longest play of the whole year
where we looked like Keystone cops on that one. We
ran into each other on two different times, knocked each
other off and just a really bad play for us.
And then the thirty three yard or I think it
(17:33):
was thirty three, which was a blitz and.
Speaker 8 (17:36):
We got cut out of a gap.
Speaker 14 (17:37):
And when you get cut out of a blitz, there's
nobody that can make you right. And we paid the
price for that one, you know, when it was all
said and done. The rest of their runs was something like,
I think like two point six yards a carry. So
the biggest point there is you can't let your guard din.
It's like being a boxer and you're winning on points,
but you get knocked out, you know, not a good result.
(17:59):
And for us, you know, whatever, Yeah, I mean, you're
on offense and you run up five hundred yards of offense,
but you throw four interceptions. You can't say, well, we
were great except for the four interceptions.
Speaker 8 (18:11):
You know.
Speaker 14 (18:11):
And that's the way defense is too. And you know,
not only a big emphasis on the run game. These
guys can run the ball. I mean they ran up
almost three hundred yards rushing on Philly. So it's enough
to get your attention. It's December football, you know it'll
be cold in the game, and you know run defense
is going to be important. We need to play all
(18:33):
our plays the way we played most of our plays,
and we can't let our guard down for one second
or we pay the we pay the consequences.
Speaker 10 (18:42):
You played Detroit this year? Is this effect simile?
Speaker 14 (18:45):
Yeah, there's a lot of similarities in scheme, but also
a little bit in personnel and the way they use
some of their guys, the two backs. You know, obviously
Detroit has Gibbs and Montgomery sort of outside inside kind
of threat, and you know, Swift gives them a lot
of things that Gibbs gives them. And I know I'm
gonna butcher this kid's name, Mananguy. That guy gives you
(19:10):
a hammer, you know, sort of like Montgomery. I'll tell
you what, I got a lot of respect for that kid.
He is a hard, hard runner. He was a late
round draft pick, not the biggest guy in around, but there's.
Speaker 8 (19:21):
Nothing to hit on him. She shaped a lot like
Gente and that gives.
Speaker 14 (19:26):
Them that good one two punch, a lot of the
similar kind of play action stuff. You know, they're a
heavy heavy run, play action team.
Speaker 8 (19:35):
All their wide receivers will block.
Speaker 14 (19:37):
The same way that the same day Detroit's will and
all their guys are good run after the catch guys.
So yeah, there's more similarities than just scheme. There's they're
trying to place personnel the same way tight ends are good.
Speaker 8 (19:52):
It's really a solid.
Speaker 14 (19:53):
Group across the board, a lot of guys that can
make plays, and the biggest thing is the run game.
And then Caleb Williams sort of make him plays off schedule,
you know, like we face Lamar Jackson a couple times
a year. We face you know, justin fields. We're gonna
have to have every bit as much hands on deck
(20:14):
the stop quarterback scrambles as we do with those guys,
because you know Caleb, I mean, he looks like fran
Tarkenton out there. Sometimes he's got eyes in the back
of a head, like you know, I saw stat somewhere
that like he has like thirty some unblocked blitzers or rushers,
and he's taken zero sacks on those guys. So he
just has the ability to see him coming somehow. Eyes
(20:37):
in the back of his head make guys miss and
then expand and extend plays, and when he does, he
threatens the entire field. He can throw across his body
fifty yards down the field, and he can dot an
eye when he does it. So it's not just taking
the run game away from him, but it's taken the
scrambles to throw, you know, and that stuff puts a
(20:58):
lot of pressure on your defense. So good play action team,
good run team, and a quarterback that can make plays
off schedule in a lot of wide receivers and tight
ends that can run after the catch. Tough scheme, great
challenge force that the Titans.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Maybe put out there sort of a formula for how
to mitigate Miles. I mean, the beer is gonna kind of.
Speaker 11 (21:21):
Try to do the same things to keep Miles from
getting that stand record.
Speaker 14 (21:25):
I think the biggest thing in that game was just
running the ball. I mean, it's hard to get a
sack when it's a run play. And even though you know,
I'll keep beating on my same my same horse or whatever,
the beating on the same drum, whatever the expression is there,
Miles had those tackles for losses in the run game.
Speaker 8 (21:43):
You know what's the difference.
Speaker 14 (21:45):
I mean, it's a little bit like the sixty five
yard run, give up a sixty five yard pass, same result,
probably gets a little less attention. But defensively, you know,
a run is a strike to your to your physicality
and your and your men and things like that. So
you know, I was not displeased with the way we
(22:06):
played the pass for the most part in that game.
I mean, they threw for about one hundred yards, you know,
and a lot of that was play, Actually a lot
of it was production from behind the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 8 (22:15):
E were throwing it quick.
Speaker 14 (22:16):
So I put it more on us that if we
allow teams to rush, you know, and they threw out
that thing of you know, if you get rid of
the two runs, it was like two point whatever, I
think two point six, two point seven something like that
to carry, which you know looks good. But still they
were able to maintain the run game, and we got
to make it. We got to make it where people
can't maintain the run game and then force them to
(22:39):
drop back longer.
Speaker 8 (22:40):
So I think we control that more than the other team.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Still, Johnson had so many trick plays in public when
he's with Detroit securing it over Chicago.
Speaker 14 (22:51):
And yeah, I mean they still have them, maybe a
little bit less so, but you still have to be
were you ready for him? They got reverses, they got
double reverse, they got two quarterbacks in the game. You
know they got wildcat they have. You know that that
same little stumble when the quarterback came out from under
center that they ran last year, they ran the same
(23:13):
thing this year.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
So you know, it's just that's just part of it.
Speaker 14 (23:17):
It puts with a lot of stuff that they do,
with a lot of the motions and double motions and
shifts and bringing guys behind the ball, that stuff that's
becoming ever more prevalent in the NFL. But it puts
a big, big emphasis on where your eyes are and
I discipline and if you if you take a bad step,
you can you know you can, they can make you
(23:38):
pay for it. What's the same thing with trick play
kind of kind of things.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
If you if you take.
Speaker 14 (23:43):
Your eyes off of at the wrong time, it's going
to make you look bad. So it's just more of
an emphasis on doing your job, watching what you're supposed
to watch at, being disciplined with your eyes, and then
playing with physicality once you make that decision, once you
read your key.
Speaker 10 (23:58):
So big difference in their ofference is that they don't
give so many percent completions like Detroit does.
Speaker 8 (24:05):
What accounts for that?
Speaker 10 (24:06):
Is it just a young quarterback?
Speaker 14 (24:07):
No I think it's more where their passes are going.
They're pushing the ball down the field a lot. You know,
like there's there's a lot of deep passes passes over fifteen,
which just by definition, you're not going to you know,
you're not going to complete as many of those, and
like some of the scrambles and things like that, they're
(24:28):
not super high percentage. I mean, they're high high reward
if you can make them, but they're not super high percentage.
He doesn't build up the stats. I mean, they have
their RPOs and they have their short passes, but like
it's run and then play actions that really pushed the
ball down the field, and you know, I think you
(24:49):
probably see that a little bit more in the completion percentage,
but maybe less so in the yards per attempt and
things like that.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
You finish the game without until we talked from yesterday
and said he's still trying to get that camp right.
Do you change a lot of spantagy if you.
Speaker 14 (25:06):
Don't have it.
Speaker 8 (25:09):
Well yet yet to be seen?
Speaker 14 (25:11):
And I always let Kevin speak on injuries and things
like that when we've lost guys at different times in
the year. This year, we really haven't changed anything mid game.
You have to be seen if it would be changed
before the game.
Speaker 8 (25:25):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Special teams coordinator Bubba Van Tron spoke on how the
elements will affect the kicking game this Sunday kind of.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Recap you know, last week's game a little bit and
sort of there.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Yeah, we I would say, you know, we wanted to
be able.
Speaker 15 (25:41):
To keep the ball away from the guy that was
averaging over twenty yards upont return.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
I thought we did a good job of that.
Speaker 15 (25:49):
And look, going into each week, the game plans different
based off of who you're going against, the players.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Involve, so I thought I thought we did a good
job with that. Obviously, we had.
Speaker 15 (26:02):
The the misshap on the punt miscommunication there that.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
That's inexcusable, so we'll look to get that fixed.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Somebody just stopped that guy.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
I just don't that name.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Yeah, you're talking about keeping it away from DK. Yeah,
was that the plan the whole time or after the
first kickoffs? He kind of been just a kidding touched
back all the time.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
No, we I mean.
Speaker 15 (26:32):
No, the plan on our our punt plan was to
do a good job of trying to limit his opportunities.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
And I thought I thought we did a good.
Speaker 15 (26:41):
Job with that, you know, the first the first kickoff,
if you know, we we need to leverage the ball
a little bit better. We got we got We got
held pretty good at a few different spots on that side,
So I thought that that could have factored.
Speaker 7 (26:57):
But we need to leverage the ball better on that
on the open.
Speaker 10 (27:03):
Is this the top part of the best from all
around special teams group that you're.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
About to place on Friday.
Speaker 7 (27:09):
Chicago's got a good group. Yeah, They've got a good group,
good specialists.
Speaker 15 (27:14):
Kiro Santos has been an accurate kicker for the whole
time he's been in the league. His career averages eighty
five percent. Young punter has done a has done a
solid job. They got experience returners. Duverne has been in
the league a long time and he's had a lot
of production.
Speaker 7 (27:32):
They got their.
Speaker 15 (27:33):
Core group is made up of a bunch of different
types of body types. You know, Jalen Reeves may Been
is a guy that has factored for them as of late.
You have ninety two Hardy. They do a nice job
on the perimeter with with Owen's and Jones and Blackwell,
all those guys factor. Travis Homer is a tough, tough
running back that gives them four phases. So you know,
(27:57):
it's a it's a challenge like it's been every week.
So we gotta we gotta step up to the plate
and answer the bell.
Speaker 12 (28:07):
With gay with a couple of the mumps that he's
had us you're on the putt returns like, is there
any commonality there with with something that's going wrong or
is it just a young player who.
Speaker 7 (28:17):
Needs that experience.
Speaker 15 (28:18):
I think, as honestly as it's a young player that
needs experience, I think it comes down to the balls
that he's really I mean, the two balls that he
put on, the two balls that he muffed, were not
like balls where he was like having to like track
these balls and like run over over space they get them.
He's clearly set on the ball. It just comes down
to me. It's like it's concentration and focus on looking
(28:41):
the ball in. It's like just catching like you know,
a flat router, like you know, just like a hitch.
You know, you're you're set on the ball and you
just gotta look the ball in and finish the catch.
Speaker 8 (28:55):
Confidence.
Speaker 7 (28:57):
I think it feels like he's okay. Yeah, I feel
like he's okay.
Speaker 15 (29:00):
I mean we've we've let him know that we support
him and we're we're backing him, so he's our best
option right now.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Do you feel like guys are playing tight or trying
to do too much as you guys have had different struggles.
Speaker 8 (29:15):
I don't think so. I don't.
Speaker 7 (29:16):
I don't think guys are playing tight at all.
Speaker 15 (29:18):
Honestly, I do think that we need to execute at
a higher level and play with better fundamentals and use
our techniques to to be able to impact plays more so,
I think that, you know, we we have to we
have to be able to execute better with our with
our fundamentals.
Speaker 10 (29:36):
Considering where the season's gone with four games ago, how
much would it mean to you to have special teams
actually win a game down the street.
Speaker 7 (29:44):
It'd be great, be great, you know.
Speaker 15 (29:46):
So we're I mean, look, we're going to do everything
we can to impact every game moving forward.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
Guys are in a in a good headspace.
Speaker 15 (29:54):
I feel like we've we've we've attacked each week.
Speaker 7 (29:59):
We had good weeks of practice.
Speaker 15 (30:02):
We clearly haven't got the results in the games that
we're looking for, But like I said, I feel I
feel like we have we have the ability to do.
We just got to go out and do it. We
got to go out and execute.
Speaker 12 (30:16):
Andre's from Chicago special times after the practice squad.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
But just the weather on.
Speaker 8 (30:21):
Sunday and how cold it's supposed to be.
Speaker 12 (30:23):
How can you prepare for that? And do you trust
the little experience he does there for growing out there?
Speaker 15 (30:29):
Him and he and Cairo both have like a they're
pretty tight. So I think he's excited to be able
to go back to where he's from and be able
to play in that stadium. Yeah, the weather, it's looking
like it's going to be pretty pretty cold, so we'll
see what the wind's doing. And obviously the when it's
cold like that and the wind and that type of stadium,
(30:50):
and it affects.
Speaker 7 (30:51):
The ball, the ball flight, how well the ball.
Speaker 15 (30:53):
Travels, and all that stuff. So all those things will
factor in how we call the game.
Speaker 8 (31:01):
It's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
It just go as far as kind of recalibrate everything.
Speaker 15 (31:06):
Yeah, I think that once we see what it's doing,
once we see how it's affecting it, Like when the
ball gets when when it's cold like that, the ball
feels different too. It's harder to it's harder to grip.
At times it can be slicker. So we'll see how
it's how it's how it's doing in pregame and and
go from there. Try to communicate to our guys as
(31:27):
best we can once pregame ends on what we're anticipating
and how we're gonna call it and things we're gonna do.
Speaker 10 (31:32):
So they have problems in punt covers. Don't that their
numbers today?
Speaker 8 (31:39):
I mean I don't.
Speaker 15 (31:41):
It feels like they've covered the fairly well. I mean
here and there you're gonna give up a play. But
I feel like that their gunners, their gunners are good.
They have speed on the outside, speed up PP. I
mean Homer and Owens both have played the PP spot.
Those guys have done a nice job. The backers run well.
I mean Reeves, Mayben and Jackson, those guys run well.
Speaker 8 (32:04):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Offensive guard Joel Buttonio talked about what he's seen from
Shador Sanders through his first three career starts.
Speaker 16 (32:10):
So with everything you know, with the cold that you know,
how much does that change the way you kind of
approach this. I mean it's one thing that play even normal,
but I mean the cold that they're expecting to shu.
Speaker 8 (32:26):
Yeah, things.
Speaker 5 (32:28):
It definitely affects it.
Speaker 13 (32:29):
Like you have to, you know, kind of prepare yourself
a little different, make sure you have some stuff on
the sideline to help keep you warmed up. But I
think it's getting to a point inside that you're warmed
up enough so when you go outside and you kind.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Of maintain it.
Speaker 8 (32:43):
It definitely changed it.
Speaker 13 (32:44):
If it was gonna be like eighty five humid, you
probably you know, feel pretty good about it. But you know,
it's kind of where we're at in the season right now.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Can we get you out of the practice field tomorrow.
We'll see how we wake up tomorrow.
Speaker 8 (32:56):
You know.
Speaker 13 (32:56):
It's it's uh one of those things. You know, we're
working through a couple of things right now, So we'll
we'll kind of play it by year hopefully, you know,
you get a few reps in, but kind of earlier
in the year I played with no reps you know,
that week too, So we'll see how we saw it
works out.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
I was gonna say, all we've.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
Heard about even is how professional he was, how hard
he worked, how smarty was, how much you have to
this line.
Speaker 5 (33:22):
So not having him.
Speaker 13 (33:23):
Out there, what he pays for you. Yeah, you know,
I haven't been out of practice too much yet, but I mean,
he he was driving the ship, especially with these young
quarterbacks in there. And and the good thing though is
Whippler kind of has learned from him, and he's had
three years of experience in this league of like learning
(33:44):
and and kind of being that, you know, backup and
ready to step in. And I think he did a
great job when he went in the game last week,
just kind of directing things and and he's kind of
taking that role over trying to be demonstrative, trying to
make those calls. I think the game plan is is
you know, been similar weeks past where it's like really condensed,
really focused, and he can he can dive into it.
(34:07):
So you miss a presence like Pope because he's he's
done it well for so long. But you get a
guy like Whip who's who's you know, fighting for his
opportunity as well.
Speaker 12 (34:17):
He was saying, he was saying Ethan was giving him,
in giving him in high school.
Speaker 11 (34:23):
He doesn't want to part.
Speaker 8 (34:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (34:24):
I think before he even got yeah, before he was
getting up, I think he was talking to him about
what he saw the nose guard doing or something like that.
And he's just all about ball and so we we appreciated,
uh we gave him a lot of crap for it
because he was so focused. But he, like I said,
he he worked hard and he was he was dialed in.
Speaker 12 (34:42):
This is crazy that we were the last starter standing
as of right now that just had this many in.
Speaker 8 (34:51):
Yeah, it's been tough.
Speaker 13 (34:54):
You never want to see guys get get banged up,
and you know, things happen like that. You all off
season to try and keep your body in as good
as shape as you can, and you know, almost survive
a season and some of the stuff is just you can't.
You can't, you know, fight it.
Speaker 8 (35:12):
But yeah, it's one of those things.
Speaker 16 (35:13):
You know.
Speaker 13 (35:13):
I try and try and be out there for the guys,
and I know everybody's trying at this point of the year,
but it is crazy, like if you would have told
me at the beginn of the year, like here in
the Quaintex to Cam Robinson and Whip and you know,
TeV and KK, you know, or guys like that, like
it just you never expected it and you go out
there and that's kind of what what's kind of happened
(35:34):
towards that here.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
Tommy Ray said, kind of.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Is that his exact quote.
Speaker 13 (35:41):
Yeah, well, Whoopler's a Jersey guy, right, and I don't know,
I don't want to offend any Jersey guys, but he
has a little bit of a there's a little bit
of quirkiness there, you know what I mean, where like
he's gonna say stuff and he's gonna, you know, have
his have his little Jersey way about him.
Speaker 5 (36:01):
So I can see that.
Speaker 13 (36:02):
You know, if we have a tea time at golf
and it start at twelve, he likes to show up
at like eleven fifty nine. So he's one of those,
you know, that type of thing.
Speaker 17 (36:10):
Kind of character.
Speaker 13 (36:12):
He's like your younger brother, you know what I mean,
Like he's the younger brother that you know you gotta
put in his place every once in a while.
Speaker 5 (36:21):
You start.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 13 (36:31):
Yeah, we you know, we've been taking a week week
by week and just kind of whoever's back there. But
you know, I think he's shown some some really good
things and made some big plays for us, you know,
had us down there to try and tie the game
last week, and it just gives him a chance to
grow in this offense and and see what we can do.
I know, we have some challenging defenses coming up, and
(36:52):
there'll be a big opportunity. We want to try and
give him his best opportunity to show, you know, what
he can do and how he can play in the NFL.
And I think every game is for these quarterbacks. It's
still good just to learn and get the speed and
the game, and it'll be good for you know, this
year and his future.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Is that something that maybe even surprised just how he's slipping,
like those sacks and stuff.
Speaker 12 (37:16):
This kinds of things.
Speaker 13 (37:17):
Yeah, he's doing a great job, you know he you know,
if he makes those big plays, why he's moving around
the pocket and and there's a couple of scrambles this
last week that you know, the touchdown and then the
one where he kind of just up the middle for
like fifteen yards or however far it was. Those are
huge plays. It's gonna make the defense maybe spy or
or or change our thought process, and it it makes
(37:39):
the defensive linement like we got to stand in our
rush lanes instead of kind of going crazy. And so
if he can make big plays for us, like we're
all for it and for.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
You guys in your run game right now, doesn't seem
like some of those explosives where they're early in the
season or early years.
Speaker 13 (37:56):
Yeah, when you just haven't been now what do you Yeah,
it's been tough the last you know, a couple of weeks.
Speaker 8 (38:02):
We just kind of got bogged.
Speaker 13 (38:04):
Like I think the Raiders game, we got up and
we were you know, they knew we were kind of
running four minute offense, and so that kind of fell off.
There's been a lot of movement on the D line,
Like D line's been kind of moving on a stunned
a little bit, and I think for us, it's like
with whole new groups, it's like we have to understand
what everybody's thinking, and so it's taken us.
Speaker 8 (38:21):
A little bit to make sure we're executing.
Speaker 13 (38:23):
And it's one of those, like most football cliche things ever,
where you're like, oh, one block away, but when you
look at the tape, it's like, oh, man, we cut
that guy off on the backside, or we get a
you know, a safety coming to the box block like
there's a chance for war, or you get a long run,
you get a holding call like those things all just
like have have added up the last couple of weeks,
and it's definite an emphasis of us. I do think
(38:45):
you see like teams loading the box, but I think
Shador's taking advantage of that a couple of times and
it hit up for big plays. So hopefully that continues
and we can just continue to evolve the offense.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Finally, linebacker Carson Swett and you're discussed the one two
punch that the have and DeAndre Swift and Kyle Mnung guys,
and I think it's.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
Off that job said.
Speaker 12 (39:05):
Compare you to Keith the Hughes with in Boston College
when you hear praise.
Speaker 17 (39:12):
I mean, that's the first time I'm hearing that, but uh,
you know, it's nice to hear. But at the same time,
it's you know, every every week, I'm.
Speaker 5 (39:20):
Focused on going out there.
Speaker 17 (39:21):
I'm trying to play play my best game, and then
you know, really I'm worried about what the guys and
the coaches in this building think and really going out
there and and playing with them.
Speaker 12 (39:32):
The run defense. Jim was talking today about how early
on Sunday it was two plays that hurt you, guys,
what do you do to fix that? Knowing that this
is the number two watching the defense that we're going
to be facing us.
Speaker 17 (39:43):
Yeah, I think, like you said, it was those two plays,
and other than that, I feel like we did a
pretty solid job against the run. And it's just you know,
not not letting our guard down for a single play,
and you know, every play matters, and and we can't
you know, have bad eyes for one play. It's we
got to go in prepared for for everything they're gonna
give us, and and you know, have success on every play.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
How would you describe the Bears runs game?
Speaker 13 (40:07):
I know, with their number two of league had some
huge games, So what makes it so good?
Speaker 17 (40:12):
I mean, they have they have solid old line play
in front, and they like to move guys and I
think they have a lot of they have a good
marriage of the running past him. They do a lot
of runs that that look like passes and and vice versa,
and so that definitely helps.
Speaker 7 (40:28):
And then they you know, they'll move guys around and.
Speaker 17 (40:30):
Try and get your eyes, which I mean almost every
team tries to during the run game. And I think
it's just a matter of you know, knowing what what
we're in when when we're gonna you know, be moving
with those when we're not, and and and just being
prepared for all.
Speaker 8 (40:45):
Play. You did bring him.
Speaker 5 (40:49):
Yeah model here pot So that gratifying.
Speaker 10 (40:51):
That you're resembling them in.
Speaker 5 (40:53):
Your first year. Well, yeah, I guess.
Speaker 17 (40:56):
I mean, I think he's somebody to is he when
he when he go when he would go out on
the field, you know, there was there was a you know,
another level that he would he would get to. And
you know, at the same thing, he still was always
always making the plays and and you know, I think
one of the things I respect most is just when
he's on the field, you couldn't find a play where
he wasn't going one hundred percent, wasn't around the goal.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 17 (41:25):
He one of the things you got to be ready
for is just the creation, uh after the play. I
think he does a good job of being able to
to get out of sacks, and so I think it's
just a matter of when when you do have the
opportunities to get him down, you know, having the right
technique to do that, and then just on the on
the back end, you know, in coverage, being able to
stay on your guys. I mean it's a hard, hard
(41:46):
thing to do, but doing your best to stay on
and make those throwing windows small when he is doing that.
Speaker 5 (41:52):
I think he's going to have to justice whatever the
letter is. Just how does how does that.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
End of the game.
Speaker 12 (42:00):
Maybe you think Cayler the Bears are gonna be.
Speaker 5 (42:03):
One day, well pasically then the weather.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Could completely forced her to do something else.
Speaker 5 (42:06):
Just how does that calculated?
Speaker 3 (42:08):
How you can try?
Speaker 17 (42:09):
I think you just have to be prepared for everything.
I mean, obviously, like you said, with the weather, you know,
when bad weather happens, you're.
Speaker 5 (42:14):
Gonna get more runs.
Speaker 17 (42:15):
You're gonna get more you know, shorter passes, and just
just expecting more of that. But you know, it's not
like they're gonna go outside of their normal game plan.
It's just you know, you're gonna get you know, a
little bit less less of things and a little bit
more of other things they like to do.
Speaker 10 (42:30):
So how do you really I haven't you never played, No, no,
I haven't.
Speaker 17 (42:36):
But I mean on the field and stuff. They got
the heated benches and and the other stuff. And then
once I'm on the field, I'm not really thinking about it.
My mom always gets mad at me because she's like,
whyn't you were in sleeves And I'm like, I feel
bad forever. I feel bad for my parents more they're
not used to it and they have to go sit
there all game.
Speaker 6 (42:53):
So as at radio, I'm pretty sure you was the
last flying back up your defensive year.
Speaker 12 (43:04):
If you aren't even plashed rates your season with that,
it'd be.
Speaker 5 (43:08):
The first one to get that, Sames, What would that
mean the swimming pool.
Speaker 17 (43:11):
That, Yeah, it would mean a lot. But I think
it's it's the same thing, especially right now, I'm not
really focused on that. And uh, you know, I think
when you start to focus on things like that, you
lose sight of you know what, what we're really trying
to do here and as a defense, and you know,
really focusing on on this week and then you know
next week, I'll be focusing on next week.
Speaker 8 (43:31):
And so That's really.
Speaker 7 (43:33):
Where my mindsets at right now.
Speaker 17 (43:39):
You know, I've been I've been waiting, to be honest
with you, I haven't found it.
Speaker 12 (43:43):
But have you had to do anything athletically?
Speaker 9 (43:48):
I think about what brooking, especially that you guys are
going costans like your season as.
Speaker 17 (43:51):
You're training by then the draft and.
Speaker 12 (43:54):
You start working men again, and so is there anything
you have to do differently physically training live and.
Speaker 4 (43:59):
Keep your body here?
Speaker 17 (44:00):
I mean, it's the same with any season I mean
we're playing I'm playing a longer, longer season than I've
ever played before. So it's just you know, having to
find ways to be smarter about you know, recovering and
and things like that. And then you know, each week
I've tried to you know, almost like make make whatever
my process was before better and try and learn from it.
And so obviously there's things that's changing each week, and
(44:22):
I just think with the longer season, it's you know,
the real difference is just you know, taking care of
your body that.
Speaker 7 (44:26):
I'll do it.
Speaker 1 (44:27):
For this episode of the From the Podium Podcast, be
sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you
get your podcasts. Keep it locked to Cleveland Browns daily
each week day, and follow the Browns on social media
for more coverage from the Cross Country Mortgage campus right
here in Borea. I'm Gabe Kollura. Thanks for listening to
the From the Podium podcast.
It's the week fifteen, Thursday edition of the From the
Podium podcast. I'm Gabe Klea. It's coordinator Day at the
Cross Country Mortgage Campus as the Browns continue to install
their game plan for this Sunday's game in Chicago against
the Bears at Soldier Field. In this episode, you'll hear
from offensive coordinator Tommy Reese, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, special
teams coordinator Bubba Van Trone, offensive guard Joel Batonio, and
(00:27):
linebacker Carson Swessengers. We'll start with offensive coordinator Tommy Reeves,
who discussed how the forecasted frigid elements in Chicago affect
the offense in.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Chicago at this time of the year.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
It is how I mean, three days out, how does
it really affect your preparation. I mean we'll be outside,
which obviously the weather's beautiful in Cleveland this time of
year too, so helps prepare us there. Look, in this
time of the year, you have to account for some
of that. You know, we'll see what ends up being
like come come game day, and you know, the win
(00:59):
can swirl there as we know, and it's right off
the lake, so we'll see how that affects it. We'll
see how you know, the real cold temperatures affect it.
But like our focus is strictly on our preparation and
getting our game plan ready to go, and then we'll
adjust as need be. But there's that's not really something
that you you know, put into a huge part of
the factor during the week, and your focus is really
(01:20):
on where you need to be and making sure that
our guys are in their playbooks and understanding what we're
asking them to do and making sure we're ready to go.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Some of the things that Or showed you this past
game to making a leak that he's taking those next
steps forward.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Yeah, I think the improvement.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
You know, you're looking at all your players, all your
young players, to see just gradual improvement on the areas
that you're focused on. I thought, you know, he did
a really nice job of moving in the pocket, stepping
up in the pocket. You know, he had some opportunities
to step up and attack the defense, whether it was
you know, throwing the ball in the move. We hit
Harold on a good one there in two minutes and
we're climbing in the pocket and finding Jerry on the
(01:58):
incode or climbing in the pocket and running when it
when it needs be. I thought, you know, those are
signs of improvement in those areas. I thought operationally we
were clean. And you know, that's what you're after with
all your players, specifically the young guys, is are the
things that you're trying to ask him to do and
are the things that you're focused on, you know, being
accomplished and credit to him and you know, credit to
(02:21):
coach Musk for continuing to get him ready to play.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
There's one thing that you could hit point from the
spring to now that you've really like tangibly, that.
Speaker 7 (02:30):
You're really been improved with.
Speaker 8 (02:32):
Should know or what would that one thing to be
going out?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I think just what I just talked about, really
like the overall improvement of our footwork and our understanding
you know what footwork applies to what concepts and our
ability to work through progressions. And you know he's put
a lot of work in these last few weeks to
get ready to play these games, and you see the
steps as he progresses, which is again what you're after
with your young players. What you're after with all your
(02:56):
players is are they are they coachable? Are they you know,
applying some of the things that you're trying to ask
them to do, and he has shown that. And you know,
obviously he played played a nice game for us last
week and really made some plays that showed those signs
that you know he is improving in those areas.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
It's the same answer, but that sixty the touchdown of Jerry,
we talked about how he's been better seen around a
second time or what that man. You see that as
an example of that, and what did you like best
about that?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Yeah, we ran that play the first drive or first
play of our second drive. We hit Harold on the
on an inbreaker for like sixteen or seventeen yards there
to our left.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
It was the same play.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
We just aligned in it a little differently and they
played a different coverage which would get you to your
second or third part of your progression, which is what
happened on the second play. And it's always a good
thing when you're in the box yelling, but when you're
talking about getting to a route and then it happens
in that moment like you got you and the player
are on the same page as you're watching it. And
(03:58):
that's what happened on that long play to Jerry, which
is you know, it just shows the you know, the
signs of improvement, like our ability to see the coverage
get through a progression play on time, play within the pocket,
you know, the part that should be noted on all
those plays where you're getting through them. Like our protection
was excellent there and so we were an empty protection,
no help on the tackles, and we were able to
(04:21):
really stay in the cylinder and deliver a great throw
and then Jerry did the rest for us. But like
you said, that was a repeated call in the first
half there, and we were able to continue to get
through our progresion versus a different look.
Speaker 7 (04:35):
The second two point play.
Speaker 9 (04:37):
Understanding that you guys practice those types of situations a weekly,
not to a game. You have certain plays in mind,
and you probably go into that drive kind of with
that pig in the back of your mind, like if
we score here, we're.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
Going to do this play. Yeah.
Speaker 9 (04:50):
Are there ever conversations when you get to that point
about we're doing something different, running a different play.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
There's been a lot well you took yeah, no, I
hear it.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
If that play works, it's totally different conversation, right, And
so unfortunately we got to do a better job as
coaches to make sure that we can execute in those
moments we had you know, you have a menu of
two point plays when you go into a game. You know,
we rep those every Friday. It's the very last thing
we do against our defense. So it's full speed, full reps.
The two two point plays that we ran in the
(05:22):
game or the two that we repped on Friday. You know,
we had success like as we rep them. So you know,
like we had confidence in that call. It's one that's
been up for probably a month and we just didn't
execute it in the moment when we needed to, and
as coaches you try to, you know, figure out why
so you can get it corrected moving forward. There's a
lot of conversations that take place, you know, in those
(05:44):
critical moments. We knew early that if we score on
this first two minute, we're going for two. Being down,
you know, in that situation, we were going to go
for two. We knew what the first call was. There
was a conversation that takes place leading up to the
next drive. Hey, this is going to be the call.
Let's make sure our guys are prepared for it, and
then away we go. You know, like that's more about
(06:06):
the play than any individual. I think like we were
we had confidence in that play, We had confidence in
our guys to execute it, and you know, we got
to make sure that we do our job as coaches
so that they can.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
Yeah, I think like it's a really good question.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I think, as you know the two point play conversation,
with it being used more frequently, that menus increased probably
a lot over the last ten to twelve years. You know,
you have certainly have low red zone plays that you
also kind of tab as these are also backups.
Speaker 5 (06:37):
For two pointers if if you need to have one.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I don't want to go to the specifics on how
many we carry, but there are there is a menu
there that get carried over week to week that you
know can be used in those situations. And then there's
going to be game plan calls that are used for
inside the five that can also be used in those situations.
Speaker 10 (06:55):
Ask you one other thing on that is short gardage package,
different two point back.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
It's a really good question, and you don't see I
bet if you studied over the last however many years
in the NFL, like the success of running the ball
and two point plays, it's probably pretty high you know,
especially like maybe in those non last play of the games,
like the two point plays you're trying to get in
short yarde and two minute are Like when you say
short yards mean like goal line.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Yeah, anywhere in the field.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
You get different defenses a little bit in the two
point play than you would in a short yardage in
the field. So I would say there's some similarities, but
probably not the exact same menu. There might be one
that you say, hey, this works in this zone because
of the defense you're getting, but doesn't always carry over
the same.
Speaker 8 (07:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I don't want to get into the specifics on how
it should or shouldn't be. I just look at it as, hey,
we got to do our job to make sure our
players execute the plays when they're called.
Speaker 10 (07:53):
So you think I would have been executed? There's green
brass in front of the intended runner.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I don't play that, you know, I don't.
Speaker 8 (08:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I can't foresee the future there. I know they have
good players on defense, we have good players on offense.
Speaker 11 (08:06):
Sore work that you interviewed for the Penn State job,
Just what is your feeling on you know, you kind of.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Wanting to be here or whatever? The case may be,
or these opportunities that are probably going to come your way.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yeah, I'm really focused on trying to play good offensive football,
get a young quarterback ready to play, you know, support
our players and look, some of those things are flattering
and you listen as a competitor, but you know, for me, like,
my focus is really how can we go score.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Enough points to win a game.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
How can we put our young players, put our quarterback,
put our offense in the right position to have success,
how to lead our staff? Like, that's really where my
focus is right now. What you said, I'm gonna just
keep my focus here right now. Yeah, yeah, the first.
Speaker 12 (09:00):
On the snap exactly do you think it was an
issue with Luke coming in there and even being out
and what's important to you? I mean, I know they
work together when.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
In the backup hole.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, they've worked. You know, we've had plenty of snaps
with Luke and Shador. You know, they got snaps beforehand.
It's a quick hitting play. You know, we've got to
stay in there and we've got to execute the exchange
and not much more to it than that. Then you
just got we got to execute the exchange on a
play that's going to hit pretty quickly and.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
That's about all there is to it.
Speaker 10 (09:32):
The week before the famine, Humble on a fourth count. Yeah,
So the commonality there guys touching the ball and are
all first year players. Is that a generalization or is
that the lack of success?
Speaker 5 (09:49):
Yeah? I don't.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
I think anytime, you know, you see guys across the
league have issues, I don't want to put a blanket
statement on it like that. I think our job as
coaches is to ask them to do things that they
can handle, and then we got to have some ownership
on executing those And look, you're gonna we're pouring everything
we have into our young players right now to make
sure that they can execute at a high level.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
You know.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Like the big coaching point for samp on the one
down the stretch there was like, you know, we're where
the ball is, which shoulder we're leading with in relation
to which shoulder we're carrying the ball in. Like, we
try to look at all these things for our young
players as opportunities to improve them, to coach them, to
get them better moving forward. You know, That's really been
our message this week, is like let's look at some
of these things that did not execute the way we
(10:32):
wanted to. And let's boil it down to what thoughts
are we having pre snap? What's our communication fundamentally? Is
there something in ball security that we can be doing better?
You know instead of just saying, hey, you need to
get the snap or you need to take care of
the football. Well, why are those happening? Like what can
we coach? What can we improve upon them to make
sure that those don't happen?
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Move them forward?
Speaker 13 (10:53):
We say that that Harold is like ahead of schedule
or better than advertise, better than expected.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
That act to say, probably wouldn't say it that way.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
I mean, we thought he was pretty good when we
drafted him, you know, and yeah, look, the guy's a
football player. I mean he's from the day he came
here in rookie mini camp and you guys were here
and you watched him catch however many balls he did
in training camp, Like he's been an impressive rookie. I'll
say that, like he's come in he doesn't play like
a rookie all the time, and he makes a ton
of plays for us. He's competitive, he's tough, he does
(11:23):
a lot of stuff in the run game well for us,
Like I mean, he's an impressive young player that h
CJ's done a really nice job with.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
The rest of those guys in the room have done
a really.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Nice job with and you know, he's hit the ground running.
You know, I'm excited for him in his future and
you know the player that he'll continue to be and
grow into.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
How much you guys can put out Heath's plate, especially
the rickey quarterbacks. So yeah, without EA and how do
you kind of give me up the responsibilities.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, we have a lot of confidence in Whip where
he's at mentally. You know, he's a guy that works
really hard at it. You know, he can be annoying
if you know Whip he talks too much. He's into
it and he loves it. And he's like even in
his backup role, like very similar to how a backup
quarterback needs to prepare. It's the same as for a
backup center. He's always taking snaps when the ones are
(12:12):
going making the calls. He's always into the protection meetings,
he's always into our protection walkthroughs. He's on it, you
know what I mean. Like he's a he's a good
fit for what we're asking him to do. I think
as you see the quarterback continuing to grow and be
comfortable and confident. And while we're doing, you know, you
can start to put a little bit more there as well,
and so you start working together up front. You know,
(12:33):
we want our guys to see it through one set
of eyes. So shoot, we should have all eleven knowing
what we're trying to get to in certain calls. But
we have a lot of trust and whip to get
those things done.
Speaker 10 (12:44):
He'p go line in short guards. You haven't had Huntington
available for less, Yes, sir, fair to say that you've
got to expand your men as.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
We've helping, probably doing some different things without you know,
without his role. You know, certainly we probably looked a
little differently in our short yardge opportunities last week than
we did the week before. And you know we're gonna
find ways to attack what they do defensively and put
our guys in the right spot. You know, Aiden's been
a great contributor for us all year and where you know,
when he comes back, we'll be excited hav him back.
Speaker 11 (13:13):
Shador starting the final four games of the season for
a total of seven. Uh, what what can you know
about a quarterback in a seven game sample size.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Can you know everything that you need to know for Well.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Yeah, we're gonna take it one day at a time.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I don't think I think you learn about quarterbacks in
year five and year ten, and you're like, I don't
think you ever stop learning and evolving with those players.
You know, certainly we're gonna pour everything we have into
our group right now, and we're going to continue to
find ways to improve and find ways to you know,
put emphasis on certain things and continue to get him,
(13:51):
you know, ready to play.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
You've already seen some growth.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
You know, we're excited to continue to take that one
day at a time and continue to see growth take place.
And look at the end of the air evaluated, and
you know, we'll continue to move forward in our and
our focus on improvement of our players.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
This airs defense kind of what stands out and specifically
in their like run defense, I guess what kind of
challenges that.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, they've done a great job all year of taking
the ball away. I mean I believe they lead the
NFL and takeaways.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
You know, two of their dbs.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I think between the two of them, ten or eleven
interceptions they've I mean, they've done a really nice job
of taking it away. You know, they they play well
within the scheme. You know, they try to get you
in minus situations. They have a really good pressure package
that I think they lead the league in third and
seven to ten percentage, and they're pretty complex there. So
you know, coach Allen does a great job, well respected obviously,
(14:40):
and they have really good personnel at all three levels.
You know, ninety eight, it's a great player up front,
they have some size inside, which you know can cause
some issues in the run game. And then you know,
thirty one, twenty six, they've taken the ball away at
a high clip, so they present a lot of challenges
that way as.
Speaker 12 (14:56):
Well, like well the turnovers.
Speaker 9 (14:59):
Shandors Aar talked about his interception from this past weekend
and how it was just him kind of feeling like
the office was kind of stuck trying to make a play.
Just what was the conversation like with him sort of
teaching off of that.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Yeah, sort he had made you know, one of the
things that we had talked about throughout the entire game
is like he was making great decisions right when to scramble,
when to step up, when to throw it away, when
to play the play as it's intended to be played, like,
just continue to make those great decisions, right, Like, don't
get bored with making the right decision. You know, we
had hit a good chunk there to harold two plays
(15:32):
three plays before. Then we come right back to a run,
we get called for a holding. Now we're first and twenty.
We're incomplete on first and twenty. Now we're second in
twenty and don't feel like we need to press. Let's
just get half it back. We're kind of right there
on the fringe of field goal range. So like all
those situations that come up in a game, you know,
they're learning opportunities for him, Like, hey, if we get
half this back, we're back in a scoring position or
(15:54):
third and manageable to continue to drive going. We don't
need to get it all back at once. Its just
continue to make the right decisions. Let the game come
to you, and you'll know when the players are there
to be made, and you'll know when to make the
right decision and.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
You know, find the outlet.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
Cool.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Up Next, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz talked about shiring up
the run defense against a top three rushing attack in
the NFL.
Speaker 8 (16:15):
Reminds me of the old story of a scout.
Speaker 14 (16:18):
A scout here guy named Rob Marsonak learned a lot
from him, and he always had three stop watches and
and he was just so like attention to detail and
everything else. He had three stopwatches and he had this
thing like like there was one time another scout asked, like,
(16:39):
my watch the battery went bad. Hey you got look
at let me let me use one of your stopwatches.
And he goes, no, I can't let you use that.
It's like you got three of them. And he's like, yeah,
well if I let you know, you use that, I
won't have a backup for my backup. So everybody's got
h everybody's got a thing that's most important, scout stop watch.
Speaker 12 (17:02):
Okay, Jim, I guess just to start the run defense
on Sunday, what was going on there and what needs
to be recified facing the number two rushing.
Speaker 14 (17:12):
Offense in the NFL is feet Yeah, you know. The
run defense was really two plays. It was a sixty
five yard or our longest play of the whole year
where we looked like Keystone cops on that one. We
ran into each other on two different times, knocked each
other off and just a really bad play for us.
And then the thirty three yard or I think it
(17:33):
was thirty three, which was a blitz and.
Speaker 8 (17:36):
We got cut out of a gap.
Speaker 14 (17:37):
And when you get cut out of a blitz, there's
nobody that can make you right. And we paid the
price for that one, you know, when it was all
said and done. The rest of their runs was something like,
I think like two point six yards a carry. So
the biggest point there is you can't let your guard din.
It's like being a boxer and you're winning on points,
but you get knocked out, you know, not a good result.
(17:59):
And for us, you know, whatever, Yeah, I mean, you're
on offense and you run up five hundred yards of offense,
but you throw four interceptions. You can't say, well, we
were great except for the four interceptions.
Speaker 8 (18:11):
You know.
Speaker 14 (18:11):
And that's the way defense is too. And you know,
not only a big emphasis on the run game. These
guys can run the ball. I mean they ran up
almost three hundred yards rushing on Philly. So it's enough
to get your attention. It's December football, you know it'll
be cold in the game, and you know run defense
is going to be important. We need to play all
(18:33):
our plays the way we played most of our plays,
and we can't let our guard down for one second
or we pay the we pay the consequences.
Speaker 10 (18:42):
You played Detroit this year? Is this effect simile?
Speaker 14 (18:45):
Yeah, there's a lot of similarities in scheme, but also
a little bit in personnel and the way they use
some of their guys, the two backs. You know, obviously
Detroit has Gibbs and Montgomery sort of outside inside kind
of threat, and you know, Swift gives them a lot
of things that Gibbs gives them. And I know I'm
gonna butcher this kid's name, Mananguy. That guy gives you
(19:10):
a hammer, you know, sort of like Montgomery. I'll tell
you what, I got a lot of respect for that kid.
He is a hard, hard runner. He was a late
round draft pick, not the biggest guy in around, but there's.
Speaker 8 (19:21):
Nothing to hit on him. She shaped a lot like
Gente and that gives.
Speaker 14 (19:26):
Them that good one two punch, a lot of the
similar kind of play action stuff. You know, they're a
heavy heavy run, play action team.
Speaker 8 (19:35):
All their wide receivers will block.
Speaker 14 (19:37):
The same way that the same day Detroit's will and
all their guys are good run after the catch guys.
So yeah, there's more similarities than just scheme. There's they're
trying to place personnel the same way tight ends are good.
Speaker 8 (19:52):
It's really a solid.
Speaker 14 (19:53):
Group across the board, a lot of guys that can
make plays, and the biggest thing is the run game.
And then Caleb Williams sort of make him plays off schedule,
you know, like we face Lamar Jackson a couple times
a year. We face you know, justin fields. We're gonna
have to have every bit as much hands on deck
(20:14):
the stop quarterback scrambles as we do with those guys,
because you know Caleb, I mean, he looks like fran
Tarkenton out there. Sometimes he's got eyes in the back
of a head, like you know, I saw stat somewhere
that like he has like thirty some unblocked blitzers or rushers,
and he's taken zero sacks on those guys. So he
just has the ability to see him coming somehow. Eyes
(20:37):
in the back of his head make guys miss and
then expand and extend plays, and when he does, he
threatens the entire field. He can throw across his body
fifty yards down the field, and he can dot an
eye when he does it. So it's not just taking
the run game away from him, but it's taken the
scrambles to throw, you know, and that stuff puts a
(20:58):
lot of pressure on your defense. So good play action team,
good run team, and a quarterback that can make plays
off schedule in a lot of wide receivers and tight
ends that can run after the catch. Tough scheme, great
challenge force that the Titans.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Maybe put out there sort of a formula for how
to mitigate Miles. I mean, the beer is gonna kind of.
Speaker 11 (21:21):
Try to do the same things to keep Miles from
getting that stand record.
Speaker 14 (21:25):
I think the biggest thing in that game was just
running the ball. I mean, it's hard to get a
sack when it's a run play. And even though you know,
I'll keep beating on my same my same horse or whatever,
the beating on the same drum, whatever the expression is there,
Miles had those tackles for losses in the run game.
Speaker 8 (21:43):
You know what's the difference.
Speaker 14 (21:45):
I mean, it's a little bit like the sixty five
yard run, give up a sixty five yard pass, same result,
probably gets a little less attention. But defensively, you know,
a run is a strike to your to your physicality
and your and your men and things like that. So
you know, I was not displeased with the way we
(22:06):
played the pass for the most part in that game.
I mean, they threw for about one hundred yards, you know,
and a lot of that was play, Actually a lot
of it was production from behind the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 8 (22:15):
E were throwing it quick.
Speaker 14 (22:16):
So I put it more on us that if we
allow teams to rush, you know, and they threw out
that thing of you know, if you get rid of
the two runs, it was like two point whatever, I
think two point six, two point seven something like that
to carry, which you know looks good. But still they
were able to maintain the run game, and we got
to make it. We got to make it where people
can't maintain the run game and then force them to
(22:39):
drop back longer.
Speaker 8 (22:40):
So I think we control that more than the other team.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Still, Johnson had so many trick plays in public when
he's with Detroit securing it over Chicago.
Speaker 14 (22:51):
And yeah, I mean they still have them, maybe a
little bit less so, but you still have to be
were you ready for him? They got reverses, they got
double reverse, they got two quarterbacks in the game. You
know they got wildcat they have. You know that that
same little stumble when the quarterback came out from under
center that they ran last year, they ran the same
(23:13):
thing this year.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
So you know, it's just that's just part of it.
Speaker 14 (23:17):
It puts with a lot of stuff that they do,
with a lot of the motions and double motions and
shifts and bringing guys behind the ball, that stuff that's
becoming ever more prevalent in the NFL. But it puts
a big, big emphasis on where your eyes are and
I discipline and if you if you take a bad step,
you can you know you can, they can make you
(23:38):
pay for it. What's the same thing with trick play
kind of kind of things.
Speaker 8 (23:42):
If you if you take.
Speaker 14 (23:43):
Your eyes off of at the wrong time, it's going
to make you look bad. So it's just more of
an emphasis on doing your job, watching what you're supposed
to watch at, being disciplined with your eyes, and then
playing with physicality once you make that decision, once you
read your key.
Speaker 10 (23:58):
So big difference in their ofference is that they don't
give so many percent completions like Detroit does.
Speaker 8 (24:05):
What accounts for that?
Speaker 10 (24:06):
Is it just a young quarterback?
Speaker 14 (24:07):
No I think it's more where their passes are going.
They're pushing the ball down the field a lot. You know,
like there's there's a lot of deep passes passes over fifteen,
which just by definition, you're not going to you know,
you're not going to complete as many of those, and
like some of the scrambles and things like that, they're
(24:28):
not super high percentage. I mean, they're high high reward
if you can make them, but they're not super high percentage.
He doesn't build up the stats. I mean, they have
their RPOs and they have their short passes, but like
it's run and then play actions that really pushed the
ball down the field, and you know, I think you
(24:49):
probably see that a little bit more in the completion percentage,
but maybe less so in the yards per attempt and
things like that.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
You finish the game without until we talked from yesterday
and said he's still trying to get that camp right.
Do you change a lot of spantagy if you.
Speaker 14 (25:06):
Don't have it.
Speaker 8 (25:09):
Well yet yet to be seen?
Speaker 14 (25:11):
And I always let Kevin speak on injuries and things
like that when we've lost guys at different times in
the year. This year, we really haven't changed anything mid game.
You have to be seen if it would be changed
before the game.
Speaker 8 (25:25):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Special teams coordinator Bubba Van Tron spoke on how the
elements will affect the kicking game this Sunday kind of.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Recap you know, last week's game a little bit and
sort of there.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Yeah, we I would say, you know, we wanted to
be able.
Speaker 15 (25:41):
To keep the ball away from the guy that was
averaging over twenty yards upont return.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
I thought we did a good job of that.
Speaker 15 (25:49):
And look, going into each week, the game plans different
based off of who you're going against, the players.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Involve, so I thought I thought we did a good
job with that. Obviously, we had.
Speaker 15 (26:02):
The the misshap on the punt miscommunication there that.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
That's inexcusable, so we'll look to get that fixed.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Somebody just stopped that guy.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
I just don't that name.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Yeah, you're talking about keeping it away from DK. Yeah,
was that the plan the whole time or after the
first kickoffs? He kind of been just a kidding touched
back all the time.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
No, we I mean.
Speaker 15 (26:32):
No, the plan on our our punt plan was to
do a good job of trying to limit his opportunities.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
And I thought I thought we did a good.
Speaker 15 (26:41):
Job with that, you know, the first the first kickoff,
if you know, we we need to leverage the ball
a little bit better. We got we got We got
held pretty good at a few different spots on that side,
So I thought that that could have factored.
Speaker 7 (26:57):
But we need to leverage the ball better on that
on the open.
Speaker 10 (27:03):
Is this the top part of the best from all
around special teams group that you're.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
About to place on Friday.
Speaker 7 (27:09):
Chicago's got a good group. Yeah, They've got a good group,
good specialists.
Speaker 15 (27:14):
Kiro Santos has been an accurate kicker for the whole
time he's been in the league. His career averages eighty
five percent. Young punter has done a has done a
solid job. They got experience returners. Duverne has been in
the league a long time and he's had a lot
of production.
Speaker 7 (27:32):
They got their.
Speaker 15 (27:33):
Core group is made up of a bunch of different
types of body types. You know, Jalen Reeves may Been
is a guy that has factored for them as of late.
You have ninety two Hardy. They do a nice job
on the perimeter with with Owen's and Jones and Blackwell,
all those guys factor. Travis Homer is a tough, tough
running back that gives them four phases. So you know,
(27:57):
it's a it's a challenge like it's been every week.
So we gotta we gotta step up to the plate
and answer the bell.
Speaker 12 (28:07):
With gay with a couple of the mumps that he's
had us you're on the putt returns like, is there
any commonality there with with something that's going wrong or
is it just a young player who.
Speaker 7 (28:17):
Needs that experience.
Speaker 15 (28:18):
I think, as honestly as it's a young player that
needs experience, I think it comes down to the balls
that he's really I mean, the two balls that he
put on, the two balls that he muffed, were not
like balls where he was like having to like track
these balls and like run over over space they get them.
He's clearly set on the ball. It just comes down
to me. It's like it's concentration and focus on looking
(28:41):
the ball in. It's like just catching like you know,
a flat router, like you know, just like a hitch.
You know, you're you're set on the ball and you
just gotta look the ball in and finish the catch.
Speaker 8 (28:55):
Confidence.
Speaker 7 (28:57):
I think it feels like he's okay. Yeah, I feel
like he's okay.
Speaker 15 (29:00):
I mean we've we've let him know that we support
him and we're we're backing him, so he's our best
option right now.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Do you feel like guys are playing tight or trying
to do too much as you guys have had different struggles.
Speaker 8 (29:15):
I don't think so. I don't.
Speaker 7 (29:16):
I don't think guys are playing tight at all.
Speaker 15 (29:18):
Honestly, I do think that we need to execute at
a higher level and play with better fundamentals and use
our techniques to to be able to impact plays more so,
I think that, you know, we we have to we
have to be able to execute better with our with
our fundamentals.
Speaker 10 (29:36):
Considering where the season's gone with four games ago, how
much would it mean to you to have special teams
actually win a game down the street.
Speaker 7 (29:44):
It'd be great, be great, you know.
Speaker 15 (29:46):
So we're I mean, look, we're going to do everything
we can to impact every game moving forward.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
Guys are in a in a good headspace.
Speaker 15 (29:54):
I feel like we've we've we've attacked each week.
Speaker 7 (29:59):
We had good weeks of practice.
Speaker 15 (30:02):
We clearly haven't got the results in the games that
we're looking for, But like I said, I feel I
feel like we have we have the ability to do.
We just got to go out and do it. We
got to go out and execute.
Speaker 12 (30:16):
Andre's from Chicago special times after the practice squad.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
But just the weather on.
Speaker 8 (30:21):
Sunday and how cold it's supposed to be.
Speaker 12 (30:23):
How can you prepare for that? And do you trust
the little experience he does there for growing out there?
Speaker 15 (30:29):
Him and he and Cairo both have like a they're
pretty tight. So I think he's excited to be able
to go back to where he's from and be able
to play in that stadium. Yeah, the weather, it's looking
like it's going to be pretty pretty cold, so we'll
see what the wind's doing. And obviously the when it's
cold like that and the wind and that type of stadium,
(30:50):
and it affects.
Speaker 7 (30:51):
The ball, the ball flight, how well the ball.
Speaker 15 (30:53):
Travels, and all that stuff. So all those things will
factor in how we call the game.
Speaker 8 (31:01):
It's the biggest thing.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
It just go as far as kind of recalibrate everything.
Speaker 15 (31:06):
Yeah, I think that once we see what it's doing,
once we see how it's affecting it, Like when the
ball gets when when it's cold like that, the ball
feels different too. It's harder to it's harder to grip.
At times it can be slicker. So we'll see how
it's how it's how it's doing in pregame and and
go from there. Try to communicate to our guys as
(31:27):
best we can once pregame ends on what we're anticipating
and how we're gonna call it and things we're gonna do.
Speaker 10 (31:32):
So they have problems in punt covers. Don't that their
numbers today?
Speaker 8 (31:39):
I mean I don't.
Speaker 15 (31:41):
It feels like they've covered the fairly well. I mean
here and there you're gonna give up a play. But
I feel like that their gunners, their gunners are good.
They have speed on the outside, speed up PP. I
mean Homer and Owens both have played the PP spot.
Those guys have done a nice job. The backers run well.
I mean Reeves, Mayben and Jackson, those guys run well.
Speaker 8 (32:04):
Thanks.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Offensive guard Joel Buttonio talked about what he's seen from
Shador Sanders through his first three career starts.
Speaker 16 (32:10):
So with everything you know, with the cold that you know,
how much does that change the way you kind of
approach this. I mean it's one thing that play even normal,
but I mean the cold that they're expecting to shu.
Speaker 8 (32:26):
Yeah, things.
Speaker 5 (32:28):
It definitely affects it.
Speaker 13 (32:29):
Like you have to, you know, kind of prepare yourself
a little different, make sure you have some stuff on
the sideline to help keep you warmed up. But I
think it's getting to a point inside that you're warmed
up enough so when you go outside and you kind.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Of maintain it.
Speaker 8 (32:43):
It definitely changed it.
Speaker 13 (32:44):
If it was gonna be like eighty five humid, you
probably you know, feel pretty good about it. But you know,
it's kind of where we're at in the season right now.
Speaker 5 (32:53):
Can we get you out of the practice field tomorrow.
We'll see how we wake up tomorrow.
Speaker 8 (32:56):
You know.
Speaker 13 (32:56):
It's it's uh one of those things. You know, we're
working through a couple of things right now, So we'll
we'll kind of play it by year hopefully, you know,
you get a few reps in, but kind of earlier
in the year I played with no reps you know,
that week too, So we'll see how we saw it
works out.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
I was gonna say, all we've.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
Heard about even is how professional he was, how hard
he worked, how smarty was, how much you have to
this line.
Speaker 5 (33:22):
So not having him.
Speaker 13 (33:23):
Out there, what he pays for you. Yeah, you know,
I haven't been out of practice too much yet, but I mean,
he he was driving the ship, especially with these young
quarterbacks in there. And and the good thing though is
Whippler kind of has learned from him, and he's had
three years of experience in this league of like learning
(33:44):
and and kind of being that, you know, backup and
ready to step in. And I think he did a
great job when he went in the game last week,
just kind of directing things and and he's kind of
taking that role over trying to be demonstrative, trying to
make those calls. I think the game plan is is
you know, been similar weeks past where it's like really condensed,
really focused, and he can he can dive into it.
(34:07):
So you miss a presence like Pope because he's he's
done it well for so long. But you get a
guy like Whip who's who's you know, fighting for his
opportunity as well.
Speaker 12 (34:17):
He was saying, he was saying Ethan was giving him,
in giving him in high school.
Speaker 11 (34:23):
He doesn't want to part.
Speaker 8 (34:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 13 (34:24):
I think before he even got yeah, before he was
getting up, I think he was talking to him about
what he saw the nose guard doing or something like that.
And he's just all about ball and so we we appreciated,
uh we gave him a lot of crap for it
because he was so focused. But he, like I said,
he he worked hard and he was he was dialed in.
Speaker 12 (34:42):
This is crazy that we were the last starter standing
as of right now that just had this many in.
Speaker 8 (34:51):
Yeah, it's been tough.
Speaker 13 (34:54):
You never want to see guys get get banged up,
and you know, things happen like that. You all off
season to try and keep your body in as good
as shape as you can, and you know, almost survive
a season and some of the stuff is just you can't.
You can't, you know, fight it.
Speaker 8 (35:12):
But yeah, it's one of those things.
Speaker 16 (35:13):
You know.
Speaker 13 (35:13):
I try and try and be out there for the guys,
and I know everybody's trying at this point of the year,
but it is crazy, like if you would have told
me at the beginn of the year, like here in
the Quaintex to Cam Robinson and Whip and you know,
TeV and KK, you know, or guys like that, like
it just you never expected it and you go out
there and that's kind of what what's kind of happened
(35:34):
towards that here.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
Tommy Ray said, kind of.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Is that his exact quote.
Speaker 13 (35:41):
Yeah, well, Whoopler's a Jersey guy, right, and I don't know,
I don't want to offend any Jersey guys, but he
has a little bit of a there's a little bit
of quirkiness there, you know what I mean, where like
he's gonna say stuff and he's gonna, you know, have
his have his little Jersey way about him.
Speaker 5 (36:01):
So I can see that.
Speaker 13 (36:02):
You know, if we have a tea time at golf
and it start at twelve, he likes to show up
at like eleven fifty nine. So he's one of those,
you know, that type of thing.
Speaker 17 (36:10):
Kind of character.
Speaker 13 (36:12):
He's like your younger brother, you know what I mean,
Like he's the younger brother that you know you gotta
put in his place every once in a while.
Speaker 5 (36:21):
You start.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 13 (36:31):
Yeah, we you know, we've been taking a week week
by week and just kind of whoever's back there. But
you know, I think he's shown some some really good
things and made some big plays for us, you know,
had us down there to try and tie the game
last week, and it just gives him a chance to
grow in this offense and and see what we can do.
I know, we have some challenging defenses coming up, and
(36:52):
there'll be a big opportunity. We want to try and
give him his best opportunity to show, you know, what
he can do and how he can play in the NFL.
And I think every game is for these quarterbacks. It's
still good just to learn and get the speed and
the game, and it'll be good for you know, this
year and his future.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Is that something that maybe even surprised just how he's slipping,
like those sacks and stuff.
Speaker 12 (37:16):
This kinds of things.
Speaker 13 (37:17):
Yeah, he's doing a great job, you know he you know,
if he makes those big plays, why he's moving around
the pocket and and there's a couple of scrambles this
last week that you know, the touchdown and then the
one where he kind of just up the middle for
like fifteen yards or however far it was. Those are
huge plays. It's gonna make the defense maybe spy or
or or change our thought process, and it it makes
(37:39):
the defensive linement like we got to stand in our
rush lanes instead of kind of going crazy. And so
if he can make big plays for us, like we're
all for it and for.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
You guys in your run game right now, doesn't seem
like some of those explosives where they're early in the
season or early years.
Speaker 13 (37:56):
Yeah, when you just haven't been now what do you Yeah,
it's been tough the last you know, a couple of weeks.
Speaker 8 (38:02):
We just kind of got bogged.
Speaker 13 (38:04):
Like I think the Raiders game, we got up and
we were you know, they knew we were kind of
running four minute offense, and so that kind of fell off.
There's been a lot of movement on the D line,
Like D line's been kind of moving on a stunned
a little bit, and I think for us, it's like
with whole new groups, it's like we have to understand
what everybody's thinking, and so it's taken us.
Speaker 8 (38:21):
A little bit to make sure we're executing.
Speaker 13 (38:23):
And it's one of those, like most football cliche things ever,
where you're like, oh, one block away, but when you
look at the tape, it's like, oh, man, we cut
that guy off on the backside, or we get a
you know, a safety coming to the box block like
there's a chance for war, or you get a long run,
you get a holding call like those things all just
like have have added up the last couple of weeks,
and it's definite an emphasis of us. I do think
(38:45):
you see like teams loading the box, but I think
Shador's taking advantage of that a couple of times and
it hit up for big plays. So hopefully that continues
and we can just continue to evolve the offense.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Finally, linebacker Carson Swett and you're discussed the one two
punch that the have and DeAndre Swift and Kyle Mnung guys,
and I think it's.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
Off that job said.
Speaker 12 (39:05):
Compare you to Keith the Hughes with in Boston College
when you hear praise.
Speaker 17 (39:12):
I mean, that's the first time I'm hearing that, but uh,
you know, it's nice to hear. But at the same time,
it's you know, every every week, I'm.
Speaker 5 (39:20):
Focused on going out there.
Speaker 17 (39:21):
I'm trying to play play my best game, and then
you know, really I'm worried about what the guys and
the coaches in this building think and really going out
there and and playing with them.
Speaker 12 (39:32):
The run defense. Jim was talking today about how early
on Sunday it was two plays that hurt you, guys,
what do you do to fix that? Knowing that this
is the number two watching the defense that we're going
to be facing us.
Speaker 17 (39:43):
Yeah, I think, like you said, it was those two plays,
and other than that, I feel like we did a
pretty solid job against the run. And it's just you know,
not not letting our guard down for a single play,
and you know, every play matters, and and we can't
you know, have bad eyes for one play. It's we
got to go in prepared for for everything they're gonna
give us, and and you know, have success on every play.
Speaker 5 (40:05):
How would you describe the Bears runs game?
Speaker 13 (40:07):
I know, with their number two of league had some
huge games, So what makes it so good?
Speaker 17 (40:12):
I mean, they have they have solid old line play
in front, and they like to move guys and I
think they have a lot of they have a good
marriage of the running past him. They do a lot
of runs that that look like passes and and vice versa,
and so that definitely helps.
Speaker 7 (40:28):
And then they you know, they'll move guys around and.
Speaker 17 (40:30):
Try and get your eyes, which I mean almost every
team tries to during the run game. And I think
it's just a matter of you know, knowing what what
we're in when when we're gonna you know, be moving
with those when we're not, and and and just being
prepared for all.
Speaker 8 (40:45):
Play. You did bring him.
Speaker 5 (40:49):
Yeah model here pot So that gratifying.
Speaker 10 (40:51):
That you're resembling them in.
Speaker 5 (40:53):
Your first year. Well, yeah, I guess.
Speaker 17 (40:56):
I mean, I think he's somebody to is he when
he when he go when he would go out on
the field, you know, there was there was a you know,
another level that he would he would get to. And
you know, at the same thing, he still was always
always making the plays and and you know, I think
one of the things I respect most is just when
he's on the field, you couldn't find a play where
he wasn't going one hundred percent, wasn't around the goal.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 17 (41:25):
He one of the things you got to be ready
for is just the creation, uh after the play. I
think he does a good job of being able to
to get out of sacks, and so I think it's
just a matter of when when you do have the
opportunities to get him down, you know, having the right
technique to do that, and then just on the on
the back end, you know, in coverage, being able to
stay on your guys. I mean it's a hard, hard
(41:46):
thing to do, but doing your best to stay on
and make those throwing windows small when he is doing that.
Speaker 5 (41:52):
I think he's going to have to justice whatever the
letter is. Just how does how does that.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
End of the game.
Speaker 12 (42:00):
Maybe you think Cayler the Bears are gonna be.
Speaker 5 (42:03):
One day, well pasically then the weather.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Could completely forced her to do something else.
Speaker 5 (42:06):
Just how does that calculated?
Speaker 3 (42:08):
How you can try?
Speaker 17 (42:09):
I think you just have to be prepared for everything.
I mean, obviously, like you said, with the weather, you know,
when bad weather happens, you're.
Speaker 5 (42:14):
Gonna get more runs.
Speaker 17 (42:15):
You're gonna get more you know, shorter passes, and just
just expecting more of that. But you know, it's not
like they're gonna go outside of their normal game plan.
It's just you know, you're gonna get you know, a
little bit less less of things and a little bit
more of other things they like to do.
Speaker 10 (42:30):
So how do you really I haven't you never played, No, no,
I haven't.
Speaker 17 (42:36):
But I mean on the field and stuff. They got
the heated benches and and the other stuff. And then
once I'm on the field, I'm not really thinking about it.
My mom always gets mad at me because she's like,
whyn't you were in sleeves And I'm like, I feel
bad forever. I feel bad for my parents more they're
not used to it and they have to go sit
there all game.
Speaker 6 (42:53):
So as at radio, I'm pretty sure you was the
last flying back up your defensive year.
Speaker 12 (43:04):
If you aren't even plashed rates your season with that,
it'd be.
Speaker 5 (43:08):
The first one to get that, Sames, What would that
mean the swimming pool.
Speaker 17 (43:11):
That, Yeah, it would mean a lot. But I think
it's it's the same thing, especially right now, I'm not
really focused on that. And uh, you know, I think
when you start to focus on things like that, you
lose sight of you know what, what we're really trying
to do here and as a defense, and you know,
really focusing on on this week and then you know
next week, I'll be focusing on next week.
Speaker 8 (43:31):
And so That's really.
Speaker 7 (43:33):
Where my mindsets at right now.
Speaker 17 (43:39):
You know, I've been I've been waiting, to be honest
with you, I haven't found it.
Speaker 12 (43:43):
But have you had to do anything athletically?
Speaker 9 (43:48):
I think about what brooking, especially that you guys are
going costans like your season as.
Speaker 17 (43:51):
You're training by then the draft and.
Speaker 12 (43:54):
You start working men again, and so is there anything
you have to do differently physically training live and.
Speaker 4 (43:59):
Keep your body here?
Speaker 17 (44:00):
I mean, it's the same with any season I mean
we're playing I'm playing a longer, longer season than I've
ever played before. So it's just you know, having to
find ways to be smarter about you know, recovering and
and things like that. And then you know, each week
I've tried to you know, almost like make make whatever
my process was before better and try and learn from it.
And so obviously there's things that's changing each week, and
(44:22):
I just think with the longer season, it's you know,
the real difference is just you know, taking care of
your body that.
Speaker 7 (44:26):
I'll do it.
Speaker 1 (44:27):
For this episode of the From the Podium Podcast, be
sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you
get your podcasts. Keep it locked to Cleveland Browns daily
each week day, and follow the Browns on social media
for more coverage from the Cross Country Mortgage campus right
here in Borea. I'm Gabe Kollura. Thanks for listening to
the From the Podium podcast.
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