Stefanski, Flacco, Ward - From the Podium - 6.11.25

On this episode of From the Podium, hear from Browns HC Kevin Stefanski, QB Joe Flacco, QB Kenny Pickett, WR Diontae Johnson, and CB Denzel Ward on day 2 of mandatory minicamp.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to another episode of the From the Podium podcast.
I'm Gabe Kleura. Mandatory Mini camp continued at the Cross
Country Mortgage Campus in Berea today, and the Browns will
wrap up their mini camp tomorrow. On this episode, you'll
hear from head coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterback Joe Flacco, quarterback
Kenny Pickett, wide receiver Deontay Johnson, and cornerback Denzel Ward.

(00:26):
Up first, the head coach Kevin Stefanski, who gave his
thoughts on day two.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
They for j rest Or sort of part of the
plan within, Yeah, all part of the plan.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
He got reps today in a couple drills, but every day,
like I've told you, we're gonna be real.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Intentional on how we divvy them up.

Speaker 4 (00:44):
Kevin, this question is more appropriate now than.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Why hasn't faced a number one?

Speaker 4 (00:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (00:52):
Again, like I've told you, guys, let's not look too
much into who's out there when we're in installation phase.
We're in teaching phase, so much to look into it.

Speaker 5 (01:01):
But if they quick follow up on that, you know,
as we do progress into training camp and you're close
to his preseason games and just close to the season,
is it reasonable to expect that someone who is.

Speaker 6 (01:10):
Practicing with the first team there is under serious consideration to.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Be started quarterback.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yeah, we're so far away from that type of thought process, Daniels. Honestly,
it's a we're in our installation phase. It's it's the
off season, it's ota, so we're going to keep the
focus there. Once you get into training camp, of course
you're getting ready to play games and ultimately getting ready
for playing the season, but right now that's not our focus.

Speaker 7 (01:31):
So do you think that changes, Like they want a
training camp, Kevin, that you get back into rotation means
more you have a depth chart in.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Your Yeah, I think we're using this off season.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
I think this is the we got one more practice
to go, so we'll use all these practices like we
have for every position, to learn about our players and
learn what guys do best and those type of things.
I mean, obviously, like for a wide receiver, want to
find out what routes he's comfortable with. For the quarterbacks,
find out what concepts they're comfortable with. So that's really
what this off season has been about. Of Course, your

(02:02):
mentality changes a little bit as you get into training camp,
but that's really not our focus right now.

Speaker 8 (02:06):
Kevin Dylan was talking initially about trying to fight the
Amazon lifestyle or the Amazon lifestyle.

Speaker 6 (02:11):
I think he said, where we all just expect everything.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
To happen in the and be with your feed are
given the way like coverage.

Speaker 9 (02:17):
Has changed with the league since you've been like, how
can you empathize with these guys who are trying to
They just have more to battle on that front.

Speaker 4 (02:26):
As they go through a composition than maybe.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
Guys used to. Pat Yeah, I think probably the biggest
difference nowadays is social media. I would expect to listen.
The news cycle is three and sixty five days a year,
and there's a lot of content and there's a lot
of hours to fill, as you guys all well know.
So we and also we understand how popular our sport is,
how interested our fans are in our sports, so we
embrace that.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
We like that part.

Speaker 3 (02:49):
Having said that, once we get inside the building, we
really do focus on where our feet are. We focus
that we're here, We focus on what we have in
front of us, and I think all of our players
have done a great job of understanding that.

Speaker 6 (03:00):
How do you try a person to try to block
that stuff out? What you're what you're keep myself centered?

Speaker 3 (03:05):
Uh, I'm not on social media probably number one. Uh,
but listen, I've been doing I've been in this.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
Sport long enough.

Speaker 6 (03:12):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (03:13):
The the NFL we en we know how popular this is,
how how much interest level there is.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
It's it's why our sport is so healthy.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
And we we understand the important role our fans play
in our sport. You know this is Uh, when we
get to training camp, we get our fans out here
to to be a part of this with us, which
we're excited about. I'm excited to be in front of
our fields at Huntington Banks Stadium and and that that'll
be Uh. You know that that's the fun part of
this business for us, is is the competitive s spirit
with a fan base behind you. For right now though

(03:42):
this is OTAs and and this is the focus really
is on the work and we're not gonna let much
else get the way.

Speaker 4 (03:48):
If you have that much way.

Speaker 10 (03:49):
You take into account the opinions and the FEEDBA foot veterans,
untime veterans like Jewel and Miles and Jerry and David
and those guys.

Speaker 4 (03:58):
When you are making your.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
Quarterbacks, yeah, I'm not there. Mary kay yet in in
terms of uh talking to other players about uh uh
those type of decisions. I've leaned on players before for
a variety of different things.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
But uh, I'm not really there yet, Kevin. I only
know who's kicking.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
Is that unusual for your good accomp Uh They have
been kicking, just not uh necessarily out here, Tony. It's
just part of their uh their routine of when Dustin's
getting ready to kick.

Speaker 2 (04:24):
He doesn't kick every.

Speaker 9 (04:24):
Day, Kevin, has Uh any of these undrafted guys jumped
on it.

Speaker 6 (04:29):
You know, you've got some OTAs.

Speaker 2 (04:31):
And they have.

Speaker 3 (04:33):
You know, I don't wanna single any guys out, but
I've been very impressed.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
Uh, I've been impressed with this rookie class in total.

Speaker 11 (04:38):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
The guys are outstanding workers. They're they're like I've said,
you guys are we've no issues. Guys are in early,
they're working hard. But I I include the drafted and
undrafted guys when I say that it's a really impressive class.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
Well, Kevin, they know what.

Speaker 12 (04:52):
Mine and there's But do you have any times are
tempt in mind?

Speaker 13 (04:57):
Your space?

Speaker 2 (04:58):
Maybe some fourth Is that just natural evolution? Yeah? Exactly.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
I mean he's just again getting up to speed on
some of the terminology and that type of thing.

Speaker 2 (05:07):
So yes, definitely don't read into a.

Speaker 12 (05:10):
Conversation about what happened last year.

Speaker 3 (05:13):
Ord is it just and yeah, I've talked to Deontay
when we signed him. I had a good talk with
dont You're okay.

Speaker 9 (05:20):
Yeah, I know it's hard at this point of your
truly walking out there, but just what are your early
impressions and the cutting ability of Quean.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Yeah, it's it's it's hard.

Speaker 6 (05:35):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
Like you mentioned Daryl, it's hard to evaluate without pads
on running back is a hard position to evaluate in
these settings.

Speaker 13 (05:42):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (05:42):
I will tell you with Quinn Shawn, with Dylan, the
young guys and and I'm you know, I could talk
about the room in general, but speaking about those two
young guys that they've done a great job of learning
the system, understanding their roles and what we're asking them
to do. We're put a lot on their plates. Uh so, yeah,
of course, q you see in college tape, you see
his cutting ability at that size is rare.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
Harder to see out here, although.

Speaker 3 (06:05):
It doesn't happen at times, but it's different when the
defense isn't bringing you to the ground.

Speaker 4 (06:09):
What do you hopeing Deante can add given the success
that he's had in this league.

Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, another veteran player that has had success in this league.
We've gone against him, so I know what type of
player is having been in the division with him, so
know his skill set.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
But another veteran player.

Speaker 4 (06:23):
I know that you.

Speaker 2 (06:39):
And now I understand the past.

Speaker 3 (06:41):
I understand there are things that that happened in the past,
but I'm really focused on today and the future for Deanta.
Kevin yesterday, It'll be normal, a little bit shorter, a
little bit earlier, but normal.

Speaker 4 (06:54):
Kevin, yesterday, you.

Speaker 14 (06:55):
Were talking about the discussions in the QB room to
Joe and the younger guys and Kenny's how have those
types of conversations in like camaraderie and the qbroup changed
over the years You've been in the other kind of
felt when you have an older guy and then so
some younger guys that just depend on the personality.

Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah, I think it's so dependent on the personalities. I
think back to Brett Favre and Uh Tavaris, Jackson, Sage
Rosenfel's Joe Webb. Uh that was a fun room. It's
just so dependent on who the guys are. And Uh,
I've been very very lucky, very very fortunate to be
in some great rooms with professionals, guys that that work
hard at their craft. But also, uh, we we try

(07:30):
to have fun while we're there while we're in there
as well.

Speaker 15 (07:32):
So why did you do that?

Speaker 3 (07:37):
We are start We started to introduce some two minute
into the sis into the uh offense and defense last
week and then started to work a little bit today.

Speaker 5 (07:45):
What do you what do you look for in the
quarterbacks on differently to make a higher uh like keeping
the mets all.

Speaker 3 (07:52):
That, Cause, Yeah, we've done a lot of red zone period, uh,
for a bunch of different reasons. Number one, it's so important,
uh Obviously it's a scoring portion of our field. But
number two, it's a nice way to take care of legs.
So if you do a tight a red zone drill
or you're not running fifty yards if you will, so
you try to incorporate some red zone into what we do.

(08:12):
But the game does change down there. The field becomes
wider than it is long, a lot of those windows
become extremely tight. Obviously we're not working the run game
right now, but in the run game, those running backs
have to sometimes bring their own blocker. There's not that
we're gonna have a safety that we can't block. So
the game really does change down there.

Speaker 2 (08:29):
Installs.

Speaker 9 (08:31):
How many installs offer and stan think that.

Speaker 3 (08:33):
You've gotten so far, we've gotten through the whole system,
which for us essentially amounts to about seven installs.

Speaker 2 (08:42):
So that's about normal.

Speaker 3 (08:43):
That's about normal. Yeah, games, you know, he's had a sorry,
he's had a really strong spring. Is here all the
time working on his body. Very utilian player can line
up in multiple positions, which I think is valuable.

Speaker 2 (09:03):
And then he showed up.

Speaker 3 (09:04):
He's caught the ball well, and the you know, the
quarterbacks like how he gets open. He finds way to
get open versus his own versus man.

Speaker 4 (09:12):
My call, David Bell, that haven't practiced almost Do you
expect him to be ready to go when we get
the training camp.

Speaker 2 (09:18):
I'll have a better update as we get closer to
training camp.

Speaker 1 (09:20):
Up next is quarterback Joe Flacco, who talked about entering
his eighteenth NFL season.

Speaker 16 (09:26):
Joe's we come to the end of the spring, you
feel like personally you've accomplished what you wanted to get
out of this.

Speaker 17 (09:32):
Yeah, you know, for me, it's out there and just
kind of getting your feel back and getting the ball
off your hand. Well, make sure you're going through your
reads the right way. So I feel great with that.
You know, I feel like I'm getting through things and throws,
spinning it well, and you know, the other things will come.
And it's not like I've had a million reps, so
it's tough to kind of get into groove and do

(09:53):
those things. But as far as when I'm out there
just kind of getting through everything and just the vision
of it all, I felt good, felt comfortable, so.

Speaker 10 (10:00):
Fun to kind of watch kind it up with you
a little bit. And the dance thing was really funny.

Speaker 15 (10:07):
But uh, he kind of well, but.

Speaker 10 (10:12):
Also it is he bringing, you know, a lightness and
some laughter and fund of course.

Speaker 17 (10:18):
Yeah, I mean listen, that's honestly how a lot of
rooms and locker rooms are anyway. But yeah, obviously, like
you can see the interactions and and it's like that
in meeting rooms too. Sometimes we're laughing together. Sometimes you're
chuckling because of whatever. N you know, they're thinking as
the young guys. But I usually I would say I've

(10:39):
had a lot of s I've had a smile on
my face. A good portion of the time I've been here,
uh this spring, so it's been a lot of fun.

Speaker 10 (10:44):
You're gonna be Is he going to be able to
get you to do that dance?

Speaker 4 (10:47):
No?

Speaker 17 (10:48):
No, no, no, he's I I don't know what dance he
was talking about, but he's not getting me to do
anything for a pictures. Yeah, that was kind of harmless.
That wasn't that embarrassing? That was like lightly my wildly embarrassing.
Well whatever, you know, and all I was doing was
copying somebody else.

Speaker 15 (11:03):
Would I can do that?

Speaker 12 (11:04):
Would you've been kind of load managed her?

Speaker 2 (11:07):
In OTAs springbol? Is that gonna continue in summer ball?

Speaker 17 (11:12):
I don't know what the plan is but exactly, but
you know, I trust Kevin and that he has a
plan for all this, and you know that's really all
I can do. You know, Listen, I'd love to go
out there and take one hundred and twenty reps a
day and get in.

Speaker 15 (11:26):
The groove and and do all those things.

Speaker 17 (11:28):
But like I said, the coaches have a plan, Kevin
has a plan, and my job is to just trust that,
go out.

Speaker 15 (11:32):
There and do the best I can.

Speaker 4 (11:34):
See what you do? Her now in ots not.

Speaker 6 (11:36):
Been your getting camping in SMI's just a small.

Speaker 11 (11:38):
Stampy side And did you see it.

Speaker 4 (11:40):
Jim and Dylan's frushing.

Speaker 15 (11:42):
Yeah, listen.

Speaker 17 (11:43):
I I try to remember putting myself in their shoes
being young, and I'll say to them, like, they're not
letting things bother them. Uh, they seem to be pretty comfortable.
They've they've been able to relax themselves, come out here
and have good practices. Find completions uh there that they're
they're mostly not forcing the ball and things like that.
You know, maybe some of the times those completions, maybe

(12:05):
they could have put the ball somewhere else. But I
think for young quarterbacks to be able to to not
try to force things and and sometimes just take the
check down and take the low guy can show a
lot of growth.

Speaker 15 (12:16):
It can can show some maturity. And I think they've
both done that a little bit.

Speaker 12 (12:20):
We've seen in twenty twenty three play action You're very
good at it. Does it go back to the Koziak
year or we always.

Speaker 17 (12:28):
I think even when I was even before that, you know,
when we kind of started with Cam Cameron, when I
was when I was a rookie, we still had a
good amount of that in our in our game. I
think with the type of zone run game that we
do in this offense and how that's paired with the
with the passing, you know, with our play action game,
I do think it's just good stuff, you know. And

(12:50):
when you get into a rhythm and you can kind
of you learn how to tempo your drop and get
your eyes in the right spots, then yes, I obviously
enjoyed doing that about you guys.

Speaker 10 (13:01):
Being sort of from the same area, spending some time
in the ob since and uh, getting some guys together
to say that as much, But can you just talk
a little bit about how you.

Speaker 18 (13:13):
Guys, you know, like that book and what do in fight?

Speaker 15 (13:17):
Yeah, you know what, I don't know. I haven't thought
too much of it.

Speaker 17 (13:21):
You always get questions about what you're gonna do over
these five weeks, and honestly, I'm forty years old. I'm
gonna continue to do what I'm what I've been doing
the last few years. If something does happen to come together,
it will be nice to the fact that a couple of
us are right in that in in that in that
zone and maybe we can pull some But honestly, like
you know, y y those things. I I it's more
about kind of just getting together and spending time with

(13:42):
the guys, and it is throwing the ball around, y y.
It's just building rapport and and and getting to know guys,
and that's the most important thing.

Speaker 16 (13:50):
Joe Tommy told us that sometimes your stories interrupt the meetings.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
There is that true?

Speaker 17 (13:56):
Yeah, it's true. I think we all have a little
bit of u uh, you know, Shoulder might throw something
out there and then I can just kind of build
off of that. Who knows, but we all have stories. Yes,
there's I mean, listen, there was I can think of
one time we had a meeting at nine o'clock and
I think we were lifting at nine twenties, so we
had fifteen minutes and somebody started it off with, uh,

(14:19):
we were talking about this wasn't even a football story.
We're talking about vacations and do you actually like going
on them? And I was like, you know, sometimes, but
not necessarily. And that turns into five stories and next
thing you know, it's nine seventeen.

Speaker 15 (14:32):
You're like, all right, got to see you later. So yeah,
that can happen.

Speaker 17 (14:35):
But throughout the course of my career, that's like you
know that happens on Fridays in the season. You know,
you're you're you've prepared, you're ready, You've kind of covered everything,
and sometimes you tell stories for fifteen minutes.

Speaker 15 (14:45):
It's kind of what you know.

Speaker 17 (14:48):
That's what being a teammate and getting to know these
guys is all about. So it's a lot of fun to
do that.

Speaker 4 (14:52):
Joe Kevin was talking.

Speaker 10 (14:53):
About social media twenty for seventy year cycles.

Speaker 17 (14:56):
Second, Yeah, well it's I think when it initially came in,
I think Twitter started right around seven o eight.

Speaker 15 (15:07):
I came in an oaight. I can remember like.

Speaker 17 (15:09):
The first time I walked into the cafeteria Baltimore and
somebody was like, hey, you mind if we tweet this,
and I nobody knew what that meant. I think the
evolution has kind of come from that's a method to
kind of see some stuff and have some fun to like,
it's the main news source, you know. So the difference

(15:29):
now is like that everybody's getting their stuff from there,
and uh, it's treated a little bit more seriously because
everybody that is the main news source. But you'd still
all you still have the same thing you always had,
which is a million different opinions, so it's like it
kind of blends like your actual news source with a

(15:50):
bunch of other stuff. And you know, now, I think
we live in this world where just like everything you
see on there, there's there's a good portion of people
that are taking whatever you see on there very seriously.
And sometimes it's not the case, you know, but you
just have to I don't know, I've been on Instagram.
That's the only thing I've ever logged in on in
my life. I won't download the other things because I

(16:12):
don't miss them, Like I like, yeah, if you told
me you're taking Instagram away, like I've been on it,
I'm too far down the road. But like Twitter and
all those other things, I won't even download it on
my phone just because I know it's it's a trap
to just you know, get sucked in.

Speaker 15 (16:29):
The dance no TikTok dances.

Speaker 17 (16:34):
The fact that people that is different to this generation,
the fact that people want to get on their phones
and show people the most like that's embarrassing. You're an adult,
like being an adult, Like it's just like I I
can't wrap my head around that, and like I get it,
like you have kids and like you want to like
you want to like have fun with your kids, like well, like.

Speaker 15 (16:52):
Have fun with your kids in private. You know, that's
what I think.

Speaker 17 (16:58):
I'm not guarded. I don't think I'm guarded at all.
I think honestly, if you talk to me in person,
I'll tell you a lot, I'll be pretty honest with you.
But like, yeah, on social media, no chance, no chance,
just part of me there's there, there's a piece of me.
At times they were like, ah, should I be this
guy that kind of like does this a little bit?
Like I feel like in order to have a good
social media you do want to be honest and like
show what you do in your life.

Speaker 15 (17:17):
But it's just like that's a job.

Speaker 9 (17:19):
And with younger players and maybe don't have the same
perspective that you do, and like the reality.

Speaker 15 (17:26):
It's just different.

Speaker 17 (17:26):
I mean, listen, if I grew up this when they did,
i'd be I'd probably be my personality is what it is.
I don't think i'd be dancing on the camera, but yeah,
I would be more similar to them than I would probably.

Speaker 4 (17:41):
Admit becoming a leader.

Speaker 16 (17:43):
Developing chemistry is that mostly organically? How that happens is
at this time of year? Or does someone have to
say we're gonna go off and we're.

Speaker 6 (17:50):
Going to do this.

Speaker 15 (17:51):
Things like that.

Speaker 17 (17:52):
I think things happen organically. I think guys feel first
of all, when it comes to leadership on a football team,
you have so many dominant personalities and at the end
of the day, Kevin Stefanski for the Cleveland Browns is
the leader. I don't care how many leaders you have
on the team that play like you have to fall
in place and buy into what the head coach is preaching,

(18:13):
and then it's and then your job to kind of
facilitate that as a leader, but ultimately as a player,
players respect guys that show up, play well, work hard,
and then everything else kind of happens organically if you're
you know, depending on your personality and things like that.
But the first thing you have to do is take
that field and show that you can play some ball,
and then everything else kind of comes together.

Speaker 4 (18:35):
It is part of the campus limited for you.

Speaker 15 (18:37):
Guys, Like for you, what do you think the most
important thing.

Speaker 16 (18:40):
Is taking away from any camp, heading into that break and.

Speaker 15 (18:44):
Then looking ahead to any camp.

Speaker 17 (18:46):
It's just kind of giving yourself the reminder that you
can do it. Get some confidence back, get some confidence
heading into the offseason so that when we come back
for training camp, we feel like we're a team that can.

Speaker 15 (18:57):
Go win football games.

Speaker 17 (18:58):
And I think a lot of the off season is
just getting that feeling back, you know, And it doesn't
matter what kind of season you had the week, the
year before, you've taken three months off, you've been in
a weight room, you've been getting back, and every time
you take that field, you gotta give yourself that reminder like, oh, yeah,
this is where I want to be and man, I
can do this.

Speaker 15 (19:14):
I love doing it.

Speaker 17 (19:15):
And to give to to go out there against your
team and to actually complete some balls and bat balls
down and do all the things that everybody's doing. It
just gives you that little reminder like, Okay, yeah, we
look good. We're gonna compete. And I think when you
have that confidence going in the training camp, you know.

Speaker 15 (19:31):
It gives you that It gives you that a little
bit of an edge.

Speaker 17 (19:35):
How does it make you feel that.

Speaker 10 (19:37):
A guy like my old spirit, who had such a
turbulent off season.

Speaker 3 (19:41):
When you sat down with Andrewberry, one.

Speaker 10 (19:43):
Of the things that got him excited about coming back
was the fact that he had a pretty good idea
that you were going to be here too, and I'd
hear Joel say similar things. So what what just how
does that make you feel?

Speaker 17 (19:54):
Yeah, well, we were just I mean, we were just
talking about relationships and teammates and listen. It it feels
good to have players to feel that way about guys
and to maybe have sense that maybe you're felt like
that towards a little bit too, just because like we're
all trying to be good football players. And usually when

(20:15):
you get those feelings towards guys, it means that you're
working hard and doing those right things, and it always
feels good for somebody to kind of pep you up
and say, hey, man, you did a good job today.
So when you have good relationships, it's another version of that.

Speaker 8 (20:27):
So the way theyll Indersture look at you, was there
a guy when you came in in Baltimore that was
sort of that person for you?

Speaker 17 (20:36):
I don't know quite the same, but like I had,
I came in with Kyle Bowmore and Troy Smith. They
were kind of like competing and you know, we were
kind of all in that room together. And then shortly
after that, Todd Bowman came into my room and he
was probably.

Speaker 15 (20:46):
Thirty six or thirty seven years old at.

Speaker 17 (20:48):
The time, and he had been around the league a
little bit, played in Minnesota, in Green Bay, Jacksonville. I
think he'd just come from Jacksonville. And Todd was awesome
to me. He was kind of in Baltimore by himself.
Family was back in Minnesota, and he'd take me out
to dinner and go out for a drink here and there,
and and just just an unbelievable person. And I did like, look,

(21:10):
I I I appreciated it in the moment, but looking
back also it was a nice It was something that
kind of calmed me down, Like you had a good
relationship with somebody in the room that you know, you
could feel comfortable around, and and and and you felt
was genuinely rooting for you to go play well.

Speaker 7 (21:27):
So last during Jing yesterday talked about it, asking you
questions and how valuable that is. Is there a specific
area that most of the question slash advicece O the.

Speaker 15 (21:37):
Time, It's tough to say. It's a little bit of everything.

Speaker 17 (21:42):
I mean, I don't know if I've mentioned it before,
but I mean they were even asking me about cadence.
You know, we're trying to sound the same with everybody.

Speaker 13 (21:48):
And.

Speaker 17 (21:50):
A lot of these guys, uh in today's game, like
you're s you're so used to no huddle and not
even doing a cadence anymore.

Speaker 13 (21:58):
Listen.

Speaker 17 (21:58):
I was that same way like I in college. We
were nothing in We were you know, in nothing but
shotgun and pretty much all no huddle. But back then
you were kind of like in these camps, you were
forced like coaches really forced you to kind of adapt.
And these days it's kind of, you know, more of
that college style is kind of leaked into the NFL
a little bit, but you hit certain teams where you're

(22:19):
still doing those things, and I think it's it's questions
related to that, you know, uh, call and plays, the
bulk of the like the volume of the offense.

Speaker 15 (22:28):
How do you kind of manage those things? And you know,
stuff like that.

Speaker 12 (22:33):
Under center shotgun.

Speaker 17 (22:34):
I think everybody likes being a shotgun, but I I
love being able to go under center in this league
because you cannot live in the drop back world.

Speaker 15 (22:43):
I don't care who you are, you know.

Speaker 17 (22:46):
Because even the guys that are in shotgun all the time,
they're doing RPOs and they're doing other things to kind
of mix and match and get easy completions and things
like that.

Speaker 15 (22:54):
If you're just living in three.

Speaker 17 (22:56):
Step and five step drops and you're letting the defensive
line pin their years back and come back.

Speaker 15 (23:00):
You're gonna have a tough time. So I love the
fact that we can go under center and kind of
marry the run in the past. I think that's just huge.

Speaker 17 (23:07):
I think teams do it in different ways, and for us,
it's just getting under center a little bit, and I
love it.

Speaker 8 (23:13):
At least they don't have two days.

Speaker 15 (23:15):
Every now and then those stories come up. I remind
them of that.

Speaker 17 (23:18):
My first three years before that CBA hit and John
ran hard camps as it was.

Speaker 15 (23:24):
I think he learned from Andy Reid.

Speaker 17 (23:27):
I told him we had one hundred and ten hundred
and twenty plays scripted. We would runt a two minute
period and it'd be like ones, twos threes, ones, twos threes,
all right, twos, let's go, you get one more. And
it was like whoa, Like we just did a forty
five minute, two minute period, and like, listen when I'm

(23:49):
telling the stories, of course I.

Speaker 15 (23:50):
Am, I embellish a little bit.

Speaker 17 (23:52):
I probably had a half hour to each practice but
it was different, you know. And the difference was that
even if even when it got easier in like eleven,
twenty eleven, I think everybody that it was playing at
that point had been through two days at some point
in their life. Guys that come in the NFL now
have never done it. They've never done it. We're out
there for an hour and fifteen minutes, and guys think

(24:13):
it's hard, you know, like our OTA's were over two
hours for sure in Baltimore, you know, like when I
was younger. Yeah, pre pre embellishing. I'm not embellishing on that.
It was legit. When in twenty eleven we came back
from the CBA and you could you could do a
max of three hours on the field, we did a
max of three hours. We did that three hours on

(24:35):
the field of horn blue. No no, no stretch of
horn blue. We all we were all ran on the
field and then the horn blew at the end of
practice and we all ran off.

Speaker 15 (24:43):
And it just doesn't it's not like that anymore.

Speaker 17 (24:46):
I do tell the guys, I do tell the guys.
I don't want to go back to that, but there
is value in doing that every now and then. There
just is and but there's no way we're doing it anymore.

Speaker 1 (24:56):
Next it's quarterback Kenny Pickett, who talked about getting acclimated
to his new team.

Speaker 15 (25:01):
Okay, I'm paying.

Speaker 9 (25:03):
The last time we talked to you, you were more comfortable.

Speaker 15 (25:06):
What's your state of being?

Speaker 8 (25:08):
Yeah, yeah, I do, I do.

Speaker 6 (25:09):
I think the more the more reps you get in
the new system, you just feel better.

Speaker 18 (25:13):
You know, some of these things are new to me
and nude a lot of guys here, so have an
opportunity to physically rep it definitely helps.

Speaker 15 (25:19):
Kenny.

Speaker 12 (25:19):
Yeah, the Steelers, you're two years there? Did you do
want to play freaking?

Speaker 6 (25:24):
We were not much not much play action?

Speaker 13 (25:26):
No. Is that a challenge or is it an easy
easy for you?

Speaker 6 (25:30):
I think it's just something that like like kind of you,
you wrap it, you get a lot better out.

Speaker 18 (25:34):
I feel like it's it's come pretty pretty easily so
far in this camp and the mini camp at ot As.
I feel like, you know, really comfortable going through the
play action footwork and the fakes, uh and getting getting
to where I need to be on time. So yeah,
a little bit, a little bit we were we were
more gunning in pit, so not as much you know
under center play action.

Speaker 11 (25:54):
I mean, I know a lot of people have talked
about the diversity of experience in the Quarterbacks tream and
how that has given you all.

Speaker 4 (25:58):
High level of conversation.

Speaker 11 (26:00):
Can you give us an example of the conversation you
have so you.

Speaker 18 (26:02):
Feel like a flex so you can each may Yeah,
I think you know, if we have a concept that
may be new to me.

Speaker 15 (26:08):
Uh.

Speaker 18 (26:08):
And I asked Joe about it and he's had it
in the past, That's kind of where the conversation starts,
just getting another opinion on how he's read it in.

Speaker 6 (26:14):
The past, and and footwork stuff like that.

Speaker 18 (26:17):
So that's just one example, but there's plenty of I'm
learning the film room and some guy has a question,
Usually everybody kind of gives her two cents and we
all talk about it. What's an example of the time
that there where the ask you a question and answer
that probably uh, just going through a read and footwork.

Speaker 6 (26:32):
Uh. Me and Shuder talk about that a lot.

Speaker 18 (26:35):
You know, whether you're taking three, five, seven from under center,
you know there's different footworks for each play, and I
think you know more of the under center stuff. I'd
say the college guys have more questions about just it's
just something new that they haven't done. So you know,
hopefully I can give him some good insight, you know
on things that I do, things that Joe does to
help them out.

Speaker 16 (26:52):
Kenny, as we come to the end of the spring,
I feel like.

Speaker 18 (26:55):
What you're wanting to Yeah, yeah, I think, you know,
coming in learning the system and getting to meet my
teammates and building that bond and.

Speaker 6 (27:03):
Just working every day. You have to take it a
day at a time.

Speaker 18 (27:05):
We're installing new things every day, so you know, you
may get that player that you haven't run one time,
you know, and you got to take advantage of it.

Speaker 6 (27:12):
So I think it's gone really well so far.

Speaker 2 (27:14):
How much a billing it but it is organic and
how much he was a quarterback for the chemistry, Yeah
like that.

Speaker 6 (27:20):
Yeah, I think it's you know, it's it's always organic.
I think in football, everyone, you know.

Speaker 18 (27:24):
We're all doing the same thing, We're all in the
same mission. This is a great locker room to be in.
So just being able to hang.

Speaker 6 (27:29):
Out with guys outside of football, outside of the field.

Speaker 18 (27:31):
Whether it's on the golf course, in the cafeteria, getting
invite to eat, whatever it may be. I think It's
always a good time to get to know your teammates.

Speaker 10 (27:37):
How much does it help to have Miles Scarrett to
look out there and see that he's there and know
that if you probably if you can get past him
pretty much?

Speaker 6 (27:45):
Yeah, his presence has felt in two days. I can
tell you that.

Speaker 18 (27:48):
Obviously playing against him, you know I understood that coming
into it. But you know, I had a scrambler today
and I was running down the right side. He was
chasing me down like twenty five thirty yards down the field.
So you know his effort and what he brings to
the table we all know. Uh So it's great to
happen here.

Speaker 12 (28:02):
In your two years at fifth for Steve, there's you
had six with quarters comeback attributed to you. How do
you kill for that?

Speaker 18 (28:12):
Uh, I'd just say preparation, and it's it's the ultimate
team game, so you know you need all other ten.

Speaker 6 (28:16):
Guys on the field to do their job as well.
So I've been a part of great teams.

Speaker 18 (28:20):
I've had great teammates that you know, when it comes
down to it, the work that we put in, I
trust that they're gonna be where I need to be.
They know that I'm prepared and I'm gonna get the
ball where it needs to be. Uh So it's a
it's a complete team game, and that's you know, we
started the two minute stuff today and I thought it
went really well.

Speaker 6 (28:33):
So it was a good start for that.

Speaker 8 (28:36):
Talk about developing the bond you know with teammates and everything. Obviously,
and a week or so you guys are gonna break
for for you know, kind of off season. How do
you continue that and build off of that while you're
kind of away from here, you know, during that period.

Speaker 18 (28:50):
But yeah, hopefully there's times where we you know, we
can get together maybe once in this next five weeks,
you know, wherever that may be, to get you know,
a couple of throwing sessions in hang out, you know,
like I said, go golf and just you know, be
around each other for a weekend.

Speaker 6 (29:03):
You know, could definitely just help continue to build those
bonds during that off time.

Speaker 19 (29:06):
Kenny, when you were.

Speaker 9 (29:07):
With the Fields history mentioned just about the camaradery, you know,
being around you, being around Joe, being around the Sean and.

Speaker 4 (29:15):
Just the room that you guys have filled.

Speaker 9 (29:17):
Also at the same time you're competing for one job
right now.

Speaker 4 (29:21):
Yep, just from your perspective. You know, what's it like, what's.

Speaker 9 (29:25):
That dynamic like where you're trying to help out the kids,
but also at the same time.

Speaker 18 (29:31):
You're trying to keep I don't think like I Like
I said the first time, you know, we kind of
talked about it.

Speaker 6 (29:36):
It's just such a natural thing that happens in all
the quarterback rooms that I've been in.

Speaker 18 (29:39):
You just become you're you're around each other for so
many hours, you become friends. You know, you're always joking
about stuff like you become really good friends and you're
working and competing at the same time. So it's been
a natural progression in every room.

Speaker 6 (29:50):
I've been in, and this one's doing, you know, the
exact same thing.

Speaker 3 (29:54):
About well get yeah, practice, But I'm want to ask
you about preparing for him new or there's steelers, Well
what would what.

Speaker 18 (30:02):
Was the preparation Like, Yeah, you're gonna get four hands
on him at all times, you know, especially third downs
you're you're sliding, you're chipping, You're putting two men on them,
and that just affects everything in the past game because
that takes out an underneath route where guys can start
dropping underneath, second level, third level, throws, so he's truly
a game record player, you know, in terms of a
game plan, so you always have to you know, know

(30:25):
where ninety five is and have a plan form.

Speaker 9 (30:26):
Kevin was talking about social media being like an outside
noise amplifier.

Speaker 15 (30:31):
I know you guys try not to pay time.

Speaker 9 (30:32):
And ask him like your friends and family though, Like
how do you have to ever try to like say hey, guys,
like that stuff doesn't really matter, Like what are those conversations?

Speaker 2 (30:40):
Yeah?

Speaker 18 (30:41):
Luckily, you know, going into my fourth year in the
league and playing college football, I think everyone's pretty used
to it by now, which is a really good thing.
So you know, no one really talks about it, you know,
which is great. You know, when I'm home, I'm home
and relaxing and I just want to spend time with
my family and work his work.

Speaker 15 (30:57):
So how can you, I mean, like.

Speaker 8 (30:59):
You are generation that grew up without a phone, without
social media and stuff.

Speaker 12 (31:02):
Some of these younger guys just been.

Speaker 9 (31:04):
A part of their whole life, right, So how can
you empathize with them as.

Speaker 11 (31:07):
They try to navigate the world that that's their real
world sometimes?

Speaker 6 (31:11):
Yeah, which is a shame.

Speaker 13 (31:12):
It's a shame.

Speaker 18 (31:13):
It should never be considered the real world what you
see online and stuff, so hopefully nobody you know, buys
into that.

Speaker 6 (31:19):
But I think the guys are handling it well. You know,
I'd never even thought about that.

Speaker 18 (31:21):
That's pretty true, you know, I don't think it started
coming around so I was like thirteen fourteen, So yeah,
it's different, different world growing up in the social media.

Speaker 6 (31:28):
I think these guys handling really well tun it.

Speaker 10 (31:30):
If you had an opportunity to spend a little bit
of time so far here with Deontae, knowing him the
way that you do, and if so, do you think
that maybe you can be a little instrumental in making
sure that he kind of acclimates well to the team.
Obviously last year he had some ups and downs, and
what can your role be and kind of helping him.

Speaker 6 (31:50):
Yeah, just help him anyway I can.

Speaker 18 (31:51):
You know, I was talking to him a lot today
in the field, you know, in the two minute period,
going to the play, calls with him where he would
be if he was at Z or X or F
and kind of, you know, talking him through each play.
So know, he's working really hard at it. It's great
to have him here, and you know, I'm gonna I know,
that he's gonna continue to do that.

Speaker 12 (32:07):
You were in Philly last year, but from a distance
where you like what the heck's going on? When m
you were in Philly last year, he illustrated and waved twice.

Speaker 18 (32:17):
Yeah, I I honestly, I didn't really know what was
going on. I try to stay off everything during the season.
But you know, listen, I'm really happy that he's here.
You know, I think he could really help us the things.

Speaker 6 (32:27):
That he can do with his route running and ability.
So it's good to have him here when he's at
his best.

Speaker 11 (32:31):
What what can he bring to the.

Speaker 6 (32:33):
Table for you guys one on one?

Speaker 18 (32:35):
You know, he gets separation, you know, I think he
does a really good job of getting separation at the
line at the top of his routes, you know, in
and out of cuts.

Speaker 6 (32:41):
I think he's probably his biggest strength. You know, he
gets in and.

Speaker 15 (32:44):
Out really well.

Speaker 18 (32:45):
So a lot of those third down possession down you know,
route running which you need to be precise out.

Speaker 6 (32:51):
I think he can bring that more.

Speaker 9 (32:53):
Willie Kevin, you know, puts you guys up on the
field so everyone can an.

Speaker 4 (32:58):
He bring amount of.

Speaker 2 (32:59):
Rights just help.

Speaker 9 (33:01):
Uh, you know, when you're dealing with the foreman and
the rotation here, so that you know, if you're able
to maximize your time and your right.

Speaker 18 (33:10):
Yeah, it's big, it's big, and the more reps you get,
the more comfortable you be.

Speaker 6 (33:13):
You know.

Speaker 18 (33:14):
Unfortunately, in a situation like this, you may only get
one play, one time in the entire camp. Uh, So
you got to try to maximize as much as you can.
Whether it goes good or bad, you can.

Speaker 6 (33:22):
Always learn from it, which is great, but you know.

Speaker 18 (33:25):
As many reps as you can get, it's it's extremely
valuable at this point, especially being on a new team
and new guys.

Speaker 4 (33:31):
Kevin as you know, the developer of quarterbacks.

Speaker 9 (33:34):
It has, like what you've heard, kind of matched up
to your experience.

Speaker 6 (33:36):
Yeah, no, to a t everything I expected coming into it.

Speaker 18 (33:39):
You know, he's probably exceeded that just is the knowledge
of his system that he's been in for a long
time and how he understands quarterback play and what it's
like to be back there and kind of you know,
the clock.

Speaker 6 (33:49):
That we're on and what we have to do, you know,
to be successful. So it's been awesome.

Speaker 18 (33:53):
And he sits in every quarterback meeting and he's part
of all those conversations that we mentioned earlier.

Speaker 6 (33:57):
So it's been awesome.

Speaker 10 (33:58):
We're gonna can see now into the start of drink
to get or talked to you until the start of
drinking there. So I know you've worked out some with
Jerry Judy off on your own. What kind of are
your plans and do you guys maybe as an offense,
have some plans to try to get all together somewhere.

Speaker 18 (34:15):
Yeah, I've talked to you know, Jerry and Thrash about
it actually in Joe's in New Jersey and I'll be
back in New Jersey as well, so hopefully we can
work something out. We can get you know, two or
three days in the middle of the break to you know,
continue to.

Speaker 6 (34:26):
Build that timing and hang out off the field before
we get ready to go into a big season with
Deonta is to run after cauch ability?

Speaker 20 (34:33):
How do you balance and trying to.

Speaker 15 (34:34):
Let them cook with and then you have a first down?

Speaker 4 (34:36):
And why to run backwards there?

Speaker 18 (34:39):
I mean, yeah, that's probably a Deonte question, but yeah,
my job is to get the ball in his hands
and he's gonna go try and get as many yards
he can answer.

Speaker 6 (34:46):
How do you feel about the.

Speaker 10 (34:47):
Portion of the fact that you are kind of having
to make sure that what is in the offense is
gonna work for you guys, and what isn't shouldn't be there?

Speaker 11 (34:59):
Is it gonna be there?

Speaker 10 (35:00):
And a lot of that I think is kind of
falling on you at this point. How's that going while
you're also trying to look great and win the jibt?

Speaker 18 (35:05):
Yeah, you're you know, like there's a conversation we had, like,
you know, it's kind of trial and error. We may
try one play and we don't love it, it gets thrown
out for the season. So that kind of goes into
that you only get one play once. You know, if
you hit it, it's great, it stays. If it doesn't
look great, it may be out. So it's kind of
a trial process for some new plays. That's that's what
this time is for. This time is not to be perfect.
It's to try new things, you know, test timing with teammates,

(35:28):
you know, and push yourself.

Speaker 6 (35:29):
So I think you know, it's gone well so far.

Speaker 1 (35:31):
Wide receiver Deontae Johnson spoke about being reunited with quarterback
Kenny Pickettdane.

Speaker 10 (35:37):
Over the Browns, but just wondering.

Speaker 2 (35:42):
What kind of mind frame.

Speaker 10 (35:43):
Are you in with this opportunity knowing that you had
sort of a turbulent twenty twenty four? Where where's your
head fan right now?

Speaker 5 (35:50):
I guess no, I'm thankful, you know, just to get
another opportunity to be here, you know this one day.

Speaker 13 (35:57):
At a time.

Speaker 5 (35:58):
Control what I control, you know, make most of my opportunities,
and uh, that's how.

Speaker 13 (36:02):
It's it is for me right now.

Speaker 12 (36:03):
How would you describe last year?

Speaker 13 (36:05):
Last years? Last year? I mean, I'm just worried about
this year.

Speaker 4 (36:09):
What were your conversations like with Aye Peary? Type of
surprising when if you were deciding whether not to sign
here later deciding whether not to sign.

Speaker 5 (36:16):
You really just my uh what I bring to the table,
like how I'm gonna move forward and stuff like that,
and I feel like I'm just doing I'm doing the
right things right now, just moving forward.

Speaker 6 (36:26):
I how much it would be to get back to
that forum when when you are really.

Speaker 5 (36:31):
Playing so well placed field, I'm still in that for him,
it's just a matter whenever I get my opportunities, you know,
and be able to put put it on film.

Speaker 2 (36:38):
Case, so watch your a bunch of coming.

Speaker 8 (36:40):
How much should be the conversations if you had with
Kitty before you signed here and and since you signed here,
what what is he meant to tryna be your your
your transition here?

Speaker 13 (36:49):
Uh?

Speaker 5 (36:50):
I feel like he was a probably a a a
part of me coming here or whatnot. And you know,
just I got a relationship go back to Pittsburgh. You know,
we we got a good relationship. You know, I we
probably haven't talked like we you know what I'm saying
it did before. But what I'm saying when we he
reached out or whatever it was like, would we picked
up off?

Speaker 4 (37:07):
Well, the Brown's the only.

Speaker 13 (37:08):
Team that you moved back to me. Yeah, that was
really the only team that hit me up.

Speaker 7 (37:11):
What can you do for this football team?

Speaker 10 (37:14):
High see, we have watched you play for so many years.
What do you feel like you count did you hear
for the creative ground?

Speaker 18 (37:20):
Uh?

Speaker 13 (37:21):
Just you know, another weapon to the receiver room offense.

Speaker 5 (37:24):
Uh, you know, make plays, you know, can be a
help to the young guys and stuff like that. And
really just trying to be myself and get back to
where I where I left at. You know, just one
like I say, maybe most of my opportunities whenever they come,
uh put it on film.

Speaker 13 (37:38):
That's really my main focus.

Speaker 12 (37:40):
Is there a reason you weren't here for those years?

Speaker 13 (37:42):
It was I I had a coach of co uh
coach about that.

Speaker 19 (37:45):
So we we all good.

Speaker 11 (37:46):
Okay, Beyonce here, I know, Uh you haven't had much
time yet with theory, but just what do you think
of his game and and playing alongside him, how you
guys might be able to compliment what another?

Speaker 15 (37:55):
Uh he nice?

Speaker 5 (37:56):
Uh, just him to be able to be man covers,
uh get open his own I'm familiar uh Jerry, you know.
So he's from Florida too, so you know. Uh, but
like I said, he he's a.

Speaker 19 (38:06):
A weapon, know to have a a good guy to
have on the op.

Speaker 13 (38:08):
Uh other side, you know, and whoever was on the
opposite side.

Speaker 19 (38:11):
Whether it's me or whoever it is, you know, it.

Speaker 5 (38:13):
Free gives 'em a chance to you know, get one
on one opportunities and stuff like that. So, like I said,
that's what you know he brings to the table.

Speaker 3 (38:20):
Your la I think said last year with the last year.

Speaker 5 (38:23):
Yeah, I think it's the first time you really spoken
since the out of the team.

Speaker 13 (38:25):
Yeah, I mean, you know, you feel like there's maybe
a misunderstanding of the way things like that for sure.

Speaker 5 (38:30):
For sure, you know, I don't like to speak on
a lot of stuff, So I just you know, everybody
gonna have they opinions, you know what I'm saying. So
at the end of the day, I'm the only one
in that room and really know what be going on.

Speaker 13 (38:40):
So I can only you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 5 (38:41):
Everybody can, like I say, they are title to their
own opinions, So I can only go out for what
I know and then uh try to go go off
what I you know, what I'm saying, I could put
out there like in my best effort, But like I said,
last year is last year. I'm tryna turn and change
that narrative. And you know move R moved the right
way and h just uh keep going, bro would that
route right?

Speaker 4 (39:00):
Ability?

Speaker 11 (39:00):
And Jerry's for outrunning ability?

Speaker 10 (39:02):
It seems like you guys are uh kind of on
even playing field with each other, uh with europe League
so ability, So what what's it gonna be like for
a quarterback to have both of you guys getting that
kind of separation and running up so those kind of
outs together.

Speaker 5 (39:17):
Really, it's take your poison whoever you wanna, we wanna
go to and whatnot. Uh, it was like like just
l like so just getting open. Really it's gonna determine.

Speaker 19 (39:25):
That uh free part of that.

Speaker 9 (39:27):
Are you surprised that no other team reached out to you?

Speaker 13 (39:31):
It's it's the it's NFL, it's the business. I I
don't have no control over that.

Speaker 5 (39:34):
And the Brown's called and I'm I'm happy to be here,
and I'm That's all I'm worried about.

Speaker 12 (39:39):
The other think I'm calling was there's a something else
attractive about this team because you.

Speaker 19 (39:43):
Like, uh I know, I know the uh a b.

Speaker 5 (39:46):
Like me coming out during the draft and stuff like that.
So that's one of the things he mentioned to me.

Speaker 11 (39:50):
So I just can y'all have a front ground your
favorite constablish or a quarter quarterback? When you have four quarterbacks?
When the stuff and how do you go about try
and create.

Speaker 17 (39:59):
A quart never howled out?

Speaker 5 (40:01):
Uh whenever like routes on their seven on seven when
you gotta had to practice and stuff. Uh Uh, it's
really football, you know what I'm saying. Whoever that quarterback
us throwing cats?

Speaker 13 (40:11):
It ain't time.

Speaker 5 (40:12):
I don't feel like the time and stuff is just
don't bother me cause I whoever gonna throw the ball.
I'm'a catch it once it's in the vicinity or something
like that. So yeah, nah nah, it's just catch the
ball if it come your way.

Speaker 12 (40:23):
So two of your former Thames Pittsburgh involved Barbara. Who's
gonna playing towards a year?

Speaker 6 (40:27):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (40:27):
With those teason you know what?

Speaker 19 (40:30):
Yeah, yeah, you know I'm looking forward.

Speaker 13 (40:32):
To 'em for sure. Don't say you've any Just tell
to work set again? Did you tell the Lasco?

Speaker 4 (40:39):
But years to go one for you?

Speaker 14 (40:40):
Do you feel like you can't away like learning anything
about yourself?

Speaker 5 (40:43):
It's one bad year, It's one one year. I had
five grade season in Pittsburgh and it's one year that
don't define me as a player. Uh, none of that
my character, none of that. So, like I said, everybody
gonna say what they wanna say about me, But I
know who I am as a person deep down and
that's all that matters to me.

Speaker 4 (41:00):
So do you feel like you have anything of yourself
or the league?

Speaker 10 (41:03):
Come out in here.

Speaker 13 (41:04):
Just be myself to you know, prove, to prove, prove
everybody room. That's that's my my uh mindset.

Speaker 5 (41:09):
Keep going. Don't worry about the outside noise, worry about
what goes on in between these these gates.

Speaker 6 (41:14):
That's that's when you.

Speaker 11 (41:15):
Talk about that stuff and changing the narrative and controlling
what you can control.

Speaker 14 (41:19):
I guess what does that look like for you?

Speaker 4 (41:20):
Is that just going out on the field.

Speaker 13 (41:22):
Couldn't just play instead of just thinking about all the
other stuff. Just play.

Speaker 5 (41:27):
I wanted, like maybe most of my opportunities when I
get in cheer my teammates home, be a great teammate,
stuff like that, So give them a sephomore.

Speaker 4 (41:33):
You don't feel like you know this.

Speaker 10 (41:35):
Was anything, but you know, just an off year for you,
just going weird year and guessing them that you don't
that you're not taking any extra steps.

Speaker 4 (41:44):
Or measures to try to make sure that you have.

Speaker 10 (41:49):
A good year and that some of those types of
things don't follow you into this season.

Speaker 13 (41:54):
I mean talking about me not being here for someone
ye nor no, I just need Do you feel like and.

Speaker 10 (42:00):
Is there anything that you would have to do to
keep you know, your head on straight.

Speaker 5 (42:03):
That this is coming here with a great attitude. You
know what I'm saying, be a great teammate. You know
what I'm saying, do it be on time and stuff.
Do what I gotta do, and like I say, the
rest gonna take care of itself. Football is football at
in the day. Once we get in between the minds,
that's all it's about.

Speaker 12 (42:17):
After tomorrow year you go off after great practices with
this team, is there catching up to do before you.

Speaker 15 (42:23):
Come back to trailer?

Speaker 5 (42:23):
Ah, I was here actually a week before that too,
so it's not just them three. So yeah, but you cut,
I'm I got a good relationship with Desharn Washington, Kenny Pigott,
so like store, like just if I need a question
with something, I can always call or whatever it is.
Like I'm I'm It's not like I don't know what
I'm doing, like I've it's got to play book.

Speaker 19 (42:41):
And stuff like that, and I can study at home
and so I'm on top of.

Speaker 13 (42:44):
My stuff too.

Speaker 6 (42:45):
So I'm gonna do Jeorian camp up.

Speaker 8 (42:47):
Who how did you build your relationship to door and just.

Speaker 5 (42:51):
Being here just best just you know, I'm just being
around a little bit. Just respect, you know what I'm saying.
Just you know what I'm saying. Me in the league
a little bit and.

Speaker 13 (42:57):
I know what he do and stuff like that. So
just look stuff like that.

Speaker 11 (43:01):
Obviously, as you leaned in this portion of this.

Speaker 6 (43:04):
But for you, just getting in here and being able
to work with.

Speaker 15 (43:06):
The that's the most important.

Speaker 20 (43:07):
Thing for you, Uh, to get out of this that
you mentioned that break and then obviously can't.

Speaker 5 (43:14):
I'm just like I said, be here. You know what
I'm saying, do what I'm told. You know what I'm saying,
to do my job, my assignment and just execute there
is too.

Speaker 10 (43:22):
Will you work with Kenny and any of Jerry or
any of those guys.

Speaker 5 (43:28):
Uh, you know, everybody do their own thing, So it
depends on what everybody got going on at the time.

Speaker 13 (43:33):
But I'm sure we'll catch ups on time or whatever.

Speaker 2 (43:35):
Where do you go back?

Speaker 13 (43:36):
Last one, Tampa?

Speaker 19 (43:37):
That's That's where I'll be at. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (43:40):
Finally, cornerback Denzel Ward recapped what was a strong day
for the Browns defense.

Speaker 2 (43:45):
Should feel like a leader in in in all forms
of leadership.

Speaker 20 (43:51):
Over the last couple of years, Man, I think I've
grown as a leader tremendously and uh a lot. I
take a lot of pride in it. Uh, just definitely
how it came out. I was looking to come in
and be a leader for this team, but I mean
as a rookie when I came in I was just
trying to find my way and everything and and probably
wasn't as outspoken and and but I feel I've just
grown just definitely more vocal leader and uh by I

(44:14):
feel I always showed I was a leader by my
actions and the way I carried myself around a build
a building and on a field.

Speaker 6 (44:19):
But I'm continuing to grow though.

Speaker 20 (44:21):
Just I'm just trying to uh be positive with everyone
I come in contact with and and help this team
win and any way I can.

Speaker 16 (44:28):
You had the perfect attendant's last s Frand did you
do that again?

Speaker 6 (44:31):
Yes? Yes, working for uh, it's just at an example.

Speaker 20 (44:35):
That's a part of being a great leader and certain
example uh for these guys, and I mean were trying
to build something special. A lot of people count us out,
but you know the this is where it starts right here.
So we gotta believe in ourselves first and just continue
to come out here and work and be with the guys,
with the coaches and everything, and uh just get better
each day.

Speaker 6 (44:53):
What makes you think, Okay, do you think that leadership
is is even more important.

Speaker 11 (44:58):
To you now knowing QB is it's an open competition
for you guys obviously, Nick Chubb signs with Houston such
a big year, does it become more important.

Speaker 4 (45:07):
Just knowing like the state you guys are in everything?

Speaker 6 (45:09):
Yeah, definitely. I mean leadership is is huge.

Speaker 20 (45:11):
You see it all across sports and in schools and
their everything, Like you need leader, uh, great leadership on
teams to be to be a great team.

Speaker 3 (45:20):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (45:20):
Ultimately, and uh, I just trying to play my role
in that. What makes you think this year is gonna
be better than last year?

Speaker 13 (45:26):
Then?

Speaker 2 (45:26):
So that's for your team though.

Speaker 20 (45:28):
Uh really, I mean we take it. We gonna take
it a day at a time, game at a time,
week at a time. So I mean we'll see at
the end of the year how things play out. But
as long as we continue to work and get better
each day, I think, uh we'll have positive results.

Speaker 6 (45:40):
Uh at the end of the year.

Speaker 2 (45:41):
Was last year your best year in your opinion?

Speaker 13 (45:43):
Uh?

Speaker 20 (45:44):
I do think your last year probably was my best year. Yeah,
I had I had some pretty good numbers, pretty good numbers,
felt good.

Speaker 4 (45:50):
I'm sorry Jim Schwartz, last week's a difference between probo
to all pros turned into some of those PBUs and interceptions.

Speaker 15 (45:56):
Hm.

Speaker 4 (45:56):
How much is he stressed?

Speaker 13 (45:57):
That.

Speaker 4 (45:58):
How much do you think about that?

Speaker 6 (46:00):
Uh, yeah, I think about it a lot. Uh Jim,
he he challenges me a lot, and I appreciate that.

Speaker 19 (46:05):
Uh.

Speaker 20 (46:05):
I'm trying to be great, greater than great, and uh
he's pushing me every day to Like you said, Uh,
pbu's are good, but those interceptions help help change the
game tremendously and help the team win. So I got
my hands on the on a lot of balls last year,
but being able to take that ball away will help
us even more so. Uh, it's just getting reps on task.
So coming out here and and really just shifted my mindset.

(46:26):
Like I know a lot of times I I just
try to go for the disruption, like my man's not
gonna catch the ball, but just getting focusing getting two
hands on the ball and h going and taking away
and then practicing on the drugs catches and uh, just
keep it in my mind.

Speaker 11 (46:40):
See to this QB competition so far, Just what have
you seen from going against these guys.

Speaker 6 (46:46):
Yeah, all those guys look good.

Speaker 20 (46:47):
You know, I'm looking forward to picking them all off
in practice and uh, they all looking good competing. So
I'm looking forward to see how it continues to play
out and best guy's gonna be out there and go ahead.

Speaker 6 (47:00):
So when you look at your physic all crimes, what
ex Saints do you.

Speaker 5 (47:03):
Just got this year?

Speaker 6 (47:04):
Who do you happen to our one?

Speaker 20 (47:07):
And uh yeah, just the camaraderie, like we all know
each other and we all get along and and and
love playing with one another, and uh just all of
our competitive mindset, like we all wanna win, we all
wanna be great. Uh we come out here, we push
each other every day and uh we just looking to
be the best, to be the best corner group, uh
defensive group yeah, uh in the NFL, and uh that's
our main goal and that's what we go, uh work towards.

Speaker 4 (47:28):
How do you think the two new veteran Saintys fit
in the back end?

Speaker 13 (47:32):
Yeah?

Speaker 15 (47:32):
Good.

Speaker 20 (47:33):
I mean we still coming out here working, so guys
are still learning to playbook and and learning everything. So
I think they gotta get uh more reps and everything.
But uh, looking good so far competing.

Speaker 7 (47:42):
I feel like Gym's still gonna go with as many
three safety packages as he had in the past.

Speaker 20 (47:46):
Yeah, I'm maybe maybe that that's something that I don't
let them put put Whoever out there who's ever out there,
I know is gonna be ready to go.

Speaker 11 (47:53):
I know that room looks different, the safety room in particularly,
like working with those guys.

Speaker 6 (47:57):
Seeing Ronnie step into a larger.

Speaker 2 (47:59):
Role here like that like so much.

Speaker 20 (48:02):
Oh yeah, Rodney, he he's he's a buck guye. So
you know he's gonna come in here ready. You know,
he need more buck eyes on the team. But now Rocket,
he's been he's been good, uh since he came on,
just a coming in, learning the playbooks fast, being out
there making plays, always thinking about his interception he had
uh against the Jets, uh for the playoffs and everything.

Speaker 6 (48:19):
But man, he's he's gonna be a good player for us.
And he's gonna be good just with.

Speaker 11 (48:23):
The Ohio state connection with you guys, I mean, how
cool is it to see his journey and going from
undrafted he.

Speaker 4 (48:29):
Potentially started out.

Speaker 6 (48:31):
Yeah that's good.

Speaker 20 (48:31):
I mean that's his credit to the work that he's
put in and uh the Ohio state where he came from,
and and and you know his grind and mentality coming in.
Regardless of whether you get drafted or undrafted. Uh, you
can still find a way to uh make a scene.

Speaker 12 (48:43):
You haven't be much with John with giving what are
your observations about him your defend.

Speaker 20 (48:51):
Yeah, he he's a good quarterback. Like I said, I'm
looking forward to picking him off as well. And but
he he throws a good ball. You know they all do.
And uh yeah, just looking forward to tu to get
more reps up with those guys.

Speaker 2 (49:01):
In terms of you talk about turns, break up to
your respect.

Speaker 4 (49:06):
You go for the table wide year and figure.

Speaker 6 (49:07):
Out how many of the wall Uh yeah, a lot
of 'em were contested.

Speaker 20 (49:13):
But you know, I feel I'm I'm good enough where
I could I could come and take those balls away,
but just find a way to get two hands on
the ball and and finish the play. I said, I
got a lot of uh hands on the ball, but
just I gotta finish. You know, that's the biggest thing.
And I'm that's gonna be my focus this year. And
uh I'm i'm'a take it away. I'm'a get it away
this year.

Speaker 14 (49:29):
Anything that's sure that you worked on in terms of
getting those hands.

Speaker 20 (49:32):
Or finishing, uh just drugs catching the ball and uh,
I mean our coaches they do a good job of
of setting up drill as far as the practice getting
interceptions and working through that contact.

Speaker 6 (49:42):
Uh that's that you're gonna fill in the game. And
uh catching the ball is the one.

Speaker 9 (49:46):
Jose second dart down percentage for you guys.

Speaker 13 (49:51):
I guess.

Speaker 10 (49:53):
How important is.

Speaker 11 (49:53):
Tacked to come any here?

Speaker 6 (49:56):
How much of hids? Yeah, we focus on it every day.
I mean third down is huge.

Speaker 20 (50:01):
Uh we got to be able to get off the
field come third down, and uh that's our main focus
that we get off the field, got our offense back
on there. We're gonna put ourselves in a good spot
during the game.

Speaker 6 (50:11):
Good, all right, thank you.

Speaker 4 (50:13):
Let me think of it.

Speaker 14 (50:23):
This past seasons.

Speaker 6 (50:28):
Recommend I sure hope.

Speaker 20 (50:31):
So they said this the it's the best helmet and
top helmet. So uh yeah, I'm gonna be in that
one and uh yeah I'll go.

Speaker 6 (50:37):
Out there and play.

Speaker 1 (50:38):
That'll do it 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 weekday, and follow the Browns on
social media for more coverage from the Cross Country Mortgage
Campus right here in Maria.

Speaker 6 (50:53):
I'm Gabe Klea.

Speaker 1 (50:54):
Thanks for listening to the From the Podium podcast