Ventrone-Schwartz-Rees - From the Podium - 6.4.25

On today's From the Podium Podcast hear from Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone, DC Jim Schwartz, OC Tommy Rees, Tackle Dawand Jones and LB Jordan Hicks after OTA number five.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to another edition of the From the Podium podcast. Everybody.
I'm Jason Gibbs here at the Cross Country Mortgage Campus
in Bria, OTAs Week two underway and Ota number five
of six is in the books. Coming up today on
the podcast, you'll hear from Special teams coordinator Bubba van Trone,
defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, new OC Tommy Reese tackled Dewan Jones,

(00:33):
and linebacker Jordan Hicks. Let's kick things off right away
with the coordinators and its coordinator day in a state
of their position group through the off season program. Here,
Special teams Coordinator Bubba vent Trone.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
What's going on? It has been a while.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, I saw a few of you guys down at
the Senior Bawl Nuts. It's been good from the Senior Bowl. Uh,
did they were on my team? I don't think we
drafted any players that were on my team. We did
obviously draft Dylan No, he was on the other team.

(01:11):
He actually j He actually generated a pretty good opening drive.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
They they that they scored on too against us.

Speaker 4 (01:17):
Did you have the opportunity to spend any time.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
We had interactions down there in passing? You know, I
got to know a decent amount of players on both teams.

Speaker 5 (01:28):
So when when the draft discussions took place, did you
contribute to him?

Speaker 6 (01:33):
Regarding him?

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Oh, regarding Dylan?

Speaker 7 (01:35):
No, No, how was that whole experience for you?

Speaker 3 (01:40):
It was a great experience, It really was to well,
first off, it it really jump started the evaluation process
for me. Spent a lot of time evaluating, uh, the
players that were gonna be on my team, and then
obviously getting to know those guys, see them interact in
a team setting amongst their peers and meetings and things

(02:02):
like that. Practice could you could hear a lot of
the communication at practice amongst those guys. So it was
it was definitely a really beneficial tool and resource for me.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, tell us about him as a returner.

Speaker 4 (02:17):
Is he go into this offseason?

Speaker 8 (02:19):
Is the number one guy?

Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (02:20):
So I had DC his his rookie year. We had
him on practice squad in New England, So me and
CEO are pretty familiar with him. Extremely hard worker, undrafted
kid that that has a lot of talent and experience.
He's done a really good job. He's been a combo
returner since he's been in the league. Had a lot

(02:42):
of production last year, he had good production in the
kick return game.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
So I mean, I.

Speaker 3 (02:48):
Would say that he's at the top of the depth
chart for us right now in both of those phases.
In the tank, he's he's got guys in the tank.
If you watch the film from Law last year, I
think that you can see he's got the same type
of run style, the same type of mentality mentality that
he had.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
You know, when he had production early in his career.

Speaker 9 (03:11):
So, but what about Gusten Obviously last year he goes
through those struggles late in the season. Like, what have
your discussions been like with him so far this offseason
and during this period.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, I think with and with any player, you know,
it's a it's a new season. Everything that you've done
in the past, obviously those things contribute matter, But you know,
we're clean slate. I feel like he's in a good
in a good space mentally. I think that he's well,
he has hit the ball well in in the spring
to this point, had a nice day yesterday, and we're

(03:45):
just gonna keep keep working it like we have and
understand that it's a it's a process and we're gonna
get to where we're going.

Speaker 8 (03:51):
Was he not in a.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
Good space mentally last year, then I'm saying I'm not
saying that he wasn't in a good space mentally. But
when you're having that many miss kicks, you know, and
the results aren't coming, and you're w and you're putting
in the time and effort, you can be a little bit,
you know, inconsistent there relative to.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
The situation. So back on sec.

Speaker 10 (04:13):
Yeah, has the return game a source of frustration to
you for two years?

Speaker 6 (04:19):
Ah?

Speaker 3 (04:19):
I would say we've left s We've left too many
yards out there. Yeah, I think we've left too many
yards out there for sure. I think having consistency at
the at that position is definitely gonna help us.

Speaker 4 (04:31):
Does that mean having the same guy rather than a
group of guys?

Speaker 6 (04:36):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (04:37):
Not necessarily the same guy has to do both phases.
I think that when when one guy is doing both phases,
you do have a little bit more consistency.

Speaker 11 (04:45):
Well, but you you got a year now of data
from the new kickoff?

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, how much did that.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
Make you, know, ease this season in terms in this
in this.

Speaker 11 (04:54):
Off season sort of you know how to adjust what
you have set.

Speaker 6 (04:58):
Up and all that.

Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah, so I uh, we we hired a new assistant
Special teams coach Kyle Hoak.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
So we did. We did a lot of research.

Speaker 3 (05:08):
That actually was tag team with I would say our
analytics department on you know, the data relative to where
the balls kick caught, all that stuff, and then going
going back and looking at the techniques to go into
the play. I feel like we have a much better
grasp on how we want to attack that play. So

(05:29):
looking forward to applying everything not only in the OTAs,
but obviously moving into training camp and then preseason in
the regular season. The result of that, I'm sorry.

Speaker 8 (05:40):
Are we kicking off from the twenty five.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yard line now?

Speaker 12 (05:45):
No?

Speaker 3 (05:45):
So the only thing that has changed is where the
touchback is going to go to. The touchback will now
go to the thirty five. No, the kickoff will stay
from the minus thirty five and then the touchback moves
to the to the thirty five yard line.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
What what do you think that will result him?

Speaker 3 (06:02):
I think ultimately it's gonna you're gonna have more return
a lot more return kicks.

Speaker 13 (06:07):
The guy that we saw make some place as a
working at a special teams unit.

Speaker 9 (06:12):
For you guys as well, what have you seen from
these contributions early on?

Speaker 3 (06:15):
I would say, Well, the first thing is, I think
he's done a really good job relative to just giving
good looks. He's done a good job. The effort's been good.
He's a ball handler, he's got pretty good hands. Uh,
a little bit smaller of a guy, but he's got
good quickness. So he's been receptive to everything we're trying
to do.

Speaker 14 (06:33):
Get you guys lost a lot of.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
Look, you're interrupting the award winner.

Speaker 3 (06:39):
Can't do that, you kind of there's a there's a
hierarchy here now, al right? Is that the proper term? Okay,
Mary kay? Yes, you got it next? You're I got
you next?

Speaker 12 (06:53):
So what gets you excited and fired up about the
fact that, uh, the teams are just gonna be so
much better than.

Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, I think that first off, you have we have
some I would say, we have some carryover from last season.
We developed, we develop a good amount of young players
that contributed for us, Winston Bookie, guys like that, even
guys like Chris Edmonds that are coming back, uh, that
have done a good job in the spring. And I

(07:22):
would just say just that at the buy in, I
feel like with our whole team, not just the kicking game.
I feel the players are bought in on making it
harder and just working harder. And I think that our
our Kevin's done a really good job sending a message
on how we need to attack this season this offseason program.

(07:44):
Obviously into training camp in the season, but I feel
like our our whole you know, team coaching staff understands
like what we need to do well.

Speaker 4 (07:54):
But you guys lost a lot.

Speaker 13 (07:54):
Of contributors on the special team from Rodney Yeah, I mean,
who's really next up to Gods?

Speaker 2 (08:01):
Yeah, I think, well, we're gonna see.

Speaker 3 (08:03):
We're gonna see here once we get into into training
camp and we're like truly have competition at every single
position pretty much the lot. We have a really good
linebacker room, the safety position. There's a lot of guys.
There's a lot of opportunity in that in that in
those positions for the for the Big four, even that corner.

(08:25):
You know, we have a there's a lot of a
lot of spots that are available. I mean, you lose
Mike d d D Bell, those are two of your
top guys, so someone's gonna have to step up.

Speaker 4 (08:34):
The rookie draft.

Speaker 10 (08:35):
Picks quarterbacks, which will be uh predominant.

Speaker 4 (08:41):
On special courts.

Speaker 2 (08:42):
I think we'll get.

Speaker 3 (08:43):
I think we'll get contributions from all the guys that
aren't quarterbacks, honestly in some capacity. Probably less from Mason
than than the others, but I think. I mean, look,
Carson was a walk on at UCLA, so he's got
a four phase background.

Speaker 2 (08:57):
That's what he did.

Speaker 3 (08:58):
I mean, he he was a four phace cont tributor
at UCLA, had a lot of production, got opportunities to
play defense. So I see that guy being a guy
that will play for us, especially early Harold fan and
that didn't have a lot of experience, but things he
did at the Senior.

Speaker 2 (09:13):
Bowl were were noticeable.

Speaker 3 (09:15):
So I think that he's got a skill set that
we'll be able to work with. And then we signed
a good amount of undrafted players that I think that
will compete to earn spots in the two running backs. Yeah,
so we'll and we're going to continue to work those
guys that uh in the ball handling area. Both of
those guys will factor back there. Samson will do some

(09:35):
kick return stuff, Juggins will do some kick return stuff.

Speaker 15 (09:38):
So a lot of a lot of kickers don't survive
what Dustin went through last year. So why do you
guys have so much speak.

Speaker 3 (09:45):
Yeah, I think that he's been He's been consistent in.

Speaker 2 (09:49):
His entire career, he really has.

Speaker 3 (09:51):
He had a great year in twenty three, you know,
for whatever reason, did not have a great year this
past year. And I think that he's put it to
bed and as long as as long as the player is,
you know, focused on the task at hand. And I
think that he's done that. His preparation he's in, He's

(10:11):
in really good shape. He's lean, he's strong. Really don't
see any changes in his in his kicking, mechanics, ball elevation, anything.
So I feel like I feel like he's in a
good I really do. I feel like he's in a
good spot.

Speaker 5 (10:26):
But that bubble, historically twenty three was an outlier for
his beyond fifty yard kicks.

Speaker 2 (10:36):
So was it something specchal that you guys did that.

Speaker 6 (10:39):
Year or No?

Speaker 2 (10:40):
I don't think so.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
I think that obviously he just he hit, he hit,
He connected on him better. He just did Sometimes it's
just like that, you know, sometimes you get in a
sometimes in sports, you get in a in a little
bit of a slump. I mean there's there's guys that
bat over three hundred for their whole careers and and
get into a slump for a while. I think that

(11:02):
we're just trying to find our way out of it.

Speaker 9 (11:05):
Now and bring Rex back, you bring Brenton at long snapper, Like,
what do you need to see out of those guys
and in that.

Speaker 8 (11:12):
Position throughout the summer?

Speaker 3 (11:13):
Yeah, I mean there's a lot of things at that position.
It's good to have competition at every position as long
as you, as long as the roster can can handle it.
We felt like at that position we needed to have
some competition. Obviously, snapping is a is a big evaluation
of that of that position. Ability to protect, the ability
to cover, all those things will factor into making a

(11:35):
decision on on on that.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
The intensity for this off season and feeling.

Speaker 9 (11:42):
A notable difference first timeline you reconnize, does it not?

Speaker 2 (11:48):
I think it does feel different. I do.

Speaker 3 (11:50):
I think it feels different when you when you finish
a season like we did, you know, and not not
really talking about last season, but nobody was happy with
how that season laid out, and we're doing everyone's doing
our best to to make sure that that doesn't happen again.

(12:10):
I would have been in favor of kicking off from
the thirty. My the thing that I actually wanted was,
so now if you're if the ball falls short of
the landing zone, if the ball falls short of the
twenty yard line. So last year the rules were the
ball would be placed at the forty yard line. If
the balls kicked out of bounds, the ball's placed at
the forty yard line. Now the touchback goes to the

(12:32):
thirty five. If the ball falls short of the landing zone,
the ball still goes to the forty. I wanted it
to be the forty five or the fifty to discourage
any type of like alternative line drive kicks things like that,
because you're really only sacrificing five five yards, So I
wanted to I wanted the penalty to be greater. That way,

(12:54):
the play is clean and it just looks better.

Speaker 2 (12:57):
So the ball place an issue for these kickers.

Speaker 10 (13:01):
I think we sall last year, like a lot of kicks,
a lot of people in the end zone.

Speaker 7 (13:06):
If they were really short, kind of a yard short.

Speaker 6 (13:09):
Or kind of marking if between.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
Yeah, no, I don't, I really don't. I don't.

Speaker 3 (13:15):
I don't see it I and I don't And to
your point, I don't I don't see a lot of
this year. I I don't see a lot of teams
kicking touchbacks, trying to kick the ball into the end zone.
I think it's I mean, regardless of what the schemes
or the rules are, I think it's hard to return
the ball past the thirty five yard line. So if
you can tackle it inside the thirty five, you have
a it's a it's technically a win.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
So well the last year.

Speaker 7 (13:40):
And at some point you mentioned the two spot during practice.

Speaker 6 (13:44):
Yeah, got to that.

Speaker 7 (13:45):
Yeah, you know, mostly for the to get the quarterbacks reps.
But did you talk to Kevin about the value you see?

Speaker 3 (13:51):
And uh, we we've talked about past experiences. Yeah, when
I was in when I played in San Francisco, we
two spotted quite a bit and we talked about building
a callous on our bodies and being in better condition,
in better shape. And I think that when you're able
to do that, if you if you have the numbers
to do it, And obviously we have four quarterbacks now

(14:13):
that we're trying to get reps to, but I think
that if you're able to handle it the volume, it
enables you to build conditioning amongst your amongst your team,
and everybody's getting the experience in the reps and the
running at the same time. So look, you can't two
spot every single drow, but I think that that'll be
something that we'll look at going into camp.

Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah, yeah, he's.

Speaker 3 (14:40):
I was, Actually, this is funny, so twenty nineteen, I
was at his pro day at Toledo scouting him and
another player that I ended up signing in in Indy,
Ashton Dolan. But yeah, he's He's had production in his career.
He was actually I think he was an All Pro
second team All Pro maybe maybe his rookie season.

Speaker 2 (15:00):
Uh, but super good like.

Speaker 3 (15:02):
Great hands, has really good ability to make miss quick
and fast, good vision, so he'll be he'll definitely be
a guy that will factor.

Speaker 1 (15:11):
Up next talking about Miles Garrett talking about the loss
of Jeremiah Owusu kra Moa and his expectations for twenty
twenty five. Here's DC Jim Schwartzy.

Speaker 6 (15:22):
Guys, I haven't seen you guys for a while.

Speaker 4 (15:25):
Jim, when you watched.

Speaker 8 (15:26):
Jason Graham from your past team.

Speaker 10 (15:28):
In mind, I don't know. I've had a lot of
good defensive tackles over the years, and uh, and this
game has featured a lot of those guys. It allows
them to penetrate play without handcuffs and make some impacts.
I think he can fall in to that category.

Speaker 6 (15:46):
We'll leave who he.

Speaker 10 (15:50):
Who he reminds us of when he starts playing and
starts making plays.

Speaker 3 (15:55):
Hey, Jim, I'm sure you're on you with the statistical
results last year for the defense.

Speaker 5 (16:03):
So what can happen this year to get you guys
back to where you were in twenty twenty three?

Speaker 6 (16:09):
Yeah, I think a couple things to go with. We're
just dry things that end drives.

Speaker 10 (16:16):
Third down percentage had dropped from number one from the
year before, and then takeaways. You know, both of those things.
Obviously end drives. We're trying to get off the field
with no points allowed, and those are the things that
we're putting a big emphasis on this year. We emphasize
them last year. But those are areas that we have

(16:36):
to improve.

Speaker 2 (16:36):
So how do you do that?

Speaker 6 (16:37):
Though?

Speaker 10 (16:38):
As this question, Well, I mean there's a lot of
different things. Turnovers go a lot of different ways. We
work a lot of different techniques for turnovers. A lot
of turnovers are because of rush on the quarterback, and
we got to improve there from last year, get our
rush percentage up. Being around the quarterback is a good
formula for takeaway team speed, it's a lot of is

(17:02):
a is a good formula for taking the ball away
and physical contact, which we're not working on right now.
But guys that play physical, uh physical nature of football,
you know, they they they have a habit.

Speaker 6 (17:14):
Of forcing turnovers.

Speaker 10 (17:16):
So if we can do those things, we can have
good technique to punch balls out, force fumbles. We can
play physically, we can play fast, and we can rush
the passer.

Speaker 6 (17:25):
We're going round the quarterback.

Speaker 10 (17:27):
I think the turnovers will take care of themselves.

Speaker 12 (17:28):
Can you address, uh, just how disappointed, uh you were
when Joka had to miss the season and when he
seemed to be hitting his stride and then also uh,
how his person wound so far?

Speaker 10 (17:41):
Yeah, JK was on his way to a All Pro
season last year. He had really reached that level. We
had talked this time last year about the the biggest
jump between being a a starter and then being a
Pro Bowl player. There's even a bigger jump to being
an All Pro player. And it was really disappointing to
to lose him because he had really, like you said,
he had really hit the Stride's player. He had some

(18:02):
sort of growing pains and some ups and downs, but
he really fit the scheme well. He does fit the
scheme well. His ability to blitz and rush the passer,
and he made coverage look easy. He had just the
game had slowed down for him, and you know, so
all those things together, it's it's it's disappointing to lose

(18:23):
a player like that, but you know, we support j
Ok and everything that he does, and he'll still have
a big impact on our team this year. Might not
well it's not going to be playing, but he'll still
have a big presence on and and yeah, I don't
know what's going on Carson, you know, like a little
bit like Mason. You know, it's hard to see, you know,

(18:46):
where they are right now, but he's working really hard.
He picks things up really fast, and he's he's big,
and he's athletic, so he's got a lot of good
things going for him.

Speaker 5 (18:55):
A good penetrating defensive tackle can.

Speaker 4 (18:59):
Have a big impact companiment the edge rusher.

Speaker 10 (19:03):
Yeah, there's a lot of different ways you can look
at that, but you know, Miles n sees a lot
of double team chips, but a thing that goes a
little bit unnoticed is h he sees so much center
slide too, which lets the tackle overset him because the
guard is is there to to play all the inside moves.

(19:24):
So it in essence a lot of times you can
be triple teamed on those plays. And the best way
to combat that is have a pass rusher that's on
the opposite side that can make offenses pay for single
and up a defensive tackle on a guard. And like
I said, in my history, I've had a lot of
guys that can do that, most recently guys like Fletcher

(19:44):
Cox and and Philadelphia that could do that. So yeah,
and you're closer to the quarterback when you're a tackle,
but there's there's only a few ways.

Speaker 6 (19:54):
You can really.

Speaker 10 (19:57):
Uh combat a defensive tackle, and one of those is
the center slide, and the center's always slide into miles.
That provides a lot of opportunities for a player there,
and we have to take advantage. We have to take
better advantage of those situations than we did last year.

Speaker 9 (20:11):
With Mason and what he did at Michigan. I mean,
it seemed like that defensive scheme, so a lot of
his responsibility was eating up blocks. I mean he got
after quarterbacks, but how I guess excite hit does that
make you get him in this system where he doesn't
have to do all that.

Speaker 10 (20:26):
Yeah, it's been an adjustment for him just because the
style play reading blocks and and like you said, protecting
linebackers and things like that.

Speaker 6 (20:35):
You know that that's not what we do.

Speaker 10 (20:37):
We're a penetrating team that takes a big emphasis on
defensive linemen being.

Speaker 6 (20:41):
Able to make the plays.

Speaker 10 (20:44):
So there has been some growing pains. He's he's pretty
far ahead right now. When we get pads on, that'll
be the next step. And then when you go live
contact that'll be a next step.

Speaker 6 (20:54):
So it'll be it'll be a process for him. I
do think there's a lot.

Speaker 10 (20:58):
Of meat on the bone as far as his production,
and we can see better production from him than even
we saw and he had outstanding production in college.

Speaker 6 (21:06):
But I think there's some meat on.

Speaker 10 (21:07):
The bone that he can he can even have, you know,
have a chance to make more plays here.

Speaker 6 (21:13):
How much have bet all?

Speaker 14 (21:14):
Does attendants matter.

Speaker 10 (21:15):
Too for a player like Miles, I don't know. I
mean this is a voluntary portion. We know Miles works
hard no matter where he is, No matter what time
the season is. So, you know, he's a veteran player
that's proven himself in this league.

Speaker 6 (21:29):
We have a lot of guys.

Speaker 10 (21:30):
Out here who are trying to reach that level, and
you know, they're working hard every day to do that.

Speaker 6 (21:37):
So every player is a little bit different.

Speaker 10 (21:39):
But this is a voluntary part of the part of
the schedule, and we're happy with the guys that are
here and they're all working really hard.

Speaker 7 (21:47):
When you saw it, you know, Miles request that trade
and maybe get the extension worked out. You know, what
are your expectations for him moving forward?

Speaker 10 (21:55):
Yeah, I really think Miles is going to have the
best season of his career and has to write you
know what I mean with you know, I've told him before,
you know, with what's that Spider Man quote, With great
power comes great responsibility, right, you know, and that's with
with the with the big contract, with the notoriety that

(22:17):
came along with that, and you know, with the process
that took to get him to get him to that point,
there also comes you know, you know what's I mean,
there's there's always pressure in this league, but probably a
little bit more so, and I think that that that
brings out the best in players.

Speaker 6 (22:34):
And I know that'll be the case with males.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
Also, can any of your free safety be a fall
of hawk?

Speaker 10 (22:42):
Yeah, you know, I think some of being a ball
hawk has to do with pass rush. But guys that
are wired to the ball, that you know that can
get an extra jump on the ball. We we didn't
do enough of that in the past, and you know,
that's certainly a position we can improve on. And you know,
we talked about things we can improve of him last year.

(23:04):
You know, turnovers and things like that mean a lot.
But you know, so many of those deep ball things
come from ball coming out before the quarterback wants to,
or being hit before he wont before as he's throwing.

Speaker 6 (23:19):
You know, they they but they both work hand in hand.

Speaker 10 (23:21):
H a guy in the back end, you know, you
like in in this stuff, you're not gonna see very
many interceptions, you know now because quarterbacks aren't hit being
hit when they throw, and they're not being forced to
throw before they want to, so you know it all
it all sort of goes hand in hand.

Speaker 8 (23:36):
I know, you're almost lines where would you say, runny
you hit him?

Speaker 2 (23:39):
That's attributed as kind out.

Speaker 6 (23:41):
Yeah, he's always been a ball hawk.

Speaker 10 (23:43):
You know, last year, you know, there was some injuries
things that kept him from being on the field. This
is a really big season. He's in his third year.
He should really hit his stride for for us. You know,
we're surrounding him with some veteran players, brought rays on him,
brought Kzy in, you know, have Grant returning. We're a

(24:03):
safety heavy team. We we run a lot of three
safety system, but we need Ronnie to really bring it
all together. You know, showed really good flashes as a
as a rookie, you know, and he had he played
well when he was on the field last year, but
we just need him on the field a little bit more.

Speaker 6 (24:23):
He's a little bit bigger now.

Speaker 10 (24:24):
I don't know if you guys notice him, you know,
physical stature, he's a little bit more and he's still
moving just as well. And tell players all the time
we want guys as big as they can running the
fastest that they can.

Speaker 6 (24:37):
Basically means that if you put weight.

Speaker 10 (24:40):
On and it slows you down, or put size on
it slows you down, that wasn't good weight to add.
But he's maintained his movement metrics while gaining a little bit.
And I think that'll help him in younger players.

Speaker 11 (24:52):
Younger players learned from Denzel Ward in the setting.

Speaker 10 (24:56):
Yeah, I mean you learn from everybody, whether it's a
Jordan Hicks or award or you know, it doesn't matter.

Speaker 6 (25:03):
You can learn from offensive guys.

Speaker 10 (25:05):
You know, not just technique in your own position, but
you know, just the way you handle your business, the
way you go about things. There's a lot of places
for people to learn, and Denzel's a great example. He
had a drive and break on the bottom. I think
you guys were out there. It was as good as
I've ever seen, you know, and a little bit like

(25:25):
we talked about before with you know, finishing place for turnovers.
Denzel got his hands on a lot of passes last year,
and we need to convert more of those two interceptions
and that's the difference between Pro Bowl and All Pro.

Speaker 6 (25:40):
You know, the game changing place that PBu is big
for us, but we need to get more of the
I N.

Speaker 10 (25:45):
T's and he's made a big push to convert more
of those too, I N t's and we need that
to show on the field this fall.

Speaker 6 (25:54):
Got time for two more.

Speaker 11 (25:56):
Jim Michael, for a variety of reasons, wasn't to get
a lot of time on the field or as much
unders you guys. I just wanted to out of him
in his rookie year. How important is this season for
him to in terms of his development for what.

Speaker 2 (26:11):
You you guys suppose he can be.

Speaker 10 (26:13):
Yeah, I mean, you know, just like any players, I
I would say that, you know, we talked about Ronnie.
It should all come together in in year three. But
I do think the biggest improvement you see from players
is year one to year two, right. You know, you
see rookies here, they they don't you know, everything is
new to him standing in front of you guys.

Speaker 6 (26:33):
You know, everything they do is new.

Speaker 10 (26:36):
And the second year they come back, they know what
to expect. And I think you see the most improvement
we need that from Mike this year. He's been set
back with an injury, but he's been working extremely hard
to come back from it and we're real, we're real
hopeful to get him back on the field and see
what he can do.

Speaker 4 (26:55):
Last one interceptions with Atlanta. Does he still have that game?

Speaker 6 (27:00):
Well, we'll see.

Speaker 10 (27:01):
You know, like I said, this time of year is
more about individual improvement. You know, you'll see some times
out there where you know, you see players that will
avoid contact and plays they could make or hits they
could make, and that's not the time of year for it,
so it's probably too much to read into it right now.
But through training camp, through the preseason, through the course

(27:22):
of the season, I mean, that's where the proof will be.

Speaker 1 (27:25):
New OC Tommy Reese got a chance to meet with
the media in person today at the Cross Country Mortgage Campus.
Obviously the hot topic of the day with the Cleveland
media the Browns quarterback room.

Speaker 4 (27:37):
It looked like the rookis got more reps today quarterback wise.

Speaker 1 (27:40):
Is that just part of the rotation.

Speaker 5 (27:42):
Yeah, rotation day by day has kind of been fluid.
These days, we have probably the most reps to go around,
so we're able to bounce them out. But all those
guys have been a nice job coming to work and
understanding that each day is going to be a little
bit different rotationally, and you know, it's an evaluation process
for us still, so we're just working through those as
the day's come.

Speaker 4 (28:00):
How much different is.

Speaker 7 (28:01):
The structure of everything, Trying to make sure you compared
to what you're using, trying to make sure everybody.

Speaker 5 (28:06):
Gets Yeah, I've been exposed to two spot, if you will.
In the in the football world, that's kind of how
you call this. I've been exposed to it. It's a
great way to maximize Look, it's not just one position
group that's able to get maximized. You look at young wideouts,
young linemen, young skilled players across the board that we
can get so many reps for now instead of them
just you know, getting the reps from the sideline or

(28:26):
mental reps as coach speak would say. You know, like
now they're actually out there learning on the fly and
things come up. You might run the same play on
two different fields, get two different defenses, and now you
have two opportunities to coach off of. So I really
do think it benefits the entirety of the team.

Speaker 2 (28:39):
I think there's part of the size.

Speaker 4 (28:40):
But what have you seen the most growth in between
Dylan and Shure.

Speaker 5 (28:43):
Yeah, I think just operationally like looks and you come
from the college world where very few things are called
into the huddle, where you have to command a huddle,
operate an offense, and the way you're asked to at
this level. So I think just from an operation standpoint,
you continue to see those guys grow and become more comfortable,
and what we're after there is like there's gonna be
a moment where they get to their comfort level, and
that's going when they're gonna be able to maximize, you know,

(29:05):
and feel confident out there. So they're doing a great
job with their work habits and continue to push each
other in the right direction.

Speaker 12 (29:11):
To be sure we see a day like today where
like Dylan didn't necessarily maybe have as many completions as
you would have liked to have.

Speaker 8 (29:19):
What do you make of something like that?

Speaker 12 (29:20):
I mean, is there are there days where the digital
lights are on and everything's frolling, and then other days
are how do you interpret you.

Speaker 2 (29:27):
Like that?

Speaker 5 (29:28):
I think for all the position groups, quarterbacks especially like
we want to be as process driven as possible opposed
to results. Like, as long as our process is in
the right place, our decision making is in the right place.
You know, we'll continue to coach the fundamentals and get
the physical to follow it, but we want to focus on, Okay,
is he processing at the high level, is he making
the right decisions? Is he making the right reads? And
as that happens, now you see growth and continue to

(29:50):
push them fundamentally to make sure that we're executed.

Speaker 7 (29:52):
It's sure, it's part of the part of the rotation,
but dealing looked like it was first up in a
couple of the drills to take. How valuable is that
for rookie, especially when he's working with other guys.

Speaker 4 (30:01):
That are probably first two guys.

Speaker 5 (30:02):
Yeah, I mean it's fluid for all those guys, right,
all of them other opportunities up there with the first group.
And look, we're evaluating all the positions, so to say, hey,
this is a you know, first group, second group, like
we're evaluating as we roll, So it matters. I think
there's a certain confidence level. Hey, you look across, you
see Jerry Judy there. That builds confidence, right, you know,
you look across you have Poe calling the shots up front.
That builds certain confidence. So again, all that is part

(30:25):
of this process. All of that is part of the
development for all these quarterbacks.

Speaker 16 (30:29):
For we're some period.

Speaker 1 (30:31):
You know, we don't have a true seven on sevenths
to be true eleven eleven, yeah, just a shortage of players,
or are those designed.

Speaker 5 (30:38):
To be eleven on eight on six Yeah. No, we're
very intentional. You know, when you see kind of a
half line of an offensive line. You know, we're trying
to make sure that as the quarterbacks the offensive line,
that we're always doing something to gain benefit of it.

Speaker 7 (30:52):
Right.

Speaker 8 (30:52):
We run seven on seven, you take a three step drop,
you throw the ball.

Speaker 5 (30:55):
Great, but that's not real football, right, So can we
give a presence in front of the quarterback so they feeling.

Speaker 8 (31:00):
Can we work line games? So the line's working during
that period.

Speaker 5 (31:03):
So it's by design to make sure that we're continuing
to press as much real football as we say.

Speaker 16 (31:12):
Not really, No, when you have three young players, two ropeats,
and then obviously Kenny's still the young player, how beneficial
is it to have someone with Joe's experience in that room,
not so much to tell these guys what to do,
but to basically just kind of set the examples.

Speaker 3 (31:31):
That you lead.

Speaker 5 (31:32):
Yeah, you can learn so much by just observing him, right,
and just learning from the way he approaches each day,
the way he is in meetings, the way he is
on the field. Those guys all gravitate towards him, right,
I mean you get Joe telling a story though it
might interrupt your meeting a little bit. So, Uh, He's
been so much fun to work with, so great for
those young guys and he's out here competing like it's
your two forms. So it's been a really fun dynamic

(31:54):
that way, and it makes it really rewarding for all
of us.

Speaker 17 (31:58):
As as you and Kevin has kind of use the
off season to build out the offense and whatever. Looks like,
how do you use this time period to install what
you can versus kind of part for any camp in entry.

Speaker 5 (32:09):
Yeah, there's a balance, right, we're installing our offensive system.
We want to make sure there's certain things that fundamentally
or from an install schedule standpoint, that we're covering. It's
also a time of the year where you're looking at things, right,
there's stuff we study, there's stuff that we want to try.
It is a time of year to push the limits
on those. And you use this as an evaluation period
not only from a player standpoint, but also schematics. Then

(32:31):
when you hit training camp, you you know you're shoring
out your identity a little bit as far as.

Speaker 12 (32:35):
Can you pick it as concerned.

Speaker 10 (32:36):
And we talked to him last week.

Speaker 12 (32:37):
He talked about the fact that he has to learn
the terminology. He also has to kind of hone his
pocket presence a little bit and you know, play more
under center and.

Speaker 8 (32:46):
All those kinds of things.

Speaker 12 (32:46):
So that any said, it takes like two years to
really get good in the system. So when I heard
him say some of those things, I wonder, so you
getting ready to go one if that's the way that.

Speaker 8 (32:57):
It works out, And how is he coming up? Yeah,
he's doing a really nice job. I think.

Speaker 5 (33:02):
You know, the terminology in a system, you know, those
are fluid concepts usually are understood. You know, those are
pretty universal at times. So Kenny has done a really
nice job with everything we've asked him to do. You know,
we're pushing certain areas with him, continue to try to
improve his game. And you know, again he's done a
nice job through the first week and a half and
we expect him to continue to grow.

Speaker 11 (33:21):
I mean, Joe talked a couple of days ago about
kind of a renewed toughness trying to be instilled in
the you know, on the team as a whole, but
especially on the offense.

Speaker 6 (33:30):
Can you talk about that process and.

Speaker 11 (33:33):
You know where where you hope that did it show
the most?

Speaker 5 (33:36):
Yeah, we just want to hold our guys as coaches,
holding ourselves, holding our players, players holding their peers. One
hundred percent accountable, right, and not letting details slip through
the cracks, not letting things fall by the wayside. A
lot of that's mental toughness, right, So when you talk
about callousing the team and having that toughness, a lot
of it's just mentally making sure that we're all up
to the standard at which we want to hold ourselves to.

Speaker 8 (33:58):
Players and coaches.

Speaker 2 (33:59):
What a teacher today?

Speaker 9 (34:00):
But the song of the working last week?

Speaker 2 (34:02):
Tail he seem this offseason after some of the injuries
last year, what are you expected for the season?

Speaker 8 (34:08):
Yeah, SAIDs done a nice job. He's a great threat
for us.

Speaker 5 (34:12):
You know that middle part of the year where he
really started taking off and kind of see him pick
up where he was. And you know, we have continued
to develop Said in his role and he provides you know,
size and strength and athleticism something that is really critical
both inside and out. Playing wide out, I think he
has some flex there. So continue to develop Said's game
and get the most out of.

Speaker 7 (34:32):
Him the wine coming off the a couple of injuries,
just how important is it for him to, I guess,
step up and be the guy for you?

Speaker 5 (34:40):
Yeah, Duan's you know been you know, really intentional on
what he's doing and accountable to to what we're asking
him to do. Coach Bloom, you know, Coach Ben Wilkerson
and Sanders, those guys have all done a really nice
job of continuing to work on him fundamentally, and like
playing both sides of the line takes some time and development,
but you know he's bought in and doing the things
we're asking to do.

Speaker 12 (34:58):
How about s George us from a rookie camp to
now what kind of growth have you seen?

Speaker 9 (35:03):
What do you like about his game?

Speaker 12 (35:04):
And how's it all going to?

Speaker 5 (35:06):
Yeah, he's Look, he's worked his tail off, you know,
he's he's really putting a lot of work as those
like all those guys are, but you could tell on
the on the mental side of the game and learning
the system and calling it and having that rhythm to it.
You know, he's put a lot of work and time
and effort into that. And then when you do that,
the game starts to slow down and you can focus
on finding completions and he's done a nice job of
that as as Camps progressed.

Speaker 7 (35:27):
I know you referenced it earlier when you were talking
about him and Doyling, but just how big of a
learning crew is that, especially for somebody We didn't call
a lot of players in a hoddle.

Speaker 5 (35:34):
Right now, there's a lot of hurry up. It's a
lot harder than you think. Yeah, it's a lot harder
than you think. So I would just say that, especially
just calling it go ahead in terms.

Speaker 12 (35:43):
Of the install level, especially with prey, your quorderbacks, if
you have to tail look back a bit, or.

Speaker 8 (35:48):
You want to know, just throw it all out of
them and see how much they can retain.

Speaker 5 (35:52):
We have a good amount of offense in but we're
very selective with the growth and development and the progression
for those young guys. So definitely pushing them and pushing
where we want them to go, but also being cognizant of, hey,
we want them to go out there with confidence and
making sure that it's you know, beneficial to to how
they're learning and the way they're going that moment. Then,
so they've done a really nice job of really doing

(36:14):
everything we've asked them.

Speaker 12 (36:15):
By the time you guys get done with mandatory mini
camp next week, do you kind of need to have
a pretty good idea going into camp or people are
going to get the bulk of those first team reps
and second team reps because camp goes so faster. You
know what, what's your view on how sort the timeline
of this whole right?

Speaker 5 (36:32):
Yeah, I think it's you know, it's gonna be fluid.
We're gonna continue to work with all the guys we have.
We're going to develop all four of them, and you know,
we're gonna push the reps. We're gonna find ways to
be creative to make sure that they all have opportunities
to develop and put their best foot forward. And you know,
when the time comes, we'll we'll continue to push guys
forward as as they earn it.

Speaker 2 (36:53):
Yeah, what do you think that the identity needs to
be to keep success?

Speaker 8 (37:01):
Yeah? Coach Bloom has done a great job.

Speaker 5 (37:03):
He's been awesome to work with from a coordinator standpoint
for the players, Look, we want our offensive line to
play as one. So when you talk about an identity,
you want all five guys on the same page. You
want that coordinated with the tight ends. You want the
running backs coordinated with the offensive line. You want receivers
competing in the run game. So when we talk about
the toughness of the group, it starts up front with
all of them being on the same page, and we

(37:24):
really want that to resonate with the entirety of the offense.

Speaker 4 (37:29):
Quverback competition usually want quarter company.

Speaker 8 (37:32):
Since two guys, kind.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
Have you been involved in want's just seen one more?

Speaker 8 (37:37):
And I have?

Speaker 5 (37:39):
Yeah, maybe not four, but three three and a half?
I guess maybe yeah, I uh, Look, I think like
the misnomer is like this, like the quarterbacks get along
most places, right, Like everyone's supporting one another.

Speaker 8 (37:54):
It's one group.

Speaker 5 (37:55):
Everyone's pushing ahead and everyone's competing, but everybody's supporting one another.
And that's the cool part about being in a quarterback
room is that relationship and understanding how close those guys
are and how much they help one another. And look,
we're in a selfless business here. We want the team
to win and we all got to score one.

Speaker 4 (38:09):
Another to do that.

Speaker 8 (38:10):
So where and a half?

Speaker 5 (38:12):
Probably when I was a player, I was probably the half.
I probably wasn't really probably wasn't really involved.

Speaker 8 (38:17):
Correct.

Speaker 7 (38:18):
How much will beny camp look differently in reps for
the quarterbacks.

Speaker 5 (38:23):
Yeah, we'll let that play out, you know, We'll see
how it goes throughout the rest of this week, and
we'll develop a plan for next week and hit the
ground running.

Speaker 7 (38:30):
What about the nine QP rookie.

Speaker 6 (38:32):
What do you see now?

Speaker 7 (38:33):
Two running backs and then Harold.

Speaker 5 (38:34):
Yeah, really done a nice job for us. I mean
Quinn Sewn and Dylan, you know, being multiple and what
we've asked them to do. You guys saw a little
bit of that today with those guys out there and
you know, both strong running traits and you know some versatility,
do some different things. But they've great attitude, has worked
extremely hard, have picked it up, have bought into what
you know, Deuce has asked them to do and what

(38:55):
we've asked them to do offensively, and you know, really
done a nice job picking things up. And you know
Harold has really gravitated to that room a tight ends.
You know, CJ's done an excellent job making sure that
you know, we're getting him ready to go, and you
know he's made some places throughout camp for us, and
continue to expect him to do so and continue to
push to find ways to get him involved in terms of.

Speaker 12 (39:17):
The quarterback competition. At this point, can you realistically.

Speaker 18 (39:21):
See any one of these.

Speaker 8 (39:23):
Poor guys winning this job?

Speaker 5 (39:27):
I mean, yeah, you can see them all when in
the job. I think right, and so in terms of
the competition, we're so early in the process. We're so
early and evaluating that. Yeah, I think, you know, we
have a good group of guys that to continue to
push one another and by the time September rolls around,
will be.

Speaker 1 (39:41):
Ready to go to the player's side of things. We
go on the From the Podium podcast, here's tackled Dwan
Jones talking about the recovery from last season's injuries and
looking ahead to this upcoming season.

Speaker 9 (39:54):
So you're excited about your Pacers.

Speaker 4 (39:57):
Yeah, I'm definitely excited to see the Pacers, you know,
hopefully close this series out and you know, it'll be
nice to see if the patients bring a championship to Indianapolis.
You know, Uh, a lot of people was there in
the ABA days, but you know, this is like a
you know, for real thing. You know, No, we haven't
vinceins Reggie, so I think it'd be good for us.

Speaker 11 (40:18):
I'm just the recovery can he's you know, talk about
it and just you know where you are and how
U you know, health wise, how do you feel right now,
maybe even compared to a year ago.

Speaker 4 (40:26):
At this time, Uh, health wise, I feel you know better,
you know, let's just say, I feel like I took
care of my body a little bit better this's off season.
You know that was the main thing. Just you know,
just make those little small adjustments from last year to
this year and just you know, work on and you know,
get better. You know, I lost a l I lost
a lot of a lot of body fat and then
you know, I prided myself on that, and so you know,

(40:47):
I'm I'm happy about that.

Speaker 11 (40:48):
He say, changing diet, changing regimen, what what what specifically?

Speaker 4 (40:51):
Do you think what what can kind of contrimine into that?

Speaker 2 (40:54):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (40:55):
I would say Kelsey, which is our nutritionness. And so
you know, we worked all off season together and you know,
we came up with a great plan and it definitely
came together and you know it was worked out for me.

Speaker 15 (41:05):
Is it was it mostly the injury last year that
kept you from maybe being in the shape you're gonna
be in or did you just sort of have to
learn what.

Speaker 4 (41:11):
What it took?

Speaker 12 (41:12):
Nah?

Speaker 4 (41:12):
And for sure, you know the lingering injury, you know,
my knee, and it it sucks, you know, like like
I wouldn't be out there. You know, i'm'a do as
much as I can. You know ru, Yeah, you know,
I can only go as far as my body goes.
And you know, uh like y like I said, I
had to have surgery last year, and you know I
feel better now, you know.

Speaker 9 (41:28):
You know it was only those three games we got
to see you start at left tackle, But I know
Andrew and Kevin have been really complementary of what you
were able to do over there in that small sample size.
Just how would you assess what you did last year?
And how ready are you to try to show that
that starting job shou the yours this year?

Speaker 4 (41:44):
My main thing is just to take a challenge on
you know. Uh, you know I kept it as real
as possible. Ab you know, I I personally don't like
playing left tackle like that, but you know I I
don't care like I'm athletic c you know it. It's
it comes with the nature of the game, you know, uh.
And you know I think it worse can do it.
And you know he went from right to left and
you know he struggled too, and you know if he
can do it, I know I can, you know, cause

(42:05):
he's he's a weack enough, he's big enough, just like me.

Speaker 9 (42:07):
And you know, I, I uh, I feel that what
made you has made you like the right side.

Speaker 8 (42:11):
So much, like it's early on.

Speaker 4 (42:14):
I mean something that you play your whole life. I
think you can't. You know, it's hard to adapt to
something else that you know, Uh, I had like a
big strong like you know, right hand punch. You know
I'm right handed, so it's easy, but punched you're right.
But you know, left side, I feel like it's more
fineness and you know the game it's like, you know,
it comes to you a little bit slower and you know,
sometimes faster at times. It just depends. Well and I'm sorry,

(42:34):
but how much he Wait? Did you you lost a
lot of body fat? You know, I'm kind of the
same weight it's from I would say I lost probably
twenty pounds from last year. So you know, no range
or nothing, but you know for sure loss of live
body fact.

Speaker 8 (42:47):
Ye to from one side to.

Speaker 15 (42:49):
The other first, some guys you can do it, you see,
you know that you can't.

Speaker 8 (42:54):
It's frough, h I think you can kind of assum
it's make it easier just.

Speaker 10 (42:57):
Cause it's just us a ship places.

Speaker 4 (42:58):
It's wise, it p it's just different just cause of
the angles. That's the main thing for me. You know,
I'm still trying to figure that out. It's just like
you know, the way it's shave or something, and you know,
it's just it just comes to you more naturally. You're
right handed, and you know, it's just like doing everything
with your left, like right in your hand with your left.

Speaker 12 (43:15):
You know.

Speaker 4 (43:15):
Uh, I feel like I'm start to start doing that
stuff in life, you know, just start doing everything in
my left. And I'm already tryna do that, and so
I feel like it's working for me.

Speaker 16 (43:22):
I think you can go a bot losing that way,
that body fat and how would that make you a
better player?

Speaker 5 (43:28):
Uh L.

Speaker 4 (43:28):
Like I said, I am playing left tackle. Most of
the left tackles are a little bit more leaner, and
uh you know, I feel like that would help my game,
you know, being lean and be able to go with
the ball. You know, I got not going gets Miles
all the time on the right side. Left side, you know,
Miles there every time, and so you know, lighter off
your feet and you know you can get to block Miles.

Speaker 16 (43:45):
You know what you can you win from from blocks
and mouse or from.

Speaker 4 (43:50):
Uh probably patience. He has a lot of power. I
think that's the main thing. I'm more uh in his finesse,
his finesse at the top of the rush or you know,
just shock and shedle. I think that's where I can
really learn a lot of you know, figure out my
hands or put 'em and you know, I think he'll
he'll help me.

Speaker 6 (44:07):
Out a lot.

Speaker 1 (44:07):
Though.

Speaker 8 (44:07):
Are you studying certain times?

Speaker 15 (44:08):
I remember last year said something about Ronnie Stanley really
liked him when you study like certain guys.

Speaker 4 (44:13):
Yeah, I think I did, uh Trent Brown this this
off season. Uh yeah, I would see peop that, Uh
I did Trent Brown this off season off Uh, he
had a real good year when he went to left
from uh left to right or right to left from
the Patriots when he was on her team, And I
think he did a real good job. And they kind
of played similar opponents we did cause they're in the FC,
and so I really like, like liked that about him.

(44:34):
And you know, he went against Miles and he you know,
he had something for Miles, and uh, I'll just take
that and trap put into my game.

Speaker 9 (44:40):
We want of considering the injuries you've dealt with the
first two years of your career, I know, the broken
bones kind of a freak thing, but changing your body composition,
doing all those things. How much of that is kind
of inspired by wanting to, I imagine, play all the
seventeen regular season games.

Speaker 4 (44:55):
Yeah, that's a you know, that's one of my major
goals that I made, is just a finish out the
whole season, you know, and you know I just wanna
live up to that.

Speaker 3 (45:03):
Wan h.

Speaker 15 (45:03):
I know Joel's gonna help there to stay with you
guys right now though, who's been around.

Speaker 8 (45:06):
And kinds that you got? How much can you or
where you meet on him? Just kind of be on
that west.

Speaker 4 (45:11):
Side and something when you play next to him. I
lean on him a lot, you know, he he's right
next to the meetings. Now you could rock now. I
leand on Joe a lot though. He he's right next
to me meetings, and I think he helps me out
just cause you know, he knows him a young guy.
I haven't play on that side, and so he kind

(45:32):
of like you know, gives him the T sheet. But
you know, I kind of try to figure things out
on my own, which you know, it's football. What you got,
g got you?

Speaker 14 (45:39):
When you watch guys like Ronnie Trend's, uh Tristan works, what.

Speaker 16 (45:43):
Do you what are your specifically to watch him when
you're trying.

Speaker 2 (45:45):
To take remember what we front of me.

Speaker 4 (45:48):
Just the way they move in space. You know, I
think I sometimes struggled up, you know, just moving in space.
Men as a big guy, and you know Trent Brown,
tr Williams, uh, Tristan they all move out in space
and uh you know in the pass game, you know,
their feet is always in sync with each other. You
know sometimes like I've seen Trink Geld beat you know
Trumk I obvious. You know he used to got to
beat by my house. He's got you know, he's got

(46:08):
to be by Michael. But you know it's very rare,
and you know, I wanna be in that very rare category.
And you know I I it's good watching them and
you know, getting that you know filming, cause you know
you see it and then you got people do on
the field and it helps out so much.

Speaker 10 (46:22):
Oh what was your recovery like the looking way, when
did you basically get.

Speaker 8 (46:27):
Back to like the deer like or and actually versus case.

Speaker 4 (46:31):
Uh the recovery was long.

Speaker 6 (46:32):
Uh you know that was the main part.

Speaker 9 (46:34):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (46:35):
I just you know, I just put my head down,
you know, I f like I said, I I feel
like I didn't. I could've really attacked they years past prior.
Uh yeah, treatment a little bit better and you know,
I feel like I did that this year.

Speaker 5 (46:46):
You know.

Speaker 4 (46:46):
It definitely is that times it's sore, and you know
it's stuff I can't control, you know, but uh, I
definitely took a good approach. You know that the trainers,
the training shore got me right for shorty.

Speaker 18 (46:55):
Hey, d Wine, you were a basketball player in high
school and a lot of times people say when you
cross trained in other sports it helps you in football
or other sports. You think that the footwork you had
to use playing basketball helps you, d uh help help
you develop as a tackle and you're able to play
both sides and his flawless.

Speaker 2 (47:12):
Man.

Speaker 4 (47:13):
I think that's the main thing, you know, as well
as my like I said, my footwork and you know, yes,
playing basketball help a lot, you know, whether from shuffling
like I said, I have to turn this way or
shuffle from right to you know, and it's just like football.
You know you're gonna shuffle on defense and you know
it just got can't let the guy get to the basket,
you know. So that's what I mean. Goes don't let
the guy get to the quarterback, don't let the guy
get to the basketball.

Speaker 8 (47:34):
Kind of been like working with coach Klingberan.

Speaker 2 (47:36):
And and everything.

Speaker 4 (47:38):
Uh, it's been well, you know, it just came from
Bill and you know it got some good stuff from
coach Callahan and you know, I I love that.

Speaker 9 (47:44):
I know, Joel said he's been good with developing the
young guys, especially already earlier.

Speaker 8 (47:48):
Consider you in that group.

Speaker 9 (47:49):
Do you feel like that that you're gonna take a
next step with him?

Speaker 2 (47:52):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (47:52):
Yeah, yeah, you know hopefully you know, uh, like I said,
we just had three in the past three years. But
hopefully coach Bloom get to stay and you know, you
know I would let it have him here for a
long time.

Speaker 8 (48:02):
Also kind of said that coach Jordan grad and use
a different world, but he called him like a jerk.

Speaker 9 (48:07):
Sort of and how he thinks like offensive lineman kind
of need that is that sort of the same.

Speaker 8 (48:11):
Style that you kind of appreciated the coaching room where
they can sort of.

Speaker 11 (48:13):
Be tough on you.

Speaker 8 (48:14):
That's what a tough love.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (48:16):
Sometimes you know, I you know, I check it at
the door. You know, I just tell him, like, you know,
I gotta keep it really how you wanna be coaching,
how you don't be coaching. And you know I tell
him at the beginning, and everybody finds their own land path,
you know, like Callahan coached me different the way he
coach whyatt And you know everybody knows that, and you
know it's just that's just how the coaches are.

Speaker 2 (48:35):
You know.

Speaker 1 (48:36):
Finally today one of the leaders up the defense and
a guy that Jim Schwartz will be counting on quite
a bit this season, especially with Jeremiah o Wusu Koramoa
out here's linebacker Jordan Hicks.

Speaker 9 (48:47):
To start off, like obviously knowing okay, it's not gonna
be able to play this year. Just how hard does
that happen? To see everything he went through last year?

Speaker 13 (48:56):
Yeah, obviously it's difficult when you lose somebody you know
that's not just awesome on the field, right obviously it
play speaks for itself, but somebody that's off the field
that's fun to have around and you know, constantly joke
and keeping things light.

Speaker 4 (49:09):
But h just a leader in the locker room.

Speaker 13 (49:12):
And uh, it's tough. It's tough right now he's not around.
I'm p I'm pretty sure he's gonna be around a
lot more, which is good. Excited to see him, but yeah,
you know, you never wish that upon anybody.

Speaker 4 (49:23):
Uh playing the sport.

Speaker 2 (49:25):
Contact with him.

Speaker 13 (49:26):
A little, you know, we're we we'll text here and there,
but haven't talked talked, so you know, I was ex
I was expecting to see him here. Obviously when everything
came out he wasn't. But uh, you know, I'm excited
to to be able to see him in person and
get to sit down with.

Speaker 2 (49:40):
Him on those lines.

Speaker 4 (49:43):
Getting drafted and just talk to guys like, yeah, smart
kid man.

Speaker 14 (49:50):
He's very attentive obviously, like he's able to absorb a lot.

Speaker 13 (49:56):
Uh, is what I've noticed kind of what stands out
playing multiple position, you know, throwing them in the fire,
seeing how much it can handle, and not one point
hasn't been too much for him. So uh, you know,
I tell him every day, just keep working, taking one
step at a time, and it all come together in
this league.

Speaker 15 (50:15):
I don't think you need you deem it important.

Speaker 13 (50:19):
To Yeah, my position at the middle linebacker is going
to be you know, is a natural leadership position. Somebody
calling the plays natural leadership position. I think it's important
for me to be around. Every team is different, right.
We got new faces, new guys, young guys, uh, older
guys that I've seen before that I've never met. I
think it's important to be out here and get to

(50:39):
know them and and just be a part of the
locker room, you know, if you miss it when you're
when you're away, when you're home. It's one thing to
be to be at home with kids and and you know,
doing the whole dad thing. But it's another thing to
be out here with with some some of your peers
and having a good time so much how much all
doesn't matter that, No, I don't think. So everybody knows
Miles is work ethic and who he is on the

(50:59):
field and how hard uh. You know he goes every
single snap, So Miles to show up when he's when
he's needed, man, and he you know he's when he does.
You know it's gonna be It's gonna be a lot
of fun for me, that's for sure.

Speaker 8 (51:09):
What was going through your.

Speaker 15 (51:10):
Mind during this whole off season? And Miles plus the
trade signs the Eccentia you're paying attention to that.

Speaker 8 (51:15):
Or you hear it?

Speaker 9 (51:16):
You hear it.

Speaker 13 (51:18):
I've been around long enough to know everything works out
the way it's opposed to for guys like that. And
it was happy for him when it all, when it
all did you know? And and obviously me coming back
is exciting to have him here, right. It makes my
job a lot easier.

Speaker 7 (51:33):
I did not know when we got into Jim Schwartz
earlier and about what takes to get back to.

Speaker 4 (51:41):
But more takeaways.

Speaker 8 (51:44):
How do you guys get more fumble recovers?

Speaker 13 (51:47):
And yeah, it's the first thing you gotta do is
emphasize it and practice. And that's it's been done. We've
started every since I've been here, every practice with a
turnover circuit, just focusing on it.

Speaker 12 (51:59):
Uh.

Speaker 13 (51:59):
And then you know, recognizing opportunities going in the film room,
seeing opportunities where we could have made it, you know,
seeing opportunities when we didn't even didn't even take.

Speaker 14 (52:08):
A shot at the ball.

Speaker 2 (52:09):
Right.

Speaker 13 (52:09):
So, Uh, I think it's bringing it to the forefront
of your mind, understanding how important it is and how
game changing it is to get a takeaway, and then
you know, just being able to compete with our offense
and be able to to put it into action.

Speaker 2 (52:24):
He compared himself. He said to last game after earlier
saw season was ja.

Speaker 9 (52:29):
Yeah, not to say he has to fill his shoes shoes,
but do you sort of see that in.

Speaker 10 (52:35):
This game, like that same style.

Speaker 13 (52:37):
Yeah, you see his natural ability to just be in
the right spot at the right time.

Speaker 14 (52:43):
He reads things fast.

Speaker 13 (52:45):
Uh, you know, his ability to get downhill, especially in
this type of defense for a linebacker is needed and
he's able to do that.

Speaker 6 (52:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 13 (52:53):
I think for him it's just getting comfortable. Any rookie
that comes in right, the speed of the game, the
speed of of having to see things move and making
sure you're always in the right spot. You know, that's
always the hardest part. So I think once the pads
getting away, this is step one, step two, the pads
come on right, and then live bullets and then you know,
preseason come So uh, for for what he's been exposed to,

(53:15):
what he's done, been asked to do, he's doing a
great job.

Speaker 1 (53:17):
How good is a feel for you?

Speaker 7 (53:18):
Coming fully healthy, you know, just being able.

Speaker 13 (53:21):
To put your best before Yeah, coming off of off
seasons of being able to just stack the workouts and
and everything together.

Speaker 4 (53:30):
It's huge.

Speaker 2 (53:31):
Uh.

Speaker 13 (53:32):
You know, I turned thirty three in less than a month, Right,
It's exciting to be out here with young guys and
still be able to to make plays and.

Speaker 14 (53:41):
You know, have fun.

Speaker 13 (53:42):
You don't, you don't take these moments for granted. So
it feels good to be healthy obviously at my age
for sure, going on for these young guys the team.

Speaker 14 (53:53):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's exciting. It's it's very exciting.

Speaker 13 (53:59):
It's obvious, right we've we've got a lot of talent,
but talent will only take you so far. We gotta
put it together. We gotta find our our strengths, to
find our identity, you know. And that's building the framework
of that right now. And and obviously training camp is
gonna be a huge part of that. But you know,
I I think you look on paper, you look at
the the talent that we have, the scheme, the the

(54:20):
knowledge in the scheme from year after year. Uh, I
think it all adds up to a favorable situation for us.

Speaker 14 (54:26):
We just have to put it together.

Speaker 16 (54:27):
Somebody like It's it's obvious the impact he has on
somebody like Miles where he's drawing sure attention.

Speaker 11 (54:32):
It takes a month of him, But what does he
also bring for you guys.

Speaker 10 (54:35):
At the linebacker level?

Speaker 8 (54:36):
Being somebody who can sort of know.

Speaker 10 (54:37):
Eat up space space, take on.

Speaker 11 (54:39):
Over the walk.

Speaker 13 (54:40):
Yeah yeah, yeah, in tier helps I mean the whole
D line, right, but if you have somebody like Miles,
obviously they gotta bring attention to him. You know, if
you have somebody else, that just adds a whole another
layer to it.

Speaker 16 (54:51):
Uh.

Speaker 13 (54:51):
You know, being disruptive at any position on the D
line helps a linebacker, just simple, simple as that, right,
And so h yeah, it's it's fun to play behind
defensive lines that are disruptive like that.

Speaker 2 (55:05):
Probably there's gonna be a lot of snaps if the
season you and sweating line back.

Speaker 14 (55:12):
Thanks, it's not a question, that's a question for Schwartz.

Speaker 4 (55:17):
Yeah, what what I'm getting? Yeah, uh, it just just
just said this.

Speaker 13 (55:22):
It's a he's he's a guy that you know, has
been asked to do more than the majority of rookies. Uh,
and nothing has been too big for him so far, right,
playing Mike playing will you know, bouncing around, making calls,
you know, sett in the fronts, doing different stuff. And
that's you know, as a rookie and stand in front
of having somebody like Obo in front of you, right
that you got to man up and tell him with

(55:43):
the with a strong voice right where where to go
UH can be intimidating. He's done a great job and
it's the moment. It's not been too big for him
at all.

Speaker 1 (55:51):
You can like and subscribe today to the From the
Podium Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. You can also
check them out the Browns website, Cleveland Browns dot com
or the Browns mobile app. We're back with you next week.
Three days Mandatory Mini Camp, the three final days of
the Browns off season program. Next stop after that training

(56:13):
camp in the twenty twenty five season. I'm Jason Gibbs.
Thanks for listening to the From the Podium Podcast.