On this week’s final off-season episode of the Best Podcast Available new OL Coach Mike Bloomgren discusses the challenges his room faces this season and how the guys performed in minicamp. DE Isaiah McGuire joins the show as well to discuss his goals for 2025 and Browns Play by Play Voice Andrew Siciliano and Jason Gibbs recap the off-season and look ahead to training camp 2025!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yes, I really am loving every day being in this building,
being part of the Cleveland Browns organization. But like you said,
just worrying about football day in and day out, worrying
about this offensive line, how can we get better, how
can we help them get better? It's just it really
is such a blessing. And also being in the meeting
room with Kevin and Tommy and Bill Musgrave like those
are unbelievable football minds and just getting to bounce different
(00:21):
ideas and talk about different ways to I remember Jimmy
Ray saying a long time ago, there's a lot of
ways to get to Chicago, and it's very true. But
we're trying to find out what our best way for
the success of the Browns will be.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
School is officially out for summer. It is summer vacation. Everybody,
Welcome to the best podcast available. We are making the
best vacation plans available, as are a lot of people
in this building as well. The Cross Country Mortgage campus.
Welcome to the field here in Borea where behind us
it's over mandatory Midi Caampa. The off season program it
(00:51):
is done, wrapped up today with one final reasonably short
practice and that's it. I'm Andrew Siciliano. This is Jason Gibbs,
and I don't know. The air feels a little bit
cleaner and fresher and more beautiful and beautifulday here by
the way, But beautiful week for the summer, buddy.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, you would have never thought this on Monday when
we looked outside and it was pouring rain for eight hours.
But you were on a plane, you got here, you
brought the La weather with you. Some people on Brown's
daily social media don't like you because of that, but
that's all right. I can appreciate a beautiful day and
a beautiful week, and we've had that.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I look at it this way. I'm going to take
the Cleveland weather back to wherever I'm heading next and
that includes a high school graduation, all of it in
northern Virginia. Okay, great, thanks friends. I let's talk about
the football. Let's just start with the quarterbacks and get
it out of the way. As we opened last episode,
I know that's what you want to hear about most.
There is no winter, there is no loser, there is
(01:50):
no grand sweeping conclusion. Necessarily to take from the end
of the off season program, Joe Flacco got some good
reps today, Dylan Gabriel, Canny Pickett it as well. Didn't
see a lot of shador sanders. He really didn't take
his first nap give me unless I'm wrong until about
fifteen minutes were left in this final practice. Moved the ball,
I thought pretty efficiently when he moved over to the
(02:11):
two minute drill in front of everybody. He's made some
really good throws. Dylan Gabriel has also made some good throws.
Maybe didn't see it today in red zone. Did see
it yesterday when he was doing a two minute drive.
Hit some good crossers, hit the tight ends a couple
of times, stood tall in the pocket and delivered the football.
But if you are listening and looking for a winner,
(02:35):
there is no winner that is going to be determined
in July. But that doesn't mean this coaching staff wasn't
taking notes.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
This was too determined these last three days and the
body of work over the last month, month and a half.
This is determining. They're never going to say depth chart,
but this is going to determine day one on training
camp out here at the Cross Country Mortgage Campus, who's
with the first team and who's going to get the
bulk or the lion's share of reps, who's with the
(03:04):
second team, who gets not as many the third team
and the fourth team?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Like that.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Everything that you've been dead with doing here in this offseason,
especially these last three days, is determining that depth chart,
that unofficial depth chart for training camp.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Joe Flacco said on Wednesday that he would like a
few more reps, but remember a couple of weeks ago
he also did concede, Hey, yeah, like I probably need
the least work of anyone. I'm a man. I'm forty.
He didn't actually say that, but he did go off
on his TikTok rant on Wednesday, which was good for him.
I'm a man of forty is fantastic. You're an adult.
(03:39):
I mean, why are you dancing? Gimbe's gonna dance a
little bit late. I'll dance for anything. Are you on TikTok?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
No? No Instagram, my mom, plenty of socials.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Here are my conclusions to the quar tracks. I believe
that's my kids. Joe Flacco can sling it go down
the YouTube rabbit hole. At the end of the twenty
twenty three season, he still has it and if he
is the starter week one. Then look, he's going to
sling it and this team is going to move the football.
Kenny Pickett has twenty five starts. He had his moments
out here during the offseason program, certainly, and he is
(04:10):
going to get his opportunities when training camp opens without it. Doubt,
Shador Sanders and Dylan Gabriel both our rookies, both at
times look really comfortable and both at times look like rookies.
But truly, all four of them can win this job.
Tommy Reese during OTAs was asked, can you see a
(04:31):
scenario in which all four win the job or any
of the four? And he said yes, and then he joked,
I mean, it'd be pretty sad statement if the answer
was no. You have the three preseason games and the
two joint practices. Honestly, when it's eleven on eleven and
it's real football in those moments, that's when you're going
(04:53):
to be able to make conclusions. Douce Staley said earlier
when he was on the podium, you know, he said
nice things about his rookie running backs, and then somebody
followed up about, you know, making conclusions, and he said,
I'll do that when the armor comes on, not when
we're out here in pajamas. The same goes, by the way,
for the quarterbacks. It's not as if they're getting pressed,
(05:16):
man correct. It's not as if these dbs are truly
going for the football and tackling. They're not. It's different.
Call me in training camp.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, and then let's get the pads on. Let's see
what happens. Mason Graham, not a lot made about him
this week, but I can tell you I watched him.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Got off the ball, well, got off the ball.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Well.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
He's fast, a lot faster than I think all of
us realized, can bend like Miles a little bit. He's
got some special characteristics. But put the pads on. Quinn
Shawn Jenkins looked really, really good. Put the pads on.
Let's see what happens when the contact starts, you know.
And it's the same thing with the quarterbacks. It's the
(05:56):
same thing with that wide receiver room. You know, the
wide receivers can run routes and not have to worry
about getting hit tight ends.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Same thing.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Let's see what happens when the pads come on. It
makes life a lot easier and a lot more clear too.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And clearing up something I said, you can't play tight coverage.
It's just it's a different game. It's a different game
in training camp than it is now, and that's where
you get your sweeping conclusions. Let's talk about the wide
receiver room here. Chad Shay made the point. Chad O'shee
rather made the point of saying Brown's wide receiver coach.
That doesn't matter how you got here. You're all giving
an opportunity. Yeah, Luke Floorier has made some plays, and
(06:32):
he wearing thirty seven will undoubtedly from Kent State. Local
guy makes some plays when we get to training camp,
when we get to the preseason, there's always that rookie
wide receiver that makes plays in the preseason. He could
be that guy from South Carolina, Davis Gauge, Gauge, oh
(06:52):
Man Van Yep.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We've gone over this name about five hundred times and
I still can't.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
He has made plays as well. He caught the Schador
deep ball couple of days ago. He will make plays
in the preseason as well. The big question is ken
Deontae Johnson. Can you rely on him number one? Let's
just let's put it that way. Last year was not
his best year and when he spoke on Wednesday. He said,
I'm trying to put that year behind me. I am
only looking forward, and he wanted to point out, hey,
I had five good years in Pittsburgh, Like, let's forget
(07:18):
about last year. I went down another YouTube rabbit hole yesterday.
He made some plays in Carolina last year. Certainly, if
you can rely on him, he's a legitimate weapon. Cedric
Tillman encouraging Mike Woods, encouraging to see them back on
the field for their first day of work during mandatory
mini camp today. But they're being relied on, especially said
(07:41):
as well, you got to see it from said you
saw it last year for about five six weeks. Unfortunately
the concussion. It's time now.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
You have Jerry Judy and you have seven other guys. Yeah,
we gotta figure out who's our number two. Ideally it's
Cedric Tillman. But Tilman coming off the concussion scare last
year and missed a bulk of the season because of it. Unfortunately,
just couldn't pass the clearing house and the rules that
come with that. Deontay Johnson got a lot of questions.
(08:09):
He tried to put those to bed, as you said
yesterday during his availability on Wednesday. But after that, who's up?
Who wants it? And I think we're gonna find out
does it is? Andrew Barry got another movement up his
sleeve between now and the time we're back here and
cross country.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Look, you're you're certainly looking at this point, there's really
no one. And I know people say, well, I'm gonn
keen it out, Like, look, there's a list of names.
You're not calling that list now most teams unless maybe
you do. And I'm not trying to suggest I do
or don't do anything. I don't truly, but those are
moves you see right before they started training camp or
after the first week of training camp. Perhaps just you know,
(08:48):
speaking from looking in the past with other teams, do
you get into training camp like yeah, maybe we go
get a guy they're not there. I would like to
see Deontay Johnson do so like Jamari Thrash Hadowshay pointed
out today, as did Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday to off season.
He had that touchdown, had a red zone drill from
Kenny Picket or Dylan Gabriel. I can't remember where. He
(09:09):
went up high and brought the ball down, landed on
his back, he has looked good. Big leap from year
one to year two. All right, let's go to the
defensive side of the ball real quick. There was a
question certainly throughout the off season about the safety room, right,
what does that look like? Other than Grant Delpit and
rocket returning Rodnie Hickban as well the two veteran safeties
for Shawn Jenkins, also Demante Casey, who has flashed a
(09:32):
little bit out here. I think they've stabilized that room
and I feel more comfortable give you right now than
I did six weeks.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I also like the young kid Edmunds. Yes, I think
ed last year forty one. Yeah, I think that's a
kid to watch, especially they like him on special teams.
But I know coach Bonda, who was on Cleveland Browns
Daily a few weeks ago, was raving about him as
a guy that could get meaningful snaps on the defensive
side of the ball, not just special teams.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Carson Swessinger Mason Graham both look the part. I have
talked to gms or coaches over the years in which
when they get there, when the players get there after
the draft and they get on the field for rookie
Miday camp not that there's buyers remorse, but we've all
ordered stuff, right and it shows up on your front
(10:18):
step and then you open the box and you're like, Eh,
didn't you just get something the other day? I did,
But that's not the point. Like you open the box,
I'm like, eh, is that what I ordered? There are
teams throughout the league every year where the draft pick
gets there and you're like, Okay, got it. That is
not the case with this year's class. And that is
(10:40):
not the case, especially with the two defensive players taken
at five and at thirty three, Mason Graham and Carson Schwestinger.
You see them out there and you're like, Okay, yeah,
they're good. We're good, and I cannot wait to see
them on the field when this becomes real.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Defensive line no concerns. I mean, you're at defensive end.
You've probably got seven guys right now that can make
your roster defensive tackle easily.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
You've got four or five.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
And you didn't even get to see my call this
week because he's still coming back from his injury suffered
in that final game of the year in Baltimore. Linebacker
will be fascinating to see what happens you know Jerome
Baker's in the mix. You got Devin Bush, you got Swassinger. Uh,
you know diabatees in that mix. It'll be interesting to
see who comes to the forefront there, especially with j
(11:26):
Okay obviously out for the year. And I'd be remiss
if I didn't add mister Hicks to that as well.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
And Diabade moving around a lot. You call him a
chess piece, but they're all around. Yeah. That the front,
the defensive front seven? So o line real quick here?
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Dwan Jones left tackle, Yes, he's slimmed down, certainly. It'll
be a big training camp for him as well. I
heard good things about Luke Whippler coming back from Injuri
Zach's inn are getting stronger here. All of those players
we addressed with the mystery man it's been avoiding the
media for most of twenty twenty five. That is the
(12:04):
new Old line coach, former Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren.
Mike Bloomgren deserves an award for being here. How long now?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Four months since January eighth?
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Okay, so more than that, yes, and this is your
first media availability just to the podium. MIDI caamp wrapped
up its time for the summer. You basically went like
five six months. Yeah, that's completely fine with that. Yes, sir,
How much fun are you having now? And listen, I
don't want to It's not about going back to Rice.
It's just about overall the fact that you're not a
(12:37):
head coach and you don't have to kiss babies anymore,
and you don't have to fundraise anymore, and you aren't
recruiting twelve months out of the year anymore, and you
can just coach ball.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yes, I really am loving every day being in this building,
being part of the Cleveland Browns organization, but like you said,
just worrying about football day in and day out, worrying
about this offensive line, how can we get better, how
can we help them get better? It really is such
a blessing. And also being in the meeting room with
Kevin and Tommy and Bill Musgrave like those are unbelievable
football minds, and just getting to bounce different ideas and
(13:08):
talk about different ways to I remember Jimmy Ray saying
a long time ago, there's a lot of ways to
get to Chicago, and it's very true. But we're trying
to find out what our best way for the success
of the Browns.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Will be talking to Jack Conklin talking to Joe Botonio.
They both talk about the toughness coming back to the
room clearly. How do you do that though, in a
mandatory media camp when it's football in shorts, as Deuce
just said, football in pajamas.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Yeah, I think Deuce is right. Football in pajamas is
a good term. But what I would tell you is
that there's still things we can do an individual well,
it's hard to do. In a team format, we can
do a lot of tough things and we get in
phase three. We get to push sleds and many can't.
We get to push sleds like that's a lot of fun.
And we did a drill today where we talk about
max Q, which is a NASA term where an aircraft
taking off takes the maximum pressure and overcomes it. And
(13:50):
that's really what happens for every offensive lineman on every
drive block. And so we've got to continue to work
that and make them understand the strain that it takes
two through and beyond that block.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Okay, explain that. Explain how max Q max q. Okay,
explain how that applies, because again let's say, well.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
It's a third down, maybe not as much, but as
we're talking about anytime we're in a one on one
drive block situation where we're gonna have the stalemate and
we've got to overcome it for the Browns to win.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Fair.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Okay, you want to get back to run of the football?
Speaker 4 (14:15):
We do.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
You are coming back to a town. There aren't many
towns that go, yes, we're going to get back to
running the football.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Was that when you spoke to Kevin initially Day one?
I had to assume that was part of the conversation.
I mean that probably gets you right here right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
It means a lot to me in this line. I think.
I think that's a big part of offensive football, I
really do. And being able to impose your will and
run it when they know you're going to run it like,
those are big things. And again national football, we know
we're gonna have to protect the passer and were we
sign up for that and we want to do that
as well. But running the football, Yeah, there's a special
place in every offensive lineman and every every offensive line
coach is hart for that.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
What's the most consecutive plays you ran the ball at Stanford?
Speaker 1 (14:57):
We ran it the whole second half in some games,
so probably thirty.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
To thir thirty to thirty five times. You had three
hundred yard gas, you had four hundred yard games, you
have three thousand yard seasons. Yes, sir, that's what you
would love to see here.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, I'd love to do whatever it takes for the
Browns to win every game and whatever Tommy and Kevin
c is the best way. But yes, in my heart
of hearts, I'm gonna take a lot of pride every
time we call a run.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
All right, let's go back to Joel Buttonio. I know
it was brought up on the podium here. You saw
it of the golf tournament last week. He called you
a It wasn't jerk. I'm going to change it to jerk.
It started with a D.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yes it did.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Is that a term of endearment?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
I took it as one. It's again, most comfort comfortable
I've ever been called with being called that statement in
my life, and it's not the first time.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
But you need to be there, don't you. I think this.
I felt like this room needs to hear that and
feel that.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
What I really believe is you have to be genuine
as a football coach. I think these guys have to
feel how much I care about this game and their development,
and if that comes across in that manner, it's because
I'm passionate about it and I love this game.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Jack said he didn't think Joel was really going to retire,
but Joel said that You're a huge reason he decided
to come back. Take me to that dinner where you
guys sat down. What was your pitch? Yeah, I mean,
we go when we break bread. It was it was
a really easy and.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Comfortable conversation because we're talking about our families, then we're
talking about how we see this game right on down
the line to talking about our goals, his and mine
for this unit for the future, and then talking about
his legacy of this team. And I basically told him
like I really want to be a part of this.
I want to learn from you, and I want to
help you go out the way you want and if
you can play four more years, let's play four more years.
(16:30):
Like whatever this looks like you doing at a high
level that you want to do, let's go do it.
And so again, I think when you have the mutual
point of loving this game, and you know, he obviously
cares a lot about the Browns. We just had that
mutual ground to start from and it was an easy conversation.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
I want to run down some guys real quick thoughts
on Dewan Jones.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Dewan came to everything this offseason, did everything he was
asked to do in the off season program. He has
lost weight, and he attacked his rehab. So again, those
are really good steps. I just said it over there.
But you know, not a finished product and none of
us are. So we've got a lot of work to
do this summer in training camp to be ready for
Game one.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I know Joe Thomas used a joke that like switching
to the other side is like wiping your ear with
your other hand, and Dewan said that his right handed punch,
he's so much more comfortable than his left handed punch.
But you also said there on the podium that you
don't think there's that big of a difference. So how
do you coach him through those finer points to make
him feel more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Yeah, I would say that from a skill set standpoint,
there's not many differences from the ability you need to
play both proficiently and at a high level. They are
not very different. The time on task and the reps
certainly need to come at left tackle, So every rep
he gets, every set he gets, has so much value
to get him comfortable with that side.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Zach center last year coming back from a leg and Dre,
I know it's your first time with him, so last
year rearview mirror for him. But what do you need
to see from him as he develops and hopefully makes
that jump year one to year two?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yeah, I think number one coming in with a fresh
look at it, a fresh lens, if you will, and
looking at Zach exactly what you mentioned. His last game
is college career, he breaks his leg, then he has
zero off season, and then game three of his rookie season,
go get him, Tiger, go block Dexter Lawrence for a
whole game. And you know that's a hard deal to make.
An assessment on what I've seen from Zach this offseason
(18:07):
is improvement. I've seen him getting stronger in the weight room,
and I've seen him getting better on the field and
working at as fundamentals. So I appreciate Zach. I can't wait.
He's one of many things I can't wait to see
in training camp.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Speaking of guys, coming off injuries. Luke Whippler, what do
you see and can he can he realistically push ethan
Posk coach.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Whippler is doing a heck of a job. Yeah, he
is really doing a great job in our room. He
and Poe are unbelievable with their attention to detail and
how they want to drive this ship for our football team.
And I really have great confidence some maiter which one's
in there right now?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Let's talk about the quarterbacks from this perspective. How does
a four person quarterback competition effect, if at all, your room.
I don't know if it does.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I mean there's a couple of things cadence wise where
one guy may sound a little bit different, But our
coaches are doing such a good job getting them unified,
and so again, I think ultimately, the more time on
task we're able to have I have. Once Kevin decides,
Kevin and Tommy decide to name a starter, that'll be great.
We'll lock in that first group as much as we
can at every position and get the continuity going. But
right now we're just enjoying every rep we get. No
(19:11):
matter who's at quarterback, I could be at quarterback for
the offensive line on some of those reps. You know,
it's not good. It's not good. But my point is like,
we can get what we need, the work we need,
and we're having a good time with all four of
those guys. And I do see those guys in the
building all the time. I think they're all working incredibly hard.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
All right, and now you have some time off. We
do big plans for schools out now, big plans for
the month.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Yeah. Family moved off about a week ago. We're gonna
unbox a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
All right. So it's an unboxing month.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
It's an unboxing month.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Gosh, I think you'd rather be your coach.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah, I'm not gonna rush home today.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Mike Bloomgren, Welcome to Cleveland again.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Thank you so much for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I have talked to so many former college head coaches
in the last year who have gone like or college
head coaches who are still on their job, who say, man,
I just want to be a coordinator or a position
coach in the NFL because I don't want to have
to deal with the nonsense anymore. Mike Blumgren, I think
a classic example of that, and I think we can
say across I haven't talked to every old lineman.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
They love him and that matters. Yeah, that matters. We
had Kevin Hogan on right after. You know, we hired him,
and Kevin Hogan was his quarterback at Stanford, you know
when Bloombern was legend.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Kevin Hogan.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Yeah, I love Kevin Hogan. Kevin Hogan loves Mike Bloomgren.
He couldn't say enough positive things about Mike Bloomgren, and
that seems to be the case with everybody. He's a
Bill Callaghan disciple.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
We like that.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I think you've heard the offensive lineman this week, whether
it was Jack Coughlin right here on this podcast or
Joel Botonio at the Browns Foundation golf out of talking
about getting back to maybe some of those schemes and
some of those rules on the offensive line.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
He said Bloomgren did that. Maybe they ran the entire
second half in a few games. I mean, you know,
first thing I texted somebody when he got hired, first
thing I got back was I think they ran power
eighteen straight plays once at Stanford. I don't know that
the Brown's gonna do that, but hey, getting back to
the bread and butter and getting back to what this
team has had success with under Kevin Stefanski in previous seasons.
(21:10):
Getting after the quarterback is also important. This guy, not
this guy, but the guy that's about to be magically
transformed to standing next to me in Gibbee Spot wants
to get after the quarterback a little more this year
as well. Isaiah Maguire, I've had a couple of people
tell me that I don't know if there's an award
for the hardest worker in the off season, but that
(21:31):
you've been You've been the burreal warrior, that no one's
been to the building as much as you. You've been
here the whole time. Ten minutes after practice, twenty minutes
after practice, you're still out there. How's your off season,
ben me, because football is basically here.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Yeah, off seas has been good man. Like I said,
just taking that time away from here after season, reflecting
seeing where I can improve, also not just from on
the field standpoint, but physically mentally, especially being a student
of the game, and just coming back here when we
got back here in April and just being around my
teammates again.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
It's been very exciting.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
You look surprised when I said that. People have said
that you're working your tail.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
Well, well you do stuff, you don't necessarily do it
for you know, people to notice. This is more so
if you do it for results. And also you can
bring along others you know, if you're able to, but
just mainly just to put in the work.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
So what are the results you are looking for? Because
everyone says, hey, biggest leap between year one and year two.
You made that leap last year, so now you're.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Two to your three. Ye you were looking for what breakout?
Truthfully looking for a breakout, looking for elevating myself as
sending Lord, willing to go out and be the player
that I know I can be that.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
I capable of.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
That means more sacks, right.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
Absolutely, more sacks, TFLs, turnovers. Also just being a better teammate.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Also, I don't mean to say this like flippantly, but
our sacks overrated because I mean pressures matter, right, Getting
near the quarterback matters. I was taking a quarterback down matters, Yeah, clearly. Yeah,
But I would say that pressures matter just as much
as sacks. Am I wrong? Or they should be considered
(23:12):
more in the math? How about that?
Speaker 5 (23:14):
I think they go hand in hand. I think once
you apply pressure, throws off a quarterbacks timing, throws off
the offensive you know whatever timing. However, a sack equals
negative yardage, yes, which is a guarantee TfL.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
TfL TfL should be in all this math.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
TfL is very important too. But obviously everyone sees the
sack and celebration.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
What does it mean to you that your grades and
clearly your performance. Forget what PFF thinks and they had
you as a top five guy against the run, but
that you were able to and maybe not without all
the fanfare, to put that kind of season together last year.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
It was very important, as everyone knows, you know, last
season was very long, it was very you know, had
a lot of trials. But I think what was very
important not only for us in our room, but as
the teams that we collectively stuck together and also continue
to put our best foot forward and continue improving of
what we you know, could control. And by the grace
of God, I was able to do that last season.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
So Alex got hurt, and then Z got traded, and
then your snapcount clearly went up, and then you took off.
Momentum can't carry from one season to the other, whether
it's a team or for an individual player. But what
did that second half of the season tell you?
Speaker 5 (24:28):
It told me it honestly helped with my confidence as
a player, truthfully, simply because like I said, like you stated,
Z got traded, Alex got hurt. You know, those were
very fortunate, because you know, those are great guys and
great football players. But I knew that I had to
seize the opportunity that presented itself. And you know, with
(24:49):
the help such as coach Stock and the other vets
in the room and you know, my support system, I
was able to hone in, not overthink, and just play
more free collectively.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Let's talk about the defense here, and Jim Schwartz talked
a lot last week about obviously getting back to what
twenty twenty three was, of course some more turnovers. How
do you and a lot of it offense has to
play complimentary football. You guys can't be on the field
the entire game. But how does the defense get back
to the dog mentality that we saw in twenty three?
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Honestly, it's just mindset, and I think we've been able
to show that this offseason with you know, most people
in attendance this offseason program. And OTA's whether it's Phase one,
Phase two, and now phase three. It shows intention and
how we compete with each other each and every day,
not to put anyone down, but to uplift each other,
hold each other accountable. Also, like I said, just look
(25:40):
at where we can improve, not only for ourselves as
an individual player, but also, like I said, just uplift
on one another and tell them, hey, I saw this
on this rep. Maybe you could do this. It doesn't
matter where you are, whether you're a starter, whether you're
a rookie coming in, it does not matter. You can
always learn something from anybody, and that's what's really important
for us.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
It just said that he has felt ninety five for
presents the last two days. Yeah, that Miles chased him
down on a scramble like twenty yards now the field.
How has that changed things this week? He said? Perfect attendance.
Obviously this is like the last test before you're.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Off for a month.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Uh, Like I said, it's good to have him and
you know as well a couple others back, you know,
for this mandatory mini camp, just to see all of us,
you know, in one setting. And obviously he's a tremendous player.
He's always gonna make his presence known hence is why
he's had the success he's had. So it's for him
showing consistency who he is, and us not only looking
at that and seeing where we could take that and
(26:37):
apply to our game, but also just collectively rushing together
and being one.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
So bear with me here for a second. Schwartz made
the Spider Man analogy last week. Did you hear that
about Miles on the contract? How he's got to have
his best year because for the what does it feel it?
It's it's for the exactly. Yeah, with great power, come
great responsible to the captain. Justin all right, and I
(27:04):
to hear your cartoonist a little bit, I do Could
you draw Miles as Spider Man?
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Could? I? If I really sat down and took the time,
I probably could.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
That was a hell of a long setup for me
to that question. Tell me about do you draw.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
In the off season?
Speaker 5 (27:21):
I've drawn a little, not as much as I did
growing up, but definitely downtime. Love to just sit down
and doodle and sketch and draw.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Anyone on this team?
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Did I draw? Nah?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
No, you wouldn't do that. Okay? Would you draw like
Brownie the Elf?
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I probably could?
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Yeah, Okay, would you draw like the dog mascote?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (27:42):
What do you draw?
Speaker 4 (27:43):
Cartoons? Man?
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Like I said, I grew up, you know a fan
of Sonic Mario. Uh, Transformers?
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Who was your favorite transformer?
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Mega Tron not Bumblebee.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
I've always been a Megatron person.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Got it?
Speaker 4 (27:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Transformers? And what else?
Speaker 5 (28:01):
Like I said, Sonic Mario? Man, what did I used
to draw my Grammy? Her favorite like character of all time.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Is tweety Bird?
Speaker 5 (28:11):
So I drew tweety Bird a lot because I love
my Grammy.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
You could do all the like I'm just brainstorming. This
is like you could get like an NFL official license.
You could do all the mascots. Oh yeah, off season goals. No,
I'm saying that could be an off.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Season Yeah it could. I'm thinking, yeah we could.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Okay, what do you got in the last month here
before camp?
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Last month? Uh, just like a little downtime. I definitely
got to make sure I see my family, look forward
to my family reunion. But like I said, the main
thing is just getting the body ready, getting the mind
ready in all aspects of you know who.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
I am ready for this season.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
One more day and then back to work. Third week
of July. I absolutely taking time man, enjoy some time off.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Sir, Thank you God bless.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
I had really not talk much to Isaiah maguire other
than hey, what's up in the elevator right on the road.
I'm glad if allt I got a chance to talk
to that Guy's awesome, truly, So.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
I will tell you this. I interviewed him Rookie Mini
Camp weekend when our building was here at the Cross
Country Mortgage Campus was under renovation. Yeah, we were in
off campus house and literally I had the fireplace going
and we taped the fireside chat for Rookie.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Minni Camp for a b I really wanted.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
One is Isaiah was a little shy at first, but
of all the rookies from that class that year two
years ago, I mean, it was fifteen minutes and insightful.
He's quiet, but he waited his turn. There were a
lot of guys in front of him, think about it,
Clowney Zadarias Smith like Alex Right. And I remember seeing
(29:52):
him in the cafe a couple times in and just
telling him your time will come. Just be ready when
the time comes. And that time he got a little
glimpse of it.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Two years ago.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
He got a glimpse last year, a big glimpse when
Alex Wright went down, and he's made the most of it.
And I mean this coaching staff is very, very excited
for his potential. You see it against the run. Like
you said, he wants to get after that quarterback a little.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
More, and I have no doubt that he will. Yep,
and we'll see him back on the field when training
camp opens the week of July twenty one. Don't yet
have the full schedule as we're taping it here today,
but it is going to be. The Browns are going
to be and I know you already see this one
of the spotlights of the NFL because there's a legitimate
(30:39):
quarterback battle and we are all excited for it. We
are also all excited now for a little bit of
time off. Does the Gibbet family had big plans.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
I'm going to play a lot of golf. I'm gonna
play with Tequila Fila and we're gonna play some golf. Yeah,
we're gonna get away a little bit. We already did
the big trip. You know, the Italy trip is done.
You know we got a little to get away, aren't
you like climbing a mountain or something.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Fingers crossed goals, get to the top of Mount Fuji. Hopefully,
you know, we'll you know what, maybe maybe I'll have
the Browns hat and we'll wear it there.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
We'll do that photo there. I think you should. That's
that's that's a lofty goal. I hope it works out for.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
You, buddy. Maybe see some sumo, go see some baseball. Yeah,
it'll be fun.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You've got a whole thing planned out.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
But then we are back here come training camp time.
On all your Browns podcast platforms and CBD and everything.
We will be at it one hundred miles an hour
once training camp begins. Be here, friends, it's going to
be a big training camp. Two joint practices, three meaningful
preseason games, three joint practices, three don't sell yourself short sessions, yeah,
(31:47):
one and one with the other. Yeah. But two teams
against whom the Browns will have joint practice, yeah, the
Puthers and the Eagles. And then the home game here,
the one home preseason finale on the twenty third at
hunting Bang Field against the Los Angeles Rams. A lot
of people to think you mentioned tequila fila behind the
camera right now.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
We also Justin's actual name. He's very, very talented and
we couldn't have done this without.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
We want to thank Jordan, We want to thank Ricky,
We want to thank El, Jeff McDaniel, Jeff McDaniel obviously
as well.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Ricky, congrats on getting married.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Ricky, congrats during this podcast.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
You got married.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Coming to work the next week, like, look at you, buddy?
How about that?
Speaker 3 (32:26):
That's why he makes eight dollars and five cents an hour? Wow,
there you go.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Ricky also has the power to edit that last line
out and I have nothing to do with it. Perfect
Bark Tank will be back in season and huge, big
plans still to be announced for training camp. Enjoy your summer.
Please be safe, Okay, don't dive into the short end
of the pool, and we will see you back here
come training camp.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
What I had one more thing I wanted to thank you.
You made your you made your BPA debut. Thank you
this year and you took it to a whole nother level.
And I thank you for joining me. I car carrying
the water for me.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
For me, I did not carry a darn thing else.
You're might great to be here, and this is this
is like a Ventriloquist act. It is fantastic. Gibbie's gonna
get a baby Bjorn. Nathan's gonna come back with a
baby Bjorne, but he's going to have one as well
so he can carry me around training game. Remember stay hydrated.
Friends for Jason, Gammes and Andrews is Siliano so long?
Yes, I really am loving every day being in this building,
being part of the Cleveland Browns organization. But like you said,
just worrying about football day in and day out, worrying
about this offensive line, how can we get better, how
can we help them get better? It's just it really
is such a blessing. And also being in the meeting
room with Kevin and Tommy and Bill Musgrave like those
are unbelievable football minds and just getting to bounce different
(00:21):
ideas and talk about different ways to I remember Jimmy
Ray saying a long time ago, there's a lot of
ways to get to Chicago, and it's very true. But
we're trying to find out what our best way for
the success of the Browns will be.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
School is officially out for summer. It is summer vacation. Everybody,
Welcome to the best podcast available. We are making the
best vacation plans available, as are a lot of people
in this building as well. The Cross Country Mortgage campus.
Welcome to the field here in Borea where behind us
it's over mandatory Midi Caampa. The off season program it
(00:51):
is done, wrapped up today with one final reasonably short
practice and that's it. I'm Andrew Siciliano. This is Jason Gibbs,
and I don't know. The air feels a little bit
cleaner and fresher and more beautiful and beautifulday here by
the way, But beautiful week for the summer, buddy.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, you would have never thought this on Monday when
we looked outside and it was pouring rain for eight hours.
But you were on a plane, you got here, you
brought the La weather with you. Some people on Brown's
daily social media don't like you because of that, but
that's all right. I can appreciate a beautiful day and
a beautiful week, and we've had that.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
I look at it this way. I'm going to take
the Cleveland weather back to wherever I'm heading next and
that includes a high school graduation, all of it in
northern Virginia. Okay, great, thanks friends. I let's talk about
the football. Let's just start with the quarterbacks and get
it out of the way. As we opened last episode,
I know that's what you want to hear about most.
There is no winter, there is no loser, there is
(01:50):
no grand sweeping conclusion. Necessarily to take from the end
of the off season program, Joe Flacco got some good
reps today, Dylan Gabriel, Canny Pickett it as well. Didn't
see a lot of shador sanders. He really didn't take
his first nap give me unless I'm wrong until about
fifteen minutes were left in this final practice. Moved the ball,
I thought pretty efficiently when he moved over to the
(02:11):
two minute drill in front of everybody. He's made some
really good throws. Dylan Gabriel has also made some good throws.
Maybe didn't see it today in red zone. Did see
it yesterday when he was doing a two minute drive.
Hit some good crossers, hit the tight ends a couple
of times, stood tall in the pocket and delivered the football.
But if you are listening and looking for a winner,
(02:35):
there is no winner that is going to be determined
in July. But that doesn't mean this coaching staff wasn't
taking notes.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
This was too determined these last three days and the
body of work over the last month, month and a half.
This is determining. They're never going to say depth chart,
but this is going to determine day one on training
camp out here at the Cross Country Mortgage Campus, who's
with the first team and who's going to get the
bulk or the lion's share of reps, who's with the
(03:04):
second team, who gets not as many the third team
and the fourth team?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Like that.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Everything that you've been dead with doing here in this offseason,
especially these last three days, is determining that depth chart,
that unofficial depth chart for training camp.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Joe Flacco said on Wednesday that he would like a
few more reps, but remember a couple of weeks ago
he also did concede, Hey, yeah, like I probably need
the least work of anyone. I'm a man. I'm forty.
He didn't actually say that, but he did go off
on his TikTok rant on Wednesday, which was good for him.
I'm a man of forty is fantastic. You're an adult.
(03:39):
I mean, why are you dancing? Gimbe's gonna dance a
little bit late. I'll dance for anything. Are you on TikTok?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
No? No Instagram, my mom, plenty of socials.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Here are my conclusions to the quar tracks. I believe
that's my kids. Joe Flacco can sling it go down
the YouTube rabbit hole. At the end of the twenty
twenty three season, he still has it and if he
is the starter week one. Then look, he's going to
sling it and this team is going to move the football.
Kenny Pickett has twenty five starts. He had his moments
out here during the offseason program, certainly, and he is
(04:10):
going to get his opportunities when training camp opens without it. Doubt,
Shador Sanders and Dylan Gabriel both our rookies, both at
times look really comfortable and both at times look like rookies.
But truly, all four of them can win this job.
Tommy Reese during OTAs was asked, can you see a
(04:31):
scenario in which all four win the job or any
of the four? And he said yes, and then he joked,
I mean, it'd be pretty sad statement if the answer
was no. You have the three preseason games and the
two joint practices. Honestly, when it's eleven on eleven and
it's real football in those moments, that's when you're going
(04:53):
to be able to make conclusions. Douce Staley said earlier
when he was on the podium, you know, he said
nice things about his rookie running backs, and then somebody
followed up about, you know, making conclusions, and he said,
I'll do that when the armor comes on, not when
we're out here in pajamas. The same goes, by the way,
for the quarterbacks. It's not as if they're getting pressed,
(05:16):
man correct. It's not as if these dbs are truly
going for the football and tackling. They're not. It's different.
Call me in training camp.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, and then let's get the pads on. Let's see
what happens. Mason Graham, not a lot made about him
this week, but I can tell you I watched him.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Got off the ball, well, got off the ball.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Well.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
He's fast, a lot faster than I think all of
us realized, can bend like Miles a little bit. He's
got some special characteristics. But put the pads on. Quinn
Shawn Jenkins looked really, really good. Put the pads on.
Let's see what happens when the contact starts, you know.
And it's the same thing with the quarterbacks. It's the
(05:56):
same thing with that wide receiver room. You know, the
wide receivers can run routes and not have to worry
about getting hit tight ends.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Same thing.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Let's see what happens when the pads come on. It
makes life a lot easier and a lot more clear too.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And clearing up something I said, you can't play tight coverage.
It's just it's a different game. It's a different game
in training camp than it is now, and that's where
you get your sweeping conclusions. Let's talk about the wide
receiver room here. Chad Shay made the point. Chad O'shee
rather made the point of saying Brown's wide receiver coach.
That doesn't matter how you got here. You're all giving
an opportunity. Yeah, Luke Floorier has made some plays, and
(06:32):
he wearing thirty seven will undoubtedly from Kent State. Local
guy makes some plays when we get to training camp,
when we get to the preseason, there's always that rookie
wide receiver that makes plays in the preseason. He could
be that guy from South Carolina, Davis Gauge, Gauge, oh
(06:52):
Man Van Yep.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We've gone over this name about five hundred times and
I still can't.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
He has made plays as well. He caught the Schador
deep ball couple of days ago. He will make plays
in the preseason as well. The big question is ken
Deontae Johnson. Can you rely on him number one? Let's
just let's put it that way. Last year was not
his best year and when he spoke on Wednesday. He said,
I'm trying to put that year behind me. I am
only looking forward, and he wanted to point out, hey,
I had five good years in Pittsburgh, Like, let's forget
(07:18):
about last year. I went down another YouTube rabbit hole yesterday.
He made some plays in Carolina last year. Certainly, if
you can rely on him, he's a legitimate weapon. Cedric
Tillman encouraging Mike Woods, encouraging to see them back on
the field for their first day of work during mandatory
mini camp today. But they're being relied on, especially said
(07:41):
as well, you got to see it from said you
saw it last year for about five six weeks. Unfortunately
the concussion. It's time now.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
You have Jerry Judy and you have seven other guys. Yeah,
we gotta figure out who's our number two. Ideally it's
Cedric Tillman. But Tilman coming off the concussion scare last
year and missed a bulk of the season because of it. Unfortunately,
just couldn't pass the clearing house and the rules that
come with that. Deontay Johnson got a lot of questions.
(08:09):
He tried to put those to bed, as you said
yesterday during his availability on Wednesday. But after that, who's up?
Who wants it? And I think we're gonna find out
does it is? Andrew Barry got another movement up his
sleeve between now and the time we're back here and
cross country.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Look, you're you're certainly looking at this point, there's really
no one. And I know people say, well, I'm gonn
keen it out, Like, look, there's a list of names.
You're not calling that list now most teams unless maybe
you do. And I'm not trying to suggest I do
or don't do anything. I don't truly, but those are
moves you see right before they started training camp or
after the first week of training camp. Perhaps just you know,
(08:48):
speaking from looking in the past with other teams, do
you get into training camp like yeah, maybe we go
get a guy they're not there. I would like to
see Deontay Johnson do so like Jamari Thrash Hadowshay pointed
out today, as did Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday to off season.
He had that touchdown, had a red zone drill from
Kenny Picket or Dylan Gabriel. I can't remember where. He
(09:09):
went up high and brought the ball down, landed on
his back, he has looked good. Big leap from year
one to year two. All right, let's go to the
defensive side of the ball real quick. There was a
question certainly throughout the off season about the safety room, right,
what does that look like? Other than Grant Delpit and
rocket returning Rodnie Hickban as well the two veteran safeties
for Shawn Jenkins, also Demante Casey, who has flashed a
(09:32):
little bit out here. I think they've stabilized that room
and I feel more comfortable give you right now than
I did six weeks.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I also like the young kid Edmunds. Yes, I think
ed last year forty one. Yeah, I think that's a
kid to watch, especially they like him on special teams.
But I know coach Bonda, who was on Cleveland Browns
Daily a few weeks ago, was raving about him as
a guy that could get meaningful snaps on the defensive
side of the ball, not just special teams.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Carson Swessinger Mason Graham both look the part. I have
talked to gms or coaches over the years in which
when they get there, when the players get there after
the draft and they get on the field for rookie
Miday camp not that there's buyers remorse, but we've all
ordered stuff, right and it shows up on your front
(10:18):
step and then you open the box and you're like, Eh,
didn't you just get something the other day? I did,
But that's not the point. Like you open the box,
I'm like, eh, is that what I ordered? There are
teams throughout the league every year where the draft pick
gets there and you're like, Okay, got it. That is
not the case with this year's class. And that is
(10:40):
not the case, especially with the two defensive players taken
at five and at thirty three, Mason Graham and Carson Schwestinger.
You see them out there and you're like, Okay, yeah,
they're good. We're good, and I cannot wait to see
them on the field when this becomes real.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Defensive line no concerns. I mean, you're at defensive end.
You've probably got seven guys right now that can make
your roster defensive tackle easily.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
You've got four or five.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
And you didn't even get to see my call this
week because he's still coming back from his injury suffered
in that final game of the year in Baltimore. Linebacker
will be fascinating to see what happens you know Jerome
Baker's in the mix. You got Devin Bush, you got Swassinger. Uh,
you know diabatees in that mix. It'll be interesting to
see who comes to the forefront there, especially with j
(11:26):
Okay obviously out for the year. And I'd be remiss
if I didn't add mister Hicks to that as well.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
And Diabade moving around a lot. You call him a
chess piece, but they're all around. Yeah. That the front,
the defensive front seven? So o line real quick here?
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Dwan Jones left tackle, Yes, he's slimmed down, certainly. It'll
be a big training camp for him as well. I
heard good things about Luke Whippler coming back from Injuri
Zach's inn are getting stronger here. All of those players
we addressed with the mystery man it's been avoiding the
media for most of twenty twenty five. That is the
(12:04):
new Old line coach, former Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren.
Mike Bloomgren deserves an award for being here. How long now?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Four months since January eighth?
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Okay, so more than that, yes, and this is your
first media availability just to the podium. MIDI caamp wrapped
up its time for the summer. You basically went like
five six months. Yeah, that's completely fine with that. Yes, sir,
How much fun are you having now? And listen, I
don't want to It's not about going back to Rice.
It's just about overall the fact that you're not a
(12:37):
head coach and you don't have to kiss babies anymore,
and you don't have to fundraise anymore, and you aren't
recruiting twelve months out of the year anymore, and you
can just coach ball.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yes, I really am loving every day being in this building,
being part of the Cleveland Browns organization, but like you said,
just worrying about football day in and day out, worrying
about this offensive line, how can we get better, how
can we help them get better? It really is such
a blessing. And also being in the meeting room with
Kevin and Tommy and Bill Musgrave like those are unbelievable
football minds, and just getting to bounce different ideas and
(13:08):
talk about different ways to I remember Jimmy Ray saying
a long time ago, there's a lot of ways to
get to Chicago, and it's very true. But we're trying
to find out what our best way for the success
of the Browns.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Will be talking to Jack Conklin talking to Joe Botonio.
They both talk about the toughness coming back to the
room clearly. How do you do that though, in a
mandatory media camp when it's football in shorts, as Deuce
just said, football in pajamas.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Yeah, I think Deuce is right. Football in pajamas is
a good term. But what I would tell you is
that there's still things we can do an individual well,
it's hard to do. In a team format, we can
do a lot of tough things and we get in
phase three. We get to push sleds and many can't.
We get to push sleds like that's a lot of fun.
And we did a drill today where we talk about
max Q, which is a NASA term where an aircraft
taking off takes the maximum pressure and overcomes it. And
(13:50):
that's really what happens for every offensive lineman on every
drive block. And so we've got to continue to work
that and make them understand the strain that it takes
two through and beyond that block.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Okay, explain that. Explain how max Q max q. Okay,
explain how that applies, because again let's say, well.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
It's a third down, maybe not as much, but as
we're talking about anytime we're in a one on one
drive block situation where we're gonna have the stalemate and
we've got to overcome it for the Browns to win.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Fair.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Okay, you want to get back to run of the football?
Speaker 4 (14:15):
We do.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
You are coming back to a town. There aren't many
towns that go, yes, we're going to get back to
running the football.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Was that when you spoke to Kevin initially Day one?
I had to assume that was part of the conversation.
I mean that probably gets you right here right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
It means a lot to me in this line. I think.
I think that's a big part of offensive football, I
really do. And being able to impose your will and
run it when they know you're going to run it like,
those are big things. And again national football, we know
we're gonna have to protect the passer and were we
sign up for that and we want to do that
as well. But running the football, Yeah, there's a special
place in every offensive lineman and every every offensive line
coach is hart for that.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
What's the most consecutive plays you ran the ball at Stanford?
Speaker 1 (14:57):
We ran it the whole second half in some games,
so probably thirty.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
To thir thirty to thirty five times. You had three
hundred yard gas, you had four hundred yard games, you
have three thousand yard seasons. Yes, sir, that's what you
would love to see here.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, I'd love to do whatever it takes for the
Browns to win every game and whatever Tommy and Kevin
c is the best way. But yes, in my heart
of hearts, I'm gonna take a lot of pride every
time we call a run.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
All right, let's go back to Joel Buttonio. I know
it was brought up on the podium here. You saw
it of the golf tournament last week. He called you
a It wasn't jerk. I'm going to change it to jerk.
It started with a D.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Yes it did.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Is that a term of endearment?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
I took it as one. It's again, most comfort comfortable
I've ever been called with being called that statement in
my life, and it's not the first time.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
But you need to be there, don't you. I think this.
I felt like this room needs to hear that and
feel that.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
What I really believe is you have to be genuine
as a football coach. I think these guys have to
feel how much I care about this game and their development,
and if that comes across in that manner, it's because
I'm passionate about it and I love this game.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Jack said he didn't think Joel was really going to retire,
but Joel said that You're a huge reason he decided
to come back. Take me to that dinner where you
guys sat down. What was your pitch? Yeah, I mean,
we go when we break bread. It was it was
a really easy and.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Comfortable conversation because we're talking about our families, then we're
talking about how we see this game right on down
the line to talking about our goals, his and mine
for this unit for the future, and then talking about
his legacy of this team. And I basically told him
like I really want to be a part of this.
I want to learn from you, and I want to
help you go out the way you want and if
you can play four more years, let's play four more years.
(16:30):
Like whatever this looks like you doing at a high
level that you want to do, let's go do it.
And so again, I think when you have the mutual
point of loving this game, and you know, he obviously
cares a lot about the Browns. We just had that
mutual ground to start from and it was an easy conversation.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
I want to run down some guys real quick thoughts
on Dewan Jones.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Dewan came to everything this offseason, did everything he was
asked to do in the off season program. He has
lost weight, and he attacked his rehab. So again, those
are really good steps. I just said it over there.
But you know, not a finished product and none of
us are. So we've got a lot of work to
do this summer in training camp to be ready for
Game one.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I know Joe Thomas used a joke that like switching
to the other side is like wiping your ear with
your other hand, and Dewan said that his right handed punch,
he's so much more comfortable than his left handed punch.
But you also said there on the podium that you
don't think there's that big of a difference. So how
do you coach him through those finer points to make
him feel more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Yeah, I would say that from a skill set standpoint,
there's not many differences from the ability you need to
play both proficiently and at a high level. They are
not very different. The time on task and the reps
certainly need to come at left tackle, So every rep
he gets, every set he gets, has so much value
to get him comfortable with that side.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Zach center last year coming back from a leg and Dre,
I know it's your first time with him, so last
year rearview mirror for him. But what do you need
to see from him as he develops and hopefully makes
that jump year one to year two?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Yeah, I think number one coming in with a fresh
look at it, a fresh lens, if you will, and
looking at Zach exactly what you mentioned. His last game
is college career, he breaks his leg, then he has
zero off season, and then game three of his rookie season,
go get him, Tiger, go block Dexter Lawrence for a
whole game. And you know that's a hard deal to make.
An assessment on what I've seen from Zach this offseason
(18:07):
is improvement. I've seen him getting stronger in the weight room,
and I've seen him getting better on the field and
working at as fundamentals. So I appreciate Zach. I can't wait.
He's one of many things I can't wait to see
in training camp.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Speaking of guys, coming off injuries. Luke Whippler, what do
you see and can he can he realistically push ethan
Posk coach.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Whippler is doing a heck of a job. Yeah, he
is really doing a great job in our room. He
and Poe are unbelievable with their attention to detail and
how they want to drive this ship for our football team.
And I really have great confidence some maiter which one's
in there right now?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Let's talk about the quarterbacks from this perspective. How does
a four person quarterback competition effect, if at all, your room.
I don't know if it does.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I mean there's a couple of things cadence wise where
one guy may sound a little bit different, But our
coaches are doing such a good job getting them unified,
and so again, I think ultimately, the more time on
task we're able to have I have. Once Kevin decides,
Kevin and Tommy decide to name a starter, that'll be great.
We'll lock in that first group as much as we
can at every position and get the continuity going. But
right now we're just enjoying every rep we get. No
(19:11):
matter who's at quarterback, I could be at quarterback for
the offensive line on some of those reps. You know,
it's not good. It's not good. But my point is like,
we can get what we need, the work we need,
and we're having a good time with all four of
those guys. And I do see those guys in the
building all the time. I think they're all working incredibly hard.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
All right, and now you have some time off. We
do big plans for schools out now, big plans for
the month.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Yeah. Family moved off about a week ago. We're gonna
unbox a lot of stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
All right. So it's an unboxing month.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
It's an unboxing month.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Gosh, I think you'd rather be your coach.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah, I'm not gonna rush home today.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Mike Bloomgren, Welcome to Cleveland again.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Thank you so much for taking the time.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I have talked to so many former college head coaches
in the last year who have gone like or college
head coaches who are still on their job, who say, man,
I just want to be a coordinator or a position
coach in the NFL because I don't want to have
to deal with the nonsense anymore. Mike Blumgren, I think
a classic example of that, and I think we can
say across I haven't talked to every old lineman.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
They love him and that matters. Yeah, that matters. We
had Kevin Hogan on right after. You know, we hired him,
and Kevin Hogan was his quarterback at Stanford, you know
when Bloombern was legend.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Kevin Hogan.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Yeah, I love Kevin Hogan. Kevin Hogan loves Mike Bloomgren.
He couldn't say enough positive things about Mike Bloomgren, and
that seems to be the case with everybody. He's a
Bill Callaghan disciple.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
We like that.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I think you've heard the offensive lineman this week, whether
it was Jack Coughlin right here on this podcast or
Joel Botonio at the Browns Foundation golf out of talking
about getting back to maybe some of those schemes and
some of those rules on the offensive line.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
He said Bloomgren did that. Maybe they ran the entire
second half in a few games. I mean, you know,
first thing I texted somebody when he got hired, first
thing I got back was I think they ran power
eighteen straight plays once at Stanford. I don't know that
the Brown's gonna do that, but hey, getting back to
the bread and butter and getting back to what this
team has had success with under Kevin Stefanski in previous seasons.
(21:10):
Getting after the quarterback is also important. This guy, not
this guy, but the guy that's about to be magically
transformed to standing next to me in Gibbee Spot wants
to get after the quarterback a little more this year
as well. Isaiah Maguire, I've had a couple of people
tell me that I don't know if there's an award
for the hardest worker in the off season, but that
(21:31):
you've been You've been the burreal warrior, that no one's
been to the building as much as you. You've been
here the whole time. Ten minutes after practice, twenty minutes
after practice, you're still out there. How's your off season,
ben me, because football is basically here.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Yeah, off seas has been good man. Like I said,
just taking that time away from here after season, reflecting
seeing where I can improve, also not just from on
the field standpoint, but physically mentally, especially being a student
of the game, and just coming back here when we
got back here in April and just being around my
teammates again.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
It's been very exciting.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
You look surprised when I said that. People have said
that you're working your tail.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
Well, well you do stuff, you don't necessarily do it
for you know, people to notice. This is more so
if you do it for results. And also you can
bring along others you know, if you're able to, but
just mainly just to put in the work.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
So what are the results you are looking for? Because
everyone says, hey, biggest leap between year one and year two.
You made that leap last year, so now you're.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
Two to your three. Ye you were looking for what breakout?
Truthfully looking for a breakout, looking for elevating myself as
sending Lord, willing to go out and be the player
that I know I can be that.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
I capable of.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
That means more sacks, right.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
Absolutely, more sacks, TFLs, turnovers. Also just being a better teammate.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Also, I don't mean to say this like flippantly, but
our sacks overrated because I mean pressures matter, right, Getting
near the quarterback matters. I was taking a quarterback down matters, Yeah, clearly. Yeah,
But I would say that pressures matter just as much
as sacks. Am I wrong? Or they should be considered
(23:12):
more in the math? How about that?
Speaker 5 (23:14):
I think they go hand in hand. I think once
you apply pressure, throws off a quarterbacks timing, throws off
the offensive you know whatever timing. However, a sack equals
negative yardage, yes, which is a guarantee TfL.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
TfL TfL should be in all this math.
Speaker 5 (23:31):
TfL is very important too. But obviously everyone sees the
sack and celebration.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
What does it mean to you that your grades and
clearly your performance. Forget what PFF thinks and they had
you as a top five guy against the run, but
that you were able to and maybe not without all
the fanfare, to put that kind of season together last year.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
It was very important, as everyone knows, you know, last
season was very long, it was very you know, had
a lot of trials. But I think what was very
important not only for us in our room, but as
the teams that we collectively stuck together and also continue
to put our best foot forward and continue improving of
what we you know, could control. And by the grace
of God, I was able to do that last season.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
So Alex got hurt, and then Z got traded, and
then your snapcount clearly went up, and then you took off.
Momentum can't carry from one season to the other, whether
it's a team or for an individual player. But what
did that second half of the season tell you?
Speaker 5 (24:28):
It told me it honestly helped with my confidence as
a player, truthfully, simply because like I said, like you stated,
Z got traded, Alex got hurt. You know, those were
very fortunate, because you know, those are great guys and
great football players. But I knew that I had to
seize the opportunity that presented itself. And you know, with
(24:49):
the help such as coach Stock and the other vets
in the room and you know, my support system, I
was able to hone in, not overthink, and just play
more free collectively.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Let's talk about the defense here, and Jim Schwartz talked
a lot last week about obviously getting back to what
twenty twenty three was, of course some more turnovers. How
do you and a lot of it offense has to
play complimentary football. You guys can't be on the field
the entire game. But how does the defense get back
to the dog mentality that we saw in twenty three?
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Honestly, it's just mindset, and I think we've been able
to show that this offseason with you know, most people
in attendance this offseason program. And OTA's whether it's Phase one,
Phase two, and now phase three. It shows intention and
how we compete with each other each and every day,
not to put anyone down, but to uplift each other,
hold each other accountable. Also, like I said, just look
(25:40):
at where we can improve, not only for ourselves as
an individual player, but also, like I said, just uplift
on one another and tell them, hey, I saw this
on this rep. Maybe you could do this. It doesn't
matter where you are, whether you're a starter, whether you're
a rookie coming in, it does not matter. You can
always learn something from anybody, and that's what's really important
for us.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
It just said that he has felt ninety five for
presents the last two days. Yeah, that Miles chased him
down on a scramble like twenty yards now the field.
How has that changed things this week? He said? Perfect attendance.
Obviously this is like the last test before you're.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Off for a month.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Uh, Like I said, it's good to have him and
you know as well a couple others back, you know,
for this mandatory mini camp, just to see all of us,
you know, in one setting. And obviously he's a tremendous player.
He's always gonna make his presence known hence is why
he's had the success he's had. So it's for him
showing consistency who he is, and us not only looking
at that and seeing where we could take that and
(26:37):
apply to our game, but also just collectively rushing together
and being one.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
So bear with me here for a second. Schwartz made
the Spider Man analogy last week. Did you hear that
about Miles on the contract? How he's got to have
his best year because for the what does it feel it?
It's it's for the exactly. Yeah, with great power, come
great responsible to the captain. Justin all right, and I
(27:04):
to hear your cartoonist a little bit, I do Could
you draw Miles as Spider Man?
Speaker 4 (27:10):
Could? I? If I really sat down and took the time,
I probably could.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
That was a hell of a long setup for me
to that question. Tell me about do you draw.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
In the off season?
Speaker 5 (27:21):
I've drawn a little, not as much as I did
growing up, but definitely downtime. Love to just sit down
and doodle and sketch and draw.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Anyone on this team?
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Did I draw? Nah?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
No, you wouldn't do that. Okay? Would you draw like
Brownie the Elf?
Speaker 4 (27:38):
I probably could?
Speaker 2 (27:39):
Yeah, Okay, would you draw like the dog mascote?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (27:42):
What do you draw?
Speaker 4 (27:43):
Cartoons? Man?
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Like I said, I grew up, you know a fan
of Sonic Mario. Uh, Transformers?
Speaker 2 (27:52):
Who was your favorite transformer?
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Mega Tron not Bumblebee.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
I've always been a Megatron person.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Got it?
Speaker 4 (27:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Transformers? And what else?
Speaker 5 (28:01):
Like I said, Sonic Mario? Man, what did I used
to draw my Grammy? Her favorite like character of all time.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Is tweety Bird?
Speaker 5 (28:11):
So I drew tweety Bird a lot because I love
my Grammy.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
You could do all the like I'm just brainstorming. This
is like you could get like an NFL official license.
You could do all the mascots. Oh yeah, off season goals. No,
I'm saying that could be an off.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Season Yeah it could. I'm thinking, yeah we could.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Okay, what do you got in the last month here
before camp?
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Last month? Uh, just like a little downtime. I definitely
got to make sure I see my family, look forward
to my family reunion. But like I said, the main
thing is just getting the body ready, getting the mind
ready in all aspects of you know who.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
I am ready for this season.
Speaker 2 (28:51):
One more day and then back to work. Third week
of July. I absolutely taking time man, enjoy some time off.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
Sir, Thank you God bless.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
I had really not talk much to Isaiah maguire other
than hey, what's up in the elevator right on the road.
I'm glad if allt I got a chance to talk
to that Guy's awesome, truly, So.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
I will tell you this. I interviewed him Rookie Mini
Camp weekend when our building was here at the Cross
Country Mortgage Campus was under renovation. Yeah, we were in
off campus house and literally I had the fireplace going
and we taped the fireside chat for Rookie.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Minni Camp for a b I really wanted.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
One is Isaiah was a little shy at first, but
of all the rookies from that class that year two
years ago, I mean, it was fifteen minutes and insightful.
He's quiet, but he waited his turn. There were a
lot of guys in front of him, think about it,
Clowney Zadarias Smith like Alex Right. And I remember seeing
(29:52):
him in the cafe a couple times in and just
telling him your time will come. Just be ready when
the time comes. And that time he got a little
glimpse of it.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Two years ago.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
He got a glimpse last year, a big glimpse when
Alex Wright went down, and he's made the most of it.
And I mean this coaching staff is very, very excited
for his potential. You see it against the run. Like
you said, he wants to get after that quarterback a little.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
More, and I have no doubt that he will. Yep,
and we'll see him back on the field when training
camp opens the week of July twenty one. Don't yet
have the full schedule as we're taping it here today,
but it is going to be. The Browns are going
to be and I know you already see this one
of the spotlights of the NFL because there's a legitimate
(30:39):
quarterback battle and we are all excited for it. We
are also all excited now for a little bit of
time off. Does the Gibbet family had big plans.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
I'm going to play a lot of golf. I'm gonna
play with Tequila Fila and we're gonna play some golf. Yeah,
we're gonna get away a little bit. We already did
the big trip. You know, the Italy trip is done.
You know we got a little to get away, aren't
you like climbing a mountain or something.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Fingers crossed goals, get to the top of Mount Fuji. Hopefully,
you know, we'll you know what, maybe maybe I'll have
the Browns hat and we'll wear it there.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
We'll do that photo there. I think you should. That's
that's that's a lofty goal. I hope it works out for.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
You, buddy. Maybe see some sumo, go see some baseball. Yeah,
it'll be fun.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You've got a whole thing planned out.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
But then we are back here come training camp time.
On all your Browns podcast platforms and CBD and everything.
We will be at it one hundred miles an hour
once training camp begins. Be here, friends, it's going to
be a big training camp. Two joint practices, three meaningful
preseason games, three joint practices, three don't sell yourself short sessions, yeah,
(31:47):
one and one with the other. Yeah. But two teams
against whom the Browns will have joint practice, yeah, the
Puthers and the Eagles. And then the home game here,
the one home preseason finale on the twenty third at
hunting Bang Field against the Los Angeles Rams. A lot
of people to think you mentioned tequila fila behind the
camera right now.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
We also Justin's actual name. He's very, very talented and
we couldn't have done this without.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
We want to thank Jordan, We want to thank Ricky,
We want to thank El, Jeff McDaniel, Jeff McDaniel obviously
as well.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Ricky, congrats on getting married.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Ricky, congrats during this podcast.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
You got married.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Coming to work the next week, like, look at you, buddy?
How about that?
Speaker 3 (32:26):
That's why he makes eight dollars and five cents an hour? Wow,
there you go.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Ricky also has the power to edit that last line
out and I have nothing to do with it. Perfect
Bark Tank will be back in season and huge, big
plans still to be announced for training camp. Enjoy your summer.
Please be safe, Okay, don't dive into the short end
of the pool, and we will see you back here
come training camp.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
What I had one more thing I wanted to thank you.
You made your you made your BPA debut. Thank you
this year and you took it to a whole nother level.
And I thank you for joining me. I car carrying
the water for me.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
For me, I did not carry a darn thing else.
You're might great to be here, and this is this
is like a Ventriloquist act. It is fantastic. Gibbie's gonna
get a baby Bjorn. Nathan's gonna come back with a
baby Bjorne, but he's going to have one as well
so he can carry me around training game. Remember stay hydrated.
Friends for Jason, Gammes and Andrews is Siliano so long?
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