Welcome to this week six Wednesday edition of the From the Podium podcast.

I'm Gabe Klea.

The Browns are back from across the Pond and in the States again as they prepare to take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh this coming Sunday.

On this episode, you'll hear from head coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterback Dalan Gabriel, wide receiver Jerry Judy, and quarterback Denzel Ward.

Up first, as head coach Kevin Stefanski, who discussed the decision to trade Joe Flacco on Tuesday.

All Right, great challenge on the road, and you know division opponent excited about these opportunities, these rivalry games when you're going against division opponents.

Obviously they're atop the division right now, playing really good football.

I think they're plus seven turnover margin, doing a nice job taking it away.

They're playing very well on the offensive side, and they always are played great on special teams.

So really good players coaches I have a ton of respect for.

So it's division football, it's AFC North.

We know what to expect.

But with that, will take any quick.

Decided if Shador is going to be your number two active quarterback for this weekend.

Yet, well, first I tell you is that Joe trade took us by surprise.

That was not something that we saw coming.

You know, they called us and you know that's uh.

It was happened very fast, and happened not too long ago.

So still working through all roster type of things.

I just I always have to be mindful of our players and our players' development, and you know, I want to make sure that I'm always doing what's best for our players and of course our team.

But you know, with young players, I'm always thinking about last week making the change with to Dylan.

You have to think long and hard about that because these are these are young players that you're so invested in their development.

So I'll let the week play out.

Make a decision later on that that might.

Be the drawback to doing something like that.

Yeah, yeah, I trust in all of our players.

I trust in uh in their ability and and those type of things.

I just always wanna set our guys up for six success.

Uh.

Bottom line, you didn't plan on trade and Joe Black, No, why did it happen?

Though?

What why didn't you trade 'em?

Well, you know, obviously i'll uh ab makes those decisions.

I trust a b We talk about every decision we make.

They wanted to, they wanted Joe, they they made the phone call.

Uh, obviously it gives Joe an opportunity to go play again.

But you know, I trust in our decisions.

Explain to the fans all the training camp reps devoted to Flack and would pick it.

Why was it a waste of time?

As it turns out it's October.

Neither is here.

Well, I mean there's a lot of unknowns in football and sports.

Uh, you can't always predict injuries, you can't predict trades, those type of things.

So it's just that sports.

Joe, do you feel like there's a leadership void in that young room?

Do you have a quarterback?

Yeah, it's a young room, but uh, you know, I believe in those guys that they're all working very hard.

Obviously Bailey's the elder statesman R right now, but with Deshaun's in there, you know, can provide great insight to the young guys.

And you know, I trust in coach Musgrave, coach Reese, those type of things.

Making that deal.

What's the concern level that you traded Joe to a division rival that needs to starting quarterback.

Yeah, I think we talked through all those things.

I would I would let Andrews speak to that.

I don't.

I don't want to speak for him, but I trust in his decisions.

He talked about how Dylan has received some reps with the starting offense the first four weeks of the regular season, even though he was quarterback too.

So this week, do you plan.

To split some like those kind of you know, last reps between Chador and Billion and making his decision based on how they handle everything that.

I need to work through it all.

Daniel just uh again, tr really like the guys we have.

We just got to work through all the.

Pul quarterbacks on the active roster for Sunday because they can't have one.

As he uh, we'll see.

I'm not sure yet.

Is that as simple as if you do have three, is it just Bailey or would you guys potentially look at outside options?

Yeah?

Again, I would just say it's it's early in the week, early in the process.

Have you clarified the rule this year?

In fact, then reverted to that if you do active make a third quarterback, he has to be on the active roster.

You can't just elevate him from there.

I'm fairly certain that's the rule.

Yeah, so you have to do that byrider.

Yeah, I'm not positive.

How we're in week six?

His workouts have they changed?

Have they ramped up?

Just?

Is where is he in relation to maybe where he was before?

Yeah, he's doing an excellent job with with his rehab.

I know I've not seen we haven't seen him uh in as part of the you know, throwing process with the team and those type of things.

But he's working very hard.

Is he with his people or is he working with your medical with us?

Yeah, you'll see.

H a time where he could get on the this season.

Yeah, I understand the question, but I'm so focused on this week Mary kay.

You know a lot of.

Videos where and I realized posting a video and looking good at.

Doing that versus actually being in a practice football setting or two different things.

But he seemed to be.

Posting a lot of stuff to say, hey, you know, physically, I'm back together.

And been really close to being ready to go.

So w what what does up there?

He's working very hard, He's doing a great job in the meeting room.

He's doing a great job and rehab.

I'm not so concerned about what our guys are posting on social media, but maybe that's just me.

Seeing him, you know, just in photos and just in other places here and there, really kind of taking Dylan under his wing and really taking the Chador under his wing.

How has that been helpful to you guys?

And did that factor in it all into this whole trade and stretching the image.

Yeah, I wouldn't comment on that, Mary, okay, other than to say he's been a great teammate from the jump.

Like I've told you guys, in every quarterback meeting and all those guys, when you're in that room, everybody's preparing, you know, working hard, working together.

So he's doing a great job there.

We're waiting it out until before you decide if he's going to be two or not.

I guess, like, what do you need to see from him this week?

Like without Joe in that.

Room again, I wouldn't say there's one thing you need to see.

I just in my role, I have to do what's best for our players, our team, and I'm very very invested in our player development, our young players development, our quarterback development.

So any decision I make, I want to just make sure that I'm doing what's right for our players.

I guess it does end up being shout orders quarterback too, Just what are you seeing from him to this point behind the scenes and the work that he's put in, and especially as you sort of go that.

Was the case you go to you know, I'm really really pleased with our young guys and how they work.

This is not a group that you have to prod in the doing extra whether that's in the weight room, in the meeting room, out on the fields were we are really pushing these guys to improve.

And I see that from Shoot or I see that from all these young guys.

Which is the fun part for us as coaches to see a lot of the work that you're putting in that that's showing up and how these guys are performing.

You receive and you've gotten.

Yeah, we just I mean, it's a focus for us as a football team to play better on offense.

Obviously, to play better on offense, we need contributions from everybody.

So that's that's my job, that's our coach's job, that's obviously our players job to make sure that we're doing our best in those areas.

Need to address to your dround players and office straight and to convince them that this is the best.

Interest in the team.

Yeah.

I talked to our veterans every day, and I think they understand what's what's in front of us and what's important.

Were you disappointing with the way that I did.

It for Flaco?

You know, Joe and I had a lot of conversations.

I'll keep those private.

Obviously, He's somebody that that we uh in this building think very highly of.

I think highly of the person, think highly of the player.

Disappointed in where we are, you know as as a team, of course, but you know, hopeful for him.

But really our focus turns into what's in front of us, which is you know, Steeler week.

Okay, so now you.

Go to Pittsburgh, but two have.

Never won a game.

Do you think this could be a case of ignorance?

Is bliss?

They go, They're not knowing their history, this team living.

Thanks Tony.

Honestly, it's the game of football.

It's the the past doesn't really matter.

You know, what's in front of you matters.

For Dylan, you know, coming off of that star positive, but what's next for him?

And also to you know, this offense, getting you guys above that seventeen.

Yeah, I think there's certainly growth with players throughout a season.

And obviously when you're talking about a quarterback, you play in your first game on the road or you know internationally if you will against a very good team, your second game is on the road in the division against a very good team.

So these are all great challenges for young players and UH to understand that you're trying to have incremental improvement week to week and that will only come by the nature of the turns and the reps that you get.

Everyone when we ask you about having so many movies, but what are the challenges whether it's during the week or game day from having so many young.

Guys day a counting them?

Yeah, the thing I would tell you, Scott is we're counting on a lot of young guys, a lot of young guys playing, but they're not playing like rookies.

That these guys are are very mature, They work very hard.

So I know what it might say on the roster in terms of experience for them, but we trust them.

They've put in the work and a lot of these guys are playing good football, but they're going to continue to get better.

I expect all these guys to continue to get better.

Did you not prefer a buy after this London game?

Was it you're a team?

Yeah, you can't.

You don't automatically get one in the past, you used to, Would you prefer It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

When you're looking at this the back and the number two.

How do you balance short term versus long term in terms of what you're looking for when you you know, whether it's you know, putting sure there or you know, bring Bailey.

Up or whatever.

I think it's really important to stay in the short term.

You know, when you're making these type of decisions or decision for your team, you know what's most important is is this week.

Obviously we have long term development plans for all of our players at every position, but really this week is what's most important.

It's going back obviously he's done a great job on the field.

Just what have you seen from him?

And you know, at what point did you feel comfortable really being able to lean into him offensive?

Yeah?

I think again going back to the previous point, these young players will just get better and better, and I think he was a great example of a guy that you know, we've tried just to not put too much on his plate in that first game or the second game would slowly bring him along and I think every step of the way he's answered the bell.

He's got a great demeanor on the field, He's got a great demeanor around this building in terms of his intensity to to this football team.

And you know, he's a guy that again we're counting on.

He's he's a big piece of our system.

We're in the division a long time with Aaron Rodgers.

What do you make of his game right now?

Yeah, outstanding football player.

Might be the best thrower of the football I've ever seen, just from the arm, talent, the skill that he has, have a ton of respect for what he's done in his career, playing at a high level right now, extremely accurate, has a good feel for what they're doing, allows his his his receivers, tight ends, running backs to get good yards after the catch.

He's playing at a very high.

Level that you're going to be able to get this passing game up and running, especially with Jerry kind of struggling a little bit.

I mean, how can you get this rolling?

Yeah, we just have to have to work at it, Mary Kay, and just understand that it's it's a precision necessary type of thing, and we need to be precise about everything we do.

That's certainly from a coaching standpoint, from a player's standpoint, we just got to be make sure we're all doing our job and those things take care of themselves.

More kind of different ways that the Pittsburgh defense how how like what do they do well?

I guess with that from what you guys are seeing.

Yeah, they've always done an outstanding job taking the ball away?

Uh, I think I think it's five interceptions, five fumbles if I'm not mistaken.

They can come and droves, they get their hands on balls and their spot drop zones.

They certainly attack the football when they're tackling.

So it's a and last week was very similar against the Vikings, where you have to be always aware as a ball carrier, whether you're any position, you're a punt return or kick returner, you name it, they're coming to attack the football, So ball security technique is at an absolute premium when you're going against them.

You said you've talked to your veteran leadership about the blackout trade.

Could you talk to the QB room specifically on what this means for them?

Yeah?

I won't get into specifics obviously with conversations with our guys.

But yeah, I mean when these things happen, you know, they happen fast, and you gotta sometimes you gotta wait till it's official quote unquote.

So yeah, and then you have some conversations with you guys and just let them know what this means moving forward.

Sort of the bell.

I mean, you say you're a coppy surprise, but I mean, just did it?

I mean was it almost like phone call?

I mean yeah, I don't remember the exact timing.

But again, these things in when it comes to trades, they can come together very very quickly.

This is one of those that is under that.

So again we're focused on what's going, what's in front of us, and that's really all we can think about right now.

His schedule kind of pleaded his case with you a little bit and said, hey, I'm ready give me this chance.

I really want to do this.

Yeah.

Again, all conversations i'd keep private with our guys, But you know, I think it was just the big picture there, Mary kay for me, as all of our guys are working so hard and they do a great job of keeping you know, the main thing, the main thing, and for any young player.

Uh, what's important is just being where your feet are.

Quarterback Dylan Gabriel reflected on his first career start in the NFL.

What was your how'd you find out?

What would your reaction if you've heard that Joe.

Was training history?

Yeah, I found out.

We had, you know, keep meeting.

Got to talk to Joe right before he was heading out.

But like I said before, I appreciate him.

He's, you know, a part of the journey in this journey for me individually in the NFL.

So grateful for him and you know, with with him the best of love.

For sure.

I'm not surprised by anything at this point in the NFL.

It's it's.

The day and age we live in, so any anything, anything can really happen.

So how do you how do you replace that experience and leadership that I think you were relying on to some degree without him here?

And then what's that dynamic of every now?

Yeah?

I think dynamic is always evolving, especially when there is change.

But you know, I think it still goes back to us, you know, being able to have that experience for ourselves.

I think you learn the best when when you are thrown into a fire a little bit.

I'd be a hypocrite to say otherwise.

So I think the more experience you gain game after game, week after week, you'll get better.

And you know, bzapp has played a bunch of ball as well.

So film from an individual standpoints, what were your first impressions when you watched the film?

Yeah, just you know, a lot to clean up.

There's always gonna be you know, good and bad.

But I think just having a calm persistence to attack it regardless of the result and try to get better within your process.

But is there things I want back one hundred percent?

You know what I mean?

I think that's for everyone in this game.

Uh, but I think you got to look at it and find solutions and be solutions based that can help you know the outcome here in the future.

In your VA's college career, you played in a lot of hostile environments.

Yup of Pittsburgh is born in the NFL, So do you hear would you rather not.

Know the history of the Pittsburgh.

Playing in Pittsburgh's keep your mind uncluttered and just find out for yourself what it's like about.

Uh.

I think you just you kind of find out, uh by yourself.

Of course you'd hear a lot from others, uh and understanding the robbery and you know, myself playing in robbery games, under totally understand that.

But I still think there's you know, uh uh wow, just the main importance of just doing your job, you know, and doing.

At a high level.

So uh, that'll that'll all come and have a lot of respect for Pittsburgh and what they've done, and that's for every opponent we play doing.

What is maybe one major thing that you've learned from Joe Flanael, What would you continue to hear or see in your mind about something.

That he told you or twy you.

Yeah, I don't think it's one thing.

Uh, I wouldn't wanna limit to that, But I think just over all his process, how he's been about his business from day one, really, how he approaches meetings, practice, you know, taking care of his body, kind of his daily routine.

So I think you just you pick up on that as you're around people and try to make it your own and learn how you can improve your routine.

But more importantly, just the friendship and the person he is.

Although there's an age gap, I think just being able to connect and have those conversations.

I you know, I appreciate those a lot.

In London, I could tell being there, But when you were on the sideline looking over the tablets, blackout.

Involved in that.

I think everyone's involved in that.

You know, I think.

I don't want to break down the hope, but you look at your you know, tablet, and you kind of think for yourself.

You ask questions, guys are there, kind of flip flop even when you know.

I was in that chair.

So just I think everyone says what they can and whenever you know, the time is right.

Dylan Kevin told us that he's gonna wait until later in the week to decide if should or can be the number two, or if maybe Daily would be the number two.

Does that impact you and your I just I don't.

I don't handle any of that.

I'll leave that to coaches.

But she got a great realm, a bunch of guys that either play it or you know, have the potential to play.

And I think we just come together as a team and the importance is trying to find ways to win.

But I'll leave that with coach, not the decision.

But what I meant was do do the number one and number two guys, because you guys are like out there taking most of their first team reps together.

Is there a synergy that happens during the week between you guys just in terms of preparation, in terms of film study and does this sort of delay and decision does that impact your preparations in any way whatsoever?

Or do you guys all do that stuff together?

No, it's it's always been together.

So I think just business as usual, but like I said, just solution based and trying to find ways to win and be flexible and open to that.

That being said, did you have a conversation with should do or after the flack o trade of kind of how crazy and surreal it is that you never start out for man competition?

And now the two rookies I left saying, you guys.

Have conversation about that.

I think our whole room just you know, talked shortly after.

But at this point we're really not surprised what can happen in the NFL?

So yeah, already surprise alright, yeah, at this point everything okay, anything that can happen.

To Pittsburgh, UH has a lot of turnovers their defense.

What do you what do you make of what you see so far.

Yeah, they're extremely talented.

I think there's individual pieces for sure, but I think as a whole, uh play really well together.

Know Uh, A couple of the guys know of a lot of the guys, so got a lot of respect for them.

We gotta prepare a certain way.

I think that's every week, but most importantly this week, cause that's all you can control.

Till little wit those takeaways that they Of course, I guess how much of a a test is this for for your processing since obviously.

I don't guess what everybody talks about for you.

Yeah, I think it's it's always a test week to week.

There's a you know, a challenge ahead, and certain teams have different challenges and you gotta find solutions to that.

So, like I said, we gotta be flexible, we gotta be open to to ideas to to find ways to beat that.

But you control that by being really good today.

Y'll important seventeen points kind of that's kind of been where this offense has been since the beginning of last year.

And I know you don't have anything to do with that.

Yeah, but you know you're first start.

You guys score.

Seventeen, So just from your standpoint, what do you think you guys can do potentially to to get beyond that and and give yourselves a a a chance to let.

Lower use games.

Sustainability We always talk about it.

You know, you you wanna be efficient and uh sustain drives.

Uh, but it it is hard to score points, of course, but you know that's that's our job.

We go to find ways to do that and do it at a higher clip.

But small games we're building and got to continue to do that.

But we'd love to score every single drive obviously, but I think that's us learning to sustain drives together.

And you know, you watch the film back, there's a lot of times we can help ourselves make more competitive plays and starts with me for sure.

We've talked a lot to you of us the rookie class in general, and it's just beyond the draft bust rates with a bunch of rookies, you know, playing big roles.

So first, how exciting is that?

But also what kind of challenges do you think it presents, Whether it's certain practice.

We crank gaming, Yeah, it's a good young cores.

A lot of guys that I'll say, like I've known a bunch about and glad I get to go to war with.

But I think that just shows up some belief in all the experience that we've had as a whole going out there and doing our thing.

But a lot of guys who've made a lot of plays for us this season thus far.

We'll continue to but I think we're continuing to build that, you know, and and the trust is obviously there, But uh, how can we take to another whole other level?

Cause, like I said, we gotta you know, put solutions that can help us find a better outcome.

Do go tell you two more?

Well know that the first one, the first one's out, Your first starts out of the way.

Just how do you how prepare do you feel to be able to take on more and do more within the offense and and what you guys try to accomplish offense?

Yeah, each week you get better and more comfortable.

That's with everyone, and uh, you want to be able to do more, you know.

That's that's what we're trying to do and find solutions we have to so uh that's part of it.

But we'll continue to do that as much as possiblity or run.

But uh, pretty much looking board to outing in Pittsburgh a.

Little bit, just excited for the opportunity.

I know, uh, you know, it's a another week to go and showcase what we can do at a high level, and we always look forward to that challenge with a lot of respect for our opponents.

So it'll be uh a lot of fun.

With respect to having a veteran presence in the room, I know you've talked about this before that Deshaun Watson has been a help to you guys.

I've seen him working with you and you know what you should do.

So can you just address that a little bit of how you know?

Now?

Like you being a joke gun, you guys still have a pre experience veteran in that room, even though we don't see him very much.

Yeah, DeShawn has been the great guy to me and shares his knowledge whenever I ask questions.

So I'm very appreciative of him.

I know that that relationship will continue evolve as well in.

The London game.

Seem, at least to me and your grandma and you spent a lot of time on t this rather than is that by design or the.

Or I think as an offense you always strive to be in SNC and flow and on time.

And I think you know, with our offense particularly, I think you see how funny can be when that's efficient.

But I think you know, you strive and touch you don't want.

To touch that as much as possible, but anytime you're not, you know, you're you're giving it a chance and you want to add live and have that ability, of course, but I think you see it as much as you can touch that as possible.

Uh, you know, the more efficient you are, down to down really and even seriously.

Wide receiver Jerry Judy gave his thoughts on how to create more explosive plays in the passing.

Game of trade.

Oh yeah, yeah, it was.

It was surprising, you know, didn't see that coming.

But you know, Wish Black are the best, you know, yeah yeah.

And then the Flacker ticket took the folk of number one rup in trade camp.

Neither is zero after five weeks.

Do you think that was a waste of time?

I won't say a waste of time.

You know, I don't know what that was, you know.

Uh, you know, I'm pretty sure everybody thought they will be they'll still be here throughout the season, But you know, I don't think.

So, Yeah, do you do you wish that you and.

Joe would have been able to connect more during football games and then from where would.

Try to get things going on to Uh yeah, of course, you know we woulda connect more.

You know, it'll give us a uh a better chance of winning games.

So you know, of course, uh, you know I wish all those players connected.

Okay, you know, uh, you know, it's football.

It's not gonna be perfect all the time.

So you had kind of carry when you look at the room now or how Joe or it's obviously really young, So do you feel like you need to do anything else to help bring along with those guys when you don't have affect your presence like.

Joe, Yeah, I mean as far as in just you.

Know, playing my game, you know, just being a little bit more detailed and fundamentally sound, you know, just being a lot more detailed in our game just for the younger guys, the onder quarterbacks, and just you know, being a best version of your of myself for them.

So you know it it's important, Jerry.

It's it's worth.

Defense is second in the league right out, tons of takeaways of obviously one fewer games do most teams what I what have you seen from that defense on film in terms of turning the ball over?

So when you serve that, well they said, you know they or two in the second in the league beyond Oh okay, another team I forgot other team, go team that was, but you know they got a good secondary, you know, and good defensive line.

You know, guys that been making plays in the back end.

Kay, you know, uh, you just gotta do a good job, but not turn the ball over and playing our game.

Do you feel that when you're dealing.

In there there will be more opportunities I don't mean than with Jo, even more opportunities than maybe when you signed the first game to push the ball down the field and to make those big explosive plays.

Uh, you know, give you give a.

Chance to you know, to get a deep.

And that you're send go into job play.

Uh yeah, you know.

It just it's just a week week basically depending on the team, the team we play.

Hopefully this way we get we get to go downfield.

You know.

You know last week Packing is a uh.

A two h t uh two hot team, so you know it's hard to really go down the field against them, So uh, it might be a little bit difficult, but hopefully this week you know we could we could do that a wrong?

Do you know that your Adzell was saying that, you know, every one of the meetings still feels like and winning is.

The most important things despite the trade?

How do you you guys just trading the captain to division rival?

How does that?

How do how do those two things?

Where?

How was winning the most good thing?

And was getting traded to about the.

When is it all?

Winning is all?

It's gonna be?

M a most important thing?

Noah, So I don't w W what was your question again?

Just how like it's winning the most is the most important thing?

Then how was that will get traded to Ride Day?

I guess I guess you feel like we got a good quarterback still.

Though even though it Joe Black are being traded, we still got them and Gabriel you know, he had a a good game last week, you know as for his first career start, and you know we feel like, uh, he could have a even better game this week.

So you know that's all that's all I can think about.

You know for that, did you like the or what did you think about?

Uh?

The fact that you know, dealing the ships around a little bit more.

And s out of the pocket and can make some.

Off schedule plays and do some different things.

Do you think that brings a little bit of a new dynamic to the offense and can be ban.

Officials you guys go forward?

Uh for sure?

You know, having a uh a mobile quarterback, you know that?

Nah?

It it always it's always hard for the defense.

Cause now they got a couple two plays, you know, the the first original play and second a scount scrambled drill.

So you know it, it's always good to have, you know, uh a mobile quarterback, just to have that the option.

Jerry, I, I know you're you're more frustrated than anybody that you know you have been able to have the ball time.

Just how have you learned as a veteran this league to give hill close the door on those things and the kind of.

Week we just ge.

Well, for me, yeah, uh, I feel like I'm a guy that I understand this game of football.

Uh.

I understand when.

When I'm supposed to get the ball, when I'm not supposed to get the ball, when they trying to pl call play for me to get the ball.

You know, it's a it's a lot of things that gotta work well for the receiver just to to be successful for and for me.

I just understand that, you know, and just and I just don't really dwet too much on it.

Just move past it and hopefully next week, you know, we get more opportunities to really take advantage.

Of when you look at this receiving cord as a whole.

How big a production you.

Guys are looking for?

So how can you unlock?

I'm sure the talent that you feel is a memory, you know.

I feel like just by doing uh, still doing what we been doing, you know, just.

Running our routes, you know, being a lot more fundamentally sound, being details and all.

Our in all our routes, you know, and eventually, uh, you know, the ball can come all the way.

You know.

I feel like we don't really gotta change too much, but just keep playing our game, you know, and you know, eventually, you know, we gonna have success.

Do you put a joke on that brings Chador and we're Bailey closer to you know?

One one snap can always bring him back up in How do you feel about how Choudur and Bailey have worked so fast?

You know, I got a lot of trust with those guys.

You know, those guy been you know, been here since.

OTA's and since many camp you know, they've they been doing their thing, you know, so we got we got a lot of trust in those guys, and you know you do.

And yeah, just Shador has said that he feels absolutely ready to play, ready to start again.

We don't get to see that.

We don't get to see that anymore.

But how has he really come along over the last four right things?

Uh?

You know, he he he been doing a good job, you know, just understanding the n understanding the plays, doing whatever the coach aks for him, you know, and he he been doing a great job of just you know, being a pro and you know, doing what he needed to do to be able to once he get his chance to take advantage of that.

So you know, you know, that's all we could ask for for him to do.

You know, once he get his opportunity, just take advantage of it.

Did you ever go back on watch your offensive or what you guys have scored seven of twenty or more points just three times in a in a offensive league that almost skills.

Like that heard of?

Yeah, so just you know, from your perspective, w what do.

You guys have to do to get to get more points on the scoreboard, which the don'll give you guys a opportunities to win some of these sports kills.

Uh.

Just I think everybody just need to be on the same page, you know, all eleven players that's on the field.

You know, just everybody just focus on they job one play out of time, you know, and then we'll get to get to where we need to be at.

You know that.

I feel like that's the biggest thing that everybody just focus on their job on they.

Executing execution on their assignment, and we'll we'll we'll score away more than twenty.

Are you having to ask are you having to block out, you know, any of of the noise?

I mean, do you stay away from any criticism I think you might be taking so far this season for.

Different things that happened so far.

Oh yeah, for sure.

You know, you know, I already listened too much to the outside no it's you know, cause you know, they outside of ya don't really n understand what's going on within the locker room, within.

The players and the culture staff.

So you know, I don't really focus too much about people that's not in this building, you know, so yeah, so I don't really, like I said, I don't really focus too much on that cause I know the top player I am and walk up into the table, and so do the coaching staff and the and the players in the locker room.

And you know, that's the only people opinion that I care about is the people that's in this building.

Nobody that's outside of it, that's not really doing.

Nothing but talking for it.

Finally, cornerback Denzel Ward talked about the challenge the DK Metcalf's unique build poses to the secondary.

Sure do you guys.

Watched the last drive back come through the group?

You know more?

Were some takeaways for.

How you escape?

Yeah, we just we just gotta finish.

We gotta make the plays that come to us.

And you know, speaking to myself, I gotta finish, make make those plays.

And you know, sill steal the game.

Uh that that's the whole mindset.

Uh find a way to to s get the victory and get to win.

Have the opportunity fell short, but uh you just gotta learn from it and be better in the.

Future and uh get it down next time.

Do you feel like effectually you get said something to prove after how the game ed it out.

Uh.

I think we always got some approved.

I mean we tryna we trying to get wins in this league, and uh that's the main goal.

So we always got something to prove, you know.

And offenses they're they're they're good offenses in this league as well.

You know, they get paid just like we get paid.

Okay, And but yeah, we just got found a way to execute and and continue to keep uh the on the rise and and doing well and helping this team out as best way as you can.

What would you do this week.

Differently than you maybe did the week before to make sure that you're.

Even better to speak, Yeah, I don't think you gotta do anything too crazy.

I mean we were not playing bad ball.

You know, these these are close games and very tough games.

We just gotta we gotta finish.

So uh, I think just attention to detail and just getting out there practice execute him, going through all our plays and and just focusing and locking in and doing what we gotta do to uh continue to make a push.

And so what id as you guys just studying the Steelers so far?

Where do you assume from.

The baron Riders?

Yeah, he's he's a vet a lot of experience and you know he he he's a he runs the show over there.

He's uh uh still a very productive quarterback in this league.

And yeah, we'll go try to have to eliminate him.

DK and Metcalf.

What's you're looking at?

Yeah, the big receiver, big receiver fast could run uh tough with the ball in his hands and uh their number one guy over there if she.

Did winds up being the number two?

And so what have you seen from him in practice that makes you think he's ready to be one tap of win?

Yeah?

I think, But I think both of those guys are ready Shadur and uh Dylan.

I think those are uh two guys that are capable of being the number one quarterback.

And uh I think he'll be ready once he come in.

Uh Like I said, uh Shador, he throws a nice ball and could make plays.

So who's ever in there?

I'm s I know it's gonna h uh help us.

Out its Yes, could easily be three until right now player or two away in it in a couple of games.

Just you know how frustrating is that for you?

And and also too, how do you turn that make disappointment?

Uh?

Frustration into finishing off.

Yeah games.

Yeah, that h that's what it is, just trying to turn that frustration and and disappointment like we're right there, like you said, it's close games and and uh we gotta find a way to finish and uh make those players that come to us and uh uh we just gotta set our game up, set our game up, and we gotta all be better and uh try to find a way to finish it and win.

Like we're not doing enough to win at the moment.

And yeah, we gotta all turn we gotta all collectively, uh do it as a group.

Then tell the the final drive in London or or coach a call three time bobs?

Do you feel one or two of 'em are necessary for the defense to catch its breath.

Or or not?

Yeah, I mean you can the potentially.

I mean you always wanna be able to you use that time out and use the time out to catch your breath, you know, Okay, Uh the game be going fast and.

You know a lot of running out there.

So whenever you could catch your breath in and take those moments, it'd be helpful.

And so when Kevin said had talked to the veterans about the drew lack of trade.

Did he solicit any you know in or what, like, what did you say to him?

I forget that.

Yeah, I I don't really think that's my place to to speak on that trade or or what they all had going on, So I let them speak on that.

Really, the rookie start this team are playing so well and actually quite well if they're making significant contributions we get in week out.

Did does that help?

I guess like mentally dealing with maybe some of the early see some growing things.

You knowing that you.

Got a lot of really good young guys or you gotta be able to get to pieces.

Yeah, yeah, it's definitely positive.

You know, not all is lost.

And uh, like you said, we got a lot of young guys out of rookies.

It's a great rookie class coming in and they're helping us, uh make plays and produce out.

There on the field.

But uh yeah, we all gotta grow fast though, and and like I said, trying to find a way to get wins.

But uh yeah, they're doing a great job though, uh since they came in and uh they uh they're gonna continue to help with.

Things though we all we all remember the playoff year in Pittsburg, the COVID year and you know all that.

But other than that, when if you have never won in.

Pittsburgh, is there a level of frustration that each one builds higher and higher?

And uh in the individual leads with team mum, I think it's more so the focus.

It's just week to week trying to get a win.

So, I mean it's hard to win in this league as you see, and uh, that's just the main focus trying of trying to get a win.

So not more so focus on uh, which win, but just this next one, you know, trying to get this next win.

That's that's the main goal.

And though, do you feel like this team is still one hundred percent?

I mean the organization is still one hundred percent committed to winning this season and that you know, this isn't about just seeing what these rookie quarterbacks can do so they can decide it kind of the draft for next year.

Do you feel like winning is still the one.

Hundred percent one?

Yeah, I definitely believe winning is still the one hundred percent goal.

I mean that that's all we preach about in in these meetings and and while we while we're here is Uh, tryna find a way to get that win.

Like you know, I keep uh repeating it and saying it, cause that that's the main goal.

That's the main focus, and that's what the entire organization and this team is about.

Uh tryna win and uh bring one to the city an organization and uh we we go, we go figure it out and we go, we go find a way to get it.

You know, we're like I say, we're close, and uh we gonna get it done.

So that scene said, is it frustrating you for you to being the leader of this team?

You know?

Ever going through training teams with the four quarterbacks, two of 'em are going mm.

So is it frustrating that people.

Are going Yeah, well not people are going like the quarterback situation hasn't.

Gone in that there's planned this year and you know, nah, I mean that that's the NFL.

I mean, regardless of who's in there, Like, yeah, I'm not really focused on who who's in there.

It's just who's ever we g whoever we got out there.

We gotta find a way to win, and U uh, you know that's the main thing, regardless of who's out there.

So Minnesota did a good job of getting the ball out of wins his hands.

M fast, Yeah quickit Aaron Rodgers do that too, So how do you combat that?

Yeah, yeah, it's around the secondary.

Then it's on all of us.

I think it's on all of us.

I'm not gonna go through game planning scheme, but uh yeah, I think it's it's on the entire defense to to uh neutralize that.

Zell Kevin talked about just different philosophies, you know that have final four minutes where you have the they have the ball on offense, whether you be more aggressive.

Try to pick.

Give it up and let your teeth and sugar.

Obviously in that situation, he looked to you guys, and how much pride to you guys take even though it didn't work out, And the fact that you know he has a confidence and you have.

To sort of finish that gets all.

Yeah, that's that's a lot of respect.

He has a lot of confidence, Centerce and we got to have his back as well and be able to close it out for him with him having that confidence centence and U, we're gonna be better and we gonna get it done for him, and yeah we go, we go be better in the future.

With the d Kay's heightened and frame.

How do you kind of candapt that, you know, thanks some chump balls or deep balls, I guess.

I mean I'm not that.

I'm not that small, you know, I'm really a little big too, got some hide out, you.

Know, Nah, but yeah, he he he's a pretty big guy and uh.

Big, but just playing playing our game, you know, it's it's it's nothing too different.

You know, it's not too different being going.

Against a lot of guys uh in his league, tall, small and everything.

So it's u nothing too crazy.

Turn off that vertical.

This week we go see you know, opportunity to present itself out.

You know, i'ma I'm go'a go and try to do that.

You mentioned everything meeting is secured toward winning.

You still wear those direction of this franchise is going.

How do you square that with the idea that you guys just traded a captain.

To a division rival.

I mean that's the NFL, you know, that's that's the NFL how to how the game goal.

So people get traded, cut stuff happens all the time, you know, But like I said, whenever he got out there on game day, that's that's who you're going out there fighting with and trying to uh get a win that I'll do it for this episode of the From the Podium Podcast.

To be sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Keep it locked to Cleveland Browns daily each weekday from three to five pm Eastern, and follow the Browns on social media for more coverage from the Cross Country Mortgage Campus right here in Maria.

I'm Gabe Kolera.

Thanks for listening to the From the Podium Podcast.