Kevin Stefanski
Visitors Postgame Presser
Dolphins – 39, Browns – 17
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Obviously we’re disappointed. Got beat by a good football team. We really didn’t do any of the things you need to do versus that football team. We didn’t slow their offense down. We didn’t score enough on defense. We just didn’t play complementary football. Lost the turnover margin. Really, really just disappointed. Then you’ve got — in football you’ve got to weather some storms in game, in season, whatever it may be. We’ve just got to make sure that we respond. But today was very disappointing for our football team, and we’ve got to look at it. The things that need to get fixed
need to get fixed. Ultimately just they beat us. They beat us in a bunch of areas, coaching included. Players, coaches, we’re all on that.
Q. It looked like the last couple of games your defense was really starting to turn the corner. What happened today?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: We didn’t stop the run, which that’s a part of this game where they have two receivers that you’re obviously trying to stop. A big part of that is we’ve got to stop the run, and we didn’t do that enough. I looked at the tape. A lot of times it’s simple stuff like getting off the blocks and tackling and those types of things. We just did not do that today.
Q. Did you anticipate they would try to run since it’s Mike McDaniel and he’s going to try to do something different to you?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: They ran their offense. We didn’t stop the run. They still threw it a good bit, but we ultimately gave up too many yards in the run game. There’s never one simple answer to stopping the run. It takes 11 guys. It takes gap integrity. It takes getting off blocks, those types of things. We’ve got to look at the plan we gave the guys in order to stop the run and ask ourselves what we can do better, so
things we can do better.
Q. Kevin, on the other side of the ball, it looked like your offensive line had its toughest day. How do you
explain that?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Had a couple of injuries there. But didn’t get the run game going like we wanted it to. Then Jacoby was just under duress a few too many times. We know they have good rushers. We get it. But we have to do a better job there.
Q. Who exactly was injured? When did those injuries happen?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah, Wyatt, it’s not a new injury he was battling. He was trying to work through it, but just wasn’t himself. Then late just had a couple of guys coming out. We’ll look at that today.
Q. (Indiscernible) was one of those guys?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: We’ll see. I don’t think we got a chance to look at him yet. Not sure how serious that is.
Q. Kevin, you guys still have, I mean, a chance. How do you kind of rally the troops with Deshaun coming
back to practice this week. What’s the mindset with today?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: I think we’ve just got to own today. We came up short in every area. We just came up short, and that’s really frustrating. Big thing for us right now is taking the small view and then
looking at this game and looking at why what happened today happened because, as we know in this league, if you don’t stop something or a team finds a certain thing that they’re going to do to you, everybody else is going to do the same. So we’ve got to look at that and find ways to improve. Then we’ve got to just do what we always do on a Monday. You’ve got to own it, and you’ve got to move on.
Q. You guys had a big play to DPJ on the first drive, and after that it was a grind. You didn’t make any
explosive plays. What happened in the rest of the game?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Yeah, obviously credit to that defense. They did a nice job. Tried to get the run game
going a few times, tried to push the ball down the field a few times, didn’t have those opportunities.
So, yeah, it’s frustrating obviously because you want to start fast. We just didn’t do enough early for the football team on the offensive side, we didn’t do enough early to score some points.
Q. What about they did a nice job, Miami did, on Myles and Jadeveon. Those guys could be game wreckers, but it just didn’t materialize.
KEVIN STEFANSKI: They did a nice job. They got the ball out of their hand. They ran some under center keeper and play action type stuff that really didn’t allow our guys to pin their ears back and rush.
When they have the run game going like they did today, that keeps us off balance defensively.
Q. How much of a downer was that series with two minutes to go in the half, down 10-7?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: A lot of it, but that one in particular, you’re trying to come away with points. You get a big stop, a big penalty on that drive. So it’s like anything else, if there was one answer, it would
be, hey, it’s there, but it’s all of us. We’ve all got to own it. We’ve all got to be better. And we’ve got to identify those things that need to be corrected.
Q. You guys talked a lot about the way they came out against the Bengals with renewed energy and
enthusiasm. Did you not feel that same energy from these guys today?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: I don’t look into that very much. I think we just got beat. It’s real simple.
Q. Heat a factor, 101 on the sideline there?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: No.
Q. (Indiscernible) didn’t start the game, but he came in. What was that about?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: Just a team issue. It’s nothing.
Q. Kevin, Deshaun can return tomorrow to practice. Do you have a sense of what the plan is going to be to get him ready to play while also getting Jacoby the snaps he needs?
KEVIN STEFANSKI: I know Deshaun can come back to practice, and that’s the next step. We’ll talk about that next week. Biggest thing for us is just making sure we fix the things that need to be fixed.
Jacoby Brissett
Visitors Postgame Presser
Dolphins – 39, Browns – 17
Q. Anything about the Dolphins defense that surprised you? They were very physical.
JACOBY BRISSETT: Yeah, knew they were a physical team. We just got our ass whupped today. That’s frankly what happened.
Q. Jacoby, with you guys coming off the big victory against the Bengals, how much of a let down is it?
JACOBY BRISSETT: It’s definitely unfortunate. Obviously wanting to carry that momentum into another weekend. We were unsuccessful at that. Yeah, we’ve just got to be better in all phases of the game.
Q. What was it like for you just facing the pressure that you did all day?
JACOBY BRISSETT: It’s part of football. Wasn’t shocked that — I mean, I don’t think they wanted me to sit back there and just have all day. Definitely thought that’s what they were going to do. Like I said, just me being better with my answers and us as a group being better with our answers when things like that
happen.
Q. How about that sequence at the end of the first half, exchange of both teams turning it over on downs,
them scoring and getting to double dip?
JACOBY BRISSETT: Yeah, that’s tough. Especially in a moment like that. You’ve got to find a way for those things not to happen. Yeah, definitely not wanting to give them the ball obviously with that type of territory where they can go and double dip, knowing that they get the ball in the second half.
So got to go watch the film and learn from it.
Q. Jacoby, you had some friends and family on the sideline. What was it like seeing them watch you?
JACOBY BRISSETT: They come and watch me all the time. So it is what it is.
Q. The opening script again was perfect. Is there anything that tipped off what happened after that?
JACOBY BRISSETT: No, we just didn’t execute as well. A couple bounces one way or the other didn’t go our way. It’s tough to see what the actual cause was right now. Got to go back and watch the film and see where it comes from and just get ready to get better from that. Got another big game coming up.
Q. The big difference was Miami was able to run the ball so well and you guys didn’t run the ball as well as you had hoped to. What was the impact of that?
JACOBY BRISSETT: I think that’s part of our game is to be able to run the ball. Obviously we weren’t as successful as we wanted to be in that area. But I know the guys in that room. I know the guys up front. I know our coach, O-line coach, running back coach, quarterback coach. I know the coaches in that room. We’re going to go and watch the film and correct it and be better from it.
Q. What were the emotions like for you just coming back here, coming back home against a team you played for last year?
JACOBY BRISSETT: Nothing. Really nothing. I want to go win.
Q. What about the fact that — what is your mindset now? Do you guys still feel like all is not lost? You still have plenty of time?
JACOBY BRISSETT: For sure, yeah. I don’t even know how many games we’ve played. Nine. We’ve got plenty of time. This season, it goes fast, but when it clicks, it clicks. We’ve got another opportunity coming up next week and looking to put a better performance out there.
Browns WR Amari Cooper
(Coming off of the Bye Week, coming off that Bengals performance, is there a certain frustration
with the way things went today?) – “Yeah, I mean a lot of frustration. You play the game to win. At
the end of the day, we played against a good team – a real good team. We just have to come out
here and play better. We have to keep it competitive and try to find a way to win and we didn’t do
that.”
(Your second and third possessions, you had the fumble and then the turnover on downs. Did
you guys kind of feel like in the moment that those are missed opportunities that you can’t give
against a team like Miami with the way their offense has been performing lately?) – “Coming into
this game, we were minus four in the turnover battle, and we put a huge emphasis on that.
Obviously, that’s the biggest statistic in football, and the way it correlates to wins and loses is
tremendous. Obviously, (if you lose) the turnover battle, you have a huge disadvantage and just
might lose the game.”
(This is not a place you guys as a team want to be in with six losses right now. It’s a long season
still, but what do you think this team can be for the next couple of games?) – “It depends. I
believe we have the guys in this locker room to turn things around. I’ve been on teams where we
were in a similar predicament and it was turned around and we went on a run. You have to – the
thing about greatness, you have to put it on display. Everybody has greatness in them, but greatness
is put on display. Some people don’t put it on display, even though it’s in them. I think this team has
to find a way to put it on display. It’s in us, but we just have to find a way to put it on display.”
Myles Garrett
Visitors Postgame Presser
Dolphins – 39, Browns – 17
Q. Talk about how it feels to come off that big victory over the Bengals and then have a clunker like this today?
MYLES GARRETT: No one enjoys losing. Regardless coming off a win or another loss, a loss is a loss, and it hurts all the same.
Q. Did they run it more than you guys expected them to?
MYLES GARRETT: We expected them to establish the run, but we should have done a better job of stopping it. We allowed too many lanes. We just weren’t being as aggressive and as physical as we needed to to get them away from it.
Q. How frustrating is it? You guys seemed like you were turning the corner those last two games, then to not get a stop or at least force a punt?
MYLES GARRETT: We knew they were unique in what they did and they were going to throw a lot of different looks at us. It really kept us on the back foot, kept us hesitant, and they capitalized on that.
Q. They really blocked you and Jadeveon really well. They did a nice job on you guys, and Tua was getting the ball out. What was going on?
MYLES GARRETT: A little bit of everything. Throwing different looks. One-on-one, having him step up. He was getting the ball out quick. Having the tight end there. Having the chippers there. It wasn’t a big chip game, but it was a big play action, and moving the pocket with his passes. So he wasn’t in the same spot a lot of the times, and that led to him having a little bit more time getting the ball out. But when he did feel pressure, he got it out when he could.
Q. Is it hard not to preoccupy yourself with planning for this team?
MYLES GARRETT: It is tough knowing that their speed changes the game. You know at any given time they can really strike and make a big play. We got beaten in other ways. They made throwing plays, but everybody really chipped in on their side of the ball.
Q. Are the Dolphins just one heck of a football team, better than you guys thought they were?
MYLES GARRETT: They are who we thought they were. I don’t think they’re better than what we expected. I guess the motions and a lot of the movements that they were doing really, in real time, it’s a little bit different pace than we were expecting. Especially with all the threats that they have, it really just kept us a little slower getting to where we needed to be and executing.
Q. Did the sun or heat or anything like that affect you guys on that side of the field?
MYLES GARRETT: No, it wasn’t a factor. It was really just what they were doing. Hat’s off to them.
Q. At 3-6, where do you guys go from here? Mathematically you could obviously still make the playoffs, but with every loss it’s getting more and more difficult.
MYLES GARRETT: It’s difficult, but it’s not impossible. We’re going to go out and play every game like it’s our last because it might as well be. Do everything we can. Go back to the facility and go back to Cleveland, sharpen it up, and get ready for the Bills.
Q. Is it somewhat daunting the next two quarterbacks you face are Josh Allen and Tom Brady?
MYLES GARRETT: No. Those guys are great players in their own right, but we have to worry about more than just them. There’s a whole 11 guys on the field. So those guys are on our mind, but it’s not just them.
Q. But their offense is prolific at times, certainly the Bills. What kind of challenge is that to you guys especially given what happened today?
MYLES GARRETT: They’ve been prolific, but they’ve also been stopped. The game before last, I believe the Bills lost. They did a great job with Josh Allen, getting him to get rid of the ball a little bit quicker, getting pressure in his face. A lot of teams have been doing the same with Tom Brady. Those guys, like I said, are very talented. I mean, Tom’s career speaks for itself. But they’re in no way, shape, or form unbeatable, especially for us.
Q. This was your first game against Tua. What did you think?
MYLES GARRETT: I mean, he was accurate, got the ball out quick. I mean, he just made a lot of smart decisions. I think that’s a combination of his coaching, being very on point, getting the ball out, making sure that he doesn’t take unnecessary hits. And he just put the ball where it needed to be. He put it in great spots.
Q. You guys talked about coming out against the Bengals with some kind of extra renewed energy, just ready to run through a wall. Were you able to gather up that head of steam coming down here too?
MYLES GARRETT: Doesn’t matter if you’re ready to run through a wall if it’s in the wrong direction. We really need to just focus in a little bit more, and that’s what we’re going to get back to doing. We have the kind of energy. We’re ready to attack. Everybody’s got to be focused in and going in the right direction, all on the same page.
Q. Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that you guys still have a chance to stay relevant?
MYLES GARRETT: Yes.
Q. To do that, do you have to win these next two games or more than two?
MYLES GARRETT: We have to win the next two games. First we have to win the Bills, and then we’ll get on to the next one. If we’re looking to the future, we have to win both of them.
Browns CB Greg Newsome II
(When you have a good passing team like this one and they get a few runs going early, does it
spiral, in terms of their game plan? Like they’re just going to run it more because it’s working,
it’s not necessarily something you didn’t expect?) – “Yeah, for sure. I feel like any team if you are
successful doing something, and then in our breakdowns – that’s something we’ve struggled with in
the past and they are going to try to attack that. And when you’re doing something well, why stop it
if it’s going well? So we just have to find ways to come back.”
(And the Dolphins were using a lot of motion. Do you feel that played a part in helping them get
open by being in movement as they were releasing for their routes? – “For sure. But we have also
played teams with a lot of motion. It’s just when you’re trying to stop the run and things like that and
now you have to play a different way in the secondary, so that’s not going to be much help in the
passing game because you need to focus on stopping something else. We’ve got to just to focus on
ourselves, focus on getting better and just try to find ways to get better for next week.”
(How disappointing was it giving up the points before the half because you guys had held them
to 10 for 28 minutes? – “It was disappointing giving up any points. Good throw, a good catch—
that’s something that was going to happen. That wasn’t necessarily game-changing. We had a whole
second half left, but good throw, good catch.”
Browns G Wyatt Teller
(On his calf injury and leaving the game in the first quarter) – “Just working through it. I wanted to
be out there – I was almost to tears that I wanted to be out there. I don’t want my guys to be out
there. I think (Jacoby Brissett) had three different guards in there today, so I don’t ever want to do
that to anybody. Taking all the reps during the week, not really giving them a chance, I kind of take
that personally. But again, we all have to do our jobs and hopefully it gets better. As I was moving, it
was moving still, so that’s good.”
(Did you just feel it on that drive, or what happened?) – “Yeah, it just wasn’t feeling right. I was
trying to run off the ball, trying to get my techniques and fundamentals, and I was just working
through it.”
(So, it was just today, right? You thought you were good to go?) – “Yes, I thought I was ready to
go. You know after a Bye (Week), you come out feeling good. I worked my butt off during the Bye to
try to get back, and I was ready to go. It just didn’t feel right.”
(How hard is it for you as a player to say, “Hey, this isn’t feeling right. I have to come out rather
than risk it?”) – “It was obvious. I went to the sideline, and Coach was like, ‘Hey, this or this. You
were a little behind on your reach block. You weren’t inside on that. You had placement on the QB
sneak, or something like that.’ So I was just like, ‘Alright, I definitely feel a little slow.’ It’s like they’re
the fast athletic ones, so we’ve got to kind of keep up with them. If you’re lacking, it’s hard to keep
in front of them. That’s a good front; that’s a good team. They had our answer.”
Browns CB Denzel Ward
(What do you think the rest of the season can hold for you guys?) – “I think we’re definitely
capable, we just got to take one game at a time. Like I said, we’ll go back and watch the film, see
what we can correct and get it done for the next week.”
(Seems like you guys have felt that all year long- that you’ve been capable, so what’s not
clicking? – “We just have to make plays. They made more plays than we made. I take that upon
myself, too. I didn’t make enough plays to help this team win. I’ve got to self-assess and go back
and see what I can do to be better and to make more plays, try to make the ball away, help the
team.”
(Do you think your team kind of feels the same sentiment here? Does everybody feel like not in
the best position., but there is plenty of football left out there?) – “Yeah, I think there’s plenty of
football left. Like I said, we have to take it a week at a time, make the corrections, come back next
week and try to find a way to get a win.”
