CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel took questions from reporters on Wednesday with regard to being made the starter, what he’s learned from Joe Flacco, looking ahead to playing Minnesota in London, and more.
Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:
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Dillon (Gabriel), first off, congratulations. What is your feeling being named the starter, and how prepared are you for this moment?
“Yeah, I think from the beginning, it’s the moment you look forward to as a competitor. But it’s part of my job to be ready – to be that sense of hope for everyone to continue to be better, and come together, and create momentum for each other. So, excited for that, but just also extremely focused at doing my job at a high level.”
How do you think you managed to stay ready over these first four weeks of the regular season?
“Yeah, a lot of walk throughs, a lot of meetings you got to be really tuned into. And then I think, just, you look at all the work, from beginning of OTAs and working minicamp to now, I think that’s all installation that you can really pride yourself on, and the reps built up. So moments that build up, and then to get here, but like I said, it’s extreme focus on just doing my job at a high level and continue to do that for one another.”
Kevin (Stefanski) mentioned that you had received some reps with the starters during the first month of the regular season. Just could you put a percentage, like every day, how many plays it was, and how do you think that’s prepared you, even though you’re going to get a full slate of practice reps this week?
“You know, I think as much as we could. I think reps here and there throughout practices but also respecting (Joe) Flacco getting his reps throughout those weeks. So, I think we try to fit it in as much as possible, but I think we also did a good job of that in training camp. So, like I said, you got to build those moments up to get to this moment, and I think a great week of prep will set us up for success.”
Kevin talked about Joe’s leadership still being so important to this team despite becoming the backup. Just curious, from your vantage point from the day you got here to these first four weeks, how has he been able to already support you to get to this point?
“Yeah. What I appreciate about Joe is just, it’s not his job to be a mentor, it’s his job to be a great quarterback. And I think just his openness to answer questions. It’s my job to ask questions, right? And search for those answers. But having guys like, him, Deshaun (Watson) in the room, I think are guys that just played a bunch of ball, so appreciate him for that. And he’s a captain on this team, he’s still a huge piece of what we do, and we look to him for a lot of things because he’s been through it a bunch. So, I think there’s a ton of respect there for me, and a guy I definitely look up to, and it’s going to be important to have that.”
Going into this week, Kevin kept stressing that it’s not just one person, right, that’s responsible for the offensive struggle. So, when you get in there as a starter, how do you go about trying to get everybody to play at a higher level?
“Yeah, I think initially it’s great juice and great energy. And that starts on Monday, the beginning of the prep week. That starts with just having great meetings, having great practices. So, we’re taking small sample sizes and bites of the whole thing, and making sure that we just focus on what we got in front of us. And I think if we have a great week of prep, and we continue to put that at the forefront, I think we’ll continue to have that. But like I said, it’s not just one person, it’s all of us coming together, creating momentum together so we can go move the sticks and put points on the board.”
Dillon, whenever we talk to you, you’re so process driven. Aside from obviously getting those first team reps this week and then most of the reps in practice, does anything change for you this week?
“You know, you’d like to say no, but there is a lot of excitement. But with that excitement, for me, it’s just extreme focus. And I’ve been through weeks of prep and a bunch of them, if you go back, but you just continue to attack it with your process and how you want to accomplish that. But I think it’s us coming together, like I said, not to be cliché or keep saying the same thing, but we have to come together and create momentum for each other, so that we
can create positive plays, put points on the board and just take it one play at a time.”
Did Joe impart any words of encouragement after the announcement?
“You know, I think just for us, its constant communication. He’s a guy that you see him every single day. You know, we’re in the same position group, and a guy that you appreciate 100% of the time, because he’s just himself and he’s very even keel. S, there’s a lot I’ve learned from him, and will continue to learn from him. But I know he knows, he still has a huge part in what we’re doing and, he’s a captain of the team as well.”
When did coach tell you that you were going to get this start?
“You know, we all sat down and [he] said it in the QB room, and as simple as that.”
Dillon, it was pretty clear that at some point the organization wanted you to start a game this season. Obviously maybe a little earlier than you or the organization might have planned, but was that something that was always in the back of your head, even though as you talk about, making sure that you were ready at any given time?
“You know, I think it’s funny, because I got a text from a good buddy of mine and he sent me a picture of a fire station, and it’s kind of like, ‘Why are you sending that?’ But when he sends it, he just lists the obvious, right? Like, doors are open, garage doors are open, like things are ready to go, and like, they’re just waiting on that phone call to like, respond surgically. Just what a great representation of like the job I have and being ready for that moment. And I think I smile because it’s like a moment you prep for, and you are extremely excited for, but also got to realize that it’s extreme focus and that’s what I’ve continued to harp on. But, you wait for the perfect time, you’re going to wait a whole lifetime. So, for me, I’m just – I’ve always been ready for every moment.”
Dillon, just going back to these first four weeks and prep of it all, I know sometimes rookie QBs, they step into that backup role, it becomes kind of this big learning experience that maybe you wouldn’t have expected initially, I guess just. Was that the case for you? How has that been for you in terms of taking on what you did as a backup those first four weeks?
“I think the biggest thing is just change of perspective. I think when you’re behind center, it’s kind of attacking the day of what you need to do. And sometimes you let things slip through the cracks for what’s most important and order of operations that way. But I think when you change the perspective, you kind of look at, you know, the whole preparation as a whole and how you can get better, how you can best support your teammates and maybe when you’re not the starter in a different status, can you still lead and create momentum for one another? So that was a big challenge for me, one I took on wholeheartedly and I will continue to take on.”
This Brian Flores defense, you know, he’s got a great reputation. They’re confusing all kinds of quarterbacks. So, what do you see and how difficult is that for your first NFL start?
“Yeah, a lot of respect for what he’s done. But even this year, I think he’s just a unique defensive mind and has created, you know, a lot of turnovers, a lot of negative plays – confusion, like you said. But, you know, I think it’s just going to be a great challenge for us all, you know, coming together and you know, we got a lot of respect, you know, and how we attacked our, our craft with diligence, you know, and want to make sure that we’re ready for that moment. But like I said, a lot of respect for our competition.”
What challenge is the compressed timeline this week? You have to go to London probably a little short of practice today. You’re not going to do maybe a normal practice on Thursday, same thing with Friday. Just what type of challenge does that present for you and how do you, you know, handle that?
“Yeah, it’ll be different, but one we’re looking for forward to. You know, there’s challenges week to week in any given week, but one that’s just unique. But I think, like I was saying earlier, the excitement for being able to play in London, you know, new fans, new environment, I think that’ll be a lot of fun. But also just, you know, I think they’ve educated us a bunch on how we need to attack this and we’ll continue to do so.”
Dillon, I know, everyone always talks about your processing, but your mobility specifically, I mean, what do you think you can add to this offense as you guys have been struggling with that aspect of your game?
“Yeah, I think it’s a combination, you know, and being able to ad lib, you know, confidence as using your legs as a weapon is real, you know, in this day and age. But I think it’s a great combination of a lot of things. You know, you want to use it when you need to, not when you just feel like doing it. So I think moving when necessary is important and have confidence in that, but also throwing and make sure we’re running the offense the right way.”
You stepped in late in the fourth quarter in week two and four. And I know, like, how can those experiences, though, just being able to take the field in a game setting like that help you as you head into this week?
“Yeah, more turns at it. As Coach Mus (Bill Musgrave) would say, you know, the more turns you got, the more confident and comfortable you are in certain situations. So, super glad I was able to get those turns and want to continue to build on that and. And we will, you know, throughout this process. But like I said, a whole week of prep, going into a game, knowing the job cold is, my job, and I’ll continue to do that. Excited for it.”
From your vantage point, back to practice now, film and in those limited settings, what’s the biggest difference you’ve noticed between pro defenses and college defenses?
“Definitely personnel, you know, I think 1 through 11, obviously, but I think there’s also confidence in their pass rushers and I think you see that every single week. And, you know, your ability to protect, your ability to, you know, make them be on their toes consistently could help you, and you just want to continue to do that. But that’s definitely a challenge.”
Jerry (Jeudy) was obviously a little frustrated after that game on Sunday with some of his drops. How important is it, you know, for you and him to get on that same page quickly and for him to really kind of get going for this offense?
“Glad you asked. You know, I’m the biggest fan of Jerry (Jeudy). You know, I would be surprised to find anyone that thinks more highly of him than me. You know, just the way he works, the way he attacks his day to day, but how much he loves the game as well –he shows his passion and he’s a guy that we’re going to rely on. I’ll continue to rely on, and a guy we’ll feed because, you know, he’s a big part of what we do. So, I think as we continue to build it, it’ll be building reps together in continuity, but I think that that’ll grow as time progresses.”
The rest of room’s kind of in a little bit of flux with Ced (Cedric Tillman) going on IR, DeAndre on IR, and then calling up a couple of guys from the practice squad.
“You know, I think it’s having that mentality of next guy up and everyone being prepared for their moment and uniquely enough, I’m doing the same as them, so I think we’re both in that same position. But you know, I keep going back to us coming together and making sure that we continue to do that, will be our biggest point of emphasis. Because we need to do that. And the more we create positive plays and let that continue to stack on each other, then good things will happen. But, small bites at the time.”
You’ve been to London before?
“Haven’t. Haven’t been out the country.”