CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski took questions from reporters on Wednesday with regard to his decision to make Dillon Gabriel the starter, demoting Joe Flacco to second-string, preparing to play Minnesota in London, and more.
Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:
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Opening Statement:
“Okay, going to start Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, as I know you guys saw. First of all, this is not about one person. Joe (Flacco) is a captain of this football team. We’re going to need his leadership moving forward, like always, and that’s obvious with Joe, just the person he is, he’s going to be the same guy every day. Excited for Dillon, he’s done everything, he’s handled everything really well since he’s been on campus here, so just going to have to support the young man, coaches, players, offense, defense, special teams. So, looking forward to the opportunity this week, great challenge. Obviously going overseas to play a really good football team. A team that I have a lot of respect for from Kevin O’Connell, his staff and some great, great players, so going to be a challenge. But with that, I’ll take any questions.”
Kevin (Stefanski), you said it’s not about one person, then why make this decision and why make it now?
“Yeah, I think the big thing for me is we need to all be better, Daniel (Oyefusi). We need to coach better, we need to block better, catch better, run better, all of the above we need to be better. And I know the quarterback position gets quite a bit of scrutiny, I understand that. But this is about our entire team playing better.”
And was this solely your decision to make the quarterback change?
“Yes.”
Kevin, how much did the turnovers, the eight turnovers or whatever it was through these first four games play a factor?
“Obviously, Ashley (Bastock), we need to be better at taking care of the football. We are minus six in the NFL, we’re 32nd in turnover margin and that’s very difficult to overcome.”
Do you think the change to Dillon can provide a spark for an offense that’s struggling?
“Well, again, I think across the board we have to be better, and that’s the ‘we’ in this thing. So obviously expect Dillon to play well, but we have to be good around him.”
And how about his ability to move? Do you think that can create some things for this offense?
“Again, I think the focus is on doing all those things, Scott (Petrak), that allow you to be sound on offense.”
Kevin, what are the things Dillon has shown you behind the scenes that make you believe he’s ready for this?
“Yeah, I mean, obviously from the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard, very intelligent young man. He’s done a nice job throughout practice, and this whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready, and understand the rhythm of an NFL week, and what that looks like as a backup, and obviously now feel like he’s ready to start.”
Do you need to simplify things for him this week or change anything offensively?
“I think with any quarterback, you’re going to play to their strengths. So, regardless of who that guy is, veteran, rookie, you may be able to play to their strengths.”
Why now?
“Yeah, just my decision. Where I felt this decision was best for the football team.
Will Joe slide into the number two role?
“Yes.”
Why did you decide to make Joe the backup and not Shedeur (Sanders)?
“Yeah, Joe’s the backup.”
Kevin, has Dillon taken any reps with the ones in the first four weeks?
“Yes.”
And how does he look doing those in practice?
“Yeah, again, young players, you’re constantly getting better, whether you’re getting reps or not getting reps. He has gotten some reps with the ones, but of course today, tomorrow, Friday will be the most extended time with the ones.”
Kevin, to go back to the behind-the-scenes stuff and make maybe what he’s showing you guys. I know sometimes when you get rookie quarterbacks, and they’re a backup for a handful of games, you see things start to really click for them. Have you guys seen that with him? Like, has he taken a jump even just from that role these first two weeks?
“I think all of our guys, Ashley, with practice, and meetings, and just being more comfortable with the game and understanding opponents, which I think is another big part of this, because the opponents week-to-week are so different. I think all those guys stack these weeks and get better with each week.”
Dillon always talks about the importance of every rep when he was doing stuff in training camp and moving into now. So, how have you seen him embrace the side work that he’s gotten to build this foundation for this opportunity?
“I think you just have to do everything in your power, Cam (Justice), to get ready for when your number is called. Certainly, at the quarterback position, it’s different than wide receiver, where there’s just one guy out there, so there’s one rep to go around and then you have to do everything in your power, but it’s no different than a left tackle making his first start, or a defensive tackle making his first start, or a safety or what have you. You know, it’s going to be the first time for Dillon on Sunday, but you try to build off of all your experiences.”
Kevin, your tackle situation remains in flux, and you traded for Cam Robinson earlier this week. Do you anticipate him sliding in right away, and just what do you do at both of those spots this week?
“Yeah, we’ll work through that this week. Obviously, just getting Cam here, trying to get him up to speed and see where it goes from there.”
How tough is that conversation with Joe, and how did he take it?
“Yeah, I’ll keep it between us, Scott. I would tell you, and you guys know this, Joe was an elected captain of this football team for a reason. We believe in his leadership. He’s going to be the same exact guy he always is, which I really appreciate.”
How much more challenging does it make it, going into London, for Dillon to prepare and get ready for this game?
“Yeah, for our football team, we really don’t focus on anything other than the work we have to get in. So, today is a really important day. We’ll have meetings and a jog through tomorrow, that’ll be important. So, it’s really just focusing on what’s in front of you and getting ready to go.”
What about the challenges about Brian Flores’ defense? I mean, he confuses quarterbacks, doesn’t he?
”Yeah, Coach Flo does a great job. I mean, it’s a very, very good scheme, with very good players from front to back. They do a lot. I think what they’re doing is simple to them, and they want it to look hard to the offense, and they have a lot of versatility along their front, a lot of versatility in the back end where they can line people up in different spots. So, really important as an offense that you stay true to rules, understand on a given play what the intent of that play is.”
Kevin, Myles (Garrett) not expected to practice today with that ankle injury. Is that anything to be concerned about?
“Well, he’s not practicing today. I call him day-to-day.”
What do you hope your team gets from this experience, getting to go to a different country and play a football game?
“Obviously, it’s a privilege to be able to go over there and play this game. Now, what’s most important to us is doing all the things, both here and there, to get us ready for Sunday. But it’s a great experience for our fans, but really, it’s a business trip for us.”
Kevin, you said Joe’s obviously going back to two. But was there…along with changing to Dillon, was there any conversation at all about making Shedeur the number two?
“Yeah, my focus is on this game. Joe is the two.”
Did Myles get hurt in the game?
“Yes.”
You guys made some receiver promotions yesterday. What have you seen out of Malachi (Corley) since he’s been here?
“He’s done a really nice job. As you know, Scott, we do a lot of work with our young players after practice, Mondays, Saturdays, when they’re not playing games. So, get to see these guys work. He’s done a nice job with everything we’ve asked him to do, intelligent kid, excited for him.”
What’s the situation with Jack Conklin?
“Yeah, similar day-to-day. We’ll see how it goes.”