On the Ravens defense without LB Terrell Suggs:
"Structurally, it's pretty much the same; it's just that player. Obviously, what he means to that team and that defense is well documented over the years. He's a heck of a player, there's no doubt about it. It's the NFL and everybody lives by the 'next man up' motto. You see the legacy that they built with those guys, with (former Ravens DB) Ed (Reed) and (former Ravens LB) Ray (Lewis) and Suggs and the type of mindset that they play defense with so that's still around. They're still going to play hard. Just because he's not there doesn't mean it really changes anything for us. We still have to prepare because we know it's a great defense."
On if the offense found its identity last Sunday:
"I think each week the idea is that you get closer and closer, and I felt like run-game wise, we were more efficient, had some good runs and that's where we want to be. Like I said before, I think every offense in the NFL, you want to be balanced. You want to find a place where you can turn to hand the ball off if the game dictates it and you can throw the ball if the game dictates it and do those both efficiently enough that you're going to get yards and you're going to be able to move the football that way. I certainly feel like Sunday we captured that, a couple three-and-outs that we can't have, but other than that, I feel like we captured that a little bit more. Definitely a lot of momentum moving in that direction. You're in this thing long enough, I think anybody will tell you – it's the group that we have and the coaches – you're never satisfied. That's kind of where we rest is that we felt like there were some good things we did offensively, but it's still not good enough because at the end of the day, you have to win the football game. You have to score one more point than they do so we have to find a way to get that done."
On if there are additional ways to use RB Duke Johnson Jr.:
"Oh yeah. I think so. That is the maximum – you want him to be effective in a game. There are different ways that we can move him around and use him, but more than anything, you just want him to be able to exploit the mismatches that you may have when he's on the field. Again, whether that's once a game or five times a game, it just depends on that game goes, but when you're allowed to have that matchup, you want to be able to exploit it. Obviously, we felt good about that Sunday."
On how valuable it is to get the RBs involved in the pass game:
"It's huge because you're able to save plays that way. You're able to come back and maybe you call a play one time and you get a certain look, and then you get a different look so you might not get down field where you'd like to get, but you get underneath, you get to the back and you keep plays alive that way. Everybody's confidence grows as far as the scope of plays that we can call, feel good running because we know the ball is going to get distributed where it's supposed to go and those guys can catch and make plays. It's very encouraging obviously to see Crow (RB Isaiah Crowell) and Duke do that out of the backfield. It's going to be a huge help."
On decreasing the amount of penalties per game:
"Absolutely, you can't have penalties. Obviously, when it happens, you have to do your best to overcome it. We know it's something we'll be on top of and we have to get better at that. There's not a meter that says how close you're getting to overcoming it so I can't give you that. I just know we have to get better at that. You're exactly right – we can't have drives stall out. It's hard enough to move the football in this league when you're not shooting yourself in the foot with things like that. Absolutely, that's something that we're aware of, that we talk through, we focus on in practice. I'm hopeful that it's close. I don't think you know until you do it, until you go through a game and you don't have penalties. Every week, we look to eliminate those, for sure."
On if he understands DB Joe Haden's dilemma with his injury:
"Absolutely, that's hard. It's a hard call because as competitors, you want to be out there on the field with your guys. At the same time, if you feel like you're in position where you can't give your best to the team, then that's a detriment to the team, as well. It's a fine balance and it's hard and it's up to every individual guy. There's a ton of trust in this locker room. That's where we're at with it. We trust that Joe made the best decision he could for our team. Then, we move forward. Regardless, it's onto Baltimore now. We look forward to whenever Joe's back out there, Joe being Joe and making plays and doing what he does. It's not a thing for us. We're moving on."
On how the offense adjusted without WR Brian Hartline:
"We've said it all along, just the group that we have, guys can step up because we feel like we have a depth there in that room and everybody kind of takes their turn to make plays. Some of the stuff that Hartline wasn't able to be in on, the other guys just pulled a play. Whether it was Hawk (WR Andrew Hawkins) or Gabe (WR Taylor Gabriel), we can move guys around. It's not really like one guy steps into that. We have various ways that we can fill that void."
On the key to scoring more TDs in the red zone:
"It's just keep executing. Like I said, to me, kind of knocked on the door that one time and didn't get in, and then the other one, we had the long gain and we got down there tight. That's really one I wish we would have punched in, but I felt good about we had a good first down run, we came back, caught a ball in the flat, then we tried a screen and we were one block away from getting that screen. I think we all feel good with where we're at. The other one was a two-minute, and like I said the other day, the time stopped that more than anything. Overall, we feel good about where we're at. We need to be better. We want to get seven, for sure. I don't know if there's a whole lot where us as a group look at and go, 'Man, that's really where we're hurting.' I think we feel good about our plan and what we can do. It's just about getting down there more and then finishing because the red zone for us is we got stopped in Oakland on the goal line. The red zone mindset with us out and then on the goal line are two different mindsets. The issues that we need to fix are different."
On if the lack of size in the WR position makes it more difficult to be successful in the red zone:
"It's easy to say that, but I like the stuff that we have. The plays that we have allow the guys that we have to do the things they're best at. If you have the bigger guys is it easy to just pop one up, see if they can [catch it]? Absolutely, but the plays that we have, every week we go into a game we have plenty of ammunition to get those things done. I don't really worry about that. I think there are always plays to be made. Most of the time comes down to it, it's just an execution thing more than anything."
On playing in a raucous, college-like atmosphere at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore:
"This is my first time. Thanks for telling me. If it is – I trust you. You have been there more than me."
On if he likes playing in an atmosphere like that and how he handles it:
"Absolutely, it is fun. Whenever you get to go into an atmosphere where the fans are passionate about it – just like we talk about our fans here – it is fun because it is added juice and energy that you get from that stadium. It makes it fun. If you can go on the road and kind of quiet that crowd and go win the game, it is a sweeter feeling because of that. I am looking forward to it. I have heard great things about playing there and the energy that is at the stadium. I am looking forward to experiencing it."
On if playing in his first AFC North game adds something to the game:
"Division games are always important, there is no question about that. Again, it is all relative. It is not like you look at the schedule and say, 'Let's lose this one and lose this one and then really win that one.' You want to win every single game. It doesn't take anything off of it. Obviously, division games, you can feel the intensity turn up. Guys understand the implications that it can have on the schedule and so on. I think as a pro, it is hard to differentiate between the two. To be a part of this division and the rivalries and everything that goes on within this division is going to be fun, and I am looking forward to it and I am looking forward to the first one."
On if he thought about other QBs in the division when joining the Browns:
"Yeah, absolutely. Just respect their games. (Ravens QB) Joe (Flacco) and (Steelers QB) Ben (Roethlisberger) and (Bengals QB) Andy (Dalton), I think are fantastic players. Andy is off to a hot start this year. You know you don't play against those guys. You never line up against them at quarterback. It certainly zeroes your focus a little bit and ups the ante to want to be that effective for your team. It is a fun division for quarterbacks. You get to watch these guys because you are watching different opponents so you see them on tape. Like I said, a ton of respect for their games."
