As DeShone Kizer tackled questions Wednesday inside the Browns locker room, he made it clear where his focus was centered.
The Browns rookie quarterback was accommodating when asked to reflect on an uneven, Week 2 performance at Baltimore but used every opportunity to show a clear mindset and optimistic feeling toward his next chance to impress.
"It is a new week. We are onto Indianapolis," Kizer said. "Looking forward to having a good week of preparation and trying to do whatever I can to execute the game plan they are putting in front of me."
In front of Kizer on Sunday will be a Colts defense with a similar mindset. The Colts surrendered just 13 points during regulation against the Cardinals but were on the wrong end of a 16-13 result in their home opener.
Like the Browns, Indianapolis is 0-2, dealing with injuries to key players -- Pro Bowl quarterback Andrew Luck hasn't played yet and won't play Sunday -- and desperate to recapture that winning feeling.
Nothing is being taken for granted in Berea.
"You go 4-0 in the preseason and you get a little taste of winning in your mouth and the feel in the locker room, the vibe was ecstatic," Kizer said. "Everyone was excited to get out there. Obviously, going through two losses in our first two regular season games kind of took that away from us. Now we want to get back to that, so if we can get out there and pick up a 'W', hopefully we can build off of that and start stringing together a couple more."
Before the Browns get a win, they need to get a lead, something they've yet to hold through two games. Some of Kizer's toughest series have come during the first quarter, as Cleveland has gone three-and-out on its opening series each time.
Those slow starts have contributed to a running game that hasn't been utilized as much as Browns coach Hue Jackson would prefer. That goal is for that to change, and an early lead would be the perfect place to start.
"In this league, every drive is an important drive, but we understand the importance of momentum," Kizer said. "When our defense plays as well as they do early in games, it is on us on the offensive side to also start fast. If we can get that momentum going early, catch a rhythm, you kind of keep the defense on its toes.
"Everyone mentions the first drive, but there are also some things coming out of halftime that we have to get going. It is on us to have energy and on myself to make sure that I am pushing this offense as fast as I can so that we can have the same consistent energy that we have seen at times where we are driving the ball up and down on defenses."
As he talked after Wednesday's walk-through, Kizer was adamant he'd be the one setting the tone during an important week of preparation.
"In our position as the quarterback, it is up to us to make sure we drive this team and we move on," Kizer said. "If I'm not moving on myself, then how is the rest of the team supposed to move on, too? You watch the film and make the proper corrections, learn from the mistakes that we made in that last game, gain on the positives from the last game and try to be better this week."
