The Browns earned their first win of the season against Jacksonville and are preparing to host the Giants in Week 3 at Huntington Bank Field. They will look to build off the offensive rhythm they established and strong defensive performance from Week 2, as well as a critical contributions on special teams.
So, as the week progresses before the Browns take the field on Sunday, we opened up the mailbag to answer some of your questions.
Corey Bojorquez, Dustin Hopkins and entire special team play was remarkable in the team win in Jacksonville. Your thoughts on the impact of the team win? – Rob M., Fairmont, West Virginia
The success of special teams, and particularly the second-to-last punt from P Corey Bojorquez where he pinned the Jaguars at their own 2-yard line, played a significant role in the Browns win over Jacksonville. That punt set up the opportunity for the safety by DE Alex Wright, which gave the Browns the necessary cushion in the score to seal the win.
"Us as a specialist, we're after on our own a lot of the time, so getting to kind of put that out in front of everybody and do our part for the team, I think, is really huge," Bojorquez said. "And then just as a whole, I mean, you'll see a lot of teams, there's one phase that's kind of lacking, and they can end up losing games for that. So, when all three of them are clicking and doing pretty well, I mean, it's really hard to win football games in this league, but when all three phases are clicking, it makes it a lot easier."
Bojorquez landed three of his five punts inside the 10-yard line, all in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars. When Bojorquez reflected on his second-to-last punt that placed the ball at the 2-yard line, he said he tries to not go out there and overthink his punts. He knew it was s short field and thought the Jaguars would call a fair catch.
As he punted the ball, Bojorquez thought he hit it too far. From his vantage point, it looked like the ball hit the goal line. Yet, when he saw the official raise his arms to wave the ball inside the 2-yard line, he was shocked.
"I was like, wow, that would have been really cool if it checked up," Bojorquez said. "And sure enough, it did, so it's pretty cool. And the next thing you're thinking, 'oh shoot, we might get a safety, and this could really good things rolling for us.' And that's what happened. So, it's pretty cool."
Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone highlighted Bojorquez, K Dustin Hopkins and their special teams units for their efforts in the Week 2 win. Players on the special teams units were acknowledged on Monday following the win, and Bojorquez received a game ball for his success in the punt game.
"It was just a great punt, just great execution," Ventrone said. "I know he's been working on that. That was a point of emphasis for us going into this season was to be better in the plus 50 area. So, he's put in the time. So that was it was good to see the results on that play."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the New York Giants at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) and Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Linebacker Luiji Vilain (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
`51 during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Royce Freeman (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Michael Barrett (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Long snapper Charley Hughlett (47) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Michael Barrett (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Linebacker Luji Vilain (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Tight end Cameron Latu (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 19, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 20, 2024.
How are the younger WR's progressing in the system considering we brought in (offensive coordinator Ken) Dorsey and the offense has changed? – Elijah B., Cleveland, Ohio
The younger wide receivers are continuing to make steady progress. While the receiving corps is led by Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore, their younger receivers in Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash have displayed moments throughout training camp and preseason in how they provide depth to the unit.
While their targets have been limited through the first two games of the season – with Tillman only having three total targets with two receptions for five receiving yards, and Thrash was only active for the first game of the season – there are opportunities for the younger receivers to find their role as the season continues.
With Tillman being in his second season with the league, he can also be a valuable asset to Thrash as he continues to acclimate to the NFL and the Browns.
"Jamari's development really hinges upon Cedric being an advisor to him and saying, 'hey, this is how it was last year,' or 'these are the challenges that I have as a rookie that maybe you can look at it this way,'" pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea said. "Whether it's learning the playbook, the way in which you learn, the way in which you go about your routine in the building. Just being a rookie player, the transition that is required for these players to go from college to the first year in the NFL, there's so much that entails. And having a player like Cedric, who's just gone one lap around the track and then being right next to Jamari, who's now going on that lap, it's very helpful."
Cooper said he's seen their mentality progress over the course of training camp, the preseason and the first two games of the regular season.
"You can tell they really want to be great players," Cooper said. "They work that way day in and day out. And they are great players. So, it just has to show each and every Sunday and I'm looking forward to seeing that."
The Browns also had a tough break this week as WR David Bellsustained a dislocated hip that will require surgery. He was initially injured during Week 2 against the Jaguars and was carted off the field for the injury. The Browns then placed Bell on injured reserve on Sept. 17. Bell had three receptions this season for 27 yards and received a game ball for his performance in Week 2.
"Feel badly for David," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I know his teammates feel badly for him, but he'll bounce back. But he's a guy that's a big part of this football team. He'll be here, I'm sure, as he rehabs, and can provide that steady hand as well, even just in this building."
