Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer:
Opening statement:
"Good afternoon, everybody. I am sure you guys missed the heck out of me. I know I missed the heck out of you guys."
On if he had opportunities to go to other teams:
"I was under contract so the only way I could have left was if they would have allowed me to leave. I heard there were some scattering of interest out there, but it did not matter. I wanted to stay here. I wanted to be a part of this franchise. Like I said last week to (Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General Manager) Andrew (Berry) and when our website interviewed me, we have some unfinished business. We did some really good things last year and I am very pleased with our progress and the direction that we are going in, but we are nowhere near where we need to be to help this football team win a lot of games. That is one of the reasons I am really excited about staying."
On if he expected Head Coach Kevin Stefanski to ultimately become a head coach when together in Minnesota:
"Back in 2011, probably, probably not. I was a little younger, and he was a lot younger. You could see him grow up as a coach. You could see him grow as a leader. The last maybe three or four years, we started talking about it in Minnesota – not a lot but every now and then. I interviewed with the Bears in 2013 maybe, and he would ask me about that experience and that situation and what it was like. I could just see his interest and his growth as a young coach. I knew that being a head coach was definitely in his future, absolutely."
On Stefanski's traits and characteristics that stand out as a head coach:
"He is smart. He is a good leader. He has charisma. He has kind of the it factor that most good head coaches have in that you can lead a team. He has humility. I think he has got the ability to stand in front of the room and lead a football team, and I think that is what all the great head coaches need to have."
On building the Browns special teams in his second year:
"We have a long way to go. Our two young kicker and punter, our young guys have to improve in Year 2. Some of the things that maybe are not allowed to happen but we did not get it as much of hitting a sub-par punt or missing a PAT, which are obviously unacceptable, we have to make sure that stuff does not happen again. We are going to be more consistent. We are going to be stronger. We are going to be better kicking PATs and field goals and better situational punting. Our return games have to improve immensely. I think we have a long way to go there. I think our two young returners did a good job. Our two running backs did a good job last year for us for the most part. Whether we continue to get them developed or we bring in new return man, that remains to be seen, but at the end of the day, we have to improve the return unit, as well. There are a lot of factors that need to improve – coverage, as well. Punt coverage at the beginning of the year was not very good. We got better as the year went on. Kickoff coverage was good pretty much the whole year, but we can still get better in that regard, as well. We have to take advantage of our stadium. We have to not miss PATs in the Dawg Pound end. We have to make everything. We have to make sure our opponents miss on that end like we have talked about for. I am excited about where we are, but I am really excited about the future."
On his message to P Jamie Gillan and K Austin Seibert at the end of the season:
"I had good discussions with them and I have been in discussion with them – texting and calling them a couple of times to see how they are doing and how their offense is going. I think the big thing I stress is what I just said – consistency. They did so many good things. There is a reason why they made our football team. There is a reason why they won those jobs. If you are not going to be most consistent, then have to start making our list and looking elsewhere. I do not think we are there yet. We are not even close to being there yet. We have to understand that there is always going to be that issue. There are always going to be young men, young kickers and punters behind them that are on the street that are willing to do whatever it takes to get on a NFL team. If they look it that way and they push themselves in a positive direction, then I think we are going to be OK because they do have the talent to do all the things that we are asking them to do."
On his role in helping other Browns coaches transition to Cleveland, given his year of experience with the team:
"First thing is a lot of our coaches have already come into my office and asked about their position players because they know I know the whole team so they would come and ask me about the DBs, the linebackers, the D linemen, the wide receivers, etc. I think I have eased that transition from the coaching staff perspective, but in terms of the players, I am just going to be who I am. I am going to be positive. With Kevin's messages going to permeate down to the coaching staff and to the rest of the team, I am going to deliver that message, I am going to support that message and I think when we do that, when we are all on the same page and all on board with the same program, we will be in good shape."
On if received a sense of how Stefanski felt about special teams when in Minnesota together:
"He was coaching quarterbacks when I left so obviously they were not going to play special teams. Prior to that when he was coaching running backs or tight ends, he was very supportive. I think that is what makes a great coaching staff is when the linebacker coach can walk into his room and tell those young linebackers, 'Hey, you better play well on special teams because if you are not a starter on defense and you are not playing well on special teams, not only will you not dress but you might not make our football team.' Kevin was always very supportive in that regard as a position coach, and I thought that was huge, especially with the running backs when he coached them and then the tight ends, which are two pivotal rooms that help our special teams units."
On his reaction to the XFL's kickoff rules:
"I did not watch a game. I am focused on finding a returner, finding other core guys and trying to help our group and our roster. Nothing against the XFL – I am sure it is a fun league – but some people told me about it and all the rules. I am kind of a purest. I am an NFL purest. I actually was mad when they outlawed the wedge back in 2011, which I am glad we did because that was a dangerous play. I think the way the kickoff/kickoff return is going now, it is a safer play than it ever has been and the last two years have proven that. I do not like that there are so many touchbacks. Maybe that is one way to get rid of touchbacks, but we did not kick a lot of touchbacks on kickoff coverage. We gave people the opportunity to return it, and we got after them. We were pretty aggressive in the return game, as well. We have to pick and choose our spots in that regard. I like our rules. I am all for player safety, but at the end of the day, an exciting play that has been part of our game forever, why ruin it? Why tinker with it too much? That would be my thoughts."
On if there are significant stats regarding when to take a touchback compared to attempting a return:
"Obviously, if you are better in the return game – we were not as good on kickoff return as we need to be. If we get better, which we plan on doing, we will take some opportunities out for 2-4 yards deep and bring it out to the 35-40 yard line because those are huge, huge plays. When you do that, every now and then you are going to get tackled at the 21, 22 or the 18 because you are taking a chance. We did that in Minnesota for years with two great returners we had there – (former Vikings WR/RS) Percy Harvin and (Bears WR Cordarrelle Patterson). We used to bring them all out. Sometimes you get tackled inside the 20. It is risk/reward like anything else in football. We need to be smarter this year than we were a year ago when we bring those out."
On not a lot of good things happening in the return game in 2019:
"A couple of times but not enough. You are right. Not enough. We need to get to that where we will just take a knee like a lot of teams do and I do not want to do that. I think you can take advantage of that situation, especially in our stadium. When guys are trying to kick touchbacks and they are kicking a 3.7 hang time kick 3 yards deep, that is a huge advantage for the return game. When it is 4.1-4.2 hang time 5 yards deep, you are going to take a knee. Obviously, you are taking too big a chance there to try to get a big play."
On how much special teams deficiencies can be attributed to a young roster last season:
"This year is a new year. There are a lot of things that happened last year that were not good enough, and I am glad we have an opportunity to get better this year."
On if accountability was an issue last season:
"Again, I am really not going to focus a whole lot on last year just to be fair to last year's staff – I was part of that staff – and last year's players. 2020 is a new year, and I am excited about the new year. I am excited about the direction that we are going. Let's get at it."
On if there are special teams rules he would recommend changing or evaluating this offseason:
"Probably not. The only thing we need to look at is the onside kick success percentage, which is very low. I am not in favor of a fourth-and-15 from the 25 or whatever it was. I think that is silly. I think you can make some changes to it. The player that is going to kick the onside kick and then you can have a running start or something. Still a safe enough play but it needs to be a play where you have a higher percentage of getting that kick. I think it used to be in the 20s. Now, I think last year it was 8-9 percent if that high. In order to take advantage of the rules and maybe we can tweak out a little bit, but it could affect some of what it was before with that 4-5 yard running head start and declare that you are going to onside kick it and see what happens. We are going to talk a little bit about it at the combine. The coordinators that were involved two years ago with the rule changes for kickoff/kickoff return, we are going to meet with (NFL Senior Vice President of Football Operations Policy and Compliance) Dave Gardi and the league this year at the combine. That is one of the issues we are going to talk about."
On if blocking or return decisions from last year need to be improved more:
"Probably a little bit of both. We had a huge one in Seattle, we had a huge one against Cincinnati last game of the year and two guys that have never returned before. Obviously, those were the two bigger plays that we had, and we had a lot other returns that were not very good. I think it is a combination of both to be honest with you."
On the most difficult aspect of coaching staff changes:
"The most difficult part? I guess getting to know the staff, but that is not hard. I am a people person. Like Kevin came in and said earlier, we got good people. When you get a bunch of good people around each other and they are good football coaches, the sky is the limit. Is that difficult? Probably not. We will get to know the guys as we get going. Some of which I had already had a relationship. I have known (defensive coordinator) Joe (Woods) for a long time, and obviously, we kept (assistant special teams) Doug (Colman) which is great. (Tight ends coach) Drew Petzing, I have known Drew. I have known (pass game coordinator/defensive backs) Jeff Howard. That part makes it a little bit easier. I guess the only difficult part was seeing friends of mine that were good coaches leave the building. That is always hard. The future is the fun part."
On expectations for structure, discipline and attention to detail from the coaching staff:
"I think any good program, any good locker room has attention to detail, it has discipline and it has accountability. I know those things Kevin will emphasize and we will all support him in that obviously. We will go forward from there. I think the big thing that I like is that coaching is teaching. We have talked about that before. Great coaches are great teachers. I think we have assembled that. The guys that I know are really good teachers, and the guys that I do not know as well, I hope that is the case and I am sure it is or they would not be here. I am excited about seeing the growth of the staff and the growth of the team under this new staff. Like I said before, the sky is the limit."
On what he learned about Woods during their seasons together in Minnesota:
"On Saturday mornings after the special teams meetings was over, I would go into Joe's DB room and just listen to his meeting for about 15-20 minutes every Saturday morning. It was kind of my routine. What I like is I like watching good coaches teach, and I learn from that. It makes me a better coach. It makes me a better teacher. I knew Joe was a great teacher right from the get go. I think he will do a phenomenal job not only with our DBs and their group but the entire defense. At the end of the day, I think that is what makes it exciting for me that he is here. He is such a great teacher."
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods:
On the type of defense the Browns will have this year after watching last year's tape and evaluating personnel:
"Just from last year, playing against these guys and having a chance to look at the tape, we have a talented roster. There are some guys who are very talented on the defensive side of the ball at the right positions so I feel like I am really coming to a very fortunate situation where we have some of the pieces in place."
On getting everyone to play together to have success:
"That is what happens through meeting with those guys, setting the direction for them, the things we will do in practice and the things we are going to ask them to do. Through that whole process, we will get those guys playing together."
On key positions on defense:
"Rushers and cover guys."
On what stands out about the Browns' rush and coverage players:
"I think our front is very good and is very talented. It is going to be our job as coaches to get them to play as good as they can and to their ability level. The back end, we have some young corners. I have coached corners my whole career and the back end. When you have some young, talented corners, that excites you."
On the style of defense this year compared to last year:
"Really with defenses, everybody really runs the same stuff. It is just how you do it. Everybody is going to run three-deep, everybody is going to run man, man pressure and fire zone, but I think it is about how you put the package together. I want to make sure I give offenses a lot of the same looks but play different coverages and make them figure it out at the line of scrimmage. That has always kind of been my mindset so that is what I am going to try to do here."
On the decision for the Browns to incorporate a 4-3 base defense:
"That is what the personnel here is. I have coached in both systems – the 3-4 when I was with Denver and the 4-3 really, for most of my career – but the personnel is set up to run a 4-3. I think we have the right personnel. I think it is a natural fit. For me, it is very easy to do."
On coaching DE Myles Garrett and anticipation for working with him from a physical and mental side following his suspension:
"It is an unfortunate situation what happened. I think sometimes emotions of the game get to you. I am sure it is something he has learned from and wants to put behind him. My job is just to coach him. He is very talented. I coached another player from Texas A&M, (Broncos OLB) Von Miller. I see them both as the same type of player so I just look forward to getting him on the field just to see what he can do."
On beginning his coaching career in Ohio years ago and similarities between then and now:
"It is the passion. I love grinding. I love putting the time in. For me, first and foremost, I want to be a champion. I think that is the first goal. The second thing is I want people to view me as a good coach whatever I do. The third part is I want to take care of my family. I want to be able to put my kids through school and get them things they need. For me, it is easy to show up to work every day for those goals, and it has been like that for 29 years. I know I am dating myself (laughter)."
On if he will confess to being a Steelers fan as a kid:
"It is the truth. It is what it is. I work for the Browns, and that is what it is."
On what it means to reach to the Super Bowl:
"It is an unbelievable feeling. You really do not feel it until you actually get there, you land and you see all of the fans and all of the media. Just being in the hotel, the practice facilities and just everything, it is the highest of highs. Fortunately for me, I have been there twice. I wish I could say I was 2-0, but hopefully we get there here, too."
On balancing diverse looks and making the offense guess coverages with not making schemes too complicated or too simple for players:
"That exactly how I view it. Just putting packages together, the first thing you want to make sure you are doing is trying to stop what the offense is trying to do. Then when you get to third-down situations, you want to make sure you are attacking with pressure. We will have different ways to do that, but I think just trying to coordinate it all together and try to help it work better. We do not want to do so much that our players can't play fast, but at the same time, I want them to figure it out on Sunday not during the week. We will always have some little wrinkle from the week."
On if the Browns have the edge rushers needed on defense:
"It never hurts. We keep adding as many as they want. I am cool with that. I think the goal is to add as many talented to your roster as you can – better, the right people. We want the right people, good people here that will be good for the organization, good for the team and do it the right way. If they want to add more rushers or more corners, I am all for it."
On where he will start when developing the defense:
"Really it is a mixture of everywhere I have been, going back to Tampa, to Minnesota, a little bit of Oakland, Denver and San Fran. Really, everybody kind of runs the same defenses. It is just they get to them different ways. The San Francisco three-deep is a little different in terms of how the coverage works, but I am going to try to run a little bit of that, along with the stuff I have done at the other places. Really just kind of mixing it all together."
On the Browns secondary and potentially needing new Ss:
"Based on free agency, we are going to have to add some pieces and same thing in the draft. I feel like there is young talent there, and that is all you want as a coach is some players that when you watch tape that you feel like they are good enough to do what you need them to do. We are going to have to add some pieces. We lost a few guys so we will see what happens here."
On the Browns LBs, including LB Joe Schobert:
"I just had a chance to start looking at those guys to be honest with you. I got here so late, and I am way behind when hiring a staff and all that stuff. I did get a chance to go look at a little bit of tape. He is a good player. This is the NFL. The organization (Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General Manager) Andrew (Berry) is going to make the best decision for the Cleveland Browns, whether that is him being here or moving on. I trust him with what his decision making is going to be, but I know he is a good football player."
On LBs Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson:
"Through watching other guys, I saw a couple plays with [Wilson], but I have not had a chance to really go and study him. I know he is going to be here so he was not one of the guys that I wanted to look at right away, but I do believe from talking to our linebackers coach Jason Tarver that he feels like he is a talented player that can do what we need him to do."
On facing QB Baker Mayfield in back-to-back years:
"He is a talented guy, but our whole philosophy in San Francisco was to let our front four hunt. We feel like if we could just mix some coverages up and get them to hold the ball a little bit that we can get after a quarterback. We felt that way about everybody we played. I do not coach him, but I know he is a talented player."
On if he thought it was cool when 49ers DE Nick Bosa celebrated by planting a flag:
"Because we were winning, yes, but that goes back to college and that is a college rivalry. They had the big game. That was really Bosa's coming out party. He had a big game and picked the right night to do it."
On if he and Stefanski ever discussed the potential for one to be a head coach and hiring the other as a coordinator when in Minnesota:
"I think we were both starting off and we were kind of broke, and we probably talked about that wishing. In the recent years, we have had conversations. I will see him down at the combine or other places, and we have had conversations that if something like this were to happen and possibly we could get together. I am so excited for Kevin. I am just telling you, you talk about a guy that has done it the right way. I saw him from when he started out as an assistant to the head coach to where he is today. The one thing with Kevin, I know he says he is authentic, but he is very detailed, very organized, obviously very smart and he has great people skills. He can talk to anybody, and he is going to really demand respect just because of who he is. He is a flat line person, but people really are going to learn just to respect him because of who he is as a person."
On how important is it that Stefanski and him know each other well:
"It makes it easier because he knows how I work. I was in the same building with him for eight years so he knows my work ethic and everything that I did coaching my position so I feel like he is real comfortable with me and leading the defense. It definitely helps when you know somebody."
On main lessons from his time as Broncos defensive coordinator:
"It really goes back to first of all organization – just organizing things, managing people and game planning. I was there two years so this will be my third year doing it. I think all those things, the experience, calling the games just you feel more comfortable. It is not something new that you did not expect. I definitely feel more comfortable. The staff we hired, really a bunch of good coaches that I trust that are definitely going to help me put this thing together."
On emphasizing turnovers, given the Browns' totals last year:
"It is all about the ball. What we do, what they do on offense and what we do on defense, it is all about the ball. We have to find ways to take it away. (Defensive line coach) Chris Kiffin, D line coach here, he gives all the ball presentations. He did it at San Francisco. It is really just showing examples of ways you can get the ball and how to do it properly with technique. The year before I went out to San Francisco, I think they had seven turnovers. We turned it around last year. I just think we will show them the tape so they know how to do it, and then it is drilled into practice and getting the guys to run to the ball. You can't create turnovers if you are not running to the ball. If we do all those things, I feel like we can have a good team when it come to that."
On if there is somebody who influenced him about how to teach the game of football:
"I have had a lot of influences throughout my coaching career going the whole way back to high school. I really do not have the time to go through all the names, but (Notre Dame University Head Coach) Brian Kelly, (former Ohio State and Florida Head Coach) Urban Meyer when I played, (former Illinois Statedefensive coordinator)John Bowers my position coach. I coached with (Falcons Head Coach) Dan Quinn and (Falcons defensive coordinator) Raheem Morris. All of those guys helped me in some way, but my mentor is definitely (Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin. He has helped me see the game a different way just in terms of how to prepare, and that is the way I do it. It takes some time and you have to grind through it. Really, if there is one guy, he is the guy that has really helped me the most."
On having family in Cleveland:
"Really, I am from about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, but most of my immediate family lives in Ohio and they live in Cleveland. I do not know the number, but I probably have more than 50 relatives in the Cleveland/Akron area. When it comes to gameday, we are going to have to have a plan (laughter). I am going to put my wife in charge of it. I have a lot of family, and that is why I am very excited, as well, to be here."
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt:
On what made him want to become Browns offensive coordinator:
"Obviously, having the opportunity to put an offense together with the group of guys was very intriguing. Another reason would be the talent that has been acquired here over the years. Obviously, the group is extremely talented, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Having the chance to work with those guys was another part of that. Then coming to the organization, the Browns have a long history as an organization and the city is another reason that I was excited to take the job."
On his evaluation of QB Baker Mayfield and if he has spoken with Mayfield:
"We have touched base a few times now since I was hired. I have watched the season. I have watched last year. Obviously, I watched him live in the times we played against him. I loved him coming out of college. Most of the great quarterbacks I have had the chance to be around were extremely competitive to a point where they would try to beat you at darts or pool – it did not matter. I see that in his game. That is exciting. Obviously, he has the skillset, the talent, the arm, throwing the ball on the move, to escape pressure and all of those things. I think the future is bright."
On if coaching Mayfield was among the reasons he was excited to join the Browns and if he sees opportunities for Mayfield to improve from last year following a strong rookie season:
"Absolutely. He is obviously a skilled player, a talented player. I love the fire and the passion in his game. It is our job as an offensive staff to help him and make him successful. Everything starts around the quarterback on the offensive side of the ball. We have to put him in the best position for him to have success, and that will make us all better."
On immediate impressions of Mayfield from last season's film:
"I think the ability to avoid pressure and escape pressure. The biggest thing that stood out probably on the tape was his accuracy on the move outside of the pocket when he had to create and escape, whether it be the play-action pass game and he is keeping the ball or he is breaking contain from a pass rush and then throwing the ball accurately down the field at all levels."
On areas to address and help Mayfield improve:
"There are some fundamental things I have kind of targeted for him in the offseason, but that is more football techie talk and quarterback talk. Decision making and the increase of interceptions will be something that will be a point of emphasis, making the right decisions, protecting the team and protecting the ball."
On Mayfield's previous comments about focusing on his footwork and how much that will be a point of emphasis:
"There will probably be a change in the footwork. I have a belief and a philosophy of footwork, and it is extremely important to me and (Head Coach) Kevin (Stefanski), as well. It all starts with the feet. The feet never lie. They get you through your progressions. Just some of the ways that we will have him drop both from under center and in the gun will change slightly to help him."
On if he and Stefanski discussed who will call plays during the hiring process:
"It was just as said, and it is really something we are just going to work through. Not having worked with Kevin in the past, I am sure he needs a comfort level with me as a coordinator. As we work through it, at this point, we are just trying to put together the best offense for our guys. At that point when it becomes a decision of who calls it, I think we will all know each other a lot better and feel good about whichever decision. Right now, it is nothing I am getting caught up on."
On if he wants to call plays:
"I could easily call plays – I work for Kevin and am excited to do whatever role he wants me to do. Right now, I am coordinating and helping set this offense up with some good coaches."
On the goal for QB accuracy, given Mayfield's completion percentage was below 60 percent last year:
"Sixty-four [percent] is probably the benchmark we would like to get to. Anything above that, you are playing really well and efficient. All of that comes into play of are you taking advantage of your check-downs and little things like that. Sixty-four [percent] is usually the benchmark."
On factors that may have led to Mayfield's completion percentage being lower last season:
"There are a lot of things that play into that – some fundamentals, some of the technique and again some of the decision making. Some of it had to do with some times where he was running around trying to escape pressure. There is a lot that plays into that."
On if he plans to work with the QBs on a daily basis:
"Yes, my plan is to be the voice in the [quarterback] room. I think that is very important. One of my strengths as a coach is coaching the quarterback so I definitely want to make that part of my job responsibilities."
On his approach to balancing of targets for WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry within the scope of the entire offense:
"I think they are both talented players on the outside. They both deserve to get the ball as much as possible. The beauty of having both of them is you can't tilt coverage one way or the other. I had a chance with (Packers WRs) Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson where when Davante came on board, it made Jordy a better player. I think having two guys that really make you play it straight defensively will help. As far as getting them the ball, that is our job as the offensive staff to scheme up ways to make them a top priority in the progressions."
On if he feels QBs are more receptive to his coaching after playing for 11 years in the NFL:
"I don't think it is necessary, but I can speak from experience. 'Maybe let's don't try this footwork because I physically know that's not the best way to do it.' I think maybe just that, but it is nothing that I would say makes me better than any other quarterback coach."
On if his initial evaluation indicated Mayfield was close or significantly off with his footwork last season:
"There are a lot of ways to do it. I have a personal belief of working with guys and having guys switch their feet that have not done it in the past. I have had success coaching that and I think in my opinion it is the way to go for a quarterback."
On Mayfield stating previously he does not plan to work with an independent offseason QB coach and if there is someone the offensive staff would like him to work with this offseason:
"No disrespect to any of the guys who work with quarterbacks [in the offseason] – they all do a great job – but I would like to consider myself in that area and I would like to have him do it how we would do it here. If somebody is on board with how we do it, but I would hate to have him go somewhere else and teach him a different set of footwork or drill work."
On if leading shotgun plays with a different foot will among the changes:
"Yes, there are three different ways from the gun – you can [start] in a balanced stance, you can have your left foot up or your right foot up. Right now, he has his right foot up. I think we are going to switch it to left foot up and see how he likes that. To me, that allows a quarterback to play with more rhythm. It is quarterback junky talk, but it is something I believe in."
On the significance of changing a QB's initial stance in the shotgun:
"It is not hard. Have been in touch already. Just said, 'Hey, think about putting your left foot up and just do it in your living room.' You work through it and you feel more comfortable with it, and then it becomes habit like anything else."
On if starting with the left foot forward in a shotgun formation helps a QB drop back a bit faster:
"It is my opinion it helps in the three-step game, the quick game. There is more rhythm and it is not as robotic. It is more fluid. I have always used the term that I want the feet to be like Mozart and not like Metallica, if that makes sense. Not to say that he is, but with the footwork, it is just the fluid motion moving back there in the pocket as you go through your progressions."
On how a zone blocking scheme could help a player like RB Nick Chubb:
"The wide zone scheme? It is going to help because he is a great wide zone runner already from the film I have watched. He has great patience. He does a great job of stepping on the linemen's heels before he makes the cut. He knows the right distance to stretch. He has a great feel for it already."
On describing Chubb as a runner:
"The more of him I have watched, the more impressed I am. He is a strong runner. He has the speed to get through the whole, but he also has the ability to break those arm tackles. Those guys aiming for his legs… He runs through a lot more arm tackles than I thought just watching. A very strong runner with width, burst and speed and has great vision and feel."
On if there is a reason to add QB coach to his title:
"That doesn't mean anything to me. I would always want to spend the time in the quarterback room. That is where it starts. That is where the offense should be built is around the quarterback and how you make him successful. That is a very important room."
On if there is a Browns offensive playbook yet:
"There is. There is a lot of a playbook actually. We are going through it right now, just detailing everything up and making sure we are all saying it the same way. The beauty of this group of guys is we have all coached in multiple schemes and multiple systems so it is just a matter of do you want to speak Spanish, French or English and everybody has the same vocabulary. That is what we are getting through right now."
On how similar his offense with the Bengals last year was to Stefanski's offense with the Vikings last season:
"The verbiage, somewhat. There is some carryover. It is kind of West Coast based, but everybody has a different twist to it. There is enough where you can see it and go, 'Oh yeah, I know what you mean. That is this in another system.' There is enough carryover."
On if he has a significant amount of experience with a wide zone running scheme:
"Yes, I do."
On helping adjust footwork for other NFL QBs:
"(Bengals QB) Andy Dalton would be the latest one. (Bengals QB) Ryan Finley came in as a rookie last year, and I thought it help improve him once he got the footwork down. He struggled a little bit in the spring with it, but after the summer and we came back from training camp, it was a lot better."
On if some QBs resort to bad habits with footwork or other elements when in the heat of the moment:
"Hopefully, the muscle memory over the course of time won't allow that to happen. That is what we are shooting for. Yes, it can happen. Yes, it does early on."
On his biggest challenge in the new role:
"That is a good question. I don't really foresee challenges. I see opportunities more than anything else. The staff that is in that room is unbelievable and the experience of NFL football from playing to coaching and being with one of the top O line coaches in the game right now. It is awesome to go in there, learn and listen and collaboratively put together this playbook. There are no real challenges. It is probably not to have too much because we have all been through it and we all have our little favorites and to not get it diluted with too much."
On if improvement on the Browns OL is an area of need:
"Yes, I think that is an area that is targeted for sure."
On opportunities for Beckham and Landry to improve from 2019:
"I think the biggest thing is to find what they do well and put them in those positions. If it is something that is not in their wheelhouse, don't ask them to do it. It is just like the quarterback. Do what he does well over and over again with repetition and muscle memory, and the timing of the pass game and all that will help. Both are extremely talented receivers and I am very fired up to work with both of them."
On if it was difficult to walk away from the Bengals knowing they own the No. 1 pick and have the opportunity to select Louisiana State QB Joe Burrow:
"No, not at all. He is obviously going to be a fine quarterback wherever he goes, but you never know. To have an opportunity to come in and coordinate an offense doesn't come around very often so it was an easy decision."
On if he had previously coached with Stefanski:
"I had not. I had not had a chance to work with him. Just common friends and common coaches that have worked together over the years. Very excited to get the opportunity to get to know him better and work with him. He is obviously a very smart guy."
On if he knew Stefanski prior to joining the Browns:
"I did not, no."
On if the Browns offense will be based on the Vikings offense last season with some additions:
"Exactly, that is the starting point. It will start with the wide zone and the play-action pass and the movement to keep passes off of that will be a big part of what we do."
On the statistical differences for Mayfield with play action last season and if using play action could help increase Mayfield's productivity in 2020:
"I think so. I think that is the plan. If you are running the ball well with the guys that we have – we think we will be running the ball well – the play-action is a huge part of the game, explosive gains, completion percentages and everything that comes off of that. Play action will be a big part of what we do. It is something that I have always believed in. I was taught a long time ago by (former NFL coach) Paul Hackett who emphasized play action and the art of it or the lost art of it. I think it is something we will get back to."
On his approach to coaching Beckham and Landry, given their talent and strong personalities:
"I am excited. I see not just talented guys; I see guys who can be leaders because they are vocal and they are voices in that locker room. It is our job to help them be positive leaders, and that is what I think both guys want to do."
On philosophies regarding the precision of routes and WRs being able to freelance:
"You have to be at the right place at the right time every time as a receiver. The freelancing is not a big part of the system. I think there are times that you will do that to get a little creative, but the quarterback needs to know when those times are and things need to time up. The footwork, the timing of the feet and where you are in the progression is a big part of the system."
On if he has talked with Beckham and Landry:
"I have. I had the chance to meet both of them. I am very excited. They are fired up, I think, and I am definitely excited."
On Beckham not being satisfied with his 2019 production and if there are opportunities for strong production from Beckham in 2020 within this offense:
"I hate to speculate, but yes. I feel like that we can have a very explosive offense."
On if RB Kareem Hunt's versatility provides excitement with the opportunities available:
"He is very exciting to watch. You can see the passion for the game come out in his play. He seems like a team guy. Whether he is lead blocking, running routes out of the backfield or carrying the ball, he does it all well. To have two of those guys is exciting."
On opportunities with Chubb and Hunt in the backfield at the same time:
"I think it creates unbelievable matchups. It depends on how you want to play it [defensively]. Not to get into specifics, but if you want to keep a smaller defensive group out there, then you can run the ball with two effective runners. If you want to get bigger and try to stop the run, now you have mismatch problems if you motion one of those guys out of the backfield because both of those guys are good route runners and can catch the ball well. It is interesting, but it is going to be something that I would think we would have those guys on the field a lot because of those."
On the importance of TEs in a play-action passing game and evaluating the Browns TEs:
"Right now, have talented pass-catching type of tight end that can block well enough, as well. That is an area that we will maybe have to look at further down the road if there is a guy right now that is on the roster who is more of that in-line blocking tight end. I am not sure yet. I have not had enough time to look through that, but the tight end is obviously important in the run game and the play action."
