Browns press conference – Page 4

Andrew Berry refuses to get pigeonholed into taking an OT at No. 10

Berry did a great job not specifically answering questions about his draft intentions

Andrew Berry might be a precocious rookie as an NFL general manager, but Berry has already learned the skill of answering a question without actually answering the question in a press conference. He proved that in his conference call with reporters on Monday to talk about this week’s NFL draft.

Berry was asked about if he was committed to picking at No. 10 overall or trading, and if he felt the pick needed to be an offensive tackle.

“You never know how those first nine picks are going to fall,” Berry responded. “There are a number of different scenarios that could mean that we would submit a pick, move up, move back or do whatever.”

He continued,

“We are not going to be pigeon-holed into a certain decision or a certain mode of operation. We are going to make the best decision that we think is right for the right and will not be pigeon-holed into anything specific.”

Reporters asked Berry several fairly specific questions about the offensive tackle class in general, but Berry refused to give an answer that would tip his hand in any direction. That’s a savvy display from the rookie GM.

Paul DePodesta: Odell Beckham trade rumors ‘completely false’

Podesta slammed the door on the rumors from Minnesota

In a conference call with reporters on Thursday, Cleveland Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta slammed the recent rumors of the team trying to trade wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as “completely false”.

DePodesta minced no words. It was the first question asked of him and DePodesta was clearly bothered by the insinuation the team would have any interest in moving on from the talented wideout.

“In short, I will just say it was completely false,” DePodesta stated. “It is frustrating a little bit, obviously. I think it is pretty clear what we are trying to build at this point. We have done an awful lot in free agency. We are excited about what we have a chance to do in the draft, and we are really building around a core of players that we think have a chance to be a championship-caliber core.

The idea that we would take away from that core at this moment just does not make a whole lot of sense and is really not something that we are exploring at all. It is completely false.”

A later follow-up about Beckham met with the same sort of indignant response towards any notion the team is unhappy with Beckham or is trying to move on from the enigmatic WR after just one season.

“I have no reason to believe he doesn’t want to be here. Odell has been very good this offseason. He has been engaged with (head coach Kevin Stefanski). I think he is excited about the possibilities of what this offensive system could bring for him, and we are excited to have him.”

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Andrew Berry: ‘tackles are tackles’, not worried about left vs. right side

Browns GM Andrew Berry declared ‘tackles are tackles’, not worried about left vs. right side in his pre-draft press conference

The Cleveland Browns still need a left tackle. New GM Andrew Berry was peppered with questions about filling the glaring hole on the offensive line during his Friday morning press conference.

One of the key statements from Berry defused some of the argument against players like Jedrick Wills and Tristan Wirfs, players who toiled on the right side in college. Berry doesn’t worry about the differentiation between left and right tackle.

“I think the distinction between left tackle and right tackle is really outdated,” Berry said. “Tackles are tackles.”

Did Berry tip his hand even further? The tone in which he said the following sure made it seem like the No. 10 pick will be a tackle,

“The offensive line is always going to be a priority,” Berry stated emphatically. “Not just this year, but every year.”

Andrew Billings sees Browns ‘trending in an upward way’

Andrew Billings sees Browns ‘trending in an upward way’ in his press conference

New Browns defensive tackle Andrew Billings held his introductory press conference this week. Due to the travel restrictions and closures, Billings conducted the interview via a conference call. Even with the social distance, Billings’ quiet yet assertive confidence came through.

He’s bullish on his new team after playing against them for the last three seasons as a member of the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals. Billings specifically cited running back Nick Chubb (“he is good”) while noting he knows more about the offense because that’s who he’s faced.

Billings likes the potential he sees with his new team.

“I think they are definitely in the right direction, have a lot more potential now and I think they are trending in an upward way.”

The big DT sees his role as a continuation of what he did with the Bengals.

“I am still playing the same position and going between 2i and a 3-technique and stuff like that,” Billings said before addressing what attracted him to Cleveland. “Honestly, just the job, the technique and the style. Obviously, I like the coaches, as well.”

Baker Mayfield embraces having Case Keenum as his Browns backup QB

For nearly the entirety of the Cleveland Browns in the 21st century, signing a free agent QB with appreciable NFL accomplishment would throw gasoline onto the chaotic fire. With QB competitions seemingly every offseason for both the starter and reserve roles, it’s a preprogrammed response for Browns fans to throw hands in the air and wonder what the heck is going on.

Thankfully that’s not the case anymore. Baker Mayfield is firmly entrenched as the starting QB. Now entering his third season as the starter, it’s Mayfield’s team.

That was made readily evident, just in case anyone doubted, by the new veteran signing with the team himself. Case Keenum was quick to point out in his introductory press conference this week. Keenum appreciates his role as the veteran mentor and backup familiar with new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system from their days together in Minnesota. Keenum related that Mayfield shares that appreciation.

“Baker reached out as soon as the news broke, which really meant a lot to me,” Keenum said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him for what he’s done on the field and off the field, too. First and foremost, I know my role coming in. That’s another great positive for me. I’m going to be ready to play. I feel like I’ve played at a high level for the last three years.”

Keenum and Garrett Gilbert are both behind Mayfield, a situation the team seems comfortable to keep throughout 2020.

Browns DC Joe Woods stresses his defense ‘is all about the ball’

New Cleveland Browns DC Joe Woods stresses his defense ‘is all about the ball’ and his unit will aggressively go after takeaways

One of the reasons the 2019 Cleveland Browns underperformed relative to their talent level was turnovers. Cleveland finished the season minus-8 in turnover differential, an indictment on both sides of the ball.

New defensive coordinator Joe Woods is placing a big emphasis on creating more takeaways from his unit. Largely the same personnel that produced 31 takeaways in 2018 took the ball away from the opposing offense just 20 times in 2019. That’s not good enough for Woods.

“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,” Woods said in his introductory press conference. “We have to find ways to take it away.”

Woods knows how to do just that. He was part of a 49ers defensive staff that finished 6th in 2019 in takeaways. In 2018 he was in Denver and the Broncos were 5th in producing turnovers. And he’s got a plan for how to make it work in Cleveland.

“…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,” Woods said. “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.”

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Joe Woods lays out a diverse defensive philosophy in his press conference

What type of defense will the Cleveland Browns deploy under new defensive coordinator Joe Woods? Based on the coordinator’s own words, it’s going to be a base 4-3 with a lot of variability built around the formation.

The 4-3 is what the Browns ran under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in 2017-2018 and most of the personnel is still in place to operate it. Last year, Steve Wilks changed to a base 4-2 front. Woods likes the core pieces to shift back to having three LBs on the field.

“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,” Woods responded when asked about base scheme. “I think we have the right personnel. I think it is a natural fit. For me, it is very easy to do.”

It’s how those players operate where Woods will have his own style. He aims to be adaptive and attack the offense with pressure.

“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,” Woods said. “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.”

He also talked about his roots and all the different styles and schemes he’s coached in his lengthy NFL career. Woods has drawn from all those mentors and stops along the way, including Wade Philips and Robert Saleh.

“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.”

How exactly that will look remains to be seen, but it should be a difficult one for opponents to plan for under Woods.

Myles Garrett: ‘I made a mistake, I lost my cool and I regret it’

Myles Garrett: ‘I made a mistake, I lost my cool and I regret it’ after his ejection in the Browns win over the Steelers

“I made a mistake, I lost my cool and I regret it,” a contrite and calm Garrett said at his locker after the Cleveland Browns’ 21-7 win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cleveland Browns defensive end was starting to realize just how much of an understatement he was making.

Garrett was ejected from the game for a violent attack on Steelers QB Mason Rudolph where he took Rudolph’s helmet off and proceeded to strike him over the head with it. The incident late in the fourth quarter dominates what was otherwise an impressive and much-needed win for the Browns.

The game outcome is secondary, thanks to Garrett’s action. Here’s what the Pro Bowler had to say to the reporters gathered around his locker about his actions, as broadcast on NFL Network,

“Absolutely, that is embarrassing. What I did was foolish and I shouldn’t have allowed myself to do stuff like that. It’s out of character. But in a situation like that where it’s an emotional game like (teammate Larry Ogunjobi, who was also ejected) said, and I can’t allow myself to fall into those emotions.”

Garrett said he will address his teammates tomorrow.

“I’m not just going to address my position group or defense. I’m going to prepare the whole team on what I did. That it could come back to bite us.

I don’t know what kind of repercussions I will face but, I’ve got to be better.”

Garrett was asked what he thinks he might say to his teammates.

“I’ll think of it when I get there, but…embarrassing,” Garrett said. “Foolish. A bad representation of who we want to be and what we’re trying to do with the rest of the season.”

Garrett figures to be suspended for multiple games and heavily fined for his actions.