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POSTGAME QUOTES
NOVEMBER 29, 2009
Initial Comments:
“We followed the script today; we told the guys on Wednesday morning that we needed them to be diligent and persistent, and we finished out the game that way. I thought we did a good job at the line of scrimmage today and on the perimeter. As far as special teams, we did a good job of maintaining and keeping 16 (Joshua Cribbs) corralled. We didn’t know what kind of player he could be or how he could control field position. We had a penalty that set us back on the one return and it put our offense behind the 8-ball a little bit, and we had a kick off out of bounds. Overall, we had a good day, but there are some areas that we will have to go back and do some work in.”
Q: The defense always seems to respond no matter what happens, how do you feel about that?
“I know I’ve said this many times, but if we can run the football and play good defense, I can drive into the stadium pretty confident most days, and that’s a good feeling. It makes it special when you can do those things, and I think we are at that point. We keep doing it with a lot of guys. We played we on defense, and offensively, today was a good day, too. 
Q: So that was the game plan, to get Larry Johnson that many carries?
“Yeah, it felt like he was on time and on task. Bernard banged his knee up a little bit in one series, but we got Larry in on about the 10th play and that was right on script.”
Q: You swept the division, what does this mean for you?
“Well, I wish it would give us something, but it doesn’t give us anything. It’s one of our goals, to always win the games in the division, and this football team has a great understanding of that. It’s a good accomplishment. I thank you, and we should take the praise because it is an accomplishment, but it just moves us on to another opportunity next week. We’ve got to move on and get ready for the Detroit Lions.”
Q: Was it nice to get
“It was good to get Andre in there. It’ll be fun to watch him on tape. It was good to get the chance to unwrap one of our little presents …or I should say big present (laughing), and go forward.”
Q: Your longest play today was just 21 yards:
“We’re doing a good job of taking what’s given and not forcing the football. We had one throw today where the quarterback started to run sideways and throw the ball back against the grain, but we haven’t had many of those, and that’s something that we don’t want to happen. He ran for some first downs today and ran to give us some field goal opportunities. That was good based on the coverage and the looks. Sometimes things matched up, but we’ve got to keep getting better.”
Q: Outside of the obvious additions to the team, what’s different about this season compared to seasons in the past?
“We’re playing with a lot of the same guys that we started with, which is good. Our quarterback is back and healthy and he’s playing well. We’ve molded a good group of offensive lineman. Defensively we had to grow from the ground up.”
Q: On the punting game:
“Kevin (Huber) didn’t have his best day, but it worked out fine because we got the ball down. He’s a special player, and as long as we get the ball down the field it’s not a bad thing. We’ll work with him this week and get him back booming. He showed what kind of potential he had last week to go toe-to-toe with the best punter in the league.”
Q: Typical AFC North Division slugfest?
“Yeah. For this late in November it was pretty good weather, but it felt like a bad weather game. It was just a physical, run the ball, control the field position and feed off the defense game. When your defense plays like that, and your offense is moving people – especially when they’re big people like Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams – and getting you 200 plus yards in the run game, you just need to control the clock, and we ended up doing a really good job of that.”
Q: What happened at the end of the first half?
“I just got the wind knocked out of me. It wasn’t anything other than that."
Q: It was a history making day with the team now 6-0 against the AFC North Division. What does that mean to you?
“It’s definitely something to be proud of, but it’s one small step in a series of goals and steps we need to reach to get to that ultimate final goal. We’ve worked hard for it, and we’re excited about that. We still have five big games coming up and a lot to play for. The more games we win the more we control our destiny, and that’s something we’re playing for right now. You can’t worry about what happens to other teams in our division, you just need to worry about yourself. We have another game next week we have to win, and then four more after that, and then we’ll see how it all shakes out.”
Q: It has to be quite a luxury to have three guys in the backfield that can top 100 yards:
“Awesome – it’s a good problem to have. You have Larry Johnson with his history of carries and the way he runs the ball and the ‘physicalness’ he brings to the game. Cedric (Benson) is very similar -- I don’t know if there’s a difference between the two, and with Bernard Scott and the way he plays. You can’t forget about Brian (Leonard) and the plays he’s made on third and fourth downs to get us wins. We have four very physical capable guys back there, and each of them brings something that’s a little different. Each of them has their special thing. But Cedric and Larry both run the ball very similar; they’re both great guys and great backs.”
Q: Is it boring just handing the ball off?
“Absolutely not, absolutely not. It’s fun to watch. Larry (Johnson) had a run on third-and-one that you just don’t know how a guy does that. He has nowhere to go and jumps over a guy on one leg and somehow falls forward for two yards. Bernard Scott does a little shake move and gets outside. And, all the times we’ve seen Cedric run for 100 yards and lead the league in rushing, or be in the top five. It’s fun. It’s fun when you’re winning.”
Q: What kind of confidence did you see in Larry Johnson this week?
“He’s in a whole new system, a whole new environment. Everything is new. For him to just play the way he plays, and play the way he’s been playing the past seven years, it shows the kind of confidence he has in the guys in front of him. The only way he would know that you need to hit it (the hole) hard and hit it fast is from watching them on film. He watched it every day in practice, he’s watched them last week, and you can tell he has a lot of confidence. He just needs to hit his hole and there’s going to be a nice seam there.”
Q: Early in the game, was that a statement you were trying to make that it was going to be physical when you dove headfirst instead of sliding?
“Absolutely not. That was just stupid on my part. I am in a bad habit of doing that, lately. I need to get out there Wednesday and work on my baseball slide.”
Q: You didn’t take any shots down field. Was that a function of what they gave you or was that the game plan?
“We came in with the game plan that we wanted to take some shots, but they were going to play a certain way and against two shells and have two high safeties. We had a couple plays where we were going to take some shots, but on one of them I scrambled on for seven or eight yards, and the other we took a check-down. They weren’t going to come out of what they were doing defensively. They weren’t going to give us single high looks and let us throw the ball over their heads. They let us run for 200 yards. We stuck with the game plan once we figured out what their game plan was and kept pushing the ball.”
Q: Larry, you’ve rushed for over 100 yards plenty of times before. How did this one feel?
“It feels better because I’m in a new situation with a new team, coach and players. It means a lot to me to be able to come in and have the coaches trust me.”
Q: Larry, you’ve rushed for over 100 yards plenty of times before. How did this one feel?
“It feels better because I’m in a new situation with a new team, coach and players. It means a lot to me to be able to come in and have the coaches trust me.”
Q: You’ve rushed for over 100 yards against the Cleveland Browns before. Did they give you the same looks they did in the past?
“Yeah. No matter who plays the two gap, you kind of know what’s going to happen. When you have outstanding blocks like we have, you’re able to pick your holes and run through them.”
Q: The one-two punch between you and Bernard Scott will be tough for other teams to handle down the stretch:
“Yeah, it will be sick (for opponents). It will be even more sick (for opponents) when Cedric (Benson) comes back. Their dedication to the run game is something I look forward to. Once I looked at the game plan, I was ready to go.”
Q: You’re 6-0 in the division with the Detroit Lions coming up next weekend:
“You can never underestimate a team in the NFL. When you don’t have anything to lose, anything can happen.”
Q: How much terminology did you have to re-learn?
“Running is running, but the pass blocking is a little different. This is a big challenge for me and I thank Carson (Palmer) for putting trust in me to protect his backside.”
Q: You’re 6-0 in the division for the first time in history. What does that say about what this team has been able to accomplish?
“Everyone wants it, and everyone has worked hard for it. We made it happen.”
Q: You’ve had a couple hundred yards over the past few weeks:
“I just tried to go out and make plays, but the credit goes to the O-line. They opened up some big holes.”
Q: Field position was big today. You had three or four punts inside of the 20 yard line:
“Yeah, but it looks a lot better on paper. I had some bad hits today. I got some really good rolls, but that won’t always happen.”
Q: You controlled the line of scrimmage and it showed by the amount you ran the ball:
“That’s what we wanted to do. When the coaches show confidence in us by running that much, we want to give something back to them. I think the entire team played well today.”
Q: You had another great game against Shaun Rogers:
“Shaun is a heck of a player. You have to go into the game knowing that he will make some plays. As long as you stick to the grindstone throughout the entire game, you have a chance.”
Q: Did you know how much you were going to play today, or was that up in the air?
“It was up in the air, but I had a great time when I was in, and a great time watching my teammates execute.”
Q: With all of the emotions of being in your first NFL game, what stands out?
“Just the opportunity to compete against an opponent with my teammates. It was a great time.”
Q: It seems like this has been a long time coming:
“It has been an extremely long time coming. Now that it’s here, it’s time to work hard and keep performing.”
Q: How good does it feel to bounce back after last weekend’s performance?
“It feels good. We took a lashing as a defense after last week’s loss, and deservedly so. We played down to the level of our competition. This week, we wanted to go out, and play up and win.”
Q: It’s quite an accomplishment to go undefeated in the division:
“It’s a testament to great coaching and great character on our team. We still have a long way to go. We’ve accomplished a lot, but it’s still a young season. We’ll enjoy this win today and get back to the grind tomorrow.”
Initial Comments:
“I thought that we had a much better second half, compared to the first half. To play a team like Cincinnati who’s a very good team -- a physical team, and you’re playing on the road, there is a very small margin for error in anything we do. With (Bernard) Scott, you can’t let him get outside where he’s most effective. On the touchdown pass that they had, you have to keep the quarterback in the pocket. We had some opportunities in the passing game. We had dropped balls and missed throws, and it’s those types of things that hurt you on a weekly basis. Playing a team like Cincinnati, at Cincinnati, there is such a small margin for error. I thought throughout the course of the game we had a chance. On that final drive we had a chance to go down and get a field goal and kick an onside kick or score a touchdown and kick an onside kick. You have to be able to start better than we did today. Against teams like this you have to come out of the gate fast.”
Q: Any injury updates?
“I really don’t have any specific updates. We’ll get all the tests done between tonight and tomorrow, and see where they are. Obviously, I’m concerned about all the guys, but in terms of the status of each one of the injuries I’m not 100% sure yet.”
Q: What was the biggest difference with the pass offense between last week and this week?
“I really felt like we had some opportunities. Some of those opportunities were eliminated by drops. I’m not sure how many drops we had, but it was too many. We had some guys open and we couldn’t get the ball to them. I thought that Cincinnati did a nice job with a couple different looks, in terms of their pressure package. They hit us once or twice there, but overall it’s about executing the plays that are available, so you can extend the drive to allow some more opportunities.”
Q: It looked like a short passing game. Was that by design?
“No. That wasn’t the case at all. It was a function of the way that they were playing. They were in a deeper coverage, or it was a function of having to throw it hot because of the pressure they brought. The approach, conceptually wasn’t much different than what we did last week in terms of anticipating getting some throws down field.”
Q: With the run defense, how much do you attribute that due to injuries?
“It’s difficult. Matt (Roth) played quite a bit. Jason Trusnik, we had to move him inside. It’s a dynamic offensive line. It would be harder for a guy like Kaluka (Maiava) to hold up down in and down out against a group like that. Where we weren’t very effective was doing a better job containing (Bernard) Scott on the edge. That’s where he is really effective. I think not setting the edge more effectively on him led to some big plays. Larry Johnson is a good back, so with those two things combined we weren’t able to shut it down.”
Q: You didn’t get much out of your special teams. Did you anticipate that today?
“It get’s harder and harder to get the ball in Josh’s (Cribbs) hands because no one wants to kick to him. We are trying to move him in spots where he can get the ball. It’s been quite a few weeks where everything is designed to make sure he doesn’t get it. When he did get a chance, we as a group have to give him an opportunity to get it started. It doesn’t matter which team we face, when they’re facing us they are going to give it their best shot.”
Q: With the horse-collar, did you not think that was the right call?
“I was more frustrated with the hit after the play than anything else. I couldn’t see it, but if they made the call I’m sure that was the case. I didn’t see that part. I thought the hit afterwards was late. They made the call, and I respect the call.”
Q: How frustrating is it to give up points again on an untimed play?
“It is frustrating. It’s more frustrating for it to be the result of a penalty. We have been good on a penalty perspective. We had four today. We’ve been good all season in that department. To get that penalty when we got it makes it a three point penalty. I coach aggressively against that stuff, and two weeks in a row it has resulted in points.”
Q: How frustrating is it to have both offense and defense play well on the same day?
“The consistency, to me, is something that we have to learn. We have to play complimentary football. We have to understand the significance of two things. We have a lot of guys playing a lot of different spots, but the message is the same. In order to win games, you have to be able to play complimentary football. When you have those opportunities, you have to take advantage of them. I expect us to catch the football. I expect us to hit the open receiver. Defensively, it doesn’t take much, when you are playing a good football team, to let a small technique error turn into a big play. I thought Carson’s (Palmer) touchdown was a great example of that. We had good coverage, but the guy was able to read away twice from the coverage. When you let it go longer, nothing good is going to happen.”
Q: Was the long passing game taken away from you, or was it designed to go short?
“They bring some pressure and sometimes it is more than we can handle. A lot of times it doesn’t allow me to sit back there and take all day to throw. We tried to take shots when we could, but again that’s part of the game plan and part of what they do well.”
Q: It looked like Cincinnati blitzed a lot more than in the first game:
“Cincinnati has gotten better and better as the season has gone along, and one of the things they have been effective with is the blitz and bringing pressure on teams.”
Q: The catch you made, was that kind of an adlib?
“No, it is a designed play that we have. Cribbs put it out for me and I just tried to make a play the best I could.”
Q: Is that the first catch you have ever made?
“Not ever as a quarterback. I caught one in my homecoming game my senior year of high school, but that one was for a touchdown, so that was fun.”
Q: Is this a step back after last week?
“I don’t know; it’s tough to tell. We played hard and we have to take our hat off to our defense, they did a great job allowing us to stay in the game. But when it comes down to it, we just have to make plays.”
Q: Your touchdown run, was that a designed draw and were you excited to get your first touchdown?
“Yes (it was a designed run). It was pretty exciting. I was pretty sure that I got it, but I wanted us to put more points on the board, so I wasn’t too worried about the touchdown play.”
Q: Did you feel like after that play you guys were getting some momentum going?
“Without a doubt. I think at that point in time we were extremely confident in our ability and what we were able to do. But in the end, we just didn’t execute the way we needed to.”
Q: Did dropped passes hurt you?
“I can always throw a better ball. I say that every week. I appreciate my wide receivers and the tight ends and everyone, and I appreciate the work that they do to get open and make plays. When it comes down to it, I can always give them a better ball.”
Q: What was going through your mind when some third- down conversions and some good passes don’t quite work out?
“We always have things we could do better. We prepared for a lot of different looks and had a good week of preparation. When you see them live, sometimes it is what you are looking for and sometimes you see other wrinkles. I think we just need to execute better.”
Q: Last week you moved the ball well, this week it was more of a struggle. Is that kind of a punch to you guys?
“I think so. We are still evolving and still trying to get better, and Cincinnati is a good team. They are 6-0 in the division, and that hasn’t happened in a long time. You have to give them credit for that as well.”
Q: No Wildcat offense this week, was that a function of the game plan?
“Cribbs is a great player, and we try to get him the ball when we can. Again, Cincinnati did a great job of preparing for him when he was around the ball.”
Q: Was there any doubt in your mind that you had scored?
“I crossed the goal line and hit the ground and the ball popped out. I knew I had already broken the plane.”
Q: You mentioned that Cincinnati has gotten better, do you feel if you had played the whole season, you might have too?
“I can’t play hypotheticals. Our offense is still meshing, starting to gel. We are picking up some things and create some chemistry along the way.”
Q: How hard is it to do that during the season?
“It is hard to do that in the middle of the season, but it is something that we have to do because that is the position we are in.”
Q: Do you feel like you need at least a couple more good games before the season ends to establish yourself?
“I just want to have a good game next week, that’s all I am worried about right now.”
Q: Is this team playing the way it needs to be playing to win games?
“Yes. We have to do a better job of understanding how teams are attacking us. Cincinnati came out running the ball. That’s what Cincinnati wanted to do and it did that.”
Q: Talk about playing a complete game both offensively and defensively:
“We have to play better in all three phases – offense, defense, and special teams – for four quarters. The offense moved the ball today. The defense needs to hold them to field goals, rather than allowing touchdowns. It’s frustrating. It boils down to us all playing better for four quarters and not just a half.”
Q: Talk about holding
“They didn’t pass the ball. They came out and ran the ball 75 times.”
Q: Were you concerned about teammates getting nicked up on the defense?
“I was. Kenyon (Coleman), Shaun (Rogers), and Kamerion (Wimbley) are all critical guys for our defense. A lot of the stuff we do is based upon their abilities. With those guys going down, that hurt a lot.”
Q: Did you anticipate you would play as well as you did today?
“Yes. I got laid-over on Wednesday at the airport. I didn’t get in until late at night. Thursday’s practice was my first day. My uncle died on Thanksgiving. It’s been a tough week, but the guys were good in welcoming me.”
Q: After a week, what do you make of this team?
“It’s football. I’ve been on the side of a 1-15 team. The next year we went 11-5. You need to have players buy in and believe you can win. There are good players on this team. We’ve got to get used to winning.”
Q: How frustrating is it to feel like the Browns are going in the right direction and then stumble?
“It’s tough. Sometimes you have to struggle a little more to have the success that you want to have. Whenever this period passes, we’ll look back on this time and remember what it was like to not be able to do certain things. We’ll appreciate success a lot more.”
