Q. I was curious, in the off-season Jeffrey Lurie said that he liked that you showed passion as a head coach; didn't want to you lose that. Considering the extreme negative reaction to yesterday, have you heard from Jeffrey Lurie at all about what happened yesterday and what was his feedback?
NICK SIRIANNI: No, Mr. Lurie and I talk every time after the game, every time -- I haven't talked to him yet today, but I know how supportive Mr. Lurie has been through everything.
I would say this about that: What I was really doing, I was trying to bring energy yesterday, energy, enthusiasm yesterday, and I'm sorry and disappointed on how my energy was directed at the end of the game. You know, my energy should be all in on coaching, motivating, right, and celebrating with our guys.
And so and I got to have better wisdom and discernment of when to use that energy and that wasn't the time. We have the best fans in the world. There is no place like this. They show up and show out no matter where we are. Brazil, Arizona, doesn't matter, New Orleans.
In that game, too, it was loud. I thought it was really loud, energetic, and those two false starts that the Browns got, that forced a field goal instead of -- who knows, like they're fourth and eight at the eight yard line and get a penalty and don't go for it on fourth and 13, who knows how that goes?
So our fans brought the energy, brought the passion, brought the juice. Yeah, that is my answer to that.
Q. I'm wondering what made you feel the way you do, what you just articulated? After the game you said, I was just having fun.
NICK SIRIANNI: Sure.
Q. What changed after the fans reacted?
NICK SIRIANNI: There are play calls in the game you go through and game management things you go through and say, you know, at the time I thought this was the right thing, and then you evaluate everything. You evaluate the way the players played. You evaluate the things that you did as a coach to get them ready to play or the calls that you made or the management of the game that you did.
You do the same thing with other things, which this one is, Roob.
Q. What needs to be done to improve the offensive slow starts?
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, if there was something magic, we would be doing it. I think the defense really started well. And I know that's not the question you asked, but it kept us being able to stay 0-0 and the third drive get going.
We just got to figure out -- we got to put the guys in positions to succeed. We got to be ready and the guys have to go out and execute. It's always going to be that.
And we just have to keep trying new formulas. It's not a necessarily the same formula against every team. Depends on the defense you're playing and the opponent you're playing.
You just got to keep trying different formulas of things that have been successful in the past, things we think can be successful for this team, sprinkling different formulas in there. We know how important it is to get on the board first, and when they kick it to us and go down and get a score right away and not have to thank the defense to get a stop for us to get a lead.
Q. Coach, how many scripted plays are there and do you guys need to maybe not do that as much? Maybe that's the issue?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, no, I'm not going to get into how many plays there or how many plays that we have there, how many plays we script out on third down, red zone.
Again, we'll keep trying different formulas to make sure we're putting the guys in position to succeed and the guys can go out and start fast.
Q. I know you don't like to give a lot of injury information, but certainly doesn't look good for Jordan Mailata after seeing him on crutches yesterday. I know Fred Johnson is typically the man up, but would there be any consideration given perhaps to Mehki Becton moving out to that tackle spot if there is a long-term situation?
NICK SIRIANNI: Good question. Looks like, again, you're right, I don't give that information. Looks like Jordan will be out a couple weeks. We'll see exactly how long it's going to be.
I don't have that information yet, exactly all that. Jordan is busting his butt trying to make a play and unfortunately that happened.
So everything is on the table though, Ed. Everything is on the table. We've got so good ability to do different things because of the roster that Howie and his staff have built and the flexibility that Coach Stoutland coaches the guys up with to be able to be multiple at different positions.
Flexibility is there. We're early on in the process and we'll figure that out as the week goes.
Q. Are you really calling defensive plays on occasion or is that just more of a shield for your coaches?
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, I think it's very common in the NFL when the head coach gets on and says, you know, attack, concede, you know, come on, let's get after these guys.
I think that is where that comes from. Then there is organization all or pardon me, personal philosophies that I have of how to play certain situations that you talk through.
So wouldn't be fair for me to have the philosophies I have and push that on my coaches and then not take accountability for it when the play doesn't work.
So, yeah, that's kind of how it goes, Tim. I think that's pretty common throughout the NFL.
Q. To kind of follow up on Tim's question there, from the standpoint of pointing out specific plays, the third and one, you say all the time your name is on everything, whether it's offense, defense, special teams. Is it better to leave it there and not point out specific plays? Have you thought about that?
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, again, yeah, my name is on everything. I think it's just again the wisdom and discernment of when to do that and when not to do that.
Unfortunately there is not a rule book of how to be a head coach and how to handle different situations. You know, you try to do your best and handle each situation as it's presented. So do I consistently give that information? You know, we'll see how it goes. But sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Q. Kind of sticking with the defense, you guys had five sacks yesterday. I think you came in the game with six through the first four games. What do you attribute the difference as far as getting to the quarterback? And also if I could ask how you thought Cooper DeJean played getting 91% of the snaps?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I'll answer that first one first. I thought Coop had a really good game. There are things he has to improve on that were on the tape and he's going to be working hard to do.
I thought his youth and energy really showed up on that field. Like he makes that play where the guy traces back and you can see his speed and athleticism making the play.
Say the first part of your question again.
Q. The difference as far as getting to the quarterback. You guys had the five sacks yesterday.
NICK SIRIANNI: You know, that's kind of how games go sometimes, that there is opportunities in certain games. I thought our guys rushed well when they had to rush individually. I thought our guys rushed in tandem as a group really together when they were rushing.
I thought Vic dialed up some really nice blitzes in certain situations that got guys free. I think it was a combination of all three. Then there were some times where the secondary had really good coverage. I think every time I looked at it the secondary was tight and they were sticky in it coverage.
So it was really good team defense.
Q. From a game plan standpoint, the numbers say it was the lowest amount of play-action that you guys have ever run under you. Why was that the case in this game?
NICK SIRIANNI: Different scenarios call for different things. That's a really good defense that were doing some different things that made certain things challenging.
Got a lot of respect for Coach Schwartz. Obviously he's done the ultimate thing here and won a Super Bowl. So much respect for him and the coordinator he's been and the coordinator he is. So they did some things that were challenging.
Again, I thought Kellen did a really nice job calling the game. I can't tell you how much -- how good of a job I think he did; aggressive in certain situations where we needed to be aggressive, which may not always be typical of being aggressive but he was.
And so I thought he did a nice job calling the game and I thought Jalen really did a nice job of handling the way the game was called and the plays that were coming in and went to the right place with the football.
I know I'm just kind of adding to this. Jalen did a really nice job of starting off -- we really wanted to start fast but we didn't. That was the emphasis.
But, man, how impressive was Jalen in the sense that you can start off 0-5 and then complete 16 of your next 20 balls? That's true definition of dog mentality.
Q. Looking ahead to next week, you have to travel to Met-Life Stadium again, a place you guys have struggled in the past. What caused those struggles and what do you do to fix them?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, I think it's the Giants. Obviously we had a loss against the Jets. I don't think anyone is thinking about where we're playing or anything like that, Chris, but it's really about how we go about that game.
You know, like for instance there have been guys on this team that haven't been part some of those games. We got to go execute and control what we can control.
If I thought it was a weather thing or anything like then we would do something a little bit different. This has been or execution and our coaching in certain games, and we'll be hungry in this game and do the work that we need to do this week to get ready for this game.
Q. You said you wanted to bring energy yesterday and you said your players ask you to do that. Now you're saying maybe you went overboard yesterday. How do you find a happy medium to all that? What do you feel like you need to do to get to that space?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, again, I don't think there is a playbook for that. I think at the end of the day it's, okay, you want to be passionate and have energy just like I did in there today with the guys when we watched film together.
But, again, having that discernment of when to do that. I wish there was a playbook on stuff like that. Make the job a little bit easier to do. But it's not. So you got to be -- you got to have the discernment and the wisdom of when to do it.
I think at the end of the day as I think about it and as I reflect on it, are you coaching your butt off throughout the week and coaching your butt off during the game? Are you motivating and pushing the right buttons? And it's not necessarily motivating, it's wiring.
It's wiring the guys in the right way, not inspiring them, your habits. Then it's just celebrating with them. That's one of the best things you can have in this game. Some of the best memories I have of this game is the celebrations that you have in-game, celebrations in the locker room after the game, you know, stuff like that.
So I think that can be the baseline of everything. You know, and then going from there, to answer your question.
Q. What perspective do you have on why the special teams issues continue multiple weeks here? And if you can sneak in a quick injury question, do you have a sense of the Dallas Goedert and Darius Slay injuries yet?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, still getting a little bit more back on Dallas and Slay. We'll have more on that. Still up in the air a little bit there.
As far as the special teams, you know, I think what's happened is like we've had the one catastrophic play each game with the past couple weeks. You know, one thing that really bothers me in coaching sometimes is we played a good game except. Well, that except counts. Those count.
You know, in this particular case a really good player made a really good play. Like I told you guys, where tell you how much respective for Myles Garrett and the player he's been. He made a really good play. We got to be better in that scenario.
He made the same play against Indy last year. Same exact play. We have to be better in that scenario. We have to coach it better, we got to execute it better, and be aware of where he is at all times, offensively and special teams-wise.
Shoot, if that guy goes in the game at tight end, I have no doubt in my mind that guy can make plays there. We would have to be alert for him there as well too because that's always your emphasis in this game.
It's a game of matchups. Don't let their best guys beat you. He made a really good play that turned the tide of that game yesterday.
Q. In talking about your behavior, you said you related it to reviewing plays. Who is a part of that review for yourself? Just you? Lurie? Howie? Players? You mentioned players that talked to you before. Was that just your own process?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, that's my self-review after each game. I always think I did -- I probably do too good of a job pulling myself through the mud at the end of game. At the end of the day that one called for it.
And then also that's the only way you get better.
Q. How much differently are you guys coaching those mesh concepts and what was the impetus for that?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, not a lot different. Not a lot different. You know, I think back to 2022 at Washington, Zach Pascal gets a really similar play that sets Smitty off for a really, really, really long run.
I think back to, shoot, back to Indy and we're at Houston and Trey Burton gets a mesh for TY Hilton that looked similar, too, that went for a big catch and run.
Again, you constantly think about better ways to teach it and how do you get better at it. Those coaching points have been pretty firm for the past year, for the past years.
What an unbelievable call there by Kellen. What a great execution by the O-line and Jalen, and then really good by Jack Stoll and DeVonta. And then really like to point out just the effort by Grant Calcaterra to make sure on the other one that Smitty got in the end zone. Because cause Rodney McLeod was flying around making a lot of plays yesterday.
Grant turned and got a block on Rodney to allow DeVonta to finish that play.
Q. We kind of saw a similar scene at the end of the Saints game with Jalen Carter kind of talking to some of the players and the fans. You come over to him and try to talk to him and maybe calm him down. Obviously with what happened yesterday, how do you view yourself, as kind of someone who sets the temperature, tone for the players in their actions, behavior? And when you fall short of that, how do you address that or take accountability with the players?
NICK SIRIANNI: Yeah, it's an emotional game, but everything -- shoot, I mean, I'll start every meeting with the things that I screwed up. It's just being honest and taking accountability and having honest conversations, you know, whether that's with the team or in private, as we talked about today.
And so like I told you guys, literally everything on that field is my responsibility, and that's from actions and behaviors and plays and everything. I take a lot of pride in that and when it doesn't go the right way I put yourself through the mud for that. Everything. Everything has my name on it.
That's why this self-reflection at the end is critical. The only way you get better is if you look yourself in the mirror and say where you could have done better.
Q. Two questions about the offensive game plan here. You guys used the fewest amount of pre-snap motion plays. I think the rate has been going down progressively throughout the season. Jalen only had one completion over the middle of the field. Is that something the Browns specifically do, or what's behind those two things?
NICK SIRIANNI: We had a lot of tempo yesterday, plays on the ball. That limits you sometimes. Doesn't mean you can't motion when you have a tempo play, but we had a lot of the those yesterday. That's going to affect the number a little bit.
And then as far as the middle of the field, I thought Jalen did a really good job taking what the defense gave him and had some matchups. And I thought those were good corners out there.
But we got really good receivers. Can't say enough about that last play on second and 11. What an unbelievable play by those two guys. That's just the way, Jalen being -- I just thought Jalen had a really nice game going to the places where he needed to go with the football and being accurate with those throws.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports