CLEVELAND BROWNS 24, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 13
COACH STEFANSKI. ...had a couple drops. Had 10 men on the field and special teams twice. So it looked like preseason game to me -- preseason game number one game to me at a bunch of moments. So there's a ton to clean up. And that's what we're going to do.
We're going to get back to work and work on the things that we fell short at tonight and then just make sure we keep progressing because this is really part of the progression part of the training is that game number one. So that's in the books now. And then we'll turn our sights to the next phase of training camp. And with that, I'll take my questions
Q. Kevin, how do you think Deshaun did? Assess his performance in his first live action...
COACH STEFANSKI: I think he probably wants some throws back. Obviously, playing football for the first time in a while, I thought it was important to get out there with his teammates in this scheme, just hearing a different voice in the helmet, those type of things. I'm sure he had the butterflies and the jitters early. But I think he understands there's work to do
Q. When did you feel comfortable you were going to actually be able to start him tonight?
COACH STEFANSKI: It's just been something, Chris, that we've been talking about throughout the last months and weeks, just trying to figure out what the best path forward was for not just our quarterbacks but for the entire team and just thought getting him some time out there in a game setting made sense in this preseason
Q. Kevin, do you think the drama of his case affected his play, the uncertainty, the --
COACH STEFANSKI: I don't think so, Tony. I don't.
Q. (Question regarding starters not out there affecting Deshaun.)
COACH STEFANSKI: I don't think so, Mary Kay. We just have to be better as an offense early. They had a bunch of players that they don't play either. So I don't look too much into that. It's just -- you know, it's our first game out there. And I think you could tell. You know, I think Jacksonville had one game into it. So for us, just to knock some rust off and then get back to work
Q. Nick Harris looks...
COACH STEFANSKI: The injury, Tony. We'll get an MRI tomorrow, and I'll be able to update you tomorrow.
Q. When you decided Deshaun was going to play, did you decide Jakobe wouldn't?
COACH STEFANSKI: Yeah. Jakobe starting week one. That's how we're operating. We'll get him work in game three. But felt like it was the right thing to get Deshaun in game one.
Q. (Question regarding Jakobe in practice.)
COACH STEFANSKI: Yes.
Q. Deshaun looked pretty sharp in practice, so were you kind of surprised?
COACH STEFANSKI: No, Mary Kay. I think, again -- I think this was important for him to get out there in a game setting, under the lights, with new teammates and go operate. It wasn't going to be perfect. And even if it was perfect, you can't overreact to that either. So I just think it was all part of the progression for him.
Q. In terms of beforehand, he came out and issued, basically, his first apology. So what does that tell you about the situation?
COACH STEFANSKI: Yeah, you know. I've been around Deshaun now for a few months, and I know he wants to grow. I know that he does. And that's personally; that's professionally. And I think he's very, very serious about doing that. And I think that's part of that next step for him.
Q. Do you think that he'll play in future preseason games?
COACH STEFANSKI: Yeah. We'll see when we get there. Not ready to say just yet.
Q. What about Jerome Ford?
COACH STEFANSKI: Yeah. I thought, Tony, he's -- really, the rookies in general, I was pretty pleased with them. You know, with M.J. making that play. Cade was good tonight. And then Jerome on that great -- had a couple great runs and then lost the ball unfortunately there in that play. But up until that moment -- I mean, he made a great catch. He's fighting for extra yards. It's just -- a young player has to know when they're coming for that rock, especially when you're fighting for extra yards. But I would tell you, Tony, that was I saw in that game is very consistent with what I've seen at practice.
Q. (Question regarding Deshaun's first pass)
COACH STEFANSKI: It was going to Anthony. Yeah.
Q. And did he just seem like he was too hyped up?
COACH STEFANSKI: I don't know. Again, I think for all these guys, depending where you are in your career, these rookies got the butterflies. Some of these veterans that are playing in it. And then Deshaun, having not played in 20 weeks, I do think there's an element of -- call it, you know, jitters or whatever it is.
So I think it was important for him to get out to there. He calmed down. Calling plays in and out of the huddle, the getting guys directed. Even going down and sitting on the bench and having communication with the coaches. All of that is, in my opinion, part of the process in bringing him along.
Q. (Inaudible) -- this is going to be the last time he sees live action. The fact that he didn't get to sustain a drive --
COACH STEFANSKI: I really don't, Mary Kate. And I would tell you, if it went the other way and they went right down the field and scored, again, it's all part of the process. These games -- they're keeping score, so it's important. We want to win them. But it's like taking the practice field to the game field is how we approach it.
Q. What about Dobbs?
COACH STEFANSKI: Yeah. I thought Josh did a really nice job there with that group. Again, he's operating. I think he does a nice job in and out of the huddle, sees it very clearly. And I think his athleticism really showed up. Certainly had a couple scrambles. Had a touchdown where he had a free runner right in his face going to his left, extended the play and dumped it over to Jerome. So an impressive performance by Josh.
Q. How about Nick? He's had such a nice camp and you guys have been so excited about him.
COACH STEFANSKI: Yeah. Really, really disappointing. I think the MRI will tell the story there. But you don't -- nobody wants to see anybody get hurt on either side of the ball, for the opponent or yourself. It's just -- it's the nature of this game, and nobody likes it. But we're hoping that we get good news with an MRI. But we're still excited about Nick.
Q. Ethan slid over there and then took his spot. Assess the way he did.
COACH STEFANSKI: I'd have to look at it to give you a real good answer to it. But he's a veteran that's played a lot of football. So he has a good understanding of what we're trying to get done being that he got here in the spring. But he's a very smart kid.
Q. Kevin, was there any point since you've been in Jacksonville that you didn't think you'd be allowed to play Watson?
COACH STEFANSKI: No. Not for me. But I was -- I just wait for somebody to tell me something different, Tony. And I just operate with the information I have.
Q. Did Deshaun say anything to you about his three series about pushing the --
COACH STEFANSKI: No, no. Yeah. Again, I think all of us at every position would love to come out and put up 100 and hold them to 0. But this is, again, all part of the process for us. We're making mistakes. It's sloppy. And now it's my job and our job to get it cleaned up.
Thanks, guys.
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