- 1 week ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00You hear him on the station, you read him at brownzone.com, the Illegal Chronicle Telegram.
00:04Let's find out if Scott Petrack is smashing the over on that five and a half win total.
00:10Good morning, Scott.
00:11What's going on, fellas?
00:13You taking the over on the five and a half wins like Jimmy Haslam is?
00:17I think so, but I'm an optimist, so.
00:21Scott, I asked Daryl before the break, were you surprised that he said that out loud?
00:26Because it does kind of put a number on Todd Munkin's first season coaching the team, does it not?
00:33It does, and I am surprised.
00:36I mean, part of me is surprised because it's a gambling phrase, right?
00:40Yeah, right.
00:41I've still been around a long time, and remember when that was taboo to talk about gambling?
00:47Now, obviously, less so, and I'm sure Jimmy's making a ton of money off the gambling deals that the league
00:53has.
00:54So, maybe I shouldn't be surprised by that, but I was.
00:58And then, yeah, it's interesting when you bring in the Todd Munkin perspective.
01:04Jimmy's kind of been that way throughout his ownership.
01:07Now, I think at one year he talked about, I forget the exact phrasing he used, but, you know, if
01:14they didn't get better, if they didn't make the playoffs,
01:16like he put kind of an ultimatum on the coaching staff, and he's moved away from that because that bit
01:23him,
01:23and it didn't work out well, and it creates pressure and expectations.
01:27So, he has softened those expectations, and he even did that this week when we talked to him.
01:32He wasn't ready to, you know, give a number or anything, but then he almost like he can't help himself.
01:38So, he says, well, you know, I think we should win more than five and a half.
01:41So, I think the thinking behind it is they won five games last year.
01:48They thought they should have won more.
01:50They made changes.
01:51They think they're better this year.
01:52So, yeah, six wins should not be any kind of reach, right?
01:58That that just should be expected, but it certainly does put a fine point on it.
02:03Aside from the quarterback competition, we'll get to that in a second, Scott.
02:07I've been talking a lot this morning about buy-in, and it really feels like that, at least through this
02:14point,
02:15everyone's really bought in to Todd Munkin, and that was one of the questions I had when they hired him,
02:21and I was so skeptical of the hire.
02:23Would these guys buy in?
02:25And I also now theorize, I just had an epiphany this morning,
02:28that one of the reasons Miles isn't here, and they made the Miles Garrett trade aside from getting Jared Verse
02:35and the draft compensation from the Rams buy-in.
02:39Like, Garrett made it very clear he didn't really seem to want to buy in the Popeyes exhausted worker meme
02:46that he posted after Todd was hired, the limited contact with the organization, right?
02:53Despite everything that he had said the year before, I mean, do you think I'm a little out of line
02:58in thinking that?
02:58That, hey, you know what?
02:59Yeah, Miles is a future Hall of Famer and a great player, and he owns a bunch of Browns records,
03:04and he'll forever be a Brown, but, like, don't really need to go through the buy-in thing with this
03:09guy again,
03:10and you get a young player like Jared Verse, and you've seen it out there like I have,
03:14who's very vocal, he's on his teammates, he's high energy, and, you know, he's all in despite leaving a Super
03:21Bowl contender
03:22to come here to Cleveland.
03:24Well, I do think it's unfair to put that on Miles, Daryl.
03:28I mean, I know that he wasn't here in the offseason, but he's got a lot of stuff going on.
03:35He's a different dude.
03:36We've known him.
03:37We were around him for nine years, right?
03:38Yeah.
03:38We know there's idiosyncrasies to Miles.
03:40Miles, the guy played hard when he was here.
03:44He played crazy hard.
03:45He was unbelievably productive.
03:48I think he would have been fine with Todd Munkin.
03:50I think when he was around Todd Munkin, and they were together, you know,
03:53when Munkin was here in, whatever, 19.
03:55Yeah.
03:56Not, you know, they didn't know each other great, but they were around each other.
03:59I think Miles and Todd would have gotten along fine, and Miles would have bought in,
04:04and he would have played great.
04:05So, I don't think that has anything to do with the trade.
04:09Now, Miles might have said, hey, I want to be in L.A., right?
04:13And just in general, but I don't think it was a Todd Munkin-led decision.
04:18You know what I mean?
04:18Yeah.
04:18I don't think Miles was a big fan of Kevin Sopanski at the end.
04:21I mean, he didn't really go to bat for him right at the end.
04:24Now, he might have been upset that Jim Schwartz didn't get the job, and, you know,
04:27Miles makes his feelings known.
04:29But, to me, that wasn't a make or break with the Miles Garrett trade.
04:33Now, the Jared Burst part is 100% correct.
04:35He is bought in.
04:36I think that's refreshing.
04:38You know, he doesn't have a whole lot of choice.
04:40What's he going to do?
04:42He's buying or suck for two years, and, you know, he's trying to get that next contract,
04:47which I'm sure the Browns will give him at some point as long as he lives up to their expectations
04:52and comes close to it.
04:53That's part of the expectation when they make that trade is they're going to have to pay Jared Burst at
04:58some point.
04:59I'm looking forward to seeing him in the pads because, yeah, you see him in the backfield,
05:04but it's just not a true test.
05:06When we see the pads Monday and him going against Fano and him going against DeJuan Jones,
05:12I'm just looking forward to seeing how that power actually shows up when everybody has their complete set of tools.
05:19All right, Scott.
05:20Well, you've made it five minutes in this interview, and we've yet to ask you about the quarterbacks.
05:26Daryl has categorized this quarterback situation thus far as consistently inconsistent.
05:33How would you categorize what you've seen from DeJuan Watson and Shador Sanders thus far?
05:39I would start by saying the defense is, I don't know, dominating is too strong, but I'm not sure it
05:45is.
05:46Dominating the offense, you know, not every snap, but if you look at the totality of the four practices,
05:54the defense has had the offense's number.
05:57And, you know, yesterday there were, I think I wrote down after they had that little fight,
06:02there were three straight sacks, and we see the defensive line in the backfield all day.
06:06And the hope is that that changes when pads are on.
06:09I think that is an advantage for the offensive line is when they have their pads
06:13and they can fully, you know, contact the pass rushers.
06:17But the defense has made life really difficult for the offense.
06:20When you just focus on the quarterbacks, it's been mediocre, I think, as a group.
06:27Sean Watson had a terrible first day.
06:29I thought he's been better since throwing the ball, but still, Daryl's right,
06:35inconsistent, the accuracy is inconsistent.
06:37And I think that's troubling because I felt that way in the offseason program, too,
06:42that he'd make one good throw and then two bad throws, just off-target throws.
06:46And then you have the interceptions, and we could talk about how important interceptions are
06:50and, you know, end of July, early August, but he's throwing a bunch of them.
06:54I think it's six through four practices.
06:56That needs to get better.
06:57I think Shudder Sanders has been clearly better than Watson, and it's only four days.
07:02He's clearly better.
07:03He had his first interception yesterday.
07:05He probably could have thrown a second one.
07:07Grant Dupland didn't grab it.
07:09But he's done a better job protecting the ball.
07:12He's made, I think, a couple of two, three, four good throws, like really good throws a day
07:17where you go, hey, that's a big-time throw from Sanders.
07:20There was one practice where there was a bunch of checkdowns.
07:23And so it's just, yeah, I mean, there's no more – it doesn't feel like a whole lot of momentum
07:27being built by either of those guys.
07:30But if you're going head-to-head, I would say Sanders has the advantage through four days.
07:34Your impressions of the two young guys, Casey Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
07:39I love them, but what do you think?
07:41I've been really impressed, especially with Boston.
07:44And I kind of feel bad – I don't feel bad, but it feels like I'm ignoring Concepcion a little
07:51bit
07:51because I'm so focused on Boston when I talk about these rookies in this rookie class.
07:57But I've just been so impressed with them.
07:59And it started in the offseason.
08:01And you were out there, Darrell, and he made a play yesterday – well, he made, you know,
08:05the play that got a lot of attention yesterday.
08:07And the shooter made a really good throw down the right sideline.
08:10And Boston went up and got it.
08:11What's my play of the day, Scott?
08:13Yeah, it was.
08:14I saw that.
08:14It was a really good play, right?
08:16But I've seen Boston make plays draw camp.
08:20And I thought he and Shudder had a connection early.
08:22I think it was day one.
08:23Man, these guys are connecting right away.
08:25But I flashed back to May and June.
08:29And he did it again yesterday where he runs a comeback route versus Tyson Campbell.
08:34Tyson Campbell's a big-time corner in this league.
08:36And he's really good in man.
08:38And he's got great size.
08:40And Boston has been able to get separation on that comeback route.
08:44And then he makes himself a huge target for the quarterback.
08:46And he's caught a number of those completions, whether it was OTAs, minicamp, or now training camp.
08:52And for a guy that's that big, right, 6'4", 215, you wonder, can he get in and out of
08:57breaks?
08:58Can he create that separation?
08:59Or does everything have to be a contested catch?
09:01And it doesn't have to be, because he does get separation.
09:04So, Concepcion's been good.
09:06He made a really nice catch yesterday.
09:08He made a leaping catch the day before.
09:10But Boston has been the most impressive rookie that I've seen.
09:16Scott, when you look at these quarterbacks, I hate going back to it.
09:19But I am just curious.
09:21It feels like everybody that we've talked to thus far that's been out there has said what you said.
09:28That so far, obviously, four practices in.
09:31Sanders has been a little bit ahead of Deshaun Watson.
09:35Do you think that's how the Browns are viewing this?
09:38Or is Munkin's comment about it still being way too early because they're still installing things?
09:44Should that be the message that really rings true today?
09:48Yeah, that's a key question.
09:50And I do think what Munkin said yesterday is important to keep in the back of everyone's mind.
09:57Now, I think he's probably a little over the top when he's, you know, and then he backed off and
10:03said, well, yeah, we do evaluate it.
10:05But there's no way that they're not really critiquing every throw that these guys make in every decision.
10:12So, I think they have the same daily, hey, this guy won this day, this guy won that day.
10:17Now, is it more important a week from now?
10:19And when they play against the Bears, sure.
10:22But it'd be incorrect to say that these first four practices don't matter, even to the coaching staff and the
10:29GM and the people making these decisions.
10:34But I do think that there's other stuff that goes into the decision, and I think Daryl asked about this
10:40the other day with Munkin, that it's not just did a guy throw an interception.
10:44Is he accurate?
10:45Are they getting out of the huddle?
10:47Are they calling the right play?
10:49Is it the operation working at the line of scrimmage, or do you have too many false starts?
10:53Are you getting to the line of scrimmage late?
10:54Are you making the right checks?
10:56Are you reading the defense correctly?
10:57Are your eyes in the right spot?
10:59A lot of that stuff is difficult for us to see.
11:01You know, we don't know the play call.
11:02We just know where the ball goes.
11:04Is the receiver running the wrong route?
11:06So, I think it's easy to say, yeah, for me to say, Shudder Sanders has the lead.
11:10And I would assume the Browns would think that, too, if you asked them in an honest moment.
11:15But, you know, there's a chance that Watson is doing more correct things behind the scenes, which would make sense
11:22because he's a veteran.
11:23And, you know, Munkin even referenced that yesterday, that he just has picked up the offense better than Shudder.
11:28Now, I think Shudder has closed the gap there, and it's his job to continue to close that from a
11:34mental standpoint.
11:37So, I think they're seeing the same things, but they're obviously seeing way more than we are.
11:42And I don't know how that evaluation is.
11:45Scott Petrack, brownzone.com, Leroy Chronicle, Telegram, joining us on the Wise Heart Right.
11:49We make it right. Call Call Right. Hotline.
11:51Scott, Quinshawn Judkins, I mean, I'm amazed considering the dislocated ankle, the broken fibula.
12:00You would never know it watching him in practice right now.
12:04Just how amazed are you at what you're seeing with him?
12:07I know it's tough for us to evaluate a run game.
12:10You were talking about offense and defensive line right now.
12:12Because they're not in pads. Same thing with the run game.
12:14We don't know if it's a tackle for loss or stopped at the line of scrimmage.
12:18Or if it's a five-yard run or did he just blow through everyone and take it to the house.
12:22But your thoughts on what you've seen from Quinshawn?
12:25Well, I thought it was a great sign.
12:28I want to say it was probably early May. Maybe it was mid-May.
12:31When he was going through individual drills.
12:33And I didn't expect to see him. And I was like, man, he looks good.
12:35And then when you saw him ramp up as the off-season program went along, it's like, okay, I think
12:40he's going to be okay.
12:41And then he looks 100% to me.
12:44And you're right, Daryl, and Deuce Staley talked about it the other day, the running backs coach, how the sky's
12:48the limit.
12:49He's going to push Quinshawn to get there.
12:51I think Quinshawn is going to get a ton of carries.
12:55I think he's going to catch the ball out of the backfield.
12:57We've seen that in camp already.
12:59You know, I'm not here to give fantasy tips, but I feel like he's going to get a million opportunities.
13:04I just do. As long as he stays healthy, you know, is 1,200 yards possible?
13:09I think it certainly is.
13:11And then, you know, is it 40 catches on top of that?
13:14So I think he's going to be used a ton.
13:16I think he's going to be productive.
13:18And you're right, you can't tell until they're in pads.
13:21But there was a run, I want to say Friday, where there was a hole created, and I saw him
13:26put his foot in the ground and explode off that cut.
13:29And I said, yep, he's 100% healthy, and he's explosive, and we already know that he's big and powerful.
13:35So I think the arrow's pointing up on Quinshawn Junkins for sure.
13:39Scott, I know it was a couple days ago, but I did want to ask you about what you made
13:45of the team's decision to extend both Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit as really part of this team's future now.
13:53What message does that send about where the Browns are currently at as an organization?
13:59It's interesting because, you know, there's been so much discussion, but in reality, too.
14:06The roster reconstruction makeover that started after the 2024 season got way younger.
14:13You know, they were in salary cap, I don't know, jail, but they had issues with the salary cap that
14:18they needed to take care of.
14:19Stopped spending a bunch of money in free agency, which they had done, and it was a conscientious effort to
14:24get much younger.
14:27You know, then when you trade Myles Garrett, it feels like, it doesn't feel like.
14:30There's obviously an eye toward the future, right?
14:32When three of the draft picks, you know, that's a huge part of this trade.
14:36Yes, Jared versus, but Jared versus and Myles Garrett.
14:38The key to this trade, well, they're both key, right, is you wouldn't make this trade head-to-head, you
14:44know, straight up.
14:45One guy for one guy.
14:46You need the three draft picks.
14:47Well, those draft picks aren't going to pay off until at least next year, probably even further down the road.
14:52So there's an eye toward the future there.
14:55So I don't know if it's contradictory, but it certainly raises questions.
14:59Okay, then why sign these guys to extensions?
15:03To me, it feeds into what they've been doing for the last two years is they are not ready, and
15:07J.W. Johnson said it the other day.
15:10They're just not going to punt on a season.
15:12So they're trying to run these parallel tracks of building for the future and keeping an eye on the future
15:17while trying to win now.
15:19And I respect that.
15:20It might not be the wisest thing, and maybe you're better off just tearing it all down and tanking for
15:25a while.
15:25I don't like that philosophy at all.
15:27So I appreciate that they're doing this, and I think when you look at guys like Ward and Delpit, they've
15:33played well for you.
15:34They're still relatively young.
15:35You think they're still going to be good.
15:37It just makes sense to keep those guys around, especially when their contracts kind of come to a head where
15:42Delpit's entering the last year of his deal.
15:45You know, Ward had two years left, but no guaranteed money.
15:47It just felt like if you're going to do it, you do it now, or you think about trading these
15:52guys.
15:53And they didn't want to do that, right?
15:55They feel like these guys are too important to trade, or the value wouldn't be good enough, or whatever it
16:01is.
16:01So I like that they're doing that.
16:03Now, if there's a steep decline in their play, and a year from now we're going, huh, Ward's not the
16:09player he was, then it's a bad decision.
16:11But right now, I like that it says, hey, we got your reverse, you got these two guys, we're going
16:19to keep them, and it's not all about the future.
16:21A lot of it's about right now.
16:23Scott, the last time they tore it down to the studs and burned the house down, they went 4-44
16:29over three seasons.
16:31Still no franchise quarterback.
16:33They traded their Hall of Fame defensive end and got two playoff appearances out of it and one playoff win.
16:39You know what I mean?
16:39So I agree with you.
16:42I like the fact that they're trying to retool here on the fly and see if they can get this
16:46thing turned around.
16:47Scott, thanks so much for the time.
16:49We'll see you tomorrow.
16:50They'll be popping pads out there.
16:52It's one of my favorite practices of the year.
16:55All right, bring your A game, Daryl.
16:59His ankle, y'all, Scott, I'm sure you've heard about the ankle.
17:02I'm on the injury report right now.
17:03I don't know if I got any.
17:05I don't know if I ever had any A game, but if I did, it's gone now.
17:08We'll see you tomorrow, Scotty.
17:09Thanks so much for the time.
17:11See you guys.
17:12There you go.
17:12Scott Petrack.
Comments