00:00Is there a world in which you could potentially, I got a game pretty quick, pretty quickly coming right around
00:06the corner, that you could take this quarterback decision through next week's game?
00:09It is possible. I don't anticipate this. I do not anticipate the quarterback decision going past early in next week.
00:23So there you have it. Tom Munkin on the Browns radio network this morning prior to today's game.
00:30Having a conversation with Andrew Siciliano and he says quarterback competition doesn't expect it to linger beyond early this week.
00:40That goes back to what we kind of talked about earlier, Lance. I don't think that's, it's groundbreaking that he's,
00:46or it's notable that he said it.
00:48I don't think it's like groundbreaking news that he's planning on making an announcement early next week.
00:53I think that was kind of the timeline we all anticipated, if that makes sense. Do you agree on that?
00:58Yeah, no, here's the thing I would, I would say to everybody about getting these quarterbacks ready.
01:01You know, you and I, especially the last few years when we're watching practice, and I think you'll agree with
01:06me.
01:06They have done so much 11 on 11 work. That's why I tell everybody, this has been a fair competition.
01:11They're not in seven on seven very much. They're not in group work as much, especially as camp goes along.
01:17Even in their joint practice, they got right into 11 on 11 before they did anything.
01:21They did a little individual, and then they got into 11 on 11, and then they went one-on-one.
01:26So they've done so much 11 on 11s that these quarterbacks have both had a lot of reps.
01:31Now, as you get, if he's going to name it this week, that makes sense because that gives you a
01:35number of weeks now where that guy's probably going to get 80%.
01:38So now you're going to go 80-20, and then that backup has to make sure they're getting the mental
01:41reps.
01:42They've got to make sure that individual and group work works.
01:45But I will say this, whoever is named the starter, the other guy has had enough reps to kind of
01:50be ready to go as well.
01:52And that will help them as they get into the season because, as we know, a lot of quarterbacks play
01:56in the NFL now.
01:57When you go down there and you watch these guys practice every day, somebody who's been involved in football my
02:01whole life,
02:02it is just still to this day, you go down there, and the size and speed of these dudes,
02:07it's hard to imagine a guy staying healthy at the quarterback position with these guys hitting them.
02:12So they're going to need multiple quarterbacks.
02:14They're going to need Dylan Gabriel to go at some point because Taylor Green, those guys have gotten a lot
02:19of quality reps too.
02:19So they won't go in there completely without any reps.
02:23So, yeah, it's not surprising.
02:24Gives them a few weeks to get that guy all the reps moving forward as you get ready for Jacksonville.
02:29Because, again, that's the most important thing, winning in Jacksonville.
02:32Yeah, I think that this plan makes sense.
02:37Everyone's wondering, is Todd Munkin doing things the right way?
02:41Or if you have wondered that, or if you've questioned his process at all, which I don't think a lot
02:46of people have.
02:46But if you're trying to kind of understand where his mind's at, I think the timeline he's on here is
02:52the suitable timeline.
02:54You let each quarterback start a game.
02:56You use the time in between and leading up to to evaluate them.
03:01He said it was going to be a full body of work.
03:02They had the spring.
03:03They now had the summer.
03:05They had each a preseason game that they'll start.
03:08And he'll put all that together to make his decision.
03:10And you should be treating this last game.
03:13I've been on the record saying, you know, Kevin Stefanski used to do it differently where he, like, overly protected
03:19guys.
03:19And was like, I don't want to play my guys in the preseason.
03:21I think he was in a different spot.
03:23Think about it, Lance.
03:24He had a team that was very veteran heavy.
03:27Guys who had been in the league for a long time.
03:29You got to protect them and, like, limit the hits.
03:31So I get why he didn't want to start Joel Batonio and, you know, Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett in
03:37some of these games.
03:38Because, like, one ACL injury to Myles Garrett, and you're like, well, that just changes the entire trajectory of your
03:42season.
03:42I get why he was overprotective.
03:44I think Todd Munkin has a young team that you can get more reps for those guys and play more
03:48of those guys.
03:49So it makes sense that, like, this final game now sets up where you get a good look at everything.
03:55And you put the starters out there for a little bit.
03:57And you just kind of see what you have and where you're at.
03:59And then you're off and running.
04:00I mean, you get that chance to kind of evaluate them based off of this final preseason game.
04:05So I think this makes total sense.
04:07And it always kind of felt like it was trending in this direction in general.
04:10And then you turn the corner and you start getting ready for week one, as you alluded to.
04:14Well, and the thing I like about what they're doing today is that both quarterbacks got equal reps Thursday against
04:18the ones.
04:19They both started, you know, they worked in the 7-on-7, the 11-on-11s.
04:23They both got the work.
04:24And on the other side, Josh Allen got the majority of the work.
04:26So you can see the balance there.
04:27And what I like about him starting today, even though he won't have a ton of starters with him, is
04:32he gets another opportunity to practice and get better and better at the operation.
04:36And in this offense, I will speak to this over and over and over over this course of the season.
04:41The before stuff, pre-snap stuff is so important in this offense, getting in and out of the huddle, something
04:48that just takes reps like anything else.
04:50So that gives him an opportunity to grow today, even though he might not get great Pabstor protection, things like
04:55that.
04:56That's what everybody will evaluate.
04:58If you want to evaluate Shador Sanders, I said it earlier, look at how much time's on the clock when
05:02he gets out of the huddle.
05:03That's what he's working on today.
05:04So I have a question for you.
05:06I was thinking about this, and I was actually talking about it with one of your colleagues at Cleveland.com,
05:12Dan Lobby.
05:13Last year's draft class was remarkably pretty much, at least the higher picks especially, hits.
05:23Carson Swessinger was a hit, Mason Graham.
05:25Some growing pains, but I think he looks like he's going to be a force, like he's kind of rounding
05:30into form.
05:30And I would say that was still a hit.
05:33Quinn Sean Judkins was a hit, Harold Fannin was a hit.
05:36You can split hairs on however you feel about the other picks.
05:39But I think those four in particular are like, hey, these are foundational pieces for our future.
05:46That felt like an anomaly.
05:48It's rare that you get that many hits in like one draft class straight up, and Andrew Barry deserves credit
05:52for that.
05:53But of all those guys, it feels like someone's going to take a step back, right?
06:00Like, I'm not saying that they, sure, it might not happen.
06:04But it's rare that like growth is linear.
06:08It's rare that you just year after year after year, like you're that consistent, especially early in your career.
06:14So it does kind of feel like somebody might be poised to take a little bit of a step back.
06:19I'm curious, if you have to pick one of those four that maybe slightly takes a step back, who do
06:25you think it could be and why?
06:27Well, I'm going to tell you who I think takes a step back, and it won't be that his play
06:30is any less.
06:31In fact, I think he'll be better than last year, and it's Harold Fannin Jr.
06:34But if you ask me whose numbers are going to struggle, it's going to be Harold Fannin.
06:41Because last year, Harold Fannin was their best receiver.
06:43Harold Fannin was their best player.
06:44I still think he's their best offensive player.
06:46But in terms of numbers, now they have balance.
06:48So in this players-over-play scheme, when Harold Fannin, that's why I think it's very important.
06:55And you heard me get excited at practice the other day when he had that big block.
06:58We were standing in the end zone.
06:59Because if he can block, that means maybe they have to get out of nickel and bring another linebacker in
07:05when he's in the game.
07:05So when I think about 11 personnel, now their offense right now, because I'd be shocked if Casey Concepcion and
07:12Denzel Boston are very good early.
07:13They've been good all camp, and they were good against the Bills.
07:16They've been good every rep.
07:19Jerry Judy's going to be good because now he's not the focus.
07:21And Jerry Judy's good in the slot, works good over the middle of the field.
07:25Judkins is a very good back, especially in this scheme that they like to run.
07:30The offensive line ran the ball much better against the Bills in the joint practice.
07:34Once on once, then they dig against the Bears.
07:36That's promising.
07:37That being said, Judkins is going to have his days.
07:41Harold Fannin's going to have his days.
07:43So is Boston.
07:44So is Casey Concepcion.
07:45But it's about winning football.
07:47I think his stats won't be as awe-inspiring as maybe as people think they should be.
07:53But he's going to have big games because they're going to try to stop the run, or they're going to
07:57double Boston, or they're going to double Casey.
07:59So now this offense has balance.
08:01And when your turns up, you've got to take advantage of it.
08:03So I don't think – in fact, I think he's going to be better than he was last year.
08:06But I don't think his numbers are going to be through the roof because now they have balance on offense.
08:10And in this scheme, it's matchups.
08:13Now, when he gets a matchup against a linebacker or a safety, Munkin will go to him endlessly until they
08:18change.
08:18But then somebody else is going to have to step up because that's how this offense works.
08:22Yeah, that's well said.
08:23I'm of the same belief as you because of – for similar reasons.
08:27There's more weapons in this offense now.
08:30You're sharing the wealth a little bit, right?
08:32Which, in retrospect, is a good thing.
08:34It's a good thing for the offense.
08:36It's a good thing for Harold that it's not just him all the time.
08:40And there's other options.
08:41And honestly, that might end up opening him up for more opportunities because, hey, now we've got to account for
08:46Casey Concepcion, who's going to run out of the slot a lot.
08:48Which is, again, similar to Farrin and Fannin's going to either be, like, off the line of scrimmage or in
08:53the slot position a lot, I would imagine.
08:55So now there's, you know, more to account for there.
08:58You've got Denzel Boston on the outside, so you're going to have to account for him.
09:01You've still got Quinshon Jenkins in the backfield, so he's somebody to account for.
09:04And even Dylan Sampson, we know his number one skill is, like, get him in space.
09:09Get him in the football.
09:10And they've done that a bunch.
09:11Yeah, and so there's so much to account for now that I do think, naturally, Fannin's going to take a
09:17little bit of a step back, and he's not going to necessarily be as productive.
09:20It doesn't mean he's not going to still be a great player.
09:21It doesn't mean he's still not an elite tight end.
09:24It just simply means that, hey, this guy's probably going to have to share the wealth a little bit more
09:31and not be as productive.
09:32And I will say this, like, I think his camp has been a little underwhelming.
09:37He's had some drops.
09:38He's had some missed moments.
09:39The block that you bring up was a positive for him.
09:42That was a good thing to see because he's not as refined as a blocker at this point in his
09:45career just yet.
09:46But, yeah, if there's one I had to pick, I think it's Fannin.
09:50Not because I think he's going to, like, regress, per se.
09:53I think it more has to do with just what they did to the offense and the changes they made
09:57and guys that are around him.
09:58But I think that's a good answer.
09:59I guess the other one you could throw out is I don't think Carson Swessinger is going to dip at
10:04all.
10:05I think he's still going to be running around making plays and all that.
10:07I think Mason Graham's actually going to probably get a little bit better this year, especially with Miles not being
10:11here.
10:11I think all those guys are going to try to raise their game.
10:15But I think that the – I think that Quinshawn, depending on the O-line, which, give him credit, they
10:26looked pretty good in the joint practices.
10:27That O-line group was pretty solid, I think, on Thursday, especially Spencer Fano.
10:31And there were some positive signs that they're going to be able to run the football.
10:34But I think there's still a little bit of mystery there on how good they'll be.
10:38Quinshawn was really good last year at Creighton on his own.
10:40But you don't want to do that for a whole season year over year over year over year and risk
10:44injuries and all these things.
10:46So maybe there's some drop-off for Quinshawn if the O-line isn't good.
10:50But I'm expecting the floor to be a little bit raised for that group in general.
10:54And so I think Quinshawn will be better than last year, in my estimation.
10:57Well, and that, once again, that comes down to a number of factors.
11:00How much balance do you see?
11:02So when you face the Browns right now, let's just say the talent kind of irons out like we think
11:07it would be.
11:08So they have three solid receivers, an elite tight end, a restructured offensive line, and a really hard-running tailback.
11:14Well, the best way to increase your run game, the best way to physically control the line of scrimmage is
11:19to block less people.
11:21So you have the four-down lineman or five-down lineman and a backer or two.
11:24How do you make sure that you get a five- or six-man box and not a seven-
11:28or eight-man box?
11:29You've got to have balance.
11:30You've got to know that you can throw the ball.
11:31You've got to make sure that the shells and what you're seeing as an offensive coordinator's quarterback are the same.
11:36So you can get into the correct run game, which is part of Munkin's run game, is making sure you're
11:41going to the side that has less people.
11:42Sounds kind of simple, but it's not.
11:45You have to go to the best look, the numbers game.
11:47So for me, his ability to run the ball is based on the success of the guys around him.
11:54Just like everybody in this offense, I think he's going to have games where teams are going to go,
11:58you know what, we've got to play nickel.
12:00We absolutely don't have the corners and the safeties to play the Browns and base coverage.
12:05Because if we go three backers, KC or Fannett is going to kill us.
12:10So we've got to play nickel.
12:11Then it's a six-man box regardless.
12:14So those are things.
12:15Once again, this balance, hopefully, they're creating allows them for guys to step up when the defense gives them what
12:22they need.
12:23Is it nickel?
12:24Is it three-backer personnel?
12:26Are we getting two high hats?
12:27And they're saying, we're going to go nickel, but we're playing too high because we're not getting beat deep.
12:30Well, then you've got to light box.
12:31You've got to run the ball.
12:32That's when he has a big game.
12:34Some defense coordinators will say, you've got to be patient and run it against a two-high hat.
12:39Or do they say, you know what, we're going to crowd the line of scrimmage,
12:41and we're going to make your beat-up quarterback, Deshaun Watson, or your second-year guy beat us.
12:46That's a possibility, too, and that's not going to help him, too.
12:48So they might do that as well.
12:51Yeah, there's going to be a lot of options in this offense.
12:53It's what's so exciting about it.
12:55And Todd Munkin, you know, somebody called earlier, I forget exactly who it was,
12:58and was talking about 12 personnel.
12:59Todd Munkin also ran a lot of 21 personnel and some 22 personnel.
13:03Like, he's going to mix and match a lot of these personnel groups.
13:06And by the way, for those who don't know, 21 personnel is two running backs, one tight end.
13:1212 personnel is one running back, two tight ends.
13:15I know sometimes people hear those things, and it sounds like we're just trying to be too smart on the
13:19air,
13:20and I don't want that to get misconstrued.
13:22That'll never happen with me.
13:24That's the thing.
13:25Lance does a tremendous job of breaking it down like we're dummies.
13:28And what does this mean?
13:30And he'll tell us.
13:30And that's why I love Lance.
13:32You explain it a lot better than a lot of people do, so that's good.
13:34Are you guys just going to do Homer Radio every single day here?
13:39But, yes, I think there are a lot of unique opportunities for Todd Munkin with this offense.
13:43I think we've seen some of that already.
13:45The way he's used Casey Concepcion, the way he's going to use Herra Fannin,
13:48the way he's used Dylan Sampson.
13:50He knows he has stuck true to his word on,
13:53my goal is to build an offense and build a team that plays to my player's strengths.
13:57I think he knows what a lot of his player's strengths are, and we've seen that already.
14:00I'm sure we're going to see that more today in this matchup against the Bills
14:03with those guys who actually do end up playing and seeing time on the field.
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