00:00You can read him at Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
00:02Hear him on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast.
00:05Joining us on the Wise Heart Right, we make a right call.
00:07Call right hotline.
00:08He is Dan Lobby.
00:09Coach Lobby, how are you?
00:11Hey, guys.
00:11How are you doing?
00:12I just wanted to let you know I'm pleased to inform you you have made the team.
00:17Oh, thank God.
00:18I was a little worried.
00:19It's a nervous few hours here.
00:21So, you know, I'm glad I made it.
00:22Hey, let's start with the quarterbacks because, I don't know,
00:26I guess you just can't have a Browns conversation without the quarterback conversation.
00:31As far as Steyer go, I am guessing that if there is an odd man out in that quarterback room,
00:39it feels like it's Dylan Gabriel.
00:41Just based on body language from Thursday night when we talked to him,
00:45following that really great performance, listening to Todd Munkin,
00:49trying to read between the tea leaves there,
00:51the fact he was an afterthought with the quarterback competition,
00:54I kind of feel like the drama in the quarterback room today might just boil down to
00:59are they keeping Dylan Gabriel as a fourth quarterback?
01:03What do you think about that?
01:04Yeah, I think I agree with you because listening to that press conference on Thursday night,
01:09it did feel like Dylan was sort of resigned to the outcome of where this might go.
01:14So if they do ultimately decide that they don't want to keep four quarterbacks on this initial roster,
01:20I just, it would strike me as odd if they, you know, they took this chance on Talon Green,
01:25a guy that they kind of want to develop with all these athletic traits,
01:29and then they're just going to expose them to waivers.
01:31I don't know how much sense that makes.
01:33So I'm kind of with you on that.
01:35Now, honestly, if it were up to me, they did this a couple of years ago.
01:39I would just keep all four right now.
01:41You know, you don't have to have four on the roster on September 12th, September 13th.
01:45But right now, I don't necessarily think there's, you'd be giving up anyone, you know, what,
01:51an extra linebacker, an extra cornerback, something like that.
01:54I don't think there's anyone that should necessarily force you to have to make this decision by 6 p.m.
02:00tonight.
02:00I think you can let this play out a little bit if you want to look for a trade partner
02:04or kind of figure out how you want this to work.
02:06So that's what I would do.
02:08But I'm with you.
02:09If they decide to go three, I think they would err on the side of keeping the traits-y guy
02:14in Talon Green.
02:15Dan, you're a golden flash.
02:18I'm a golden flash.
02:19I think a big name that everybody's going to be watching for today is one of our own,
02:25Mentor High School's Luke Floria, who's put together a second impressive preseason with the Browns.
02:31What are his roster chances today, Dan?
02:34It's just hard for me to see him making it.
02:37And, you know, I hate to say that for all the reasons you just laid out.
02:40It's golden flash on golden flash crime here.
02:43But I think that if you look at their options, so if we're talking Floria versus, you know,
02:49a Malachi Corley, a Cole Wilson, I don't know if I would put Gage Larvidan in this camp
02:54because he hasn't actually been all that great as a punt returner.
02:57But I think you have to look at what these guys can bring you on special teams.
03:01And Corley can return kicks.
03:02Cole Wilson can return kicks.
03:04And we don't really see Luke Floria doing a lot of that.
03:06Now, I do think they can get Luke Floria through to the practice squad, even with the great preseason that
03:11he's had.
03:12So anyone who wants to see Luke Floria on this roster or at least a part of this football team,
03:17I think it can still happen if they move on from him.
03:20But even though he had a really great preseason, you've got to remember that once we get to the regular
03:25season,
03:26that sixth receiver isn't going to see a lot of action.
03:28He might not even be active on game days.
03:30But the best chance to be active is to be in the return game, to be a part of special
03:34teams.
03:35And I don't think Floria brings that.
03:37How surprised were you yesterday when Todd Munkin mentioned that Austin Barber has entered his name into the right guard
03:48competition?
03:49Because I'll be honest with you, Dan, I thought the starting five on the offensive line was pretty much set.
03:55With Elton Jenkins, they're going to be at center because Parker Brillsford spent most of training camp rehabbing a hand
04:03or a wrist injury.
04:05And, you know, Tevin Jenkins there at right guard.
04:08But Munkin saying yesterday, hey, we got another week to get that whole thing sorted out.
04:14How surprised were you by that?
04:15And do you think it's a real possibility Barber could come get that job?
04:23I was surprised only because, and I went and looked this up, it was earlier this week when Todd Munkin
04:29basically said,
04:30yeah, he thought his starting five was set on that line.
04:32And that included Tevin Jenkins, the right guard.
04:34Now, obviously, we've seen Austin Barber play well in those opportunities.
04:39But I was a little surprised that Todd went as far yesterday as to basically leave that competition open for
04:45now.
04:46Now, and by the way, I think that's telling.
04:48I think that does tell you that there's a real chance that this could happen because if it couldn't, then
04:53Todd could have just said, hey, Austin has looked good.
04:55We're happy to have depth there.
04:57But, you know, we've got our five.
04:59We like Tevin Jenkins at right guard.
05:00So I think the fact that he was willing to leave that open, I think it's very telling.
05:04And I think they're very intrigued by this idea of Austin Barber at right guard.
05:09And the fact that, you know, if Parker Brailsford had been healthy and, you know, maybe won that job and,
05:16you know, you had Alton Jenkins starting a right guard, that would be fine.
05:19But I do think with Brailsford being hurt and Jenkins not being able to play guard, it just feels like
05:27they've been trying to find the right guy at that position.
05:29And they just sort of settled on Tevin Jenkins.
05:31But now somebody is actually pushing and performing well to maybe win that job.
05:35So I'll give Todd Munkin credit that he's leaving that open here with a couple weeks until the opener.
05:40Dan, obviously the Browns aren't the only team in the National Football League that are going to have to make
05:45some difficult decisions today.
05:47What position group, even if they, you know, make this Browns 53-man roster, should maybe be a little bit
05:55leery, especially if the Browns decide they want to look for some external help?
06:00I would keep, I'd be a little nervous if I were a defensive lineman.
06:04I still think they need help there at edge rusher with the guys that they have.
06:08If somebody becomes available in a trade or that they like on waivers, you know, maybe they could go add
06:14somebody there.
06:15I think they're always looking at cornerbacks.
06:18That's a big one.
06:19And then really, you know, when I look at the bottom of that offensive line, so not necessarily the top
06:24of it and the starters, the guys that we just talked about.
06:27But, you know, let's say Zach Zinter makes this roster, and I know that's certainly not a given, but let's
06:32say he does.
06:33If somebody else comes along that they like on the interior or they like as an extra swing tackle, could
06:38that sort of pique their interest and could they make a move there?
06:41So those are really the positions I would keep an eye on.
06:44And then also, you know, tight end with this mysterious Joe Royer situation, and right now on my 53, I
06:51had three guys.
06:52I could see them looking to add a fourth or maybe looking to churn, you know, that third guy in
06:56the tight end room.
06:57So that's a position I'd keep an eye on as well.
06:59Is there a familiar name, Dan, that you feel is on the bubble and would surprise folks that would be
07:11cut today?
07:14So I don't think this is a guy that would be cut, but I just wonder a little bit about
07:19what they're going to do with DeJuan Jones.
07:21I think he's going to make the roster, and I think he's probably going to be your top swing tackle.
07:27So I know that's a big, you know, that's a big variance there that I'm giving with him.
07:32But I do wonder, like, if a trade opportunity came along with DeJuan Jones or, you know, if they liked
07:38somebody else a little better at tackle.
07:40He's in the last year of his contract.
07:42He lost that left tackle competition.
07:44I don't know if he's moving quite as well as we've seen in the past with all those injuries.
07:48So I'm not saying that they're going to cut DeJuan Jones or that they want to cut DeJuan Jones or
07:53anything like that.
07:54But he strikes me as one of those guys that, you know, we haven't really been thinking about.
07:59And then all of a sudden the Browns make some move we didn't expect.
08:02Is there anything going on with punter?
08:04I know there's been some people talking about Corey Bohorquez versus Wes Paul, who's punting the ball.
08:10Especially these first couple of weeks might be an important position.
08:14Well, Nick, I got to tell you, you are sitting next to the punting.
08:19This is a Daryl Ryder question.
08:22He tracks hang times.
08:24I mean, nobody knows the punting battle more than Daryl Ryder, but I'll do my best.
08:28And Daryl could judge how I did here.
08:30I did find it interesting that they didn't cut two punters on Friday when they made their first wave of
08:37cuts.
08:37And I just found that very interesting.
08:39And the guy that they did cut was their international pathways guy.
08:43It wasn't Wes Paul.
08:44So I found that interesting that they kind of carried this punting battle into these final few days of camp.
08:51And when you have three punters, even though they said all the right things about Corey Bohorquez and it was
08:57his job to lose and all that,
08:58when you're having a punting battle, and I remember this situation with Jamie Gillen where it felt like, oh, he's
09:03not going to win the job.
09:04And I forget what the veteran they had on the roster was at the time, but I'm keeping Jamie Gillen.
09:10So they're leaving that door open.
09:12And sometimes when that happens, it's a sign that they're going to go a direction you didn't think they were
09:16going to go.
09:16So I think it's very real that they could go to Paul.
09:19Well, and I agree with you, Dan.
09:22You did very well, by the way.
09:24Wow.
09:24A's across the board.
09:26That is, this is why we have Dan on the show.
09:29Brave reviews.
09:30A plus analysis.
09:31Punch coverage.
09:31Look, I mean, hey, you could save a couple dollars, too.
09:34I mean, Bohorquez is making a couple million bucks.
09:36And if you can get similar or same production out of Wes Paul, I mean, there is the whole fiscal
09:44thing that plays into it.
09:48But, right, you have to consider all of these things.
09:50Like, these are the things that Andrew Barry is thinking about, and they might never admit it.
09:55But, yeah, that matters.
09:57If you can get an equal or better player for less money, it just makes sense to do that.
10:03Most concerning area when it comes to depth in your estimation here, Dan, because that's my thing.
10:11I think they're fine starters-wise, but if they start to get some injuries and guys aren't available, I think
10:17they could be in trouble.
10:18But which position group's depth for you is the most concerning?
10:25I'm still concerned about that line.
10:27I think that, you know, since they lost Alex Wright, and I thought they were counting really heavily on Alex
10:31Wright to begin with.
10:32So, I think when they lost Alex Wright, that really exposed a lot of the depth on that pass rush
10:38group.
10:38You've got Jared Verse, obviously, and listen, with Jared Verse, as much as I like the guy, this is the
10:43first time he's going to be, like, the number one edge rusher on a football team.
10:47He, you know, I guess it could be 1A and 1B between him and Byron Young when they were in
10:51L.A., but he's going to be the guy getting all the attention for the first time.
10:56Now you've got, I don't know, Isaiah McGuire on that side.
10:59You've got Julian Acquara still on the roster as of this interview.
11:04You're just getting thin.
11:06You know, they signed Derek Barnett, obviously, and they were already trying to add guys even before Alex Wright's injury,
11:11whether it was Clowney or Darius Smith.
11:14So, they were telling us over and over again that that group is thin and they needed some help, and
11:20now it's even thinner.
11:21So, that's really the edge rush group is where I'm really concerned.
11:24Dan, obviously, whenever there's a quarterback transaction, it feels like Browns fans point to their own situation and just say,
11:33hey, we've got four of them.
11:34But the Dolphins today and last night have gutted their quarterback room behind Malik Willis.
11:42Is it fair in this instance to kind of maybe point at a situation like that and say, hey, if
11:48there ever was a Dylan Gabriel suitor for somebody to come calling with, you know, a late draft pick, like,
11:54could it potentially be a team like Miami after what they've just done?
11:58Yeah, I suppose it could, and, you know, it kind of comes back to, you know, how teams maybe valued
12:04Dylan Gabriel last year in the draft versus what they'd be willing to give up for him now, you know,
12:10and he didn't really make a convincing case when he was on the field last year.
12:13Now, obviously, in the preseason, he looked better this year, but that's the preseason.
12:17So I think there's going to be opportunities there to maybe move Dylan to a team looking for a backup,
12:25and Miami's a great situation where they might want a guy like that.
12:29But I do think in a lot of these situations where it's a little more stable at the quarterback position,
12:34you're kind of deciding between, well, do we want a guy that's been here, knows the system, knows what we're
12:40trying to do,
12:40or do we want to bring in a whole new player and basically completely onboard him to a new system,
12:47make him our backup, all that?
12:48I think that's a hard thing to do.
12:50So, you know, if it's a situation like the Dolphins, that's maybe one you keep an eye on.
12:55But I think a lot of these backup situations, it's hard to just bring a guy in and get him
13:00up to speed to a point where he could be one snap away from playing, you know, like week one
13:04or week two.
13:05Training camp is, I think we say training camp's officially over now.
13:09We're treating practice like the regular season now.
13:13Give me your camp MVP, Dan.
13:16Oh, boy, camp MVP.
13:18You know, I think early in camp, I would have said Denzel Bosna with no question.
13:23But I actually think Casey Concepcion was really impressive in this camp.
13:28And I think he showed us all of the things that he can do.
13:32He's a good downfield target.
13:34We saw him make some leaping catches on the goal line.
13:37His vertical leap is incredible.
13:39And he's just shifty and can get the ball in so many ways.
13:42He really shined in that joint practice against Buffalo.
13:45And they're going to just force feed him the ball.
13:48I think, like, I think Harold Fan is probably going to lead the team in targets.
13:53But I think Casey Concepcion, as long as he stays healthy, is going to be right there in the running.
13:57I think they're going to feed him the ball over and over and over again.
14:00He's going to return punts.
14:02And so I think we started to see that as camp went on.
14:05That, you know, of those two receivers, I think they're both going to be really good.
14:09But I think Concepcion is going to be a difference maker.
14:11And I think he showed it throughout camp.
14:13Well, this is your final appearance on this show for this particular season of this show.
14:20After next week, we get preempted by Browns football.
14:23So now the training camp's behind us.
14:26The preseason is in the rearview mirror.
14:28I'm going to put you on the spot here, Dan.
14:31What are how much pain are we in store for this fall?
14:34Where do you think the Browns land as far as wins and losses here in 26?
14:40You know, I think it's going to be in that five to six range.
14:44You know, I really do.
14:45Now with the schedule and we know how the NFL works.
14:47The ball bounces your way a couple of times.
14:49You know, that five or six can turn into seven or eight.
14:52But I think the thing is, and this isn't to let anybody, you know, organizationally off the hook.
14:58But I do think this year really is about if you can, you know, look competitive.
15:05But most importantly, do your second year guys continue to develop?
15:08Does this rookie class hit like last year's class?
15:11And do you come out of this year feeling really good about where this roster is and feeling like, hey,
15:16if you find that quarterback, whether it's in the draft or free agency or a trade, you've kind of built
15:22the plane now.
15:23Can you find the right guy to fly it?
15:25I think that's the biggest thing this season.
15:27And I know that's easy to say before they start losing games.
15:30It's always harder to talk like that when the losses start to pile up.
15:33But I do think this season really is going to be about second year guys making a jump, first year
15:39guys looking like they belong in the league, and then feeling really good about, hey, if you add the right
15:43quarterback next year, this thing can really get going.
15:46He is Dan Lobby, find him at Cleveland.com.
15:49Read him in The Plain Dealer as well.
15:51And also listen slash watch him on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast.
15:55Dan, thanks so much.
15:56We'll see you on the practice field tomorrow.
16:00Yeah, thanks, guys.
