00:00You did tweet out the injury report for Thursday Night Football as the Browns put that out today.
00:03Elton Jenkins not going to participate in this one.
00:06Good news with Joey Porter Jr. for the Browns, though.
00:08That's a really good corner to not have him on the field matters.
00:11But Elton Jenkins, tell us, obviously we know the plan is for Whipler to start at center.
00:15Tell us what this does for the Browns offensive line, though.
00:18Well, I mean, it's just another complication, right?
00:21Because they haven't been able to get their act together here early in the season.
00:24It's been tough running the football.
00:26A lot of penalties on the offensive line.
00:30But, you know, Elton's not been the cause of those penalties.
00:35So, you know, obviously they plan for this, right?
00:40So I don't anticipate that they'll have too many problems dealing with it.
00:45Luke is a natural center, so that's fine.
00:48If, you know, Parker Brilsford will be up and ready to go if he's called upon.
00:52But really the effect is it just affects their depth on the offensive line.
00:56But this is something that, you know, this organization's had to deal with the last couple of years, right?
01:01I mean, all the offensive line combinations that they've had to use over the last three, four years.
01:06So, you know, hopefully this doesn't become a habit where they're going to have to keep doing stuff like this.
01:11But, you know, I think Todd Munkin effectively planned for this.
01:17And so I think they should be fine.
01:21I'm more worried about Titus Howard understanding the snap count than I am whether or not Luke Whipler is going
01:27to play center.
01:27Hey, Daryl, could I ask you about that just because you brought it up there twice with the penalties specifically
01:32for Titus?
01:33And then he's getting questions at his locker yesterday and is kind of trying to swear up and down that
01:38he's not going to jump anymore or false start anymore.
01:42Like, how do they get that cleaned up?
01:44Just because it's a problem that's persisted since the spring.
01:47They're now the second most penalized team in the entire sport.
01:51How do you even try to go about cleaning up this penalty issue?
01:54Because it really has been a huge problem that they should be thankful that it hasn't impacted their record.
02:00And they still are 2-1 despite all these penalties.
02:03Well, Todd Munkin was asked that yesterday and he said he didn't know.
02:06So if that doesn't give you undying confidence, I don't know what will.
02:11I actually, Daryl, it's funny.
02:12We can joke about it.
02:13But I did like Munkin's answer because I do feel like in the past coaches would have just kind of,
02:17I don't know, they would have found some way to be like, well, we're working on it.
02:21But Munkin was pretty obvious and I thought pretty direct about the idea that, yeah, he's a veteran.
02:26He knows what he has to do.
02:27And I physically can't go out there and help him.
02:30Like, that's not really how this works with this type of thing.
02:32A hundred percent, right?
02:33I mean, it's on him to get it right.
02:37And, you know, this is a guy that they brought in this offseason.
02:40They gave a new contract to him as well.
02:43So, you know, obviously he's off to a real disappointing start and he's got to get it fixed.
02:47He said he'll get it fixed.
02:48So it's one thing to say you're going to get it fixed.
02:50Another thing to go out there and do it.
02:52And so it's going to be incumbent upon him to go out there and do it because Deshaun Watson's job's
02:55hard enough.
02:56He doesn't need the offensive line to make it any harder on him.
02:59And that's what's been happening.
03:02So, and, you know, I mean, Deshaun can only do so much on, you know, on his end as well.
03:08He can't line up for these guys.
03:10He can't, you know, come out of the stance for him and all that kind of stuff.
03:14So the pre-step nonsense has to get knocked off.
03:19And, you know, we're about to find out tomorrow night if, in fact, the appropriate corrections have been made.
03:26But, look, historically, I'm here to tell you this is going on now.
03:29It's probably going to go on in December.
03:31Like, it just, I mean, there were issues in training camp.
03:34There are issues now in the first half of the season.
03:36I just, I don't think magically this is going to go away.
03:39I hope it does.
03:40I do.
03:41I sincerely hope it goes away.
03:43But history tells me this is probably going to be an ongoing problem for the rest of the season.
03:47If they win tomorrow, what is the minimum amount of games that that secures to Sean Watson?
03:54Well, it depends how they win, I guess.
03:57If he puts together another fourth quarter drive, I think that that ends, pretty much ends the conversation for a
04:03while.
04:04Well, because you've got two of them already.
04:06Here's the thing.
04:07Like, he's not putting up great numbers, okay?
04:09He's not been that great, okay?
04:13Like, let's be honest about it.
04:15He's got two long touchdown passes to Denzel Boston.
04:18Otherwise, his numbers are putrid.
04:20He didn't even throw for 150 yards Sunday against the Panthers.
04:25So, but he was clutch when it mattered most.
04:28He's also had some near misses the last two weeks when it comes to interceptions.
04:34And so, like, let's not act like Deshaun Watson's lighting the world afire here.
04:39He's playing just good enough for them to win.
04:41And luckily, he's getting his act together when the game is on the line and when it matters the most.
04:46They're mid to late fourth quarter.
04:49But, you know, maybe he'll, for whatever reason, he plays better in the fourth quarter than he does the first,
04:56second, and third quarters.
04:58So, you know, it'd be nice if he could come out in the first quarter and start playing well.
05:03And then continue that throughout the game rather than, you know, they're, you know, winning the way they are.
05:10But wins are wins, and you'll take them any way you can get them.
05:12But, yeah, that is a situation where I don't know that there's much quarterback or starting quarterback conversation, I should
05:21say, to be had right now.
05:23There's no reason to even contemplate a change.
05:27And until there is, I kind of feel like that it's a non-starter for me until Deshaun Watson gives
05:34us a reason to tangibly have that discussion.
05:37Darryl, hear me out, though.
05:39Is there a fear at all that the other shoe could drop at some point?
05:43And some of these would have been, could have been interceptions end up getting intercepted.
05:49Maybe some of these magical fourth quarter moments just run out.
05:54And then it would feel like we're kind of back where we were after week one where we're talking about
05:59Shador Sanders having an actual opportunity.
06:02Like, I do understand.
06:04Like, right now we're 2-1.
06:05We have an opportunity to be 3-1.
06:06We'd be in first place at the AFC North.
06:08That'd be so much fun.
06:10But there's the Clevelander deep down in me, I think.
06:14And I also think just the realist that's watched these games that understands that another shoe could drop at some
06:20point here.
06:21And then we're right back to where we were two weeks ago.
06:24Well, if it drops, it drops.
06:26What are you wasting any energy worrying about that for?
06:30Like, enjoy the ride.
06:33As long as it goes, enjoy the ride.
06:35Oh, Darryl, we have a lot of time on our hands.
06:37No, I understand that.
06:38But, like, you know, probably right.
06:42At some point it's going to catch up, right?
06:43I mean, that's just the law of sports.
06:45It all evens itself out.
06:46But I would waste – if I'm a Browns fan right now, I would waste zero ounces of energy in
06:54worrying about when that second shoe's going to drop
06:57or when Deshaun Watson's just going to implode and all those throws that were almost interceptions start to turn into
07:03interceptions or whatever.
07:04Like, enjoy – listen, enjoy the good luck and the good fortune while it lasts.
07:08Because, as we know, since 99, the football gods have smiled very little on the Cleveland Browns.
07:14So, enjoy this.
07:16Again, it's not been perfect by any stretch of the imagination.
07:19And I'm not ready to nominate Deshaun Watson for comeback player of the year just yet.
07:23I think he needs to – you know, he needs to play much better than he has.
07:27But he's doing just enough for them to be able to win games.
07:31He's not making mistakes that ultimately, you know, torpedo their chance, you know, to win games, at least right now.
07:38So, you know, I just enjoy it as long as this thing can go.
07:43And, you know, hopefully the Steelers are old and tired and they get here tomorrow and they're a little hungover
07:49or whatever from the bus ride up.
07:51And, you know, the Browns can put the boots to them.
07:55Yeah, I mean, Darrell, you mentioned old.
07:56Like, Aaron Rodgers, I thought, was just awful the first two weeks of the season.
08:00I mean, really just unplayable.
08:01But week three, he put it all together and at least had a nice showing for himself.
08:06The connection between him and D.K. Metcalf is not off to a hot start this season.
08:10Jalen Warren's obviously played nice football.
08:12But Rodgers, he's just a true mystery bag.
08:15I don't know that he can do it back-to-back weeks.
08:17I don't know if that ship has sailed for him at this point in life.
08:19What's your read on Rodgers, who, again, just looks so awful the first two weeks of the season?
08:24And the offense as a whole, even with the good last week, their collective numbers are pretty atrocious.
08:29Yeah, but when's the last time Deshaun Watson threw for 292 and three touchdowns as a Brown?
08:33I don't think he's ever thrown for 290 yards as a Brown.
08:37So, you know, for as bad as Aaron Rodgers was in the first two weeks of the season,
08:41he certainly came out last week and got it together.
08:45And, you know, the messaging coming out of Berea is that he's still got it.
08:50You know, they have to be concerned about his mobility.
08:52They have to be concerned about the fact that he gets the ball out so quick.
08:56Like, he's very speedy with the decision-making processes and things like that.
09:02And he doesn't hang on to the ball too long.
09:06So, you know, right now I'm like, what have you done for me lately?
09:12And I'm looking at what he did last week.
09:13And that was pretty darn impressive for his age.
09:16And I do agree with you, Jonathan.
09:18I don't know if he can do it multiple weeks in a row.
09:20But I think he showed you last week that there's still something there.
09:26And when called upon, he can dial it up.
09:29So, I'm not the least bit dismissive of him.
09:32I'm not dismissive of DK Metcalf, who did catch a touchdown last week.
09:37I'm a little worried about Jalen Warren, who's running the ball a hell of a lot better
09:41than Quinn John Junkins and the Cleveland Browns are.
09:45Yeah, Warren looked real good.
09:46Yeah.
09:47Well, I mean, he's off to a real good start to his season as well.
09:50So, you know, this isn't a gimme by any stretch of the imagination.
09:54They never are against the Steelers.
09:56But I do like the Browns' chances on Sunday.
09:59But I'm not going to be dismissive of that Steeler offense despite their struggles
10:03in the first two weeks of the season, especially when I've watched the Browns.
10:06And it's not like the Browns are, you know, lighting up the scoreboard themselves.
10:10Hey, Daryl, how much fun could we have with Mason Graham if he continues this up?
10:16A lot of fun.
10:18Like, I mean, all the fun.
10:21That's that chemistry you guys had on Sunday is really showing through there.
10:23I mean, yeah, I mean, I don't honestly, I don't know how to respond to that other than, you
10:30know.
10:31Listen, Daryl's kitchen hole just went right through.
10:34I mean, like the whole entire ceiling just went right.
10:37I'm wiping drywall out of my mouth in between answers.
10:39Yeah, like fun might be really not in the cards for today.
10:42So, like, even Mason Graham, who brings a joy to everyone's face, might not be the equation
10:48today.
10:48I mean, I don't know if you can keep this pace up, right?
10:51Three sacks, four games, or four sacks in three games.
10:54You know, Jared Versus had a hand in that, you know, the rest of the defensive line.
10:59I kind of feel like up front they're playing team defense, okay?
11:02This isn't just like about one guy getting a bunch of sacks and getting all the credit
11:08for getting after the quarterback.
11:10I feel like that entire defensive front kind of, you know, takes turns.
11:14But Mason in the middle of that line has just been fantastic.
11:18And this is what we saw in training camp.
11:19This is what we saw in the off-season program.
11:21He's brought it to the regular season.
11:22So, I don't know if he can keep this pace up.
11:25But to answer your question, Nick, it'll be a lot of fun if he can.
11:29So, I'll see you next time.
