BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Prior to taking questions, Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry offered his detailed view of all three phases of the team – offense, defense, and special teams – as well as taking time to explain how the culture within the organization has improved.
It took Berry nearly 10 minutes to complete his comprehensive view of where he felt the team stood, and most of what Berry had to say was positive.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites – sans the Deshaun Watson questions – from Berry’s State of the Browns 2023 bye week edition.
Give it away now – No we’re not singing the Red Hot Chili Peppers smash hit in our heads, but it feels like the offense has been through four games, which is the sorest spot for Berry at the bye. “We've turned the ball over 10 times in this season and we've lost the turnover battle in all four games that we've played this year,” Berry said. “Quite honestly, that's not a sustainable way to win football games in the NFL.” The ‘to-fix’ list when the team returns next week is pretty succinct. “Number one through five would be ball security,” Berry said. “That is the number one thing that we have to correct. The primary focus, again, we have 10 turnovers in four games, we put five more balls on the ground that weren't covered, recovered by the opponent that alone, and that doesn't mean that we're perfect in every area, no different than any team at this point in the season, but that alone, minimizing that or getting that back to an acceptable standard will make a huge difference.”
First 4 highlight – There’s no question the defense gives Berry and the Browns the biggest reason for optimism. “Defensively, we've been very good and I would like to give a ton of credit to Jim and the defensive staff,” Berry said in his opening remarks. “I think it's been really cool to see the aggressive mentality that that side of the ball has played with, and quite honestly, the level of joy and fun that they've had on a weekly basis playing together. I think our stars, they've really delivered. And then you see players like Mo Hurst, JOK, Grant Delpit, Martin Emerson, Obo playing in much bigger roles than they have at any point in their career and performing at a really high level for us.” Opponents are converting just 22% on third down. Cleveland has surrendered just 37 first downs. Opponents are averaging less than 200 yards of offense and scoring 15 points per game. “I think that his approach of aggressiveness, disruption, generating every play and quite honestly dictating to the offense, is awesome,” Berry said. “It's refreshing and it's style of football that our guys really embrace and probably just as importantly have fun playing in. And I think the other thing about Jim is he embraces personality, right? I think we see that on a weekly basis because our defense may have no less than a hundred choreographed celebrations. I don't even know where they come up with it, so I think that's really cool because that's something he wants guys to play with passion and be themselves, and I think that that's something that really endears him to the guys quite frankly.”
Thunder and lightning – Two big reasons for the defensive success can be attributed to the additions of Za’Darius Smith and Ogbonaya. “They're awesome. They're like energizer bunnies on a daily basis,” Berry said. They love playing, they love practicing. They both work incredibly hard. They love playing in the scheme because they get to pin their ears back and go. I think it's been pretty neat to see the synergy not just between those two, but that whole defensive line group. Z gives us a ton of flexibility with his ability to rush inside and outside. Ogbo gives us flexibility because he can rush on the edge, he can come from a two-point stance. And they're a little bit like thunder and lightning. Z's really more of a power rusher and Ogbo can really win with speed. So they've really added a lot upfront to us.”
Dobbs gone it – The late August trade of Josh Dobbs to the Arizona Cardinals at the time seemed like a brilliant move. Then came the Ravens game and the disaster starting rookie and fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson turned in to. Berry has no regrets. “I've often talked up here about the general manager's role having a foot in the present and a foot in the future, and certainly that consideration and that transaction has elements of that,” Berry said. “Thought it was the best decision. We were really excited to work with Dorian and see him progress and develop, but thought it was the right move, thought it was the right move for the organization, both short and long term.” The long term being they saved $2 million in cap and cash and got a 2024 fifth rounder to add to the pick stockpile. P.J. Walker was elevated from the practice squad to be DTR’s backup against Baltimore, but Berry doesn’t plan to make a No. 2 QB change. “We feel good with Dorian. We feel good with PJ. He was one of the first roster transactions we pursued when we were building the practice squad,” Berry said. “We do feel good about the group and I would say number one, ultimately that's going to reside in our coaching staff's decision in terms of how they're prepping guys and how they're doing during the week. We do feel good about both players if they're pressed into action. I think just the other part of it is Dorian had been with us throughout the entire spring, the entire summer. He had done good work, he had a good practice week. Look, he just didn't play well. He just didn't play well.”
Tackling a problem – Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. just hasn’t been good, but Berry can’t bring himself to admit his 2020 No. 10 overall pick might be a bust. “I think Jed would be the first to tell you that he hasn't played as consistently as he knows he's capable of playing and he's capable of playing better, he will play better,” Berry said. “He's obviously going to be important piece for us moving forward.” That does not sound like appositive for the Browns, who picked up the fully guaranteed fifth-year option on his rookie deal. Berry seems to have found a player in Dawand Jones, who has been forced into the starting lineup at right tackle after Jack Conklin was lost for the season in Week 1. “He's played some really good pass rushers and he's done well,” Berry said. The 2023 fourth round pick out of Ohio State struggled in minicamp but turned the corner quickly to become an every down player. “The way he came into the organization with a lot of the, what I would say, anonymous criticism, kind of attacking his work ethic, his character, things like that—he really has been fantastic,” Berry said. “He's done a really, really nice job for us and he should be commended for coming in and being prepared when his number was called much earlier than any of us anticipated.”
Moore touches – The use of Elijah Moore has been a hot topic with the lack of production using him in the run game, but Berry defended Stefanski. “Elijah, we view him as one of the better playmakers on the roster,” Berry said. “I know that we're excited to get him the ball in a variety of ways. I do think that there's an element where, whenever you get a new skill player in a new offense, sometimes you don't want to necessarily discourage some of the tinkering. Sometimes the results will be good, sometimes the results won't be as good, and the biggest thing is adjusting and ultimately allowing your playmakers to kind of find their niche within the offense. Again, we're four games into this thing. We do want to get him the ball, but I think that'll evolve and grow as we go.”
Trade szn – Sure the trade deadline is four weeks away at the end of the month, but the Browns have needs – running back and offensive tackle to the top of the wish list – so in a win now year, we asked Berry about the effect that could have on his decision-making process at the deadline. “We'll always be active in the trade market,” Berry said. “If there's something that makes sense, we'll pursue it. But I'm pretty aggressive and I like roster movement, but honestly it's probably pretty early across the league to comment in that regard.” Fans seem to want to wish a Jonathan Taylor trade with the Colts into existence with Nick Chubb lost for the season and the Browns averaging three yards per carry the last two games against two stout defensive fronts. “Because of the tampering rules, I know I can't touch on specific players,” Berry said. “You guys have heard me say it before. We're always active seekers, participants in the trade market, but I would say we're pleased with the running back room.”