QB Cody Kessler:
On if he believes the starting QB job is his:
“As a competitor, you always have to go in with the mindset of being the starter at any position. At the same time, you are still learning from those guys around you. We come out here and compete every day – me, (QBs) Kevin (Hogan), Brock (Osweiler), DeShone (Kizer). It is fun when you have guys that are really talented at that position that you can compete against because it makes you better as a player. Like I said last year as a rookie, even if you are not or it does not work out that way, you still have to prepare as if you are the starter every single practice, every single meeting and even the games.”
On the level of nerves that every part of practiced is filmed for review and consideration for the starting position:
“That is part of it. The way it is described is that it is one big long job interview. Everything you do from inside this facility, even in the offseason and different stuff, you cannot have as much contact with the coaches, but when you come back they can tell who has worked hard in the offseason and who has done stuff. Even Individual, walkthrough and everything is being filmed and evaluated. That is their job. Your job as a player is to put everything you can on film and put your best foot forward.”
On his training regimen prior to training camp:
“Same thing, I went back to California and had a really good workout program going. I got back with (quarterbacks coaches) Tom House and Adam Dedeaux and them. I really just committed to that same offseason program and tried to tune some things up those last couple of days before I got back here.”
On if he expected to receive the first snaps among the QBs:
“I had no idea. Obviously, that was (Head) Coach (Hue) Jackson’s decision, but my mindset has been the same no matter if I am with the ones, twos or threes. Wherever it is, you have to compete the same. Everything is on film and everything you do, like you said, it is evaluated. No matter where you get thrown in there or who you are with or who else is in there with you, you have to make the most of every opportunity.”
On being impressed and pushed by the other Browns QBs:
“Every day. We really compete every day. We always have little competitions in individual drills and stuff. It is good because you get to learn from one another and really compete against guys that are in a really good position. I have been fortunate to have some really good coaches, as well, with Coach Jackson and (quarterbacks) Coach (David) Lee. They are the same way. They push all four of us as hard as they can. They get us going. It is fun to have guys that are that talented to compete against every day and make yourself better.”
On connecting with WR Kenny Britt for a TD on a deep pass yesterday in the team period:
“Yeah, it was good. He made a great move on that and got some separation there. It was awesome to stretch the field a little bit and kind of show off some of that offseason work a little bit and be able to put the ball down the field. Even in one on ones, we had some chances to take some deep shots there. At the same time, my mindset has always been to play within the system. Do not force throws. If they are there, take them. If not, throw it to the check down or get to the second or third read and be smart with the football. You want to be able to hit the long ball here and there, but at the same time, be smart, eliminate turnovers and put your team and your offense in the best chance to score and win.”
QB DeShone Kizer:
On if it is possible he could become the starting QB by the end of camp:
“That is a good question for (Head) Coach (Hue) Jackson. Obviously, I have gotten a lot of work with the ones, and I am truly privileged to have that opportunity to go out there with some veteran guys to try to develop myself. I am just trying to control what I can control. Right now, I have not really set my goals to be the starter at a certain time. I just continue to learn as fast as I can and allow Coach Jackson to make the decisions he needs to make.”
On if his comfort level has developed as quickly as he hoped:
“Absolutely, I have quickly learned from this past OTA season and then having a break and coming back and having an opportunity to learn from some of the mistakes I was able to have in OTA and coming back after a month off of training, how quickly you can develop. I am pretty comfortable with Install 1, and we will try to build off of that going into Install 2 today.”
On if he is ready to compete for the starting QB job, given his comments during offseason workouts that ‘he was not even in the same league’ but would be when he returned for camp:
“Once again, I think that is another question to ask Coach Jackson. If you want to consider this competition between the three of us (QBs Cody Kessler and Brock Osweiler) and something that is open for the starting spot, this is something where I once again need to learn. This is a completely different situation than in OTAs. It is completely different vibe. There are people around. You have the fans out here making it more of a game vibe, and that is all new to me. As long as I continue to learn with that and continue to match the speed that the game is at, hopefully, I can be in a position where one day, yeah, Coach Jackson can answer that question and say, ‘Yes, I am capable to be a starter.’”
On what he did to improve prior to training camp:
“I went out and worked with (quarterbacks coach) Tom House. There are quite a few guys who have played in Coach Jackson’s systems who go out there and spend time with them so I thought it was a no-brainer to go out and spend time with the guys who have taught guys to have success with Coach Jackson’s system. I learned quite a bit about myself and some of the biomechanics behind being a good thrower, as well as the right mental process that you need to have to continue to have success within something under Coach Jackson.”
On training with quarterbacks coach Tom House:
“It is all about making sure that you are getting good ground-first production to get the ball out with good accuracy, with good speed and understanding who you are as a passer and everything that goes into throwing. If I can go up there and preach it all, he would not be Tom House because everyone would be able to go out and do it, but there is so much that he knows when it comes to throwing and the biomechanics of throwing that allows us to be more accurate, be more consistent and have the velocity needed to be a good quarterback.”
QB Brock Osweiler:
On the first practice of training camp:
“Day 1 went really well. The offense went out there and we did some really good things. The defense did some good things, but it was just day one. We need to build upon it. Was it a good day? I think so. Could it have been better? Absolutely. Now, we need to take that day, take it into this afternoon and keep getting better every single day.”
On what and if coaches begin to pick things apart following the first day of camp:
“Everything. Everything. We were in meetings very late last night. Day 1, you are knocking off some cobwebs, and that is for every single position. We are looking at footwork, where tight ends, linemen and the run game might be looking at hand placement; receivers looking at certain spots on pass plays. There is nothing that (Head) Coach (Hue) Jackson misses, and that is what you want in your head coach. Coach Jackson is a phenomenal coach who holds us all very accountable. We are having some great meetings right now cleaning up those mistakes.”
On if being a starter earlier in his career gives him an edge in the QB competition:
“I wouldn’t say an edge or anything like that. Bottom line, I have been in the league a little bit longer than the other guys, but at the end of the day, that means nothing. Every quarterback that is in that room is very talented and very smart. Every single person works extremely hard trying to perfect their craft, trying to clean up little things every single day. There is no edge. Everyone has their strengths and has their weaknesses, and I think it is going to be a great competition.”
On if he has a better feeling for his standing and role with the Browns compared to when he arrived:
“I wish I could give you more of a concrete answer, but I don’t. You guys will probably notice during practice that all of the quarterbacks kind of hang around Coach behind the offense. When he yells your number to get in, you run in, you go in and you play football. Other than that, there really haven’t been any conversations or anything like that. To be honest with you, I am out here worrying about the things that I can control and trying to make the most of the plays I am given.”
On learning his third offense in three years and if past offenses creep into his mind:
“Flashbacks, all the time (laughter). I was talking to our quarterbacks coach, David Lee, about that. He was asking me about a play that happened in walkthrough, and I said, ‘Coach, that is my fault. I had something hardwired in my head from a previous system and I thought I was good to go.’ That is part of going back to you question – Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of training camp are hardwiring the new system and flushing out all of that old information and focusing on the 2017 Browns playbook and really learning and understanding that like the back of your hand. When you are out there on the field, you don’t have time to think. You have to know it and you have to react. That is kind of the process of the first couple of days of training camp, especially as a quarterback.”
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