1 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to playmakers. Everyone. I'm Haley Elwood. It is Week 2 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: five and the Los Angeles Chargers will welcome the Cleveland 3 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: Browns to town. So joining me to talk about this 4 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: matchup is Marla. Right now are from the Acron Beacon Journal. Marla, 5 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: thank you so much for coming on. I appreciate you're 6 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: asking me. Yes, all right, So this is a big one. 7 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,319 Speaker 1: Chargers one last night on Monday night, football, Browns one 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: over the weekend. This is two three and one teams. 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: What are your kind of thoughts on this matchup overall? Well, 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: this is not a game I put in the win 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: column when I was forecasting the Browns record. So, I mean, 12 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: I have a lot of respect for Justin Herbert. I 13 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: you know, the traveling the West Coast games, you know, 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: all those kind of issues. I just I mean, this 15 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: would be a huge, huge stuff for the Browns if 16 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: they could pull this off. But they have some issues 17 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: on offense if they need to get straightened out, and 18 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: I really think that this is going to be a 19 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: tough game for the Browns. Pat Herwin, I listened to 20 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: Serious X and NFL radio. He calls games like this 21 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: wild card games because they're not ones that are in 22 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: your division, but they're in your conference and might affect 23 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,119 Speaker 1: standings at the end of the year. How important are 24 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: games like this for either teams so early on, still 25 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: in the season. Well, that has not gone unnoticed by 26 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: the Browns. I think it was. John Johnson mentioned it 27 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: yesterday on Zoom, just you know, out of the blue, 28 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: that this is a conference game, it's important. And I'm 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: sure Kevin Savanski, he is a detail freak. I'm sure 30 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: he is going to point that out multiple times this week. 31 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: So I really do think it's something important. But I mean, 32 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: when I was looking at the AFC the other night, 33 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: there's like it was maybe I don't like the six 34 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: or seven six teams maybe that had won at least 35 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: three games, and three of them are in the AFC North. 36 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: So I mean the AFC is looking really you know, challenging, 37 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: and I do think that will help the Browns as 38 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: they get ready for this game. The Chargers lost that 39 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: Baker Mayfield in twenty eighteen, his rookie season. How has 40 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: he grown from then to now? Well, he's maturity wise, 41 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: he's not a day different. But I'm talking that's more 42 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: like dealing with us and that kind of you know, 43 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: those kind of things. Um, I don't think he's the 44 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: good thing about that is he hasn't lost his edge. 45 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 1: The I was a two time walk on. I'm still 46 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: proving myself now he has he's playing for a contract extension. 47 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: You know, he still has a chip on his shoulder. 48 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,679 Speaker 1: He's also but I do think he's, um it's got 49 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: a much better standing the offense. I do think he's 50 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: become more professional about just his preparation and what it 51 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: takes to be a pro you know there, and he's 52 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: still that. I mean, I remember when John Dorsey drafted him, 53 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: he called him like a pied piper. He's still that guy. 54 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: He's still that. I do think he's the right leader 55 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: for the Browns. You know, even with all this you know, 56 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: question mark about his future and how much you got 57 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: to pay him. I think he's the right guy because 58 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: that chip on your shoulder guy, that's what Cleveland is. 59 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: I mean, that's the Northeast Ohio people you know that 60 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: work hard and very rarely get rewarded. So I do 61 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: think he has grown. But I mean his rookie year, 62 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: he was setting rookie records. So as a player, I 63 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: don't know if he how much different he is. I mean, 64 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: obviously he's in a much more stable offensive system now, 65 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: but I don't know, he still kind of has a 66 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: lot of the same quality, he said he I think 67 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: what's funny too, is I feel like when I watch 68 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: football or just kind of watch you know, sports, television 69 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: commercials are dominated by him and even justin Herbert. Now 70 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: Herbert's got a few under his belt, but a beggar's 71 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: crushing those progressive commercials. I actually had a chance to 72 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: watch the Browns Vikings game on Sunday, considering the fact 73 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: that the Chargers played Monday, and what was really interesting 74 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: to me is the Browns they definitely brought pressure on 75 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins. The Chargers had four sacks on Derek Carr 76 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 1: last night. How much do you feel pressure might be 77 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: a factor in this game. I think it's going to 78 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: be big, just because the Browns offensive line, you know, 79 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 1: as regard as one of the best in the league, 80 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: but they have not played like that to this point. 81 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 1: Jen Wills sprained his left ankle and the opener and 82 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: he hasn't been right since. You know, they're waiting for 83 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: an MRI to see if maybe they they're going to 84 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: decide he needs to rest, which would either I mean, 85 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: the guy who filled in for him Sunday is a 86 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:04,239 Speaker 1: rookie pick from Cincinnati, so you know that's been an issue. 87 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: Conklins had some you know, rough games, Jack Conklins, So 88 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: I do expect this to I mean, it might be 89 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: decided by the defense because the Browns are on a 90 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: roll defensively. I feel like they're finally putting all this 91 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: talent together, especially on the defensive line. You know, they 92 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: totally remade their defensive line around Miles Garrett and added 93 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: all these new pieces. I actually think the defensive side 94 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: of the ball is gonna it's gonna be a huge 95 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: and maybe the determining factor in who wins. Yeah, when 96 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: it comes to the Chargers defense, they actually held the 97 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: Raiders last night to just forty eight rushing yards, which 98 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: was a season low in that sense. Cleveland, though, got 99 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: a big, two headed monster attack. They had one hundred 100 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: and forty eight I'm sorry, one hundred and eighty four 101 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: yards on the ground last week. What kind of challenges 102 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: does that tandem of Nick Chubb and Kaream Hunt just present, Well, 103 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: they're because they're two different are runners. I mean Kareem 104 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: just has no regard for his body. He'll throw himself, 105 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: you know, into I mean, he'll launch himself, you know, 106 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: at the goal line. He'll stiff arm people, He'll you know, 107 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: I mean, he's he's just kind of fearless. Chubb is 108 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: just more the determined, like you know, if you give 109 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: him an back, though, he's faster than you think, because 110 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: you know, when he's you know, while those long runs, 111 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,799 Speaker 1: he's he definitely shows you why he's an elite running back. 112 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: But you know, Hunt is the guy that I think 113 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: is dominated the last two weeks. But he's also a 114 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: great receiving threat. So I do think that's something that 115 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: gives Stefanski an option when you can't just run Chub 116 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: up the middle, you know, if you've got a change 117 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: of pace, you know, Hunts a totally different animal. And 118 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: screen passes and stuff, He's deadly on those. So that's 119 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: why I think they work so well together. And also, 120 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: you know, trumb is this super qual quiet, incredibly quiet guy, 121 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: and and Hunt is always like, don't worry, fourth quarter, 122 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: it's your time, you know, like he's the upbeat guy 123 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: that's sort of you know, lifts Chub when he's only 124 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: getting you know, a couple of yards of cracks. So 125 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: I think they're really good together personality wise, and the 126 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: way they have different you know, skill sets. I think 127 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: this is a really fun coaching matchup to you have 128 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: Kevin Stefanski, who really came on last year, Brandon Staley, 129 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: who a hallmark I think of his sort of Chargers teams. 130 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: This team this season right now has been aggression, going 131 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: for it on fourth down. This will be kind of 132 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: a fun chess match though when you look at the 133 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: guys who are leading both of these teams, right yeah, 134 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: I mean Staley, John Carrol guy, I mean, yeah, there 135 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: we go. Yeah, it sort of feels like, you know, 136 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: it's a homecoming, you know, even though it's in La, 137 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: you know, homecoming for him kind of thing. That's you know, 138 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: Kevin Stavanski has shown that, you know, four down guts too, 139 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: So I mean everyone here is probably still second guessing 140 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: why did he not kick a field goal on his 141 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: first drive last week? So I you know, I do 142 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: think but like Stefanski's thing was like, whoa, when you 143 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: get that close to the goal line, I really you 144 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: really want seven, you know, like, and I get that, 145 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: but that did not go over well around here. Um, 146 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: I think that kind of it feels like we're kind 147 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: of seeing the new guard of the NFL coaches here, 148 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: kind of you know, coach of the year and another, 149 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: you know, up and coming young coach. I feel like 150 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: it's going to be a good maybe a good snapshot 151 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: into these guys who are going to be battling it 152 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: out in the future. Tom tells John Carroll guy too. 153 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: Nothing wrong with that. I mean, I know some being 154 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: able to us to work there. I mean, there's there's 155 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: a there's a lot of people up up around here 156 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: with John Carroll roots who have been successful in the 157 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: NFLI and football in general. So that's quite a a 158 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: good thing to have on your resume in my opinion. Yeah, 159 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: I was gonna say it's kind of like a low 160 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: key powerhouse, but I think with the Staley hiring, they've 161 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: sort of put it on the map a little bit. 162 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: Then lastly, Marla, I know we kind of talked about 163 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: the defense, We talked about pressure and other things like that. 164 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: What are maybe some other deciding factors you see that 165 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: could play a role in this game? Well, they really 166 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: need the Browns to have to get Odell Beckham on 167 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: track with with Baker. I mean, you know, he only 168 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: caught two passes last week on seven targets. I think 169 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: the Browns really need that deep threat. Now they have 170 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: other people they can get it from, people like to 171 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: watch would be like Donovan People's Jones, Anthony Towards super Fast, 172 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: you know, rookie, he's got speed that they you know, 173 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 1: they used him on, you know, reverses and all those 174 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: kind of trick plays. I do think though, this looks 175 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: like a game where another like where you thought the 176 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: Vikings game was going to be a shootout too, but 177 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: it looks like you're gonna have to score a point. 178 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: So if the Browns can't get on track with those 179 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: you know, receivers, I think, I mean, that's that's a 180 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: major issue. And I would, you know, look for Baker 181 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: to be looking for Odell. But I mean what's interesting 182 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: about that is they spent the whole training camp and 183 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: part of the offseason working together, working on the side, 184 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: even when Odell wasn't ready come back from the torn 185 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: ACL it seemed like they were on the same page. 186 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: And maybe they are, but it just didn't it hasn't 187 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: manifested itself in the first two game. The first game 188 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: he caught seven. This one, too, is not what is 189 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: going to get it done if you're gonna beat a 190 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: team like the Chargers. Yeah, I know, Baker Mayfield called 191 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: that win last week. I think gritty, you're not pretty, 192 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: But they still got it done. But you know, every 193 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: week's a new week in the NFL, and we'll see 194 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: what happens this one. Marla, thank you so much for 195 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: joining me. I appreciate it. Thank you so much.