Here’s what Browns coach Gregg Williams had to say to the Atlanta media on Wednesday:
On the Falcons: "I think they are a very talented team and I have a lot of respect for Dan (Quinn) and everybody down there and how they've been building the team and how they go about the program and how they have their philosophy of coaching. I think it's outstanding. I think they did a really good job in the Redskins game of creating the explosive plays that were productive. I think how they go about doing things with the talent that they have on their team offensively and then how they have rebounded and done the things that. ... The philosophy that Dan has had defensively for a long time as a coach is very impressive. We've got our work cut out for us."
On trying to pull the Browns together as the interim coach: "The big thing is that you have to be able to control what you can control. What I can control right now is doing the best that we can right now for each and every player here. They've been very responsive. There are a lot of positives that took place in the game last week. But we had to overcome some pretty significant injuries. Guys who had the opportunity to come in a play, some of them played pretty well. The other ones, we have to work with and I have to work harder to make them get better this week."
On the development of Baker Mayfield halfway through his rookie season: "He's made a lot of strides. He was a really good football player before he ever walked in the building. Every rookie has a learning curve that he has to go through.... the schemes that you are going to see at this level is one thing. The most important thing that you have to get over as a rookie is how this game is played at this level. The fact that you may have mismatches, lots of different mismatches at the college level where your guy is just a lot better than the guy he's going against. Well, everybody at this level can play. The speed of the game. The athleticism of the game, each week he gets better and better and better with his response and instinctively being able to play the game at the level he desires to play. He's very accurate. He's very smart. He's very confident. He very, very seldom makes the same mistake twice. It's a good process for him right now and he's got to take the next step. I'm sure that he will."
How is Cedartown's Nick Chubb doing for you since he took over at running back: "He's done pretty well. We've liked him a lot....He's had some nice chunk runs. He's a smart guy. He's a tough guy. I think he's only going to get better, too with time on task."
On the Myles Garrett vs. Jake Matthews matchup: "You do know that I coached Jake Matthews' dad, Bruce. You do know that I've known Jake since he's been a baby. He used to come around all the time over to the complex and get involved with all the coaches' and player's kids playing tag football and it ended up turning into tackle football. I've known him for a long, long time. Every time I see one of those Matthews' kids, with Clay and Bruce's sons all across the league, it makes me smile because I saw them growing up in life. The things that they have been able to do and play the games like their dads played the game, but Clay Sr. and Bruce, it does put a smile on my face. I think that's going to be a good battle between Jake and Myles. Hopefully, we can come out with some results on that. He's a great football player. He comes from a great family of football players. It will be a great matchup for a lot of different people to watch."
On the play of Greg Robinson: "If that's the way we go at the end of the week, he did a good job last week as the next man up getting in there and getting his opportunity when (Desmond) Harrison couldn't play. They are both back right now. They are competing. We'll see how it ends up at the end of the week. ...That will be a big matchup in the game, too."
On Bruce Irvin joining the Falcons: "...I've seen him play for quite a long time in this league. I respect Dan when he takes a look at those people because I know he knows what he's doing."
On the play of running back Duke Johnson and all the passes he caught last week: "I think Duke is a very good football player. What will the defense give you? Will they allow you to do that? ... A lot of times when you focus in one particular player the defense can take it away. Obviously, last week that was something that was available to us. Duke did a good job of capitalizing on that."
On how Denzel Ward is coming along: "He's doing well. I'm very proud about that young man, too. He's fits into our league. He's proven, week-by-week-by-week. We rested him today and we'll see how if he's ready to go tomorrow. ... I think there will be great things for him throughout his whole career. He's doing very well as a young guy fitting into our league."
About the Author
