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How the 2025 Season Led to 2026 Optimism - Cleveland Browns Podcast for 6/23/26 · The Dawgs - A Cleveland Browns Podcast

0:02
[SPEAKER_02]: It's in our blood, it's in our bones Orange and brown, yeah, we ride for our own Like a dog, peg runnin' We ain't a long game, big cums Get ready for the show It's our call, it's our walk, it's our song We stand tall, yeah, we've been here all alone Through it all the dog, pounds, then it's strong We all, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
0:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we all dogs welcome to the dogs podcast with your hopes Blake Reneker just in Charles, Kenny Mack and John Shaw
0:37
[SPEAKER_03]: All right, dog pack, let's get this party started.
0:39
[SPEAKER_03]: It's guys, browns fans across the world.
0:42
[SPEAKER_03]: It's another episode of the dogs podcast.
0:46
[SPEAKER_03]: And this time, it's not Josh all load.
0:49
[SPEAKER_03]: It's Kenny Mac, flying solo.
0:52
[SPEAKER_03]: And the reason's pretty simple, believe it or not, Josh actually takes vacations once in a while.
0:58
[SPEAKER_03]: He's off spending some well-earned time with his family, so we decided to take a topic
1:03
[SPEAKER_03]: would be relevant by the time he gets back, but I got to give this early.
1:07
[SPEAKER_03]: It's got to get edited.
1:08
[SPEAKER_03]: So I generally do one episode a year where I kind of look backward before I look forward.
1:13
[SPEAKER_03]: And that's exactly what we're going to do today.
1:15
[SPEAKER_03]: We're going to do a deep dive into the 2020-25 Cleveland Browns.
1:19
[SPEAKER_03]: It's just not going to be a recap.
1:21
[SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be a story of how that five and twelve.
1:25
[SPEAKER_03]: football team became the 20, 26 Cleveland Browns.
1:28
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, you're going to forgive me.
1:29
[SPEAKER_03]: I got something going on with my throat and I'm going to start coughing.
1:32
[SPEAKER_03]: So hopefully I'll get through this.
1:34
[SPEAKER_03]: I know Josh has had a couple of those as well, but I'm going to try and stay energetic.
1:41
[SPEAKER_03]: So let's get back to it because you guys, we want to look back at everything that happened over the last year, every major move that Brown's made this year can be traced back to something that's happened during the season.
1:54
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, what happened?
1:55
[SPEAKER_03]: What can you think of?
1:56
[SPEAKER_03]: offensive line struggles quarterback carousel receiver issues special team mistakes coaching energy chair energy I'm trying to get the energy coaching changes emergence of young players miles Garrett's record and the the trade almost said all of it man all of it.
2:19
[SPEAKER_03]: This wasn't an off season where the Brown simply tweaked a few things to get better.
2:23
[SPEAKER_03]: It was a reset.
2:25
[SPEAKER_03]: In fact, the owner termed it the 120 day reset.
2:29
[SPEAKER_03]: And whether you agree with every mover not, there's one thing absolutely clear.
2:35
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns picked a direction.
2:36
[SPEAKER_03]: Now, it's a direction that remains to be seen, but for the first time in a long time, every move that made points in my opinion to the same vision.
2:48
[SPEAKER_03]: Now, it's early on, but we're gonna walk through how we got here.
2:52
[SPEAKER_03]: We're gonna revisit the highs, the lows, and there was plenty of them.
2:56
[SPEAKER_03]: The emergence about up in young coming players,
3:01
[SPEAKER_03]: We'll discuss Miles Garrett's history season and the difficult decision to, like I say again, trade them, we'll break down the Todd monk and hiring complete and talk about that offensive line, free agency, the draft, and why the Browns believe they're building something sustainable.
3:23
[SPEAKER_03]: But before we get into all that, don't forget about the dogs themselves, the dogpodcast.com guys leave us a voicemail, send us an email and as always, we love hearing from you guys.
3:37
[SPEAKER_03]: Some of our best conversations are the ones that come from the ones in the comments on this show, the questions, the voicemails.
3:46
[SPEAKER_03]: Hell, that's how I got started.
3:48
[SPEAKER_03]: And you guys know you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and I think we're still doing TikTok, not sure.
3:57
[SPEAKER_03]: But before we get started, I personally want to say thank you.
4:01
[SPEAKER_03]: Cause I know Josh gets to say it all the time.
4:04
[SPEAKER_03]: I don't.
4:04
[SPEAKER_03]: We cross that 20,000 subscriber mark on YouTube.
4:09
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, this just started as a couple browns fans just talking, then I hopped on.
4:14
[SPEAKER_03]: And what a journey it's been.
4:16
[SPEAKER_03]: Now, none of it happens without you guys.
4:19
[SPEAKER_03]: So thank you, thank you so much for listening and thanks for watching.
4:24
[SPEAKER_03]: Thanks so much for being part of this dog's podcast community.
4:30
[SPEAKER_03]: So let's kick it back.
4:32
[SPEAKER_03]: Let's go and look into that 2025 off season.
4:36
[SPEAKER_03]: Let's look how things kind of, well, you guys kind of remember when I said this, kind of felt stuck.
4:42
[SPEAKER_03]: And this is ultimately led to one of the most significant organizational resets in Brown's history.
4:49
[SPEAKER_03]: So let's take a look at the 2025 offseason and the expectations because you can put in the comments what were yours.
4:57
[SPEAKER_03]: Cause I think as I look back on it's important to remember
5:01
[SPEAKER_03]: the expectations and what they were when this whole thing started in 2025, because I said I was stuck.
5:08
[SPEAKER_03]: I didn't even know.
5:09
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns entered the off season with more questions and the most of those questions sent around quarterback before the draft, the Browns were freaking out, Browns fans that is, were freaking out because it felt like everybody
5:24
[SPEAKER_03]: didn't know what to expect.
5:26
[SPEAKER_03]: Like the shot of Watson was recovering from a killie's injuries.
5:29
[SPEAKER_03]: We didn't even want him around.
5:30
[SPEAKER_03]: We traded for Kenny Pickett and we tried to convince ourselves that that was a plan.
5:35
[SPEAKER_03]: Looking back, it felt like he just wasted entire off season of reps. Then the Browns brought back Joe Flacco just before the draft.
5:46
[SPEAKER_03]: He wasn't the long-term answer
5:50
[SPEAKER_03]: about he was someone that knew the city, the organization, and he always proven they could win here and win football games with Kevin Stephansky.
5:58
[SPEAKER_03]: Then came the draft head scratcher.
6:01
[SPEAKER_03]: We draft two quarterbacks.
6:04
[SPEAKER_03]: It was one of the biggest off season stories that year.
6:08
[SPEAKER_03]: Fans started asking whether the coaches were on the same page with the front office, what the plan was, who was going to get all these reps?
6:22
[SPEAKER_03]: And at the same time, the receiver room, it was a concern.
6:28
[SPEAKER_03]: Man, I thought we were drafting Travis Hunter, even journey guys, journey at the draft party, sold it hard.
6:35
[SPEAKER_03]: But we traded down, got Mason Graham, recruit the first round.
6:40
[SPEAKER_03]: and we got some dogs that year, but not really kind of what we wanted because the offensive line was aging, the receiver room, lack of playmakers, and those issues would be major storylines during that season.
6:54
[SPEAKER_03]: But there was another storyline that hung over everything.
6:58
[SPEAKER_03]: Let's get into Miles Garrett.
7:00
[SPEAKER_03]: You guys remember how this actual off season started last year?
7:04
[SPEAKER_03]: or how the season 2024 ended, Miles Garrett had a parade down radio row at the Super Bowl, but it wasn't glowing.
7:13
[SPEAKER_03]: He won the win, he was questioning where the plans were going, and he wanted out at the time, most of us figured that Andrew Barry would eventually get a deal done which he did extended him, and it was move on time.
7:27
[SPEAKER_03]: Or so we thought, as it turned out,
7:34
[SPEAKER_03]: It was only the beginning.
7:36
[SPEAKER_03]: But the defense was coming off another great year.
7:40
[SPEAKER_03]: Miles Garot was still the best player on the roster and in the league.
7:45
[SPEAKER_03]: There was excitement about the rookie class.
7:48
[SPEAKER_03]: We had judge kids.
7:49
[SPEAKER_03]: We had fan in.
7:50
[SPEAKER_03]: We had Swesinger.
7:51
[SPEAKER_03]: We had Gabriel.
7:52
[SPEAKER_03]: We had Shidorah.
7:53
[SPEAKER_03]: We had Graham.
7:54
[SPEAKER_03]: We had Samson.
7:55
[SPEAKER_03]: Pretty damn good draft.
7:57
[SPEAKER_03]: It's not all the guys that we wanted.
8:00
[SPEAKER_03]: most of us believe this team could compete if the office could only be average.
8:05
[SPEAKER_03]: But we know how that would happen, it didn't, unfortunately.
8:09
[SPEAKER_03]: And as a season unfolded, every concern Browns fans had, and on this podcast became a reality.
8:18
[SPEAKER_03]: The offensive line struggled.
8:20
[SPEAKER_03]: The receiver room
8:28
[SPEAKER_03]: And by the end of the season, the Browns would find themselves searching for a completely new direction.
8:34
[SPEAKER_03]: But before we get that, let's see how that set up.
8:37
[SPEAKER_03]: So we're going to get a little bit into the training camp in the preseason.
8:42
[SPEAKER_03]: So that's kind of where we're at right now.
8:43
[SPEAKER_03]: OTAs, many camp training camp rolled along.
8:47
[SPEAKER_03]: And there were signs that things weren't as solid as we hope.
8:50
[SPEAKER_03]: But man, this this times a time for new hope, you know, going to be optimistic.
8:57
[SPEAKER_03]: But a lot of it was false hope.
9:00
[SPEAKER_03]: The big storyline was the quarterback room.
9:02
[SPEAKER_03]: And it's always going to be the quarterback room, because if you have four quarterbacks, two quarterbacks, whatever quarterbacks, like John Man said, you got zero quarterbacks.
9:10
[SPEAKER_03]: We need a sure fire starter, and that's what we not got last year.
9:14
[SPEAKER_03]: Joe was the veteran.
9:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Kenny was a supposed, I don't know, plan.
9:23
[SPEAKER_03]: And then we had our two rookies.
9:25
[SPEAKER_03]: every practice report, every highlight, every rep seemed to generate the bait across browns, media and social media, sounds familiar, like what it's right now, but there's only really two guys are talking about.
9:40
[SPEAKER_03]: But looking back, one of the bigger warning signs wasn't quarterback, guys, it was a receiver room.
9:48
[SPEAKER_03]: It was completely up for grabs, but the only guys that were practicing were Floria McDonald.
9:54
[SPEAKER_03]: I think he's on the red blocks up here in Canada now.
9:57
[SPEAKER_03]: Gage Larva then, several of the other young players that were out there generating buzz, spending a lot of time.
10:04
[SPEAKER_03]: We were talking about players that most fans haven't even heard of.
10:08
[SPEAKER_03]: And while those players made great plays and was good for them, where were our projected
10:17
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns were searching for answers that the time it's all we were getting was like depth pieces.
10:23
[SPEAKER_03]: So looking back, obviously, this sounds like uncertainty, guys.
10:28
[SPEAKER_03]: There's also a now famous, I don't know why it's famous, it's the Shudor Sanders storyline.
10:38
[SPEAKER_03]: Every throw seemed to be scrutinized.
10:41
[SPEAKER_03]: There were stories about limited reps, frustration, and those were the Shador fans, they were frustrated.
10:47
[SPEAKER_03]: They couldn't see him not being successful and not getting his.
10:52
[SPEAKER_03]: There were stories about him throwing the garbage cans after practice, depending on who you listen to, Santa's either buried on the debt chart or being unfairly looked at.
11:01
[SPEAKER_03]: Duality was probably somewhere in the middle.
11:05
[SPEAKER_03]: Then the preseason came and you know what preseason football can be, it can be dangerous because it creates expectations.
11:12
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns opened up against the Panthers on August 6th and for all the talks surrounding Sanders.
11:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Yet the step up and step in and he delivered.
11:23
[SPEAKER_03]: 14 to 2330 yards, 61% completion percentage, two through two touchdowns, two sacks, and posted 106.8 rating.
11:34
[SPEAKER_03]: With a 30 to 10 victory.
11:38
[SPEAKER_03]: And if I remember correctly, then get much practice because everybody was injured so he had to play.
11:48
[SPEAKER_03]: The running game showed some life, the defense held Carolina 10 points, and Selling Brown's fans started wondering, hey, maybe there's something there.
11:57
[SPEAKER_03]: The following weekend Philadelphia was Dylan Gabriel.
12:01
[SPEAKER_03]: Man, he looked okay.
12:03
[SPEAKER_03]: 13 for 1800, 43 yards, 72% completion percentage.
12:07
[SPEAKER_03]: But his touchdown, he threw the other team pick six.
12:11
[SPEAKER_03]: He took two sacks as well, but the Brown still won.
12:15
[SPEAKER_03]: Running the game looks solid, defends look fast, because there's some buy-in.
12:20
[SPEAKER_03]: Correbacks are still competing.
12:23
[SPEAKER_03]: Then came the final game against the Rams, the dress rehearsal.
12:28
[SPEAKER_03]: Joe Flacco looked exactly like you'd want a veteran to look.
12:32
[SPEAKER_03]: He completed nine of 10 passes for 90 yards and it touched down, steel later, you don't know you play no more.
12:37
[SPEAKER_03]: Gabriel came in, 12 and 19, 129 yards in a score.
12:42
[SPEAKER_03]: that there was Sanders odd, just had a really bad game.
12:45
[SPEAKER_03]: Took too many sacks, had it on the ball too long.
12:49
[SPEAKER_03]: That'd have eventually pull them.
12:51
[SPEAKER_03]: Tyler Huntley came in, didn't even run a play.
12:53
[SPEAKER_03]: I think there were three penalties, and we kicked a field going one.
12:57
[SPEAKER_03]: But when the dust settled, the brands were three and all in the preseason.
13:02
[SPEAKER_03]: Preseason champs, like always, right guys?
13:06
[SPEAKER_03]: But, I guys, even if you go with three and all, there's gonna be some expectations.
13:12
[SPEAKER_03]: Pick it was traded before that game.
13:14
[SPEAKER_03]: Quarterback room was interesting.
13:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Running game improved, it looked like defense looks solid.
13:24
[SPEAKER_03]: But where were the plane makers?
13:26
[SPEAKER_03]: So now who the starting receivers were?
13:28
[SPEAKER_03]: We just added a guy that had another off the old problem other than Jenkins.
13:32
[SPEAKER_03]: It was Bond, Isaiah Bond.
13:35
[SPEAKER_03]: And then look good, he was intriguing.
13:38
[SPEAKER_03]: And on the defensive side,
13:43
[SPEAKER_03]: and let don't forget about jackets, he looked good too, showed flashes.
13:48
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns were undefeated, the vibes were good, I guess.
13:50
[SPEAKER_03]: The headlines were positive, look like they were on the right track, as far as buy-ins concern, but that's the thing about preseason football.
14:00
[SPEAKER_03]: you just don't know until the game start to count.
14:03
[SPEAKER_03]: So now let's get on to this journey.
14:05
[SPEAKER_03]: We're gonna move into the first quarter of the season.
14:09
[SPEAKER_03]: You guys remember how that started off as with the Bengals?
14:12
[SPEAKER_03]: And to me guys, that was kind of a let down.
14:15
[SPEAKER_03]: We lost by a point.
14:17
[SPEAKER_03]: But we left four points on the board.
14:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Any guys remember what happened.
14:20
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns missed an extra point in the field goal, and that could have changed to a 20 to 17 victory.
14:28
[SPEAKER_03]: And it was frustrating because the D did what they were supposed to.
14:32
[SPEAKER_03]: They held the Bengals a 17 points, but the O.
14:35
[SPEAKER_03]: They laid an egg 16.
14:37
[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, yikes.
14:39
[SPEAKER_03]: Special teams didn't do us any better.
14:42
[SPEAKER_03]: One of the worst defenses in the league last year, they have 29 points of game of 500 yards.
14:48
[SPEAKER_03]: Ah, but I mean, and I don't even wanna talk about the next game.
14:51
[SPEAKER_03]: It was a 14 to 17 stuff, 14.
14:55
[SPEAKER_03]: Or do you want to 17 blow out?
14:59
[SPEAKER_03]: And we're getting nervous now.
15:01
[SPEAKER_03]: But let's talk about the Packers game.
15:03
[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, in all our heads, we all thought it was gonna be 0 and 3.
15:07
[SPEAKER_03]: rebate, they led 10 nothing.
15:09
[SPEAKER_03]: I think they kept that that was pretty much it until about four minutes ago in this game, but let let me get back to this.
15:16
[SPEAKER_03]: So Cleveland didn't get on the board.
15:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Oh, there we go.
15:18
[SPEAKER_03]: Four minutes a game.
15:20
[SPEAKER_03]: Any Schmidt got us on there.
15:21
[SPEAKER_03]: So 10 to three.
15:23
[SPEAKER_03]: Then the chaos happened.
15:24
[SPEAKER_03]: The packers threw an interception, giving the Browns life to do plays later.
15:31
[SPEAKER_03]: Juddkins punches in a one year touchdown.
15:34
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, it's 10 10.
15:36
[SPEAKER_03]: Green Bay has a chance to win it though.
15:38
[SPEAKER_03]: Same old Browns, right?
15:39
[SPEAKER_03]: Field goal, 1310, see you later.
15:43
[SPEAKER_03]: But the script, boys and girls shall be Harris.
15:46
[SPEAKER_03]: He blocks a field goal.
15:48
[SPEAKER_03]: Cleveland runs down.
15:50
[SPEAKER_03]: Get's a smit, field goal, and wins the game.
15:57
[SPEAKER_03]: And just like that, guys, who feel a sigh of relief here?
16:01
[SPEAKER_03]: We're one and two.
16:03
[SPEAKER_03]: defense is going to have to play like that for the rest of the season, right?
16:06
[SPEAKER_03]: So we can win all these 13 to 10 games.
16:11
[SPEAKER_03]: But just like the Baltimore game, not even not even not chance to talk about this lion's game, they went to four with us and I ain't lying.
16:21
[SPEAKER_03]: Haha, Bobo boom, that was for that was for Josh.
16:24
[SPEAKER_03]: He likes he likes those dad jokes.
16:27
[SPEAKER_03]: But guys, in all seriousness, like the momentum from the Cleveland game where they beat the packers, just it disappeared.
16:36
[SPEAKER_03]: We're one in three now.
16:38
[SPEAKER_03]: A far more questions than we have answers.
16:41
[SPEAKER_03]: The offense can't be consistent.
16:44
[SPEAKER_03]: quarterback situation seemed unsettled.
16:47
[SPEAKER_03]: Flacco just was a shell of himself slow receiver room.
16:54
[SPEAKER_03]: He's missing guys all over the field, and they lack to true identity.
16:59
[SPEAKER_03]: Outside of one miraculous comeback from Green Bay, there really wasn't much optimism, but it's frustrating as those four games were.
17:09
[SPEAKER_03]: They were some good signs of the future to come.
17:12
[SPEAKER_03]: Harold Fanon, who's catcha balls, Quintchallenge tough, physical, and while mostly
17:21
[SPEAKER_03]: was focused in on Miles, because he's a star in the face of the team, Swayson chose quietly, quietly becoming a leader.
17:30
[SPEAKER_03]: The numbers weren't eye-popping just yet, but, guys, you could see this, instincts motor, and he was always around the ball.
17:37
[SPEAKER_03]: Those young players, they weren't changing the game yet, but there was a foundation being laid.
17:43
[SPEAKER_03]: The problem was that it's going to be in the future, and it wasn't part of this season.
17:47
[SPEAKER_03]: And after four weeks, we're one and three.
17:50
[SPEAKER_03]: The offense is broken, special teams are costing us games, coaches don't have any answers.
17:57
[SPEAKER_03]: Unfortunately, things are not going to get any better.
18:01
[SPEAKER_03]: And we're going to talk a little bit about London and the mid-season collapse.
18:08
[SPEAKER_03]: So this is the second part of the second quarter of the season, let's say.
18:14
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18:16
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19:53
[SPEAKER_03]: So it all starts in London, England.
19:55
[SPEAKER_03]: And unlike most Browns fans, I actually got to go.
19:58
[SPEAKER_03]: I had a blast.
19:59
[SPEAKER_03]: It was super fun.
20:01
[SPEAKER_03]: I witnessed Don Gabriel's first start.
20:03
[SPEAKER_03]: And when I think back to that, the first thing that I really remember, what I remember is Quint Chon losing a touchdown because Isaiah Barn was flagged for a holding play.
20:19
[SPEAKER_03]: So obviously, we don't get that touchdown.
20:23
[SPEAKER_03]: And then I think right after, doesn't Conquen, get an illegal formation penalty.
20:27
[SPEAKER_03]: Now it's another 10 yards back or another penalty.
20:31
[SPEAKER_03]: And we lose 11-year game.
20:34
[SPEAKER_03]: We'll talk about that in a bit, frustrating.
20:38
[SPEAKER_03]: And then, man, the Browns are just fighting themselves, blowing game after game.
20:45
[SPEAKER_03]: But with 321, we're still tied.
20:49
[SPEAKER_03]: 321.
20:50
[SPEAKER_03]: And you know what we get for our game winning drive.
20:53
[SPEAKER_03]: No win and only 16 seconds off the clock.
20:56
[SPEAKER_03]: That's right.
20:58
[SPEAKER_03]: 16 seconds.
21:00
[SPEAKER_03]: Minnesota on the other hand does what good teams do.
21:03
[SPEAKER_03]: Bring it all the way down.
21:04
[SPEAKER_03]: It was just 25 seconds remaining and Jordan Asson, Halls in the game winner.
21:08
[SPEAKER_03]: See you later.
21:09
[SPEAKER_03]: And all I got is my figure putting the crying.
21:19
[SPEAKER_03]: by week after that game, and pretty much played like they did against the Ravens and the Lions.
21:27
[SPEAKER_03]: Not much to talk about, 23 to nine.
21:29
[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, Miles might've got a sack in that.
21:33
[SPEAKER_03]: And more weirdness in the quarterback room, by Joe, you're traded to the Bengals, the Bengals, never do trades with them.
21:42
[SPEAKER_03]: Also, we do get another trade with paid big dividends.
21:48
[SPEAKER_03]: say C later or two, Greg Newsom and a six-round pick and we get a seven-throunder back and Tyson Campbell that know much about him, physical guy, guy that's played out of a position.
22:00
[SPEAKER_03]: I'm not really out of position, I should say he was more of a press guy than he was a zone guy.
22:06
[SPEAKER_03]: So he's in the right, he's in the right space and we'll see why.
22:10
[SPEAKER_03]: But the next game that came up for me, I went down to Cleveland for that Dolphins game.
22:15
[SPEAKER_03]: And then, beyond us, with you, I didn't know what to expect.
22:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Both teams were down on their lock.
22:19
[SPEAKER_03]: I don't even think that Dolphins had run.
22:22
[SPEAKER_03]: When a game by that point, whether it was miserable, rain, wind, typical Cleveland football, weather by the lake.
22:31
[SPEAKER_03]: But for one afternoon, everything clicked.
22:34
[SPEAKER_03]: Thanks to Quinshion.
22:36
[SPEAKER_03]: That guy was in the Wildcat,
22:38
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, carrying the ball traditionally, of course, creating explosive plays in the backfield.
22:43
[SPEAKER_03]: Look like a man possessed.
22:46
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, the Browns had 17 points at half time.
22:49
[SPEAKER_03]: That's all we were mustering up.
22:52
[SPEAKER_03]: This is remarkable.
22:54
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, we hit 34 for the game.
22:58
[SPEAKER_03]: We were rolling.
23:00
[SPEAKER_03]: Sorry, we hit 31 for the game.
23:02
[SPEAKER_03]: Tyson Campbell went 34 yards for a touchdown.
23:08
[SPEAKER_03]: Of course, that was boat as good as it was going to get for 2025, as far as like awesome wins were concerned.
23:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Then the Browns, they follow up with another poor performance and we cannot beat the New England Patriots.
23:23
[SPEAKER_03]: They have a number, doesn't matter where we play them, we don't play them well, ever.
23:29
[SPEAKER_03]: But at least we go down to the Super Bowl, sorry.
23:38
[SPEAKER_03]: But that doesn't make that loss any easier to swallow.
23:41
[SPEAKER_03]: The one bright spot though that I will highlight, I think it was game seven, game eight, maybe.
23:47
[SPEAKER_03]: Miles is just at five sacks or wondering what's going on with him.
23:50
[SPEAKER_03]: He explodes, explodes for five sacks.
23:55
[SPEAKER_03]: Wow.
23:57
[SPEAKER_03]: And at that time we didn't know, but that was a start to something big.
24:00
[SPEAKER_03]: We're gonna witness one of the greatest past rushing seasons in NFL history.
24:06
[SPEAKER_03]: And by the end of October, the Browns were searching for consistency, searching for offense, hope, banning QJ were doing their part, and unfortunately, it was just going to get tougher guys.
24:23
[SPEAKER_03]: So let's talk about the next part of the season.
24:25
[SPEAKER_03]: This is kind of like Shedor's opportunity.
24:28
[SPEAKER_03]: But it starts against the jets, and we know Gabriel Dylan started that game.
24:36
[SPEAKER_03]: Unfortunately, the first game back after the buy, they didn't inspire much confidence in all in any fan.
24:45
[SPEAKER_03]: The jets really didn't do a whole lot, often they didn't do a whole lot to really win the game.
24:50
[SPEAKER_03]: But they put their nose to the grindstone on special teams and shove two touchdowns down or throw.
24:59
[SPEAKER_03]: Ironically, though,
25:02
[SPEAKER_03]: Cleveland managed to crack the 17-point barrier.
25:05
[SPEAKER_03]: Actually, we scored 20 points.
25:07
[SPEAKER_03]: The problem is that two other touchdowns we let on special teams got there up to 27 points.
25:14
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, that feels only through for 50 yards, 50 freaking yards, and we lost.
25:23
[SPEAKER_03]: Then the following week against Baltimore, they actually surprised us and played Baltimore quite well.
25:31
[SPEAKER_03]: Dylan Gabriel suffers a concussion and suddenly should door this is rust into action.
25:38
[SPEAKER_03]: The problem is we found out after a game hitting any reps at all.
25:42
[SPEAKER_03]: No meaningful practice time.
25:44
[SPEAKER_03]: And that that's part for the course when sometimes you're back up, but it not when you're back up rookie, come on.
25:50
[SPEAKER_03]: And that's what he looked like at that game.
25:52
[SPEAKER_03]: He looked like a rookie that had no preparation.
25:55
[SPEAKER_03]: The timing wasn't there.
25:56
[SPEAKER_03]: Still as confidence, I mean he almost threw the game
26:01
[SPEAKER_03]: the offense was not helping.
26:04
[SPEAKER_03]: The offense of line.
26:05
[SPEAKER_03]: The receivers.
26:06
[SPEAKER_03]: They're no good.
26:09
[SPEAKER_03]: But we got our vaulted defense, right?
26:12
[SPEAKER_03]: Oh, just wait.
26:13
[SPEAKER_03]: The ravens went forward on fourth and short.
26:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Remember that push push that became a 38 yard touchdown or whatever it was.
26:21
[SPEAKER_03]: Now we're only 28.
26:23
[SPEAKER_03]: And at that point, the playoffs aren't even in the conversation anymore.
26:26
[SPEAKER_03]: We got a shift to development.
26:29
[SPEAKER_03]: And that's when things really started to change.
26:34
[SPEAKER_03]: The following week against the Raiders, the Sanders finally got something that he had all season, a full freaking week of practice that showed.
26:46
[SPEAKER_03]: He was noticeably locked in.
26:48
[SPEAKER_03]: I was at the game as a blast.
26:51
[SPEAKER_03]: The ball came out on time, he looked decisive, he's always been confident, but then there's confident where the ball's going.
26:59
[SPEAKER_03]: I'm kind of saying like he was in rhythm, the offense seemed in rhythm.
27:04
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns connected on explosive plays, Isaiah Bond looked like an emerging legitimate threat.
27:10
[SPEAKER_03]: But guys, this was what did it for me.
27:12
[SPEAKER_03]: 10 freaking sacks.
27:13
[SPEAKER_03]: That's right, 10.
27:15
[SPEAKER_03]: I've never been at a game.
27:16
[SPEAKER_03]: I don't know if I've seen more than, like, I don't think I've seen combined 10 sacks at a game for both teams.
27:22
[SPEAKER_03]: One team, 10 sacks, and man.
27:28
[SPEAKER_03]: It looked like maybe they came together again.
27:30
[SPEAKER_03]: Maybe they're going to rally behind Sanders and then another flopper room against a San Francisco 49ers, 28 to eight scored eight freaking points.
27:42
[SPEAKER_03]: Now we're 3 in 9 and we secured the 16th losing season in 18 years.
27:51
[SPEAKER_03]: So let's talk about Tennessee.
27:54
[SPEAKER_03]: While the Browns found a way,
27:58
[SPEAKER_03]: to lose.
28:01
[SPEAKER_03]: Some weird games, here's another one.
28:04
[SPEAKER_03]: And let's what do we call them?
28:06
[SPEAKER_03]: Questionable decisions after you score your six point.
28:11
[SPEAKER_03]: Touch down.
28:11
[SPEAKER_03]: I guess that's what we'll call it.
28:15
[SPEAKER_03]: Shoulder standards delivered, though, what was arguably one of the best rookie performances of the season.
28:22
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, 364 yards passing, three touchdowns, one interception.
28:29
[SPEAKER_03]: 29 yards rushing with a touchdown.
28:32
[SPEAKER_03]: For the first time all year, Brown's fans got a glimpse of what the future may be.
28:38
[SPEAKER_03]: Season was lost, the record's ugly, but there was some hope.
28:44
[SPEAKER_03]: And that hope comes in with the emergence of guys that they got in the draft last year.
28:50
[SPEAKER_03]: The emergence of Fanon, Westinger, Judd Kins, and Bond.
28:56
[SPEAKER_03]: One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they look at the 25 seasons, only focusing on the record.
29:03
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, it sucks I get it.
29:05
[SPEAKER_03]: But there was a foundation being laid.
29:08
[SPEAKER_03]: Let's start with Quinchon.
29:10
[SPEAKER_03]: Guy, through the season, he looked like the best office in player on the roster.
29:13
[SPEAKER_03]: Guy's getting hit almost two yards behind the line of scrimmaging, but average white, four yards of kipop.
29:18
[SPEAKER_03]: That's crazy.
29:22
[SPEAKER_03]: Socks that that touchdown caught called back in London.
29:26
[SPEAKER_03]: Dominated the dolphins.
29:29
[SPEAKER_03]: Give the Browns an identity.
29:32
[SPEAKER_03]: And before his injury, he looked like a player that the Browns could build around.
29:37
[SPEAKER_03]: And then there's Harold Fanon, our number one receiver that's a tight end.
29:43
[SPEAKER_03]: By the end of the season, he led us in receiving yards, became a security bankit for all the quarterbacks that played that year, all through them.
29:51
[SPEAKER_03]: It's moving chains, creating mismatches, made plays after the catch.
29:57
[SPEAKER_03]: I think he showed my mountains looking to lick his chops, playing this guy this year.
30:02
[SPEAKER_03]: And white tight ends are a premium position for him.
30:07
[SPEAKER_03]: His immersion would directly influence many of the Browns' decisions during the 2026 offices.
30:13
[SPEAKER_03]: And then there was bond.
30:15
[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, for some reason, Shador could figure out throw deep to him.
30:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Nobody else could.
30:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Because they don't want to get hit.
30:23
[SPEAKER_03]: Speed, explosiveness, threatens a defense vertically.
30:26
[SPEAKER_03]: As Sanders gained confidence, bond became one of his primary beneficiaries.
30:33
[SPEAKER_03]: And then on defense, we had Swesinger.
30:35
[SPEAKER_03]: Well, everybody was focused in on that sack cheese.
30:39
[SPEAKER_03]: Swesinger was quietly becoming the leader of the defense.
30:43
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, 156 tackles, 11 tackles for losses, two and a half sacks, two interceptions, defensive rookie of the frickin' year, played with one leg for the last two games,
30:59
[SPEAKER_03]: By December, he wasn't a rookie anymore.
31:01
[SPEAKER_03]: That guy was the leader of the defense.
31:04
[SPEAKER_03]: And again, the record is what it was, but the young core told a different story.
31:10
[SPEAKER_03]: Thank Johnkins, Fanon, Bond, Swesinger, Sanders.
31:13
[SPEAKER_03]: Those players gave Browns something that they desperately needed heading in the offseason, reason to believe.
31:21
[SPEAKER_03]: And as Alasas continued to pile up, another story wasn't folding.
31:26
[SPEAKER_03]: Let's talk about that, Chase.
31:28
[SPEAKER_03]: That Chase miles put us on to get that record.
31:32
[SPEAKER_03]: Man, as the season unraveled, another story was quietly becoming very compelling.
31:39
[SPEAKER_03]: And why it was quiet, we'll get into it.
31:42
[SPEAKER_03]: He was chasing history, but,
31:45
[SPEAKER_03]: At the beginning of the season, there was a much to talk about.
31:48
[SPEAKER_03]: This was quite seven games, only five, sacks, miles, Garrett.
31:52
[SPEAKER_03]: Highs played non-corderback in the league.
31:55
[SPEAKER_03]: It's going on.
31:58
[SPEAKER_03]: The Brown ones are we're losing.
32:00
[SPEAKER_03]: The office can score.
32:03
[SPEAKER_03]: Playoffs were slipping away as he was doing it.
32:07
[SPEAKER_03]: So focus.
32:11
[SPEAKER_03]: Took a little bit.
32:12
[SPEAKER_03]: Off what was going wrong.
32:15
[SPEAKER_03]: But then came New England, Garrett exploded for five sacks as we said, then the conversation changed.
32:21
[SPEAKER_03]: Wow.
32:21
[SPEAKER_03]: He's at 10.
32:22
[SPEAKER_03]: He's up there.
32:24
[SPEAKER_03]: Baltimore came four more sacks, 16 on the season with some games in between that.
32:31
[SPEAKER_03]: The record felt attainable and then Garrett played the Raiders.
32:35
[SPEAKER_03]: He got three more.
32:37
[SPEAKER_03]: He's at nine freaking teen and again.
32:42
[SPEAKER_03]: Once we got to Chicago, he was at 21 and a half.
32:46
[SPEAKER_03]: I guess Buffalo, we got 22.
32:49
[SPEAKER_03]: He was up to 22.
32:51
[SPEAKER_03]: Then came Pittsburgh.
32:53
[SPEAKER_03]: I will tell you, I've never seen a quarterback not want to be a poster boy as bad as I saw Aaron Rogers.
32:59
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns won 13 to 6, but Garrett remained at those 22 sacks, because Aaron Rogers was on a mission not to give that to him.
33:08
[SPEAKER_03]: I think more than getting that win,
33:11
[SPEAKER_03]: Everything came down to Cincinnati.
33:12
[SPEAKER_03]: It's a last game of the year, boys and girls, playoffs are over, seasons over.
33:17
[SPEAKER_03]: There's one thing left for us fans and him.
33:20
[SPEAKER_03]: Get that damn record.
33:22
[SPEAKER_03]: We end up being him behind two defensive touchdowns and Garrett got a sack.
33:28
[SPEAKER_03]: Number 23, the new NFL single season record, and anyone who says that Joe Burrell simply gave him the record, you got to go back and watch that first game.
33:39
[SPEAKER_03]: Miles hit him so hard, I think he laid on the ground for 39 of those 40, 40 seconds he gets in this on the clock to call play and Miles was terrorizing him.
33:52
[SPEAKER_03]: But the other thing, sure, Burrell went down easily, but look who was in front of him was Shelby Harris.
33:59
[SPEAKER_03]: He's going to swallow him up anyways.
34:02
[SPEAKER_03]: Frick and high-fied the ref that's how close he was to that.
34:09
[SPEAKER_03]: And in a season that gave Browns fans little to celebrate, we've got the witness one of the greatest individual seasons in a fellow history.
34:18
[SPEAKER_03]: But I think ironically, that accomplishment would be also the beginning of the end for Miles Garrett in Cleveland.
34:25
[SPEAKER_03]: So guys and girls, put it in the comments.
34:28
[SPEAKER_03]: See if you agree with me.
34:29
[SPEAKER_03]: Why did five and 12 happen?
34:32
[SPEAKER_03]: When people look back at the 2025 season,
34:38
[SPEAKER_03]: But when you actually watch the game, the story is a little bit more complicated.
34:42
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns just want a good football team.
34:46
[SPEAKER_03]: But they also weren't as bad as a record suggested.
34:49
[SPEAKER_03]: Just think about this, I'll put it out there for you.
34:53
[SPEAKER_03]: Think about the losses in twos.
34:55
[SPEAKER_03]: And you've probably heard me say this.
34:57
[SPEAKER_03]: We won against Cincinnati, two missed kicks, extra point in the field goal.
35:02
[SPEAKER_03]: That's four point swing and a win.
35:05
[SPEAKER_03]: Take a look at the Vikings game.
35:07
[SPEAKER_03]: 66 yards wiped out by two penalties.
35:11
[SPEAKER_03]: Also think about the two possessions.
35:13
[SPEAKER_03]: 16 seconds for us and the rest for the Vikings and another loss, the jet's game.
35:21
[SPEAKER_03]: Are you guys even, you guys know the two?
35:23
[SPEAKER_03]: I'm not even gonna say it.
35:24
[SPEAKER_03]: You know the two things that happened in that game and they're quarterback through for 50 freaking yards and still one.
35:31
[SPEAKER_03]: That's not two but still pisses me off.
35:34
[SPEAKER_03]: Titan's game, two after touchdown plays that were botched points left on the field again.
35:44
[SPEAKER_03]: Another one score loss.
35:47
[SPEAKER_03]: Change that handful of plays, and this is I in the sky, I get it, but you're 9 and 8 instead of 5 and 12.
35:55
[SPEAKER_03]: And how you can take the green bay game out if you want, we didn't win that, let's say.
35:59
[SPEAKER_03]: were eight, nine, whatever, but even some of those came out.
36:03
[SPEAKER_03]: You guys get what I'm saying, you guys get what I'm saying.
36:08
[SPEAKER_03]: Now while that's very optimistic, I don't want it to be a trap for you.
36:11
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns were not unlucky only.
36:14
[SPEAKER_03]: They've got real problems.
36:16
[SPEAKER_03]: The offense never developed an identity.
36:19
[SPEAKER_03]: The offensive line regressed.
36:22
[SPEAKER_03]: They'll re-regress last year, guys, it's progressed again.
36:26
[SPEAKER_03]: The receiver room lacked any consistency and the quarterback room never had a clear direction.
36:32
[SPEAKER_03]: Special teams was a bismal, critical, crucial mistakes.
36:38
[SPEAKER_03]: The coaching staff never seemed able to solve any of it.
36:44
[SPEAKER_03]: Lots of excuses.
36:47
[SPEAKER_03]: Meanwhile, the defense was carrying the team.
36:49
[SPEAKER_03]: Outside of some concerns with the run defense, generating pressure beyond,
36:54
[SPEAKER_03]: Miles Garrett, the defense look like it was largely doing his job.
36:57
[SPEAKER_03]: Actually, I'll say it since movie Collins went out.
36:59
[SPEAKER_03]: That's what the run defense was a lot of.
37:03
[SPEAKER_03]: But to get back to the offense, simply couldn't hold up.
37:05
[SPEAKER_03]: It's end of the bargain.
37:07
[SPEAKER_03]: That's why the season was so frustrating.
37:08
[SPEAKER_03]: You don't have to see 16.8 points of gain.
37:12
[SPEAKER_03]: The rounds weren't getting blown out every week, but they're losing footballs because they can execute the little things.
37:21
[SPEAKER_03]: Eventually, those little things cost people their jobs.
37:25
[SPEAKER_03]: and this brings us to the reset.
37:54
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40:21
[SPEAKER_03]: On January 5th, 2026, that that's the day when things changed for this, this season.
40:27
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns officially became, sorry, it officially became known as the 120-day reset.
40:34
[SPEAKER_03]: And Kim Mr. Fansky was relieved of his duties.
40:37
[SPEAKER_03]: People were surprised.
40:41
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns went most of the time, most of the season searching for offensive answers never found anything.
40:45
[SPEAKER_03]: He's an offensive guru, right?
40:46
[SPEAKER_03]: That's what we're told.
40:49
[SPEAKER_03]: The offense lacked identity, the quarterback room had no direction, something like a broken record here, guys.
40:55
[SPEAKER_03]: And just all year, player development was inconsistent, despite having some talent, just never put a sustainable formula together.
41:04
[SPEAKER_03]: The organization made a decision and tweaks weren't good enough anymore.
41:09
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns just didn't need an adjustment, they needed a reset, they needed a complete reset.
41:13
[SPEAKER_03]: The message was clear, the defense wasn't perfect, but wasn't the problem.
41:18
[SPEAKER_03]: The offense was, and we have no death.
41:23
[SPEAKER_03]: Everything on the offensive line, to receive room to the core back, needed to be re-evaluated when you change.
41:31
[SPEAKER_03]: And if the browns are going to build the offense, they need a coach capable of building that offense.
41:35
[SPEAKER_03]: Has to be monitoring.
41:37
[SPEAKER_03]: That search eventually led them to Todd Monkin.
41:41
[SPEAKER_03]: Todd Monkin guys, I know nobody, almost seemed like our last resort at best point.
41:47
[SPEAKER_03]: But so far, I'm not complaining for what I see.
41:51
[SPEAKER_03]: Monkin is going to reshape the roster, but first he had to reshape this coaching staff.
41:56
[SPEAKER_03]: And that's the next phase.
42:01
[SPEAKER_03]: Once the Browns committed to this reset, the next step was finding the people to execute it.
42:06
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns made it clear at the beginning of this coaching search.
42:11
[SPEAKER_03]: Offense first.
42:14
[SPEAKER_03]: Offense first guys, we need weapons.
42:16
[SPEAKER_03]: Remember that we said that the year before.
42:19
[SPEAKER_03]: So for me personally, I respect Jim Swords.
42:24
[SPEAKER_03]: But he wasn't gonna turn this offense around.
42:30
[SPEAKER_03]: Like, I can't even remember who he had as an offensive coordinator when he was a coach like 12 years ago, he's going to make this offense modern, I just don't see that.
42:43
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns needed a new vision, the vision came from Todd Monkton.
42:46
[SPEAKER_03]: The guy had a reputation of adaptability, quarterback development, billing offences around
42:58
[SPEAKER_03]: It also started off as a receiver coach, guys.
42:59
[SPEAKER_03]: We need receivers.
43:02
[SPEAKER_03]: We're importantly, he had a plan.
43:04
[SPEAKER_03]: The bounds retain much of their defense of identity while completing an overhaul of their offensive philosophy.
43:14
[SPEAKER_03]: So let's get back to the defense, Rutenberg.
43:16
[SPEAKER_03]: My crew, Rutenberg, he was promoted to defensive coordinator from the Atlanta Falcons.
43:22
[SPEAKER_03]: Does something similar to Swartz?
43:25
[SPEAKER_03]: Nebraska also though did him a solid and added a respected defensive mind, one of the most knowledgeable defensive minds in NFL history and Dom Capers.
43:37
[SPEAKER_03]: He's a senior defense uh defensive assistant for them.
43:44
[SPEAKER_03]: On offense, Monkin assembled his staff around teaching development and
43:54
[SPEAKER_03]: George Warhop, he was brought back to rebuild the offensive line.
43:57
[SPEAKER_03]: They brought Travis Switzer over from, or he's at Switzer with the other, he's supposed to say it, to join the staff to help develop the quarterback room and assist in implementing Munkin's vision.
44:07
[SPEAKER_03]: Special teams also saw a change with Bryan's store.
44:11
[SPEAKER_03]: He specializes in the kicking unit, Punner Gicker.
44:16
[SPEAKER_03]: The message was clear.
44:18
[SPEAKER_03]: keep what works on defense, fix everything on offense.
44:22
[SPEAKER_03]: And for the first time in years, every coach hire was pointed in that direction.
44:31
[SPEAKER_03]: Well, what's the biggest rebuild that we did?
44:33
[SPEAKER_03]: We can talk about free agency, but let's just pop into the offensive wine just for a little bit.
44:38
[SPEAKER_03]: This was the biggest part of the reset.
44:40
[SPEAKER_03]: And honestly, I don't think enough people appreciate how massive the changes is.
44:44
[SPEAKER_03]: When Montana is new staff arrived, going to herringing one or two holes along the offensive line, there's no line.
44:51
[SPEAKER_03]: Conconcongon, Joel, while we now know, a tone news retiring.
44:56
[SPEAKER_03]: Post it, unsigned, teller unsigned.
45:00
[SPEAKER_03]: Selling nearly every veteran's stutter,
45:03
[SPEAKER_03]: had to find one of the NFL's best offensive lines lessover years than I hear anymore.
45:07
[SPEAKER_03]: All we got to have in Jenkins left.
45:10
[SPEAKER_03]: Think about that for a second.
45:12
[SPEAKER_03]: For years, Brown's fans could count on Betonio, but Betonio, Taylor, Pocic, and Conclin.
45:19
[SPEAKER_03]: Now they're all gone.
45:20
[SPEAKER_03]: In fact, as arguably the biggest offensive line resets since we came back in 99,
45:29
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns responded aggressively, traded for Titus Howard, free agent Sinie Zion Johnson, free agent Sinie Elgin Jenkins.
45:41
[SPEAKER_03]: Some fans look at those moves out overkill, I saw this in the necessity.
45:45
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns weren't trying to replace one player, they're trying to build a unit.
45:51
[SPEAKER_03]: And when you look back in the failures of 2025, 2024, it's perfect sense.
45:57
[SPEAKER_03]: Office couldn't protect consistently.
45:59
[SPEAKER_03]: Running game, Matt consistency, quarterback never looked comfortable.
46:03
[SPEAKER_03]: Before you fix anything, you got to fix the guys up front.
46:06
[SPEAKER_03]: Browns understood that and for the first time in a long time, they invested accordingly.
46:13
[SPEAKER_03]: Free agency, obviously there was more than just the offensive line.
46:16
[SPEAKER_03]: One of the biggest additions was Quincy Williams.
46:19
[SPEAKER_03]: We don't have jail cany more, and this future is still uncertain.
46:23
[SPEAKER_03]: Browns needed speed, leadership, and production at linebacker.
46:26
[SPEAKER_03]: This guy gives him all three.
46:28
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns also made some under the radar moves.
46:31
[SPEAKER_03]: We need depth, Daniel Thomas, brought in for special teams.
46:36
[SPEAKER_03]: He is a gunner.
46:38
[SPEAKER_03]: It makes a lot of sense.
46:39
[SPEAKER_03]: Look at the jet's game.
46:41
[SPEAKER_03]: I keep hitting that up, but look at it.
46:44
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns also added Kalea Davis from San Francisco, not flashy, no highlight reels.
46:50
[SPEAKER_03]: This helps address one of the recurring complaints stopping the run.
46:55
[SPEAKER_03]: Davis gives them another physical body that they can put on the inside, strengthens a defensive line rotation.
47:03
[SPEAKER_03]: Same with Jack Stoll, signing a blocking tight end.
47:06
[SPEAKER_03]: We need that.
47:12
[SPEAKER_03]: He is a receiving threat.
47:13
[SPEAKER_03]: He's got to work on his blocking.
47:18
[SPEAKER_03]: Brian, the Browns also said, Thailand Wallace, Baltimore.
47:22
[SPEAKER_03]: I know we return to touchdown on special teams, but he also is a better gunner.
47:28
[SPEAKER_03]: None of these signings were splashy.
47:30
[SPEAKER_03]: None of them won the off season, but that's my point.
47:33
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns are trying to win, aren't trying to win March.
47:36
[SPEAKER_03]: They're trying to fix the weaknesses that showed up every Sunday on a five and 12 team.
47:41
[SPEAKER_03]: And the free agency largely complete, all the tension can turn to the draft.
47:48
[SPEAKER_03]: So let's talk about the draft.
47:51
[SPEAKER_03]: And that's the next part of the reset.
47:53
[SPEAKER_03]: And for being honest, I think most of us thought the brows were going to come away with a receiver pretty early.
47:59
[SPEAKER_03]: Vermont said was the bait, though.
48:01
[SPEAKER_03]: Are we going to draft a tackle first?
48:03
[SPEAKER_03]: Are we going to draft a receiver first?
48:04
[SPEAKER_03]: Vice versa.
48:06
[SPEAKER_03]: That was a real conversation.
48:07
[SPEAKER_03]: There wasn't really going to be anyone else.
48:09
[SPEAKER_03]: And I would say the majority of Browns fans are Ohio state fans.
48:14
[SPEAKER_03]: And they want to carnal tape, he was going at number four.
48:19
[SPEAKER_03]: But if you draft a receiver high like any position, there's better odds of it working out for you.
48:27
[SPEAKER_03]: But we had to go in a different path.
48:30
[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, they had the six picked over all and we traded it to Kansas City, not Spencer Fano.
48:36
[SPEAKER_03]: And when Todd Monkton talked about wanting athletic, tough and intelligent football players, the love football, well, this guy checks off all the boxes, the Browns picked up an additional draft capital as well.
48:50
[SPEAKER_03]: Still ended the player that they want it.
48:52
[SPEAKER_03]: That's just good business.
48:55
[SPEAKER_03]: And then came the second round pick that we acquired from Jacksonville last year.
49:01
[SPEAKER_03]: And we got conceptual.
49:03
[SPEAKER_03]: Casey, man, absolute love it.
49:06
[SPEAKER_03]: I'll tell you, Josh had to talk me into this guy.
49:09
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, I bought hook line and sinker of these drops.
49:12
[SPEAKER_03]: It just didn't realize it.
49:14
[SPEAKER_03]: He wasn't getting a good, good throws his way.
49:18
[SPEAKER_03]: But this guy's a dynamic playmaker, but he contributes on special teams.
49:23
[SPEAKER_03]: It's a two for one for us.
49:25
[SPEAKER_03]: We need both.
49:26
[SPEAKER_03]: The Brown struggled immediately in the intermediate game.
49:30
[SPEAKER_03]: It's exactly what we got him for.
49:32
[SPEAKER_03]: Can create those yards, yak, guy.
49:34
[SPEAKER_03]: Turn short gains into explosive plays.
49:38
[SPEAKER_03]: That's what point we turners do for Pete Sakes, you know.
49:42
[SPEAKER_03]: At the end of the first round, I'm shocked.
49:48
[SPEAKER_03]: Offensive line up better receiver room got better.
49:50
[SPEAKER_03]: Two major needs addressed.
49:52
[SPEAKER_03]: Then came day two at this point being a Browns fan or like how's it going to go bad?
49:59
[SPEAKER_03]: How's it going to go bad for us guys?
50:02
[SPEAKER_03]: We came away with David Boston and manual McNeil Warren.
50:07
[SPEAKER_03]: What's the heck?
50:08
[SPEAKER_03]: This can't be.
50:09
[SPEAKER_03]: I got to be am I dreaming?
50:12
[SPEAKER_03]: We got one of the biggest radius
50:17
[SPEAKER_03]: in the draft and arguably the biggest ball hawk, the guys that like make a nail warns simply a turnover machine.
50:27
[SPEAKER_03]: But, you know, as we learned over the years, good teams invest in the trenches, and then we move some picks around but had to come back up and get Austin Barber.
50:37
[SPEAKER_03]: And I think it's a pick that's gonna age real well.
50:41
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, he placed tackle that's what he's drafted as, but I see him as a guard because you've got to remember Joel Batonio, he was a tackle at Nevada before coming one of the best guards and Browns history.
50:52
[SPEAKER_03]: The biggest surprise for me was Parker Brailsford guys were you like kind of scratching your head with this one because I was first glance, I didn't understand that because I just looked at the size just like I looked at KC's dropping habits.
51:06
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, I was like, I don't know about this.
51:08
[SPEAKER_03]: Is he going to be a fullback?
51:09
[SPEAKER_03]: Are we going to try and make him into a record?
51:11
[SPEAKER_03]: Is that what we're going to do?
51:13
[SPEAKER_03]: But then, you know, I thought Jason Kelsey wasn't that big when they drafted him.
51:19
[SPEAKER_03]: And then I said, you know what?
51:20
[SPEAKER_03]: They are prioritizing off athletic offensive line guys.
51:24
[SPEAKER_03]: You know, a center that can pull is vital in any offense and it'll probably be vital amongst us.
51:31
[SPEAKER_03]: I'll round out the rest real fast.
51:33
[SPEAKER_03]: We got a spark plug in the linebacker Justin Jefferson, the other Justin Jefferson at Alabama.
51:39
[SPEAKER_03]: Tyden Joe Royer, Taylor and Green, who's a freak.
51:46
[SPEAKER_03]: I think he won every combine since it's real prior and another Tyden and Carson Ryan.
51:56
[SPEAKER_03]: Every single one of those picks addressed something that we need for, that was broken in 2025.
52:00
[SPEAKER_03]: Browns are just in a quiet talent.
52:04
[SPEAKER_03]: I think they acquired answers, but you guys can tell me.
52:09
[SPEAKER_03]: Miles Garrett trade, let's talk about it.
52:12
[SPEAKER_03]: I didn't want to, but it was part of the season, part of this season, sorry.
52:18
[SPEAKER_03]: When the 120-day reset happened, there is a rule that you can push certain bonuses back on the 50th day,
52:26
[SPEAKER_03]: after the new year, New League year starts.
52:30
[SPEAKER_03]: Browns did that for Miles Garrett.
52:33
[SPEAKER_03]: Didn't seem like much did it, except Josh, he warned us.
52:37
[SPEAKER_03]: Looking back, it was our first clue that I was telling you, if you've been watching this show, I took a big swim in that river.
52:45
[SPEAKER_03]: The old river of denial.
52:49
[SPEAKER_03]: Then on June 1st, obviously the, excuse me, the unthinkable happened.
52:57
[SPEAKER_03]: And the news broke.
52:58
[SPEAKER_03]: I had the same reaction that everybody else had.
53:00
[SPEAKER_03]: You don't try to unicorn.
53:03
[SPEAKER_03]: And that's a fair argument.
53:04
[SPEAKER_03]: He's a hallfamer on a tournament on the team for his rest of his career, just set the single sack record.
53:10
[SPEAKER_03]: It's one of the best defensive players of his generation.
53:13
[SPEAKER_03]: Players don't come around like that.
53:16
[SPEAKER_03]: But if you watch the show, you know the counter argument.
53:20
[SPEAKER_03]: Teams don't, they don't trade players like Jared Versy either.
53:25
[SPEAKER_03]: defensive rookie the year, two-time pro-baller, still 25 years old on a rookie salary?
53:32
[SPEAKER_03]: They don't do that.
53:34
[SPEAKER_03]: So the reality is, the situation became bigger than football.
53:37
[SPEAKER_03]: Miles went to radio row, we said that earlier, didn't want to be here anymore.
53:42
[SPEAKER_03]: I understand where he's coming from, spent nine years here, what can he do?
53:47
[SPEAKER_03]: He's not putting points on the board.
53:50
[SPEAKER_03]: He went through the changes, the quarterback changes, the front office rebuild after rebuild.
53:57
[SPEAKER_03]: He was a professional, put the sacks where he needed to be.
54:00
[SPEAKER_03]: But after nine years, he deserves a shot to win.
54:05
[SPEAKER_03]: And when a Super Bowl might be flimsy on the quarterback, he's depending on flimsy on his back.
54:14
[SPEAKER_03]: But the Browns are going to go in a different direction.
54:21
[SPEAKER_03]: Not around a person that's 30, they're building and accelerating or reset by a crying at 25-year-old cornerstone with draft capital.
54:32
[SPEAKER_03]: So I don't have any a little towards him quite honestly, I hope he wins a Super Bowl.
54:39
[SPEAKER_03]: He earned the opportunity.
54:41
[SPEAKER_03]: So why did they choose verse?
54:44
[SPEAKER_03]: Guys, I think it's because we had Carson Swissinger in the wings.
54:50
[SPEAKER_03]: doesn't have to be all-injured verse, although he sounds like he wants to be one, think about it.
54:55
[SPEAKER_03]: Man, you got a defensive cornerstone and you're trading miles.
55:02
[SPEAKER_03]: But, you know, Carson's defensive rookie, defensive rookie of the year came to quarterback of that defense.
55:08
[SPEAKER_03]: And now he's the face until verse comes around.
55:15
[SPEAKER_03]: So the Browns got that cornerstone.
55:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Now
55:21
[SPEAKER_03]: in this defense of wine, and we're just crossing our fingers with lottery picks because Jared versus isn't one, he's not a draft pick, he's not a projection, he's not a lottery ticket.
55:32
[SPEAKER_03]: He's a proven player that can play at a high level.
55:36
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns didn't replace Miles Garrett, you have to get that in your head, because you can't.
55:42
[SPEAKER_03]: But they did acquire a person that can define the next era of Brown's football.
55:48
[SPEAKER_03]: So when you have verse, Swesinger, Johnkins, Fanon, Bond, Conception, Sanders, Fanon, and all that additional draft capital.
55:59
[SPEAKER_03]: There's guys I'm not mentioning.
56:00
[SPEAKER_03]: There's just not enough time.
56:03
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns weren't tearing something down.
56:05
[SPEAKER_03]: They're building something new.
56:08
[SPEAKER_03]: So in your opinion, what is 2026 trying to be?
56:13
[SPEAKER_03]: The one thing I love about the offseason
56:18
[SPEAKER_03]: points in the same direction about, well, this, this offseason specifically for years that felt like the Browns were collecting talent without necessarily having a clear vision, Blake says it all the time, could talent throw against a wall, see what sticks.
56:34
[SPEAKER_03]: This offseason felt different, Munkton wants an offensive line that's athletic.
56:40
[SPEAKER_03]: They drafted Fano and they drafted Brailsford, Munkton wants to attack the middle of
56:47
[SPEAKER_03]: We got Fan in Jr. We also got KC, but he's got that that yacability, too.
56:54
[SPEAKER_03]: I want a physical running game.
56:57
[SPEAKER_03]: Look at Quinshawn.
57:00
[SPEAKER_03]: Look at look at a married Marshall.
57:02
[SPEAKER_03]: He's he looked physical last year.
57:04
[SPEAKER_03]: I think I think he's going to do something.
57:08
[SPEAKER_03]: Mountain wants a quarter but once quarterback
57:15
[SPEAKER_03]: What's Rutenberg's thing?
57:17
[SPEAKER_03]: Heart-mind-fist?
57:19
[SPEAKER_03]: They want aggression, they want players who attack.
57:22
[SPEAKER_03]: That's why questions are verse, Quincy Williams, and the rest of these defensive additions fit so naturally.
57:28
[SPEAKER_03]: So for the first time in a long time, every move the Browns made points towards the same identity.
57:34
[SPEAKER_03]: So what do you think?
57:36
[SPEAKER_03]: Where does that leave us heading in the 2020-26?
57:38
[SPEAKER_03]: I know you guys want the answer for us, but I can't tell anything in shorts just yet.
57:44
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns, though, I can't tell you just in tweak it.
57:46
[SPEAKER_03]: They rebuilt it.
57:47
[SPEAKER_03]: They changed the coaches.
57:48
[SPEAKER_03]: They rebuilt the offensive line.
57:50
[SPEAKER_03]: They added speed at receiver.
57:52
[SPEAKER_03]: They invested in depth for special teams.
57:57
[SPEAKER_03]: They found a franchise left tackle in Spencer, Fano.
58:01
[SPEAKER_03]: They found building blocks in all the guys that I've mentioned.
58:06
[SPEAKER_03]: Johnkins, Fanon, Carson, Swesinger, Casey,
58:15
[SPEAKER_03]: They'll go the same direction, and 2025 never felt like that.
58:22
[SPEAKER_03]: The Browns spent most of the season trying to figure out who the hell they were.
58:28
[SPEAKER_03]: I think now we know, will it work?
58:30
[SPEAKER_03]: I can't tell you that.
58:32
[SPEAKER_03]: But for the first time in the long time, it feels like every move the Browns made points to the same vision.
58:44
[SPEAKER_03]: But if the Browns get this right, they'll look back on that season as a moment that forced them to get to now.
58:54
[SPEAKER_03]: So see you later, 2025, hello, 26.
58:59
[SPEAKER_03]: And as always, guys, that's it.
59:01
[SPEAKER_03]: Tell me what you think.
59:02
[SPEAKER_03]: Leave a voicemail, go to thedocspodcast.com, go to socials.
59:08
[SPEAKER_03]: I had a blast doing this.
59:15
[SPEAKER_03]: The right track, so man, and for Josh, I hope he's enjoying lapsing his own education, but I am Kenny Mack, I'm out.
59:24
[SPEAKER_03]: Let's go Brownies.
59:28
[SPEAKER_02]: It's in our blood, it's in our bones, orange and brown Yeah, we ride for our own like a dog, pack running We ain't a long game day comes, get ready for the show It's our call, it's our walk, it's our song We stand tall, yeah, we've been here all alone Through it all, the dog has been strong We out there, we out there
59:48
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we all dogs.
59:51
[SPEAKER_02]: Thanks for listening to another episode of The Dogs Podcast.
59:55
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59:59
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