Browns Must Learn the Lesson of the Jets Loss

Todd Monken was asked if the Browns can learn from what happened against the Jets. 

“Not really. I mean, they’re all big games,” Monken said. “The divisional games obviously, are critically important in terms of your goals and aspirations. But ultimately, it’s our job as coaches and players to embrace the process. And we talked a little bit today about; nobody really fantasizes about the work. They fantasize about the win. 

“They fantasize about making a game-ending shot or a kick or a play,” he said. “Where the real work is, is in your meetings and your prep, how you practice, the notes you take, being engaged every day, taking care of your body. 

“And that leads to all the things that you fantasize about, being in the locker roo,” he said. “So that’s all you remind them of, is how did you get to where you are now? And that’s by work, that’s by diligence, that’s by the process, that’s not by fantasizing about the end result.”

This week’s game in Tennessee is the first of three road games before the Browns return home on Nov. 15 against the Texans. After the Titans, the Browns play the Steelers and the Saints. 

Monken was asked how important this stretch is as the Browns will have four-straight home games with a bye in between to follow. 

“I knew it, but I just really am thinking about today,” he said. “I’m just thinking about having the best Wednesday we can have and looking at what we repped today out on the field, and that I feel like we’re taking another step forward as a team, especially offensively. 

“So, I really don’t look that far ahead,” he said. “Obviously, now that you brought it up, I do recognize that. I do know that’s the way the schedule was laid out for us. But all we can control is today.”

The Titans are coming off a 26-20 win over the Colts last Sunday, the most points the Titans have scored in a game this season. 

The Titans are tied for 31st in the NFL, averaging 14.0 points a game. On defense, the Titans are giving up 21.5 points a game, 13th in the NFL.

The Browns could make things much easier for themselves if they can get the offense on track. The Browns offense has scored just one touchdown in each of the last two games.

The Browns are currently tied for 28th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 17.7 points a game. 

It will be very difficult for the Browns to continue to win if they cannot score more than what they are currently doing on offense. 

Monken admitted that he did not envision the offense struggling as much as it has in his first year, despite being 4-2.

“I don’t think you ever go into a year expecting … I would just say you’re expecting it to go a lot smoother than it’s gone,” Monken said on Monday. “But I’m not frustrated. In a lot of ways, over the last few weeks, there’s certain parts of what we’re doing that I feel better about. In some ways I feel like we still have some work to do, and so that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Titans have not won back-to-back games in nearly four years and Monken was asked if the Titans are a dangerous team for that reason. 

“It’s a new coaching staff, new players,” he said. “Just like here, every year is a new year. So, I don’t know if that means a (heck) of a lot to them. Doesn’t mean much to me other than new coaching staff trying to establish a culture, develop their younger players, or a young team like we are,” he said. “And you saw a lot of progress last week. I mean, they won it in team fashion. Played good defense, had a couple of really big special teams plays, they won the turnover battle. 

“I really don’t look at any of that,” he said. “I just look at the players and the coaches, and they’ve got a tremendous coaching staff, not only at the coordinator level, but on down, and a really good young roster that’s just going to continue to get better.”

Extra Points

Schwesinger, Delpit, Elgton Jenkins Return: Three players that did not practice on Wednesday returned to practice on Thursday on a limited basis, including three starters, LB Carson Schwesinger (ankle), S Grant Delpit (concussion, shoulder) and C Elgton Jenkins (knee). 

Schwesinger spoke to the media before practice.

“Relatively this week, it's better than last week, so yeah, I mean that's just how it goes.”

Williams Misses with Neck Injury: LB Quincy Williams showed up on the injury report as not practicing with a neck injury. Williams was not on the injury report on Wednesday. 

Monken does not speak with the media on Thursday’s as it is the coordinator days with the media. 

Rutenberg was asked about Williams and he declined to offer any information, as it the custom.

“I’m going to leave all that to Monk (Monken), obviously, so I’ll just leave it at that,” Rutenberg said. 

Graham, Judkins, Sampson Still Practicing, but Limited: On Wednesday, three key players returned to practice and Monken said he anticipated the trio would play.

DT Mason Graham (knee, ankle), RB Quinshon Judkins (ankle)and RB Dylan Sampson (knee, IR) practiced on a limited basis. 

Monken was asked about the two running backs, if he was optimistic that they would play this week after missing last week. 

“I am,” he said on Wednesday.

When asked about Graham playing, he said there’s ‘a pretty good chance’ he will. 

All three players practiced again, on a limited basis, on Thursday. 

Players that did not practice on Thursday, besides Williams were: DT Kalia Davis (quad), DT Mike Hall (ankle) and G Teven Jenkins (back).