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Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur Press Conference 10-1-12

(Opening Statement) – “We’re back at it. It was good for the players to get away for a day or so. We had a chance to go through what we’ve done to this point in the year. Of course, we’re not where we want to be yet. We’re putting all our energy and our focus into beating the Giants. It was a good practice today. Guys ran around. We are working mostly on fundamentals and doing all the things right, and then of course, we snuck a peak at the Giants. That’s where we’re at.”

(On updates on Mohamed Massaquoi, Travis Benjamin and Joshua Cribbs) – “They are all day to day.”

(On if T.J. Ward had to have surgery) – “He did. I think I said the thumb, right? It was the thumb, yeah. He did.”

(On when Ward had surgery) – “(It was) a couple days ago.”

(On if he’s still hopeful Ward will be able to play) – “He’s day to day. (It was the) Same procedure Bubba (Ray Ventrone) had and he’s back.”

(On if he can go into the game with three wide receivers or if they would have to make a roster move) – “We’ll have to see. We’ll make the roster as good as we can make it. We’re going to put the guys on the field that can play and will give us the best opportunity to win. If we have to use three tight ends alright. If we have to use two receivers, whatever the combination is, we got plenty of plays and a lot of ideas. We’ll put the guys out there that give us the best chance to win.”

(On if he watched the Giants vs. Eagles game) – “I did, last night and this morning.”

(On what he learned from watching the Giants game) – “What did I learn? Just like a lot of games this weekend, a lot of games come down to the very last play, so you just keep playing. At no point in the game do you ever get discouraged, you just keep playing hard. You just never know what’s going to happen. Two very good teams played one another. I was involved in a lot of those contests, and I remember the feeling of those games.”

(On if there an advantage or disadvantage to playing the Giants with them coming off of a loss) – “I think each week you reload and you do what you can to get your team as good as they can be and match up against the opponent in a way that you can go out and win a football game. I think regardless of whether you win or lose, you try to reset and move forward.”

(On increasing the tempo of the offense) – “There were times in the game where you can create tempo from the huddle as well, so tempo is one thing. I think we’ve helped ourselves in some ways, and I think there are areas that we are playing better offense than we did a year ago. Now, we just have to become more consistent and put together an effort that’s good enough to win a game.”

(On Josh Gordon and what are some areas where he can improve) – “Josh is learning. Every practice, every game opportunity, he’s learning something new. He just needs to continue to learn. I think he’ll find a way to be productive here in a way that we expect soon.”

(On if he likes Gordon’s effort level since the regular season began) – “He’s learning how to do everything at our standards.”

(On Eric Hagg being inactive the past two games and if it was an issue with his confidence) – “It’s true he hasn’t started, but I don’t think it has anything to do with is confidence, not one bit. I’m very confident that if he’s in there, he’s going to do great. If he’s called on the play, he’ll go in there, and of course we expect he’ll have a very productive game.”

(On if Usama Young is bouncing back from his knee injury) – “He was at practice. (He) looks good. I don’t know what he’s bouncing back from, but he’s out there.”

(On if Josh Cooper has the ability to improve his role) – “I’ve watched him improve just as he’s really mocking up the other team’s offense. I think he works extremely hard. A lot of routes are similar from team to team, and he has an opportunity to run some of the concepts that we run. I’ve seen him improve in this first month for sure.”

(On how Brandon Weeden has improved from his first game to game three) – “I think he’s getting better. Each game, of course, presents a different situation. I think there are things that I’m seeing him do behind the scenes that are better and better. Now, we just have to put together a winning performance start to finish. I think that’s what we’re all striving for.”

(On what some of those behind the scenes things are) – “Whether it’s a how he handles the huddle, going through his progression, making his reads, just normal quarterback stuff.”

(On why all the younger quarterbacks are doing well in the NFL) – “Well, I think first of all and we’ve talked about this in the past, I think they’re coming to this league with more knowledge of how to play quarterback at this level. I think that’s fair to say. A lot of these guys have been involved in spread offenses. A lot of guys have been in a lot of pass first offenses. Heck, I remember when I was at Michigan State, we had five plays and some of the guys only knew four of them. You weren’t getting the same training that you get now coming into this league. I think it helps jump start their performance.”

(On if Jordan Norwood getting open is one of his strengths and if drops are because he was inactive) – “I think he finds a way to get open. I expect him to catch the ball whether he is played or not. He expects that of himself. I don’t attribute it to anything really you just have to catch the ball.”

(On if Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao can effectively block on the perimeter) – “I think so. I think they’re guys that can play guard in this league. We ask them to do some and more of the things that you ask me about. They have to be able to block in line and then we do like to screen and we do like to attack the perimeter. Yeah, I think they can.”

(On Travis Benjamin’s status) – “We’ll see. He’s day to day as well.”

(On if the injuries will put the punt/kickoff return load on Norwood or if there is another candidate) – “That’ll be a fun thing for you guys to do. Do the math.”