Kevin Stefanski sends clear message on Shedeur Sanders' first practice

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski began with a few quick-hitter comments after the start of rookie minicamp on Friday. He admitted that all players did a great job for the first day.

Stefanski also weighed in on the idea of making a good first impression and he thought they all represented themselves well. He further added that all of the players, included QBs, were early and ready for meetings today.

“I thought they all did a great job. They were all in their seats early for these meetings, all very compliant. A really good group of guys.”

Stefanski was asked about both rookie quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, and their ability to operate under center. He would go onto say that most drafted players who have operated primarily in shotgun will put in a fair amount of “under center” work before they get to the first practice, typically leading up to their respective Pro Day.

Stefanski also dispelled the age old concern by saying that most snaps in college happen from the shotgun, while most snaps in the NFL are also out of the gun primarily. Suggesting that an established ability to operate primarily under center simply isn’t the concern it used to be.

The second question asked in the press conference was about the figurative depth chart. The reporter in question likely looking for some sense between Gabriel and Sanders which is perceived to be ahead of the other. In typical Stefanski fashion, the coach attempted to squash this line of questioning too early. He claimed that no one should put much stock in who goes first or who gets more reps than the other. This is a long process and observers really won’t be able to make heads or tails of any of it until they get through the spring and summer workouts.

When asked what Stefanski is looking for physically he again, gave a non-answer. He would go onto to discuss the pre-draft process and all of the workouts, meetings, putting them through walk-throughs.

Since coming to Cleveland, they were put through meetings with some install information and asked to perform the more specific walk-throughs in uniform with the helmets on to see how much they retained from those meetings. Stefanski did add that he thought both quarterbacks did a good job with that exercise.

Stefanski was declarative that when they brought in additional try out guys, beyond the draft picks, they are trying to make the team. He then went in on a story about a tryout guy they brought in when Stefanski was with the Vikings. That player was Adam Theilen. A player Stefanski pointed out has made quite a career for himself. He went on to add that those tryout players are given every opportunity to make this team and are not simply camp bodies.

All of that being context behind adding tryout players to give Sanders and Gabriel more live reps early on in the process. Further cementing the idea that they are no where close on day 1 to knowing which quarterback is ahead of the other at this stage.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com asked a probing question that was delivered vague enough to be for either QB. However, Shedeur was the only rookie making news about community outreach prior to camp. The coachspeak that followed does not shed much light on that question.

“I wouldn’t go that far and say that exactly,” referring to if community outreach reflects leadership qualities and will be part of the QB evaluation. Stefanski added that they always encourage all their players to get out in the community. It’s an important part of what Jimmy and Dee (Haslam) believe in. He also mentioned that there is a portion of the offseason program where the team will talk to all the rookies about getting involved in the community.

Stefanski did say that if players are doing that ahead of time, that’s incredible, but did not give any indication if that will influence where guys fit on the depth chart.

With an atypical approach to rookie minicamp and inviting almost 50 players, how much prep went into this prior to this practice? Stefanski offered that there were a number of meetings and a multitude of walk-throughs before anyone stepped foot on the grass. He mentioned that it helps to have a room full of smart football people and he believes they have that.

As far as the individual reps, Stefanski again tried to caution the media group.

“This will probably fall on deaf ears, but don’t look too much into it. Check with Tony after each practice (a long running gag where Stefanski directs the rest of the media to check with Tony Rizzo, a fellow reporter for the details Stefanski doesn’t plan on sharing). There’s plenty of reps. Plenty of time between now and September, so we’ll have a plan. But its an all encompassing evaluation. Its not something that will be determined by just the practice reps.”

Stefanski was asked to expound on the quarterbacks given the importance of the position. He mentioned the process of creating a plan for the position, but they feel no urgency to put out a depth chart, especially in the early part of May.

They plan to vary the reps throughout, they are more focused on the totality of the Quarterback competition. He told the players Thursday night, we’re evaluating everything they do. Out on the field, in the meeting room, in the weight room, we want to see how they work. This is a total evaluation, its not about one rep in minicamp or one rep in OTAs, its really going to come down to the full body of work.

Stefanski remained on brand with this answer, suggesting that over the years he has always spoken to the team about the outside noise and the stance remains unchanged. We’re not so caught up in outside noise. We kind of worry about what’s going on inside, between our walls. We get that this game comes with a lot of attention, and that’s the fun part of it for our fans, but for our work, we concentrate on what’s inside those walls.

Stefanski, as a coach, is rather even keel. Rarely gives up information he does not deem necessary. Is rarely seen reacting emotionally and at times can be very “Belichickian” when it comes to press conferences. However, his body language and word choice would suggests that he believes what was said and views this quarterback competition to be wide open and nowhere close to resolved after one day.

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Kevin Stefanski sends clear message on Shedeur Sanders' first practice

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