That they had your back and he'll help honest to do that. Yeah, it's huge, you know, having the support from your teammates, from your coaches. Um, you know, going out there in practice every day and seeing those old linemen just working with me and just you know, the communication.
Everything's been great, you know. So having that support, having this team behind me, um, really elevates my confidence and that'll help me play better on Sunday, of course, And this has been a dream if you were since you were a little kid. I know you're trying to keep it in perspective and just say it's just football and stay calm, But a part of you when you run out of that field on Sunday for the first time and suit up and start, what do you think your
emotions are gonna be? Like, Well, I thought done, I'm gonna be excited, you know I'm gonna be I'm I'm already excited. I'm trying to just control a little bit and just really focus in all week. Um, I'll be really excited. But like I said, once that kickoff happens, once we're playing ball, it's just football again. And Um, at the end of the day, I'll look back and realize it's just how special of a moment that really was for me. Um. But yes, I'm very excited for it.
But you know, it'll be football once we get going. Have you followed r G three's career and on? If so, have you learned anything from his career? Um? You know, I followed him a little bit, just like all the other quarterbacks. Um, but I'm not sure what to take about about that. Um So yeah, I don't know, being a small school guy coming in starting for the Eavens. I'm playing in the NFL because like we've had, you know, Doug Ways went to Grambling, Steve McNair, with the Alcorn
of course, Joe Flacco and people like that. But you're in a unique position. Man, How do you feel about that? Yeah, you know, I feel good. You know, I think everyone has their own story, everyone has their own background, and um, come from a smaller school, it just you you kind of have a chip on your shoulder a little bit, so to speak. But um, you know, I felt very confident with it, and it shows that it doesn't matter where you come from. If you can play, you can play.
So so I'm really excited for it. And Cleveland had the chance that to the draft you what was your pre draft experience with them, like and how close did you think it was going to come to them? Yeah? You know, the pre draft experience was kind of a roll in with with literally everybody. But um, you know, really, right now, my focus is on playing them now. Um, you know, I don't really want to address address the past and everything. I'm really ecstatic. I'm here and I'm
ready to go. Time did you get here this morning? I was here about five to fifteen along those lines. How much extra have you been doing this week in preparation now that you only have a week to get ready? Yeah, you know, I mean extra preparation. It's pretty normal. You know, it's pretty normal. I mean I've been preparing, you know, even though I haven't been playing, been preparing as if I were, you know, all the way through. Obviously it was preseason, so the preparation amps up a little bit.
You have a little more time, a little more film on your opponent and everything. But um, to me, this is just the beginning of the new normal. So someone about trying to build chemistry with that first team offense that you didn't have too many reps with in the preseason. To get that connection down with these guys in a week. Yeah, you know, it's big. You know, every rep is is huge.
Every rep is important if someone doesn't go right, you know, I'm grabbing the guys after practice, getting them after practice or during special teams drills or whatever, and really just repping it, um because the confidence that we both need
to have in each other is huge. So um, like I said, every rep is huge, and you know, I'm very confident that will will make the plays on Sundays, Describe your u interaction with Doug since you got here, since you were drafted, and as it intensified since learning that you would be the guy. Yeah, you know, interacting with Coach Peterson has been awesome from from day one. He's been nothing but very helpful. Um, you know, very
you know, he really just instills confidence in me. Just knowing that, Um, you know, he just has so much experience, you know, and the things that he sells me I can really take and trust from him and really coach right coach flip Um. Everything's been so positive with them, and you know, this week it doesn't feel anything crazier. You know, obviously we've had a little more communication but um, the communication, the lines of communication and really solid ever
since I got here. But they've been tough on you in some ways too. I mean it's football. You know they're pushing me, you know, but but tough is probably not the right word, but just challenging me to be the best I can be and really pushing me. It's it's all been really positive though. Person, to win right away, you're used to winning, You won in college, but to come in here in the NFL, it's a whole different
ball game. Despite limited experience in the preseason being hurt, do you think it'll be difficult to win right away? But you know, the goal is to win, you know, ultimately the goal is to win. So um, I'm not really concerned about each week or the final picture right now. It's just to win each week. So, UM, I don't see why we can't go out there and win every Sunday. We're going to go out there and compete. But you know, I don't have any you know, I've missed a couple
of games. You know, we don't have any concerns about that. It's just here going forward, and um, we're gonna put our best foot forward. Person is the fact that the Browns that they didn't have you evaluate as a top twenty quarterback in this league. At any extra motivation this Sunday, Well, you know that that's for one in the past, and you know, I'm very motivated individual the way it is, so I don't really have the need for for extra motivation going into this one person. You get here to
find fifteen what exactly what you're doing? You're just breaking out the film? Yeah, a lot of films study. You know, Chase got in here about the same time and we've been watching a lot of tape together and um, you know that's really studying the game plan and watching a lot of tape. Is it's really what you do? You have that open practice at the link. You said you were surprised you didn't expect that amount of people for the open practice And what is it going to be like?
Do you think you're you're a start here on Sunday at the Link? Yeah, I'm really excited for that. You know, I'm excited to play my first NFL game. But to get in front of these fans, um that are so hungry for for some wins and some things. That's um, seeing these fans in the passion they have. I'm excited. It's hector to get out there in front of them, and I know they'll they'll bring the juice. I know that you say you don't act like a rookie, and they they's hit in a positive way. What do you
think do you mean by that? Um? I guess I'm not really sure. We might have to ask them, but I think it's just the way I carry myself. But again, I might have to ask what those guys mean by that. There was a point in town where they the coach instead, they tweaked some of your mechanic as far as catching the throw on your footwork. You're gonna be in live game action. You have to go through your progressions, make
your reads. You have to do that quickly. What do you think is the key to being able to do that when you go out here on Sunday? I mean, the key is just to trust what you've done, you know up to this point, Like I said, a lot of the reps um that we've already had, going back even to offseason. Um, you know all the reps we've had, and just really trusting you know, a game plan hasn't changed,
nothing's really changes it's still just football. So you just got to trust, trust what you've been doing, and I think good things will happen. We have a lot of family everybody coming to parents. Yeah, there'll be There'll be a lot of family support here for me, that's for sure. Um, So I'm looking forward to that and looking forward to them getting able to share the experience with me as well. I want the regard this morning, you said that the stage won't be too big for you. What gives you
the confidence in that? Um? You know, that's that's a good question. It's just kind of an inherent, inherent characteristic and part of my personality. I don't, you know, really make things bigger than they need to be. You know, I still view it as a football game. Don't get me wrong. It's a it's a big deal, big moment for me, and I'm excited for it. But you know, I'm not trying to make it bigger than it needs
to be. It's it's still just game of football. And um, it's just an inherent confidence that I have about my game and about myself. Did you go with you allow yourself to enjoy it? Like absolutely this week this moment? Absolutely, No, I you know, football is a game that's that's fun and I got to keep it that way. And really I always have, you know, going back to college. Every every opportunity we had, even a practice, I enjoyed it and going into games or something, you know, you never
know when it could be your last. So it's something I definitely don't take for granted, and I go out there and enjoy it and have fun with it. Working with the starters this week, you know, for the first time, what do you think from what you've seen that you need to work on and say, you know what this is going to separate me, whether it's in week one or down the line. Um, you know, that's a good question.
I think just getting the reps with these ones. You know, we're really not focusing on down the line right now. It's just getting getting these reps and getting honed in on Cleveland what they're doing. And a lot of it comes in the film room as well, you know, getting on the same page as these receivers, as the old lineman, getting on the same page with Kelsey making the calls.
So I think it's really just focusing in on a lot of the communication and execution of Carson you talked about leadership before and said you have to kind of be yourself. But now that you're the starter of this team, do you have to kind of start off slower and ease your way into that leadership role and you take it from the beginning. Um, you know, I don't really change who I am. I never really have. Um, you know,
it's just kind of my personality and that comes out. Um, obviously being the starter, your influence in that area comes out a little more. But again, I'm not changing who I am. I'm not trying to put something else out there that that's really not me. So Um, again, that's just kind of natural thing that comes out Brown's defense in the film Studdy. Yeah, they do a little bit
a little bit of everything. Um. Coach Horton does, likes to likes to mix it up, and UM, you know, it'll be interesting to see what they want to do, what their game plan is for me. Um, so we'll kind of see what happened in this week kind of a crash course. And are you going over back and forth with Doug about things that you're really really comfortable with things maybe not so comfortable within the playbook at
this point. Yeah, we've had. We've had a couple of little exchanges like that with with Coach Peterson, with coach Ry, coach Flip, Um, we've kind of all relayed some some messages to each other. Um, nothing real in depth, but you know, as the game plan continues to get installed, but will definitely probably have more of those conversations to indicate that they're there are no limitations as far as the game play in the playbook going. Do you agree
with that? I mean you feel it's the case. Yeah, Yeah, I definitely believe that the playbook is it was wide open. We have everything at our disposal, and you know, I feel very confident with with everything. The other day, we Chase was disappointed. He wouldn't be human if he wasn't. He's also the ultimate team player and what's the best for the team. How's he been with you this week? Chase has been great. You know, ever since I got here,
Chase has been awesome. Um, and now this week has been even even better, you know, watching film and UM, he's he's another set of eyes for me when when I'm out there taking the reps and m helping after practice and everything. He's been nothing but but really helpful for me. So so that's been good as a good first game for you. Um, you know, obviously we want to win. You know, the goal is to win, and I just want to you know, play with him myself
and just execute this offense. You know, I don't need to do anything crazy. I just need to go out there and execute and um, manage this offense and do it well. So the goal is to win. Will you do anything? What will you do? I guess Saturday night leading up to the Sunday for the game, will just be your head in the book? Do you do you have like a some sort of ritual before a game? What would you do before? Um, you know, nothing. I
don't think it'll change much of anything. It's really just hang out, you study your playbook, you hang out with the guys, um at the hotel and everything. So it's it's really I don't even anticipate anything crazy changing. Um. So yeah, thanks, thanks everybody,