Todd Monken & Deshaun Watson - From the Podium - 9.13.26

0:00At Edward Jones, we believe Rich means opening yourself to new possibilities. That's why your dedicated financial advisor meets you where you are, helping you move forward with confidence. Let's find your Rich. Edward Jones, member SIPC. Game day calls for a winning lineup and Applebee's has you covered. The new, cravable, OM-Cheese Adia Burger is now available on the 2 for 25 menu. It's a juicy burger wrapped inside a cheesy quesadilla served on a skillet of queso with crispy tortilla chips. Trust, once it arrives at the table, you'll have a hard time resisting the pull. The Applebee's 2 for 25 menu offers abundant value, cravable portions, and great variety at an unbeatable price. Choose one full-size appetizer in two full-size entrees for only $25. Hurrian, before this limited time offer is gone. Tax, gratuity, beverage, and dessert not included. Life moves fast. At American Military University, they're ready to help you keep up.

1:00AMU's flexible, affordable online programs and cybersecurity, IT, space studies, and more are designed for service members, veterans, and their families. AMU provides the support you need to take the next step wherever life takes you. American Military University, it is made for what's next. Learn more at AMU.APUS.EDU. Welcome to this post-game edition of The From the Podium Podcast. I'm Gabe Calura. The Browns fell in their week when showdown in Jacksonville against the Jaguars by final score of 30-4-10. On this episode, you'll hear from head coach Todd Munkin and quarterback Dishon Watson. We'll start with your head coach Todd Munkin, who gave his thoughts on the game. We rode the way we expected without really seeing the tape. The obvious issues came in operation, and a couple delay games and full starts that we thought we cleaned up, but obviously we didn't.

2:00So we got work to do. But again, it's not about the work, because our guys worked. So since I've been here, our guys have worked. All they've done has come every day and give us everything they got. So obviously we got a coach better, got a skim it better. We didn't give ourselves a chance. We did exactly what we wanted to start the game. We're going to take the ball, hope to get a heck of a return, and get momentum going, and try to put them on their heels, and then we turn it over. And then we couldn't get a first down to get our defense off the field. I mean, that is a recipe to get run out of a dang arena stadium, whatever the hell you want to call it, is you can't get a first down, can't get off the field on third down, and the things that you can't do to win. That's the way it is. And like I told the team, I mean, there is no testimony without a test. It's just one of them. And this is one of the 17 games we've got. And we certainly didn't play well enough. We certainly didn't coach well enough. But I love our guys. I love the way

3:03they work, and we're going to all own it, and come back tomorrow and fight like hell to fix it. That's what you do. Kind of, is there something you saw on the shot today that you hadn't seen out of him before, like you're in training camp, or you know, season? I mean, that surprising that the way he didn't play, you know, to your expectation. Well, it wasn't all him. It really wasn't all him. I mean, that's that's unfair. Uh, certainly could have called it better. Certainly could have played better around him. Certainly, there's plays. I'm sure he wished he had back. There are certain things operationally that weren't clean enough. I was getting in and out of the huddle, getting our subs in, um, being up against it. And saying that you're on the road or the heat or all that's just a bunch of, that's just a bunch of excuses. We practiced with noise. It was relatively hot there. We just, there's nothing like doing it in a game where the repercussions of, of the issues that come with it. And that's just the way it is. I mean,

4:04I'm not, I'm not down. I'm disappointed. I mean, you're not going to get me down. I mean, if we had a long time being head coach in this league, man, it's freaking awesome. And we're not where we want to be. And they better get us now. I mean, because, because again, we've got a good, young group and we just didn't play well the day. We can say that it wasn't all him. Does that mean that you're sticking with De Shander for next week in Tampa? I'd rather just talk about today because I haven't had time to even look at the tape. I mean, I'm sure it's hell not firing me. Not firing our staff. I'm not giving it all of our players. So he happens to be one of 53. And, however many practice squad guys we got and our staff, he's one of that. So we'll evaluate everything. But to just say that emotionally here at the end when we're, you know, I mean, he was didn't play good enough. They didn't coach well enough. They have the number one secrets against the run. Did you have more of a game plan around the room? Was that your intention? Well, first of all, the opening drive, which we got a couple of first downs, I think. I think.

5:14Okay. And we had a couple of runs in there. There were more attrition runs. And then between whether it was play action, run in the ball, I think we went three and out, three and out and two and out. And it's hard to establish anything when you don't get the first first down. That's just, that's normal football, man. You know, you want to be really good on offense and you got to get that first first down. I know that's captain obvious because if you don't get the first first down, you're punting. I get that. But the obvious thing is it's hard to call multiple runs in your play action game because you're really running it, might throw it, run it, then you're in third downs, and we're in third and long a bunch. So ultimately, and then we still had a chance before half. You know, we get a two minute drive together. And then we just, you know, get a couple holding calls and then a couple of five yard procedural penalties that just, you know, I mean, got on that. I'm the head coach of this team and it's not good enough, but it's just one. You know, and we got we got the right guys to fix it. I know you said that, um, you know, it's like, for that season,

6:17the only two things, but it was already a decision that, you know, you're a lot of kind of questions, externally, why are you confident that Sean will play better than not only we see it, well, first off, um, we'll analyze everything that we do. It's not just him. Okay, we're, we're putting this on to Sean. Okay, which is unfair. Okay. And whatever there is externally, doesn't matter to me. That doesn't affect me. That has nothing to do with my decision making. Okay, my decision making is what's best for the Browns now and moving forward. That doesn't mean that I, that I don't understand the frustration. I've said that since I've been here, same with me. Okay, I didn't take this job to lose. Okay, so, and I'm, I'm not trying to be rude. Please don't, it's just the end of the game, the way we played. So we're going to analyze everything of how we do it, how we coached, starting with me, how we do it offensively, defensively. And to Sean is a part of that, right? Always has been. Always will be. As our quarterbacks will be. And then we'll assess it

7:20and go forward. But I, I really want to just think, you know, for today, I speak about today. And until I really get a chance to watch it and really drill down, um, it's unfair for me to really comment on anyone giving player, um, because it's never as bad as you think. And it's usually never as good as you think. Now it's hard to say that right now. It's really going to play very well. We really didn't. Do you think that Sean is playing tenently? I did not see that today. He let that ball rip that was an interception. He let it rip. He just didn't see him or the defender made a great play on it, right? I mean, I still, I thought he started the game great. Uh, we had a play action start the game and they got depth. He checked it down. We got a first down. Uh, we had a second down. He hit, uh, KC, right? And we get a first down. We get a nice run at second and five, right? Let's, let's see if we can push the ball down the field and check it down. And that's going to happen, right? Otherwise, we're just going to run it and throw a quick game. And, uh, I'm sure he'd want that back. But I think he let it rip like that was not tentative on that throw. And some of the throws about the end

8:26of the game, right? At the end of the game, he was not tentative. I mean, he made some good throws towards the end, uh, when we gave him time and when we had opportunities to get it down the field, we never got into a rhythm. It's so hard to judge like it's so frustrating. Like you watching it, us calling it us doing it wasn't good enough, but it wasn't just one player. Um, we all got to own it. And, uh, and then fight like hell to get better. That's what we're going to do. You said you felt good about showing up ready to play. So what the operational things are, something you point to as the wider. Well, it's not usually not one thing. We got to get in out of the huddle or substitutions. You know, our guys got to be ready to go or skill players. And, um, and then when we're down on the clock, we got to do a better job when we're asking for the football, if getting the football, because the times you're going to be down on the clock, but we only had a, we had a couple of men. I took a time out. So let's not go beyond that. I'm not trying to pile on myself for God's sakes, but we got to be better. And that's something I pride myself in. And whether it's the length of the calls or us getting in out of the huddle and our skill

9:30guys get lined up. I mean, that's the way it is. And that's not good enough. What you said about playing the defense? Uh, I wouldn't know. First of all, this is the NFL. I would just say that. I would just say that, um, if you do this enough, I mean, you're going to get humbled. That that's what we do. Um, it doesn't matter what team in the NFL, um, you know, there's, we didn't play well enough. And we didn't coach well enough. And that's always going to be it. You're going to get tired of me saying that. It's a we thing. It's not a me. It's not a they thing. It's a we thing. And we're going to fight like hell to get better. That's what I've always done. That's we're going to continue to do. And our guys. I have no reason to believe that we're not going to come back tomorrow. Look at it, own it. And uh, and fight like hell to get better. Come Wednesday. I can't comment on that now. I mean, I really can't without really seeing it. Uh, in between, did I see it with my own eyes, of course, but in between series, I'm, I'm looking at what we're

10:34doing offensively trying to get that right. Um, and so obviously, there's a lot to learn. Right? There's a lot to learn and grow from here. I'm disappointed, but I'm fired up to get back to work. That's all you can do, right? In life and as a football team. And that's what we're going to do. We're going to own where we could be better. And that's a really good football team. I mean, holy cow, they ended the year. I said, what were they went eight and a row and then lost at home in the playoffs and could have won and they got a hell of a quarterback and a really good coaching staff. And uh, we just weren't good enough today. And again, it didn't, we started the way we wanted. We just didn't really finish the first drive to give ourselves a chance. And then really that, that part to the halftime really, uh, was where it was, where it was won and lost. So you opted for even starters in late, just like sort of a lot of side school were just, but I think in time, trying to get some valuable in game wraps and what you kind of think of some of the momentum that the office kind of is. 100%. I mean, I like, I like watching good football. I mean,

11:39you know, and I think our guys needed that. I mean, we need our guys to play. I mean, we need our guys to play. I don't care who it is. It's out there. I had spot the ball, man. Let's go play. And I wanted our guys to gain some confidence if we could. And luckily, you know what started that drive, you know what started the last drive, let's being able to run the football. That's what started that drive. And we had to check down and we got some yards out of it. That's what we didn't do after the first drive. Play calling, coaching, playing. We never got that going, right? It's hard to really get that momentum going when you're play here, play here, a third Nate near off the field. I think that's really seem to be substituting first series with the heat index in mind, obviously. But do you think they just wore down early in the day? Well, it's all part of it. It's a good point is that we had this style of defense and even they subbed it with their, they were like us. They were subbing guys in and out trying to keep them fresh. We didn't force them to sub. We didn't

12:42force them in the second, first second quarter. We went three and out, three and out, two and out, pay off the sub. Hell, they got to go over there and sit down. If you have an extended drive, you're going to have to sub, especially early in the year with the heat. That was, that was, that was what was expected. And we're going to rotate our guys. And if you're going to ask you guys to play all out, then you've got to feel good about your depth and go play. And obviously, like I said, that's a, that's a part of it. Our rotation, our coaching and the way we play. Todd, you started for a work he's on offense in this game between Casey and so the two linemen just, obviously, you're only going to walk the tape with just your initial thoughts on just kind of how they handled the moment and how they performed. Well, they're fine. They're fine. I mean, again, it's hard to really without, it's a little easier with the skill players, right? Because they're detached. You can watch them a little bit in their play, but obviously they turn over by Casey, not ideal. But I don't think with those guys, the moment's not too big. I mean, I think Spencer Fano's going to be a tremendous player. Casey and Denzel are going to be tremendous players.

13:46Austin Barber's going to be a tremendous player. And till I see the film, it's going to be hard to really say, but the moment wasn't we just got to get in and out of the huddle with more efficiency. Play calls, the length of the calls, possibly, because we were up against the clock a little more than I like. And then we got to be able to, again, that's part of playing the game, right? It's never the same. The closest thing we had to that was really practice against the bills and a couple of drives against the bear. So we'll be better cuss of it. So I just Zion, obviously, I mean, it looked really bad there when he initially went down, but he right back in any. Well, he came back in. So we'll have to see, you know, obviously the adrenaline, anybody that's ever had some form of injury and going back in hell. We've all, if you played basketball, you played new noops and you figured out and get your ankle back and you go play. And then the next day, like, well, man, holy cow, not as good as I thought it was, but for him to come back and

14:49play real credit to him and fight, we'll have to see tomorrow when he gets back in. But, again, credit to him. I think he did. Again, I can't speak for him. And I would never want to speak for Deshaun. I got a lot of respect for Deshaun. How hard he's worked and come back. And there was a lot of good. Unfortunately, there was not enough early in the game. And there wasn't enough opportunities to really get moving. And that's really where it, you know, when we went three and out, three and out, two and out. And, you know, then we just didn't really ever get started and get them into a substitution pattern and really playing plays off plays. And so it just wasn't good enough. At that point, you're going to be behind the eight ball. I mean, you're not going to get the

15:51defense off the field and you're not putting points on the board. And it's going to be like that. And that's obviously the challenge. And with where we're at. And driving the drive at the end of the first half where Deshaun started to get something going on the 20th of the year. And the next one you're passing then you guys just kept going backwards. Was that just kind of does that encapsulate sort of how this then went a little bit? Yeah, I mean, it's never one person. It's not. The focal point is going to be on the head coach, the coordinators and the quarterback. And that's what it should be. That's where it should be. Got a coach better. We got to scheme it better. And we got to play better. But that's a perfect example of it, right? There's nothing he did in terms of the holding calls or sure we added to like some of that's him. But ultimately, we got to play better, got a coach better, and we will. At Edward Jones, we believe Rich is about taking care of what gives your life meaning. That's why your financial advisor personalizes your

16:52plan to help you preserve your progress and create something that lasts. Let's find your rich Edward Jones, member SIPC. The people have spoken and McDonald's listened back by popular demand. McDonald's is firing up your taste buds with the return of spicy McNuggets plus mighty hot sauce to turn up the heat. That's right. McNuggets just got hotter. You can taste it now. The crispy crunch of a McNugget coated and seasoned perfectly with aged cayenne and chili peppers and dialed up and dipped in the mighty hot sauce with a little more kick and just the touch of sweetness. You can taste it. Ow right. McDonald's packs plenty of flavor and spice into each bite. And that should get your attention. So grab some extra napkins. Get yourself to McDonald's now and spice up your day with the hot combo of spicy McNuggets and mighty hot sauce. After all, you can take the heat right. Get them while they're literally hot at participating McDonald's for a limited time. For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters.

17:57Tremphaya offers self-injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Tremphaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self-inject Tremphaya proper training is required. Tremphaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them and liver problems may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms or need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Tremphaya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit TremphayaRadio.com. Finally, here's quarterback Tashawn Watson. Tashawn, can you just start with if you were driving, you're going down and ready to take

18:58everything to the pig and I kind of went from there. So what kind of happened there? Yeah, it just, the guy made a good play. I saw the colors they brought the blitz late up the middle and they timed it out very well. Got an off-platform and 23 made a good play. That's pretty much how that kind of played out. And then we're just going to get a rhythm back. Couldn't pit drives back. They helped the defense and Jacksonville may plays and got points and we did it and I think that's where the game kind of got away. Tashawn, we'll seem like a little bit operationally. There was a lot of choppy dance, a lot of struggles. What do you sort of attribute that to today? Yeah, I think just trying to get in and out the huddle, you know, being down on the clock, trying to operate, getting in the best play situation, best play possible in each situation. And sometimes the clock was against us and I just didn't go our way. So we got to be better with that and out the huddles and having ourselves getting to the ball, having the chance to have more

19:58time on the clock to get in the best play. How confident are you that you can just shape this off and come back strong next week in Tampa and have a good performance there? That's the plan. I mean, each week is different regardless if the people that would have went the other way. We would be saying, you know, move on from this one tomorrow day. Tomorrow as we watch the tape. So, you know, we get another opportunity next week and, you know, try to pit once together and get a W. So we got a lot to learn from this tape and, you know, keep pushing forward. So the operation starts with the play being called. What was the play getting called late? No, I want to say that. I mean, once the play ends, they, you know, they start the clock. So, you know, we switch personnel. Guys coming from the sideline. So again, you know, it starts with, you know, me and coach Monk and, you know, me being taken charge of that huddle and getting guys in and out so they can make sure they have operation, the operation. So, yeah, you can just put that on the quarterback and making sure that, again, you got to figure out what the defense is doing, you know, doing a lot of disguises and making sure that they're manned zone or whatever that

21:02check is for us to get in the right play. I mean, we're hoping for a W. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, we've been in so much work, especially myself to come in and be successful. But, you know, it's in a field. It doesn't go that way all the time. So, you know, you play, you learn, and you have those opportunities. And, yeah, this is a great, that's what it, the NFL is a heart, it's a heartlead. And, you got to, you know, be weak the week and try to be better each and every time. And, you know, what I was expecting is, you know, obviously, you know, better results for us, better operational for us, offensively, and, you know, I just went against this on the road. So, we got to learn from that and grow from it and be better. What's the most exciting football that you want to play and how quickly can you get to that?

22:05I think we just got to find a rhythm overall. I mean, you know, of course, everyone's going to look at the quarterback in this situation. Overall, I haven't even looked at the bot score or whatever the stat. So, I don't even know what that looks like. But, yeah, I mean, we got to put points in the board. And, that's what you got to do on his lead. And, playing the quarterback position, you're the leader in that role. And, we didn't do that today. We only got 10. And, we left a lot, I left a lot out there. So, obviously, you know, I take that responsibility for the auto. And, we got to look at the tape and see how we can be better and try to attack, you know, time of baiting that sweet to be able to, you know, get points on the board to be able to get wins. I'm sure that it didn't feel differently. You've come back often, breaks the score in 2022. And, and in 2024, did it feel differently for you this time? Or, in terms of the rust? And, you know, just kind of getting back into kind of true games, up the true games, me.

23:10Honestly, I'm not even sure. 22 is such a blur. I mean, it was so much going on. I can't even remember how 22 other than playing in Houston. That was just, they happened so fast. So, I'm not even sure how to answer that question, honestly. Obviously, you had the preseason, but just to be honest, an actual meaningful game after that your time off and all that, just were you at kind of emotionally and mentally, both like pregame and then throughout? I mean, it's a lot of emotions, honestly. Two years off, back against the wall. Yeah, it's definitely a lot of emotions, a lot of anxiety and a good way, because you just don't know how the game is going to go. You don't know how your body is really going to hold up, playing full four quarters at a high tempo. So, this is my first time being able to put my body through that and came out healthy, which is a positive, which we would have

24:11got the W. But at the same time, it was definitely a lot of just different emotions from just all over the place. But I'm happy that I was able to come out healthy and put together a healthy game. And now we just got to get some W's and get points on the board. On that note, when you're getting to get that often, physically, I know it's a fix at home, can it be mentally difficult to get past that when it just seems like you're on the back, like frequently from the past ones? Yeah, I mean, it takes, especially for a quarterback, because you got to call the play, you got to think, you got to be able to move onto the next play, you got to be able to operate, see what the defense is trying to do, to get the ball in the right position, right spot. So it can definitely do that. But you just got to build that stamina. And again, I think my answer to him, but his question is just kind of like, you know, you got to the reps in the time and the opportunities that I get, you know, I got to continue to just grow from them and build on that.

25:13So it's definitely, it can definitely be tough, but at the same time, you know, you got to keep pushing through. I've had more touchdowns to Boston. You didn't target in much, but was something preventing you from getting involved in the Zerick? There was a lot of cloud coverage. They played a lot of two out of shell when we were in Zebra, 11 first and now. So they were taking away those crosses and digs. So it was hard to kind of get outside. Towards the end, they kept trying to, you know, show it too high, but the backside safety would approach me as we call it, back side. So he would be one on one. So I wish we would have found that earlier on in the game. But they did a good job of trying to cloud and take back the, what we call pat the paint, pat the middle of the field and make us throw it outside or check it down for sure. So the first section, did you sort of get a little bit riled by that and have to gain your confidence back? No, I mean, bad plays are going to happen all the time. They'll go all around the league. Like

26:13everyone throws into the substance, everyone make bad plays and, you know, you got to give defense credit. He made a good play on that, you know, I thought, you know, even though I got knocked off my platform a little bit, I thought I got it over him and he reached up and grabbed it. So, you got to move on to the next play and try to move forward and try to put some positive on the next drive. You know, we weren't able to do that. And so I didn't really bond up my confidence as just we didn't get back on track. I'd be wanted to. Oh, yeah, I mean, just keep moving forward. Keep stepping forward. You know, I keep smiling. I have a growl-assif who's against me or who's with me. You know, and I think that's more beneficial for the team in that locker room. So, you know, I've had a lot of support in that locker room after the game. You know, tell them you keep my head up. Keep pushing forward. Keep working. They behind me. So that's always positive to see and here. And, yeah, we just got to keep going. So, you know,

27:15the adversity is going to be there. It's going to, you know, you got to embrace it. That's the only way, you know, I thought it was going to be going two years ago, but I guess not. So, you know, just embrace it and keep pushing through until, you know, you break that wall through. That'll do it for this episode of The From the Podium Podcast. Be sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. Keep it locked to Cleveland Brown's daily each week day and follow the Browns on social media for more coverage from the Cross Country Mortgage Campus right here in Berea. I'm Gabe Colera. Thanks for listening to The From the Podium Podcast. Some people use chatGPT to answer questions. Others use it to get real work done. With chatGPT work, you bring the goal. Plus, real inputs like briefs, notes, files, feedback, data and project plans. It can help turn them into an analysis, tracker, deck outline, prototype or workflow you can review and keep shaping. You stay in control, giving direction and choosing the final output. Put chatGPT to work on your most ambitious ideas and projects. Get started at chatGPT.com by selecting Work Mode, available on Plus and Pro plans.

28:15This episode is supported by FX's The Drop, plus Snowfall saga. Wanda and Leon are back, but this time they're chasing a different kind of legacy. As West Coastwrap begins to take over 90s Los Angeles, Wanda is betting on a new generation of artists. But in a city where every opportunity comes with a price, they'll have to decide what they're willing to risk to leave their mark. FX is The Drop. Now streaming on Hulu. I love the little everyday moments with my dog, especially treat time. But dental care, not always so fun. Until we found Greeny's dental treats, these are more than just tasty. They're vet recommended and designed to support the four areas vets check the most. Plack, charter, gums and breath. Their unique texture cleans down to the gum line and supports cleaner teeth after 28 days when fed daily. It's a simple daily habit that supports their health and gives us another moment to enjoy together. Greeny's Make Health A Treat. Shop Now at Greeny's dot com.