Eric Mangini Press Conference

[Barking Hard]

Eric Mangini talks to the media

[BernietheKid]

Mangini press conf. transcript - 10/14

Posted 4 hours ago

The transcript of Eric Mangini's Thursday morning press conference.

Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini press conference 10-14-10
(Opening statement)- “Good morning everybody. In terms of the guys that missed yesterday it will be the same group here today that will miss. As you know yesterday we traded Jerome Harrison for Mike Bell. I think as Peyton’s (Hillis) role has expanded and all the good things that he’s done, the plays that we have for him have expanded. Mike Bell is a guy that we liked in the free agency process and really complements and is more of a fit for the type of plays that we use with Peyton. I thought that was a good fit for us. Obviously, Philly thought that Jerome was a good fit for them so it worked out for both sides. We are excited to have Mike here. Scott (Fujita) had played with him in New Orleans and said a lot of really positive things about him as a person. Obviously, we researched him further than Scott but he’s a guy who’s played with him here recently. We are excited about having him here and getting him working and getting him acclimated to the system and the organization. I really wish Jerome nothing but the best with Philadelphia and the things that he’s looking to do. In terms of Colt (McCoy) yesterday, he got the bulk of the reps and I thought that he did a really nice job. I thought for his first opportunity to be in that position he operated the offense well both mechanically in terms of the reads and the things that he has to do in that role. I was pleased with that and Brett (Ratliff) got some work as well and I thought he did a nice job also. Defensively, I think we had a pretty good day in terms of understanding how we have to play this offense and it is an explosive offense in a lot of ways and then they have the ability, like Atlanta, to grind out a lot of yards on the ground and control time and possession.”
(On if he expects Mike Bell to be ready to play Sunday)- “We’ll see here today Tony (Grossi), but I’d say yes he’s probably going to be up and play.”
(On if Peyton Hillis will be okay to play by Sunday)- “Yes.”
(On if James Davis can help at running back)- “James has had some opportunities and will continue to get some opportunities. It’s really going to be based on what he does and what he continues to do at practice, carving out that role on special teams. As we know, things can change pretty dramatically week to week and when you get that chance you want to maximize the chances that you do have.”
(On if Davis brings a speed element the other running backs don’t have)- “James does some good things in terms of getting vertical but I think that Peyton has done some nice things in the open field and has broken some long runs. I don’t really know how he dramatically changes things, I think they all have some pluses in that area.”
(On if Bell is an open field game-breaker)- “I’d say he’s more of a tough, physical runner. I don’t think he’s deficient in that area, but I’d say he’s had some similarities to Hillis that way.”
(On why Jerome Harrison got phased out with the same offensive coordinator and offense)- “I really don’t think it was a function of being phased out. I think it was a function of Peyton Hillis really doing a great job expanding his role. Even though it’s the same coordinator, same offense things change within the offense, things evolved within the offense and I think that Peyton has expanded his role. Mike is a guy that we had looked at and thought would be a good fit when we were looking at free agents in the off-season. When he became available and with Peyton’s expanding role and the type of plays that we run with him this was more of a fit for us than Jerome.”
(On if Harrison not being happy the past few weeks played a role in him being traded)- “No, no role at all. Our decision is not going to be based on that at all. If anybody’s ever dissatisfied with either their role or their situation you always have the chance to talk to me about that and sit down. That’s ongoing and we hadn’t had that conversation so my assumption is that he understood his role but that’s really what it was. This decision and any of these decisions are going to be made based on what we think is going to help us move forward as a team as opposed to that side of it.”
(On if he thinks the Steelers will blitz more against a rookie quarterback)- “They do blitz quite a bit. It is Blitzburgh. I’m sure that they’re going to do things that they think is going to beat the protection, beat the scheme and there is always something creative that they come up with each game. That’s something that they’ve done for a long time, they’ve done well for a long time. It hasn’t really been exclusively with young quarterbacks, sometimes when it gets rolling it happens a little bit more. Sometimes it’s a feeling that they have based on the style of offense you’re playing or the blocking scheme they’re playing you see a jump in the percentage of blitzes. Some of it depends on how they are viewing it from a coverage protection perspective in addition to the possibility of facing a young guy.”
(On dealing with the size of Ben Roethlisberger)- “He’s tough to get down, I think the priority is to get him down. We are always going to be conscious of not doing something that’s going to create a penalty but this isn’t a guy that goes down easily and when he escapes he usually makes you pay for it. He doesn’t make you pay on something short, typically it is down the field 20, 30, 60 however many yards down the field. You’ve got to hold on and sometimes it’s hold on and wait for reinforcements and sometimes it’s just hold on and do what you can to get him down.”
(On why they were a day late with the Bell trade)- “That wasn’t really something that I was doing actively, it was Tom (Heckert) and Philadelphia. With any trade you’d love to get it done as early as you possibly can where both parties have the player for the full work week but sometimes you just can’t get it worked out. It just happens that way it’s not that you’re planning to get him a day late, it’s just sometimes that’s how it works.”
(On how Rashard Mendenhall compares to other running backs they have faced so far)- “He does a really good job. He’s got a nice combination of that downhill physical back where he can hit the whole or cut back and stay in between the tackles and then he can bounce it and get the edge and hurt you there, which he has done to a lot of teams. You saw his run in overtime against Atlanta to win the game, that big play so he’s got that big play potential as well. He continues to develop and he’s a real nice fit for what they do.”
(On if he is still anticipating the bulk of the players who have been sitting out of practice to return this week)- “I’d say that that’s still the case. We were hoping to get a couple back today but we want to get them at the right time. Joe Sheehan does a good job of that and Doc so we kind of adjust off of their recommendation.”
(On if the players who were limited yesterday will get more reps today)- “They could still get a few more reps and be listed as limited because they don’t get the full amount of reps. Typically, those limited guys who are limited on Wednesday will still be limited usually on Thursday but the limit increases and there’s no real distinction in that sense.”
(On if he was still leaning towards Colt McCoy starting)- “I’d say that the lean is more pronounced today. I was really happy with what he did yesterday.”
(On what he wants to see McCoy do in practice)- “What happens today is he gets another bulk of the install so he has the first, second down stuff from yesterday which is one component but now he has to be able to have put that in the bank, get the new install for third and be able to execute the new stuff now and recall what he had yesterday. It’s a little different for him in that sense where when he was getting reps earlier in the season it was a much more limited amount of reps now it’s more the bulk of the reps. We want to see that progression and that same level of operation that he had yesterday.”
(On what he took from watching McCoy practicing yesterday)- “He seemed really comfortable. He seemed really comfortable behind center and he seemed really comfortable in that role. He broke the team down yesterday which was the first time he has done that but that’s probably what he was used to doing for years and years being in that role and he just fell back into that role.”
(On if McCoy will wear the play sheet on his arm during the game)- “We’ll see how he feels on Friday and Saturday, if he feels really comfortable with it. It’s more for if you suddenly forget or whatever comes up some. It’s some crib notes where he can refer back to it and maybe speed things up for him if he needs to or slow things down for him if he needs to.”
(On what he meant by McCoy broke the team down)- “Just at the end of practice they all get together and usually someone says a few words and they break down. Pretty much every day that happens, it’s a different guy it’s the first time that he’s done it.”
(On their quick strike ability on offense)- “I thought we missed a touchdown last weekend, the ball was just a little bit too far out in front of Josh (Cribbs). I think that would have either gone deep into the red zone or gone for a score. Typically, we get a few of those each game some of those go routes that we threw earlier in the season we were missing. We weren’t missing by much but we were missing and I’d like to obviously see those hit. You’ve only going to get one or two a game to really change the dynamic of a game and those put you in scoring opportunities and it also loosens up the defense some. We are going to throw them and continue to throw them and we want the hit rate to increase.”
(On how the offensive line looked with Floyd Womack and Alex Mack both out yesterday)- “I thought Shawn (Lauvao) did a good job with the reps that he got and we’ve got Billy Yates who’s working all three of those spots. Steve Vallos who’s worked at center and guard. I thought all three of those guys did a nice job. Steve is a guy that we got early in the season and each week he gets a little bit better and more accustom to what we’re doing, so that’s been good. Shawn has been getting into a little more of a rhythm now after being back here for a little bit, and Billy he can play in any of those spots and fill in well.”
(On if he rotated Lauvao, Vallos and Yates among the two spots)- “Steve took a lot of the reps at center, Shawn worked there a little bit and Billy gets some snaps there from time to time because it depends on which one of those guys is going to be active, which one’s going to be inactive. (George) Warhop has like an algorithm that he follows that he shows me all the time. It’s better for him to just explain it than to try and figure out this thing that he’s got going but I know at the end of the day that the reps work so it’s been good.”
(On how Mack’s shoulder injury affected his run blocking last week)- “I thought Alex did a good job dealing with the injury. It’s the first time that he’s had to but I thought that he did well considering his limitations during the week. My assumption is that we’re going to be solid in the running game each week and the running game has to be coordinated it has to be everybody together, all the o-line, the backs, the receivers, everybody has to be sharp for it to be successful and for it to be successful consistently. We are going to get different styles of stopping the run and we get some more variety now then we have in the past with the ways that people are attacking the running game because it has been something that has been a real plus for us. We are dealing with those adjustments and some of them you can anticipate and some of them you can’t anticipate because they are game plan specific to us. That has to be something as we come off the sideline we talk about, we get fixed and then we go hurt them on it the next time. We’ve got a group that’s played together and is very tight. I know there is a lot of variety, but this is a very tight offensive line group. The tight ends are very wired in to running the ball successfully, (Lawrence) Vickers is outstanding, the receivers do a nice job and sometimes if someone’s not having as great a day in that group you’ve got to pick them up, you’ve got to get them re-centered and we’ve got to be able to go.”
(On what makes Pittsburgh difficult to run against)- “There are a lot of things. Troy Polamalu. A really veteran defensive line group that’s outstanding at reading blocks and they’ve been playing in the scheme for a long time. There are not very many blocks that you can show those guys that they can’t react to instantaneously. They’re strong. I think the linebacking corps is both tough and athletic. They can go down and strike guards, but they can also fast flow for outside plays. I think the two edge guys that they have in (Lamarr) Woodley and (James) Harrison can shock tight ends, they can shock backs. It’s a really good front seven and then you add a guy like Polamalu who is really good. He’s really good. I’m not taking anything away from anybody I didn’t talk about, I could keep going. I think the corners do a nice job too when they’re called upon. Typically when you have that going, nobody wants to let anybody else down. Even those guys that may be a little hesitant about tackling, they’re not going to be hesitant because they’re not going to let the rest of the group down.”
(On if he thinks Floyd Womack will be able to start Sunday)- “Yes, I would anticipate that.”
(On if Hillis became the featured back because he was bigger than Harrison)- “No. He got opportunities, he took advantage of his opportunities and I think you guys have all seen how he has run. You have seen the things that he has done and things change. He expanded his role, he earned that role. You bring guys in to add depth, you bring guys in to add to competition, you bring guys in to add flexibility and things evolve from one season to the next, where if someone expands, you adjust based on that.”
(On how Delhomme and Wallace are coming along)- “Good. It’s like a lot of the injuries that we have, every day you get further out from it. It gets a little bit better and each guy is a little different. You could have identical injuries and one guy heals quicker or one guy feels better quicker or you just kind of adjust. They’re not all created equal, in terms of injuries and they all don’t heal the same way. You adjust to the situation.”
(On if the availability of Delhomme or Wallace for Sunday is less likely today than it was yesterday)- “I think we have got to talk about that probably tomorrow or Saturday. After experiencing this with Jake, in terms of Seneca, you have just got to go as deep into it as you can and see what happens."

Mangini press conf. transcript - 10/14

[PlaygroundLegend]

we need to get this baffoon out of Berea as qucik as possible

Mangini gets worse every day it seems

I dont know if any of you caught it in the above statemnts, but Mangini addresses 1 thing that I have been saying for 10 freaking years, and he says it something the steelrs havem and something they do that makes them great. Yet that one thing is what Mangini and our organization has been the worst at over the last 10 years.

Plus the dude just flat out lies...

Harrisons trade had nothing to do with Heckert or Holmgren, it was Mangini's descison. Heckert and Holmgren feel they need to back Eric and cater to his proclaimed needs and wants to have a good football team. Harrison and Eric diddnt get along, everyone knew it and everyone knows it. Even Harrison covered and said that it he and Mangini diddnt have any known "beef" to the news outlets, but other sources say Harrison talks about it to everyone but the media, especially radio personalities.

Why does it seem that any player with good physical talent, isnt a "Mangini" player?

back on topic now....

Mangini and the organiztion really need to look up the word consistency and stability in the dictionary because since this fanchise has come back, its been a game of Jenga every year.

[Crow]

Mangini and the organiztion really need to look up the word consistency and stability in the dictionary because since this fanchise has come back, its been a game of Jenga every year.

we need to get this baffoon out of Berea as qucik as possible

uhm

...yeah...

[OzDawg]

"We're talking about the Browns; you guys [the media] are talking about Ben," Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. "Even though their record doesn't indicate it, they're still playing good football. A play here and there, and their record could easily be 3-2 or 4-1 the other way."
Steeler giving the Browns props.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by PlaygroundLegend

Why does it seem that any player with good physical talent, isnt a "Mangini" player?

Peyton Hillis

Josh Cribbs

Joe Thomas

Alex Mack

TJ Ward

Yep...no players with any good physical talent there.

[OSU819903]

Originally Posted by PlaygroundLegend

we need to get this baffoon out of Berea as qucik as possible

Mangini gets worse every day it seems

I dont know if any of you caught it in the above statemnts, but Mangini addresses 1 thing that I have been saying for 10 freaking years, and he says it something the steelrs havem and something they do that makes them great. Yet that one thing is what Mangini and our organization has been the worst at over the last 10 years.

Plus the dude just flat out lies...

Harrisons trade had nothing to do with Heckert or Holmgren, it was Mangini's descison. Heckert and Holmgren feel they need to back Eric and cater to his proclaimed needs and wants to have a good football team. Harrison and Eric diddnt get along, everyone knew it and everyone knows it. Even Harrison covered and said that it he and Mangini diddnt have any known "beef" to the news outlets, but other sources say Harrison talks about it to everyone but the media, especially radio personalities.

Why does it seem that any player with good physical talent, isnt a "Mangini" player?

back on topic now....

Mangini and the organiztion really need to look up the word consistency and stability in the dictionary because since this fanchise has come back, its been a game of Jenga every year.

Are you serious? I am getting so tired of people just jumping on our HC, praying for him to get run out of town. So all of a sudden Hecket and Holmgren just decided they would step aside and let a bad; oh wait, orchestrate a bad trade. Fucking L man, so they're going to fire the guy ( I know you didn't say that, but fuck if you didn't hint at it) and then let him force the trade of a great running back. This team has shown has much consistency that I can remember (am 29) the record isn't showing it yet but for the last 8 games now I didn't KNOW they were going to loose. And because of the manner in which it is being done this honestly feels more real than '02 or '07.

[Legacy Fan]

Originally Posted by PlaygroundLegend

we need to get this baffoon out of Berea as qucik as possible Mangini gets worse every day it seems

I don't get this entire post. Honestly. Did you mean Dbs?

I've hardly been a blind Mangini supporter and am often quick to point out his (imo) flaws, but the last several weeks, he's fielded a football team.

Respect.

[Masters]

Originally Posted by Legacy Fan

I don't get this entire post. Honestly. Did you mean Dbs?

I've hardly been a blind Mangini supporter and am often quick to point out his (imo) flaws, but the last several weeks, he's fielded a football team.

Respect.

A losing one with poor game plans, poor play calling, poor clock management, and poor discipline (how many stupid penalties were their last week).

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Originally Posted by Masters

A losing one with poor game plans, poor play calling, poor clock management, and poor discipline (how many stupid penalties were their last week).

LoL Geez Masters ...you must expect miracles. We're dealing with a team that has very limited talent, and yet we still play teams that are better than us, tough.. each and every week. Our team has improved leaps and bounds from the previous year, and that's what you want to see out of a coaching staff. It boggles the mind that some of you, after all we have been through and seen ..would still want to run yet another coaching staff out of town and start over yet again. We're laying a foundation, and that foundation is beginning to make us competitive. I think we're still 2-3 years away ...we need more depth, and a ton more quality starters, but there are no miracle workers out there. Paul Brown would be taking over the same shit team, and would have been going through the same difficult process of building a team with drive and character from the foundation up.

[Vegasdogg]

No doubt Eric know how to turn a team in the right direction. It doesnt seem to me he could sustain a high playoff standard and eventually a Super Bowl. We need more talent and I'm sure this is not the scheme the coaches want to run because of that lack of talent. But these coaches also suffer a lack of talent, especially Daboll.

[Masters]

Originally Posted by TheBestPlayersPlay

LoL Geez Masters ...you must expect miracles. We're dealing with a team that has very limited talent, and yet we still play teams that are better than us, tough.. each and every week. Our team has improved leaps and bounds from the previous year, and that's what you want to see out of a coaching staff. It boggles the mind that some of you, after all we have been through and seen ..would still want to run yet another coaching staff out of town and start over yet again. We're laying a foundation, and that foundation is beginning to make us competitive. I think we're still 2-3 years away ...we need more depth, and a ton more quality starters, but there are no miracle workers out there. Paul Brown would be taking over the same shit team, and would have been going through the same difficult process of building a team with drive and character from the foundation up.

The team, from a personal standpoint has improved leaps and bounds. That I can agree to.

From an offensive scheme, they are hardly better. The offensive play calling is still telegraphed. If I know what play is being run before the snap, I am pretty sure opposing team do. You don't need stars at every position to run a better O. They still have Cribbs, yet rarely run the wild cat. This is not an issue of talent, this is an issue of not being able to use what you have.

From a defensive scheme, they are still hardly better imo. Sure they are better than next to last like they were last year, so far. But where did they have to go but up? They can't stop the run when a team commits to it. They still are giving up big plays. They still have to bring the house to pressure the QB. I still contend as the season wears on the D will get exposed more and more. We'll see how that plays out. Like the O, I believe this is still more a function of the scheme, and whose running it, than who they have in it. They also still struggle stopping teams when they have them in 3rd and long. Throw in continuing to play Elam, or even giving him a roster spot. That's EM's decision imo, and a very poor one.

I don't believe from what I have seen the team has been as competitive as the scoreboard portrays. They have also only played 2 teams that I think when season ends will be teams with winning records. So playing competitive against losing teams is hardly something I think warrants a feather in the cap.

Then let's not forget the piss poor time management and decisions by the HC. That was an issue last year and still is this year. How is that improvement? Especially when we are not talking about a first time HC.

If this team need 2-3 more years to be a winner, I can say with complete confidences EM won't be here. The NFL is a results oriented league, for better or worse. This is also the same thing that has been said for the last 11 years, including by me in the past. You note things I and some other say boggle the mind. Statements about 2-3 years away boggle my mind after all we have been through and seen.

I don't want to keep turning over coaches either. But just because CLE keeps having to do it, and we don't want to see them having to do it, doesn't mean that they should keep poor coaches. You don't keep people just to be able to say you kept consistency, just as you don't turn them over just to say you turned them over. I am not calling for EM to go, but he's on thin ground and his OC for sure needs to go. The guy is not a quality NFL OC imo. I still don't buy Rob Ryan as a DC either, and his history as a DC both here, and in OAK show a trend of not being able to stop the run and getting exploited by the big play.