Pat Shurmur Talks About Managing the Browns’ Rookies

Head coach Pat Shurmur was asked about the challenge of coaching so many rookies and young players on gameday-

“Yeah, I think it’s important that we keep in mind. It’s a matter of record right? What, 15 rookies, 26 guys either rookies, first- or second-year guys. That’s a fun stat to throw around. We’ve got to keep that in mind as coaches. We’ve got to try to put them in the best position to make plays. I think it’s important for the most part my style is to stay calm. I think we’ve got to do that. Just like guys that have played a long time, on gameday their emotions tend to raise a little bit.”

He also spoke on the importance of the opener to the rest of the season-

“Just like we’re not in the prediction business, I think coaches obviously because there’s more build up to the first game, there’s more conversation about it. We as coaches play them one at a time. It’s very cliché – play them one at a time and add them up in the end. We can check the records, but I’ve been in Philadelphia, where we didn’t win the opener and we were in the playoffs. I’ve been there when we won the opener and had an average year. I think what’s important is, it’s awful nice to win the first one, because everybody wants to get on a roll, but the way you approach is you play your fanny off in the first one and try to win the game. If it doesn’t go the right way you get it correct and you move on. I think that’s the important thing.”

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