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00:00Your Cleveland Browns at the Jacksonville Jaguars, and to get us ready for it, we go
00:05to the Wise Heart Right, we make it right, call Kyle Wright Hotline, and we welcome in
00:08Todd Munkin.
00:09He's the head coach of your Cleveland Browns.
00:11Coach, thanks for joining us this morning.
00:14You bet.
00:15How we doing, guys?
00:16Doing wonderful.
00:17What's your game plan going into Jacksonville?
00:19Tell us how you're going to win it.
00:23Well, it starts with talking to you guys this morning at 7.15.
00:26Hell yeah.
00:26That's the start of the game plan.
00:30And yesterday, there was some conversation about Talon Green possibly being the number
00:38two quarterback with a package of plays.
00:43How realistic is that?
00:46Well, I think anybody that makes our 53-man roster, you're looking at, on a given game
00:54day, could we utilize their skill set to give us a chance to win?
00:57And he falls into that category.
00:59We saw a little of that in training camp, certainly saw it on his video from the past
01:05in college, and saw the plays he made against the Patriots.
01:09So it at least gives us a little bit of a thought, well, maybe we can utilize some of
01:13that early in the season.
01:15So how does that conversation go?
01:18Because you've got your 53, and every last player, special teams or whatever, can be
01:25so valuable on a given game day.
01:27It's week one, so a lot is kind of up for grabs when it comes to that and scheming.
01:32So is there a roundtable discussion?
01:34Do you have defensive coaches begging for their player to be active if somebody's on the cut
01:41line for week one?
01:42How does that work?
01:44Not really.
01:45I mean, we really don't have that discussion.
01:47That's really between Andrew and I and who we see being up.
01:51And it does.
01:52Special teams do play a part of that, as do special situations in a given game.
01:57And that all comes into play.
02:00Head coach Todd Munkin joining us here on the Wise Heart Right.
02:03We make a right call, Kyle Wright Hotline.
02:04So you went through training camp, you had the three preseason games, a joint practice.
02:10What really led you to hone in on Deshaun Watson being the starting quarterback for this football
02:15team to start the year?
02:17Well, it was the full body of work.
02:20I think that was probably it.
02:23Each of the quarterbacks, all four of them had moments where you thought, okay, it's pretty
02:29good.
02:29And there were moments that, you know, weren't nearly what we had hoped for.
02:35But at the end of the day, the full body of work that Deshaun had put in really led
02:41us.
02:41And the other thing was operating on the road.
02:44That was a big part of it, us starting there.
02:48So the two things, the full body of work and then our ability to operate on the road in
02:53Jacksonville led us to that.
02:56Head coach Todd Munkin joining us here on the show.
02:58So fans, not very thrilled with the decision about Deshaun Watson.
03:04Did you consider the fan reaction at all when you made your call on who to start at QB?
03:10No, because the fans just want us to win and play good football.
03:13So I do understand some of the frustration.
03:18I do think that, unfortunately, it's viewed a little bit like hate and hope is really the
03:26way I put it.
03:27Like, the fans really just want hope.
03:30And, you know, Deshaun, over the years that he's been here, has frustrated the fans and
03:36certainly himself in terms of wanting to play better for the Cleveland fans and the organization.
03:43And I get where they're coming from.
03:44But ultimately, any great fan base like ours wants to win, wants to see a great product
03:52on the field.
03:53And that's what we're aiming to do starting this week.
03:56And as long as I'm the head coach here.
03:58Well, Coach, just we know the last time we saw him that day was just such a disappointing
04:03day.
04:03And I'm not sure what expectations you had when it was set up that he was going to come
04:08in in the third quarter, but obviously didn't go as planned.
04:11And you mentioned in the press conference after that, that you kind of had a quick pep talk
04:15with him.
04:16But since then, can you tell us where he is in terms of headspace, confidence?
04:21Because I know it's hard.
04:23We try to read body language and all those things.
04:25And we know what he said in the press conference afterwards.
04:27It just didn't seem like he was ready to go start a game and start a season for this team.
04:34Well, you're right in some ways.
04:36I mean, after that game, well, I'll just say during the game and then after the game,
04:45certainly Sean was not in a great headspace.
04:48You know, let's be real honest about it.
04:51He said it after the game, was frustrated, and didn't particularly play well.
04:57And we didn't coach well and call it well around him.
05:00So we certainly all have to own that.
05:03I looked at it more along the lines of a speed bump and just a blip on the radar more
05:09than the norm of what I had seen over the course of the five months being here in terms
05:15of his confidence, how hard he's worked to get back to where he's at today.
05:19And he did.
05:20He came to me right after that.
05:22Him and I had a good conversation.
05:23He said, I'm not sure I handled that the right way, but I did have things that were on
05:28my heart.
05:29And I asked him, I said, do you feel like you've gotten rid of it?
05:32Because it's one thing to say it.
05:34It's another thing to really believe it that, okay, I needed to get this off my chest.
05:40It's over.
05:41I just want to go out there and play great football.
05:44Um, I've worked awfully hard to get back.
05:46And I believe him.
05:47I believe in, and we're the only way you're going to get the best out of your players is
05:53to have a verbal contract that says, I've got your back.
05:56I've got your back.
05:57I got you.
05:58And that's what we've done with Deshaun.
06:00And we look forward to playing this weekend.
06:02Todd Munkin joining us here on the Wise Heart, right?
06:04We make a right call, right?
06:05Hotline.
06:06So you made your decision at, at starting QB.
06:09I can't imagine you have any plans on changing that.
06:11However, when it comes to Shador, what can Shador improve on to be a full-time starter
06:19in the NFL with full faith and confidence to whatever coaching staff he plays for?
06:23Well, first off, I've said this so often.
06:27I've been super impressed with his improvement from the moment I got here till having lunch
06:34with him yesterday in the cafeteria.
06:35How far he's come in terms of our operation, understanding the offense, his diligence, his
06:44ability to ask questions, open himself up to how I don't understand.
06:52Please tell me what I need to do to be a great player.
06:56And also in terms of getting rid of the ball, working through his progressions.
07:00So I think he's on the right track, and he does understand we're playing the long game
07:06here.
07:07Is he really looking at short-term, or are you looking at you want to make a career of this
07:12and continue to improve?
07:15And I think he's done that.
07:16It is very difficult now.
07:18Once you've chosen the starter, Sean needs all the reps.
07:22So he gets a few reps each practice, and he gets a ton with the scout team.
07:27And really, I feel really good about where he's at, and I feel really good about his future
07:32in terms of how hard he's worked and where he's at today.
07:35The season got away from the whole team last year.
07:39That's 2025.
07:40Did you feel, did you and the staff feel that there was anything that maybe you had to
07:44deprogram from Shador, or Deshaun, for that matter, over the last couple of years to get
07:49ready for this year, to get them in the right headspace to move forward?
07:54No, not really.
07:55I didn't feel like I needed to.
07:58I think just with the change, I just think that adds to it.
08:03You know, Sean had a breath of fresh air, he had a new staff.
08:08And I got a ton of respect for Kevin Stepanski and what he did here, and I'm a big fan.
08:13But sometimes a change was necessary for him and for Shador.
08:19So I don't think I ever had to address in terms of where we were with them, where we
08:25were last year, this is a new year.
08:28Like I said, I don't make predictions.
08:30I don't.
08:31All I know is what I've seen every day, which is a young team that since the moment I got
08:37here, if you spot the ball, they practice, and they practice hard, and they love being
08:43around each other and playing for each other, and I can't wait to see it on Sunday.
08:47Like I said, I don't make predictions.
08:49We're going to develop the heck out of this young team, and each week put our best foot
08:54forward and see where it goes.
08:56Browns head coach Todd Munkin joining us right now on the hotline.
09:00It did seem, just looking at you yesterday, hearing you now, you keep talking about this
09:04excitement.
09:05There's a pep in your step.
09:07You've been waiting your whole life to get a chance to have this opportunity.
09:11Are you going to allow yourself at any point to kind of take a step back and take it all
09:16in, or does it have to be football 24-7 and Jacksonville Jaguars?
09:21Well, it's nothing really new besides some of the other crap I've got to do on a weekly
09:29basis, Peterson right here, and I've got to deal with a bunch of stuff every week as
09:34the head coach, but the bottom line is this.
09:38I've worked way too hard to reach the pinnacle of our profession to ever really worry or complain.
09:47I mean, what do I have to worry or complain about?
09:50I mean, I'm one of the 32 head coaches in the NFL, and it's really cool, and I've earned
09:56it, and our players have earned the right to make our team, and I look forward to taking
10:02the field with them on Sunday, just like I have every day that we've taken the field
10:06and gone out there to practice to improve, because that's really what we're in the business
10:10of doing.
10:11And coaching is to maximize every player's measurable skill set, help them make the most
10:17money they can, achieve all their dreams, build systems that allow them to play fast
10:23on every Sunday, and then let go of the result.
10:28You know, do everything you can up until then, and let go of the result, and then each week
10:34take another look at it and keep building your team and helping all of your players reach
10:42the highest level they can in terms of their skill set.
10:46Head coach Todd Munkin joining us on the show.
10:48All right, leaving QBs out of it.
10:50We've talked a lot about them already.
10:51Who knows?
10:52We'll probably finish it up with them again.
10:53However, what is the position group you're most excited by?
10:57What's the position group that has the best chance to keep you up at night as we get
11:01ready for Jacksonville?
11:06Well, I'm really excited about the young wideouts and looking forward to those guys playing.
11:10And obviously, we've seen it in training camp.
11:15We've seen the plays that they've made, but it is completely different.
11:18Going and playing games wherever it counts.
11:21So I'm excited to watch those guys.
11:23I don't really have any position group that keeps me up at night because of what I've seen
11:30on a daily basis.
11:32I know we're going to get our players best.
11:35And I've just seen it every day.
11:37Nothing would lead me to believe that come Sunday that we won't get that out of our players.
11:42You know, it is very rare that an offensive line gets the type of overhaul that the Browns
11:48are undertaking.
11:49Where do you think they're at?
11:52And is this something we shouldn't judge week one?
11:55We should give it a little time considering there's a lot of moving parts here?
12:00Oh, Anthony, what a great comment.
12:02There was a lot of that.
12:04You know, when you talk about offensively, take the receiver room and the youth at running
12:10back and Harold Fannin.
12:13And then you talk about the old line having to replace all five.
12:16So bringing in, you know, three veteran players that have all played at a high level, you know,
12:24whether it's, you know, Titus or Elton or then Zion, you know, when I went to the owners
12:30meetings, all of those organizations spoke highly of those guys and how they're wired.
12:36And then to add three guys in the draft, along with bringing Tevin back, I think really helps
12:42solidify that group.
12:44But I'm excited to see them play, you know, just like I was when we went and practiced
12:49against the Bills.
12:50That was the closest we had to really ones on ones to really see where we're at.
12:57And Jacksonville is really, really good up front.
12:59I mean, they put money up there between, you know, Walker and Hines and, and you're talking
13:07about Armstead.
13:08They've got some really good players up there.
13:10And so I'm excited to see us play and see all that comes together.
13:15We've had some guys out here and there, but I know this week, starting with yesterday,
13:20all five of them were out there and, and we'll see.
13:23Bronze Head Coach Tom Munkin joining us on the show.
13:26Why the decision to go with weekly captains this year?
13:31Well, I think it's really cool.
13:33I think there's more than the teams I've been around.
13:36There's more than just a handful of leaders on your team.
13:40I believe that.
13:41I believe there is a great number of leaders on our team and I want to reward guys weekly
13:47for how they've done the past game, a given week in terms of how they prepared.
13:54I think about just us defensively.
13:57And I was talking to Peter this earlier today, like just,
13:59think about us on defense, Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit, Tyson Campbell, Rocket, you've got
14:06Carson, you've got Quincy, you've got Mason, you've got Jared, you've got Malik.
14:12How do you choose?
14:14How do you choose?
14:15Forget even Alex that got banged up in his house.
14:18I mean, I think all those guys deserve an opportunity to be a captain.
14:22And I'm not even talking about the offensive players.
14:24So the way I look at it, I want leadership from our whole team and then the opportunity,
14:30because I think it's really cool to be a captain.
14:32I think it's really cool.
14:34I think it's really cool to go out for the coin toss.
14:36I always thought it was really cool for me to be able to do that, even at Division 16 Knox
14:41College, to be able to do that.
14:44And offensively, it's the same way.
14:46We've got a number of guys that can be leaders.
14:47And then at the end of the year, the players will vote who they think.
14:51On a weekly basis, as coaches, we'll pick them.
14:54When it gets to the end of the year, our players will vote.
14:56Hey, who are the guys you looked at throughout the year that represented you that will be
15:01our permanent 2026 captains?
15:04All right, Coach, clock management replay is such a huge part of the game now.
15:09And I'm curious, as a first-time head coach, what went into your preparation, maybe with the
15:16organization as well, and we all can't be so fortunate to just get a second tacked on
15:21like they did in Ann Arbor this weekend if you need it, although that would be nice to
15:24have.
15:25How did you go about doing that?
15:27Did you lean on anybody?
15:31Well, in the building, we got Austin Grosselle, who does our game management.
15:35He's upstairs during the game that I rely on a lot.
15:39But you rely, leading up to that, your background.
15:44I thought working for Kirby Smart and John Harbaugh, they worked a ton on situational football
15:53scenarios within a game.
15:55We have worked the heck out of scenarios every given day that can come up in a game.
16:02Obviously, nothing's like the actual game itself and the scenarios that come up.
16:08So when we've had officials come to work with us in the spring and then in the fall, I've
16:16sat down for an hour with those guys and talked through mistakes that first-year head coaches
16:22have made, whether it's in the review process, is a play reviewable, clock management, all of
16:29those things.
16:29And that's all you can do is prepare as best you can based on what you've been around, what
16:36you've seen, the people in the building, and then the officials to put your best foot forward.
16:42But there is nothing like the games themselves.
16:46But I've had to deal with it being an offensive coordinator in the NFL over the last few years
16:51than in college.
16:52So they've come up, and it comes up a heck of a lot more offensively than it does defensively.
16:58And I think our preparation has been at a real high level, and I don't see any problem leading
17:04into the first game calling and also being the head coach.
17:09Coach, what did you think of that Michigan ending?
17:14Well, interestingly enough, I flipped over.
17:16I don't know if it was halftime of the LSU-Clemson game, but I flipped over.
17:21Someone had texted me, you know, this is crazy, Michigan.
17:25Well, leading up to it, Western Michigan had every chance to end the game.
17:29They botched a third and two that gave them a chance.
17:32They had to kick a field goal.
17:33So then I was like, okay, this isn't good.
17:35But I can't speak to the clock on the field, to the clock that the Big Ten officials had,
17:46I can't speak to that.
17:48Obviously, if you look at it from a fan's perspective, from watching on television,
17:53the game was over.
17:54I mean, it was over.
17:56It went to zero, and Western Michigan wins.
18:00But, again, I can't speak to what the officials saw on the review.
18:06I'm taking the high road a little bit here.
18:09But, obviously, they saw something in terms of the clock and put a second back on.
18:14And what's lost in all that is Western still had a chance to defend the play and still win the
18:20game,
18:20and they didn't.
18:21So, ultimately, you know, again, that's for the Big Ten and the Mac to debate over how it played out
18:31and which set of officials.
18:33I'm not sure if those have been Mac officials, if they'd have put a second on the clock.
18:37I'll just put it that way.
18:38I'll end it with that.
18:39I think we know the answer there.
18:41Head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Todd Munkin.
18:43It seems like there's definitely been a sea change in the NFL when it comes to going for it on
18:49fourth down.
18:50Seems like now everybody goes for it all the time.
18:53Are you going to be a go-for-it guy, or do you think the league has gotten a little
18:57too aggressive
18:58when it comes to that?
19:00Well, I do think you have to be aggressive.
19:03I think being able to maintain possession, it's not just a Todd Munkin thing
19:12or a Dan Campbell who's gone forward and been aggressive.
19:15It's an analytical perspective that says you're better off from a point perspective
19:23keeping the ball and your opportunity to score points, obviously.
19:29When it doesn't go your way, right, those only come up, what, three, four times a game,
19:36maybe on average, where you're thinking about it.
19:39Unfortunately, it's not a sample size in a game of 50, and it's based off analytics.
19:44So ideally, you wouldn't want four to go your way.
19:49You get all four of them in one game, and you don't get all four in another game.
19:54And that's going to be counterproductive.
19:56You'd love to have the consistency of, hey, if you went four times on fourth down in a given game,
20:02you got three of four, if that made sense, or you got half of them.
20:06You can't predict that.
20:07You certainly can't.
20:09Because if you don't get all of them, you're going to put yourself up against it.
20:13But I do think that more and more teams, including ourselves, are spending time on fourth down
20:18and situational football to put your best foot forward in terms of the plays you call
20:24and maintain possession.
20:27And it also goes into your play calling and sequencing, what you do on second down,
20:33what you do on third down that leads into those fourth down calls.
20:38All right, Coach, my final one, your first actual NFL regular season game.
20:43What's your message to fans, Browns fans who are listening,
20:45as you get ready to set sail on your season?
20:51Well, I mean, ultimately, we are judged by what we put out there on the field, right?
20:57What winning football looks like, starting with how our guys play, right?
21:03And how we get lined up, right?
21:06And our operation is a big part of that.
21:09Because our guys are going to play hard.
21:10I mean, it was our job at the beginning to put systems together that allow our players
21:16to play fast on every Sunday.
21:18And I expect to see that, because I've seen it every day.
21:21I expect our players to play fast and physical and operate at a high level
21:26and play connected for each other.
21:28And again, ultimately, it's to put a product out there that our fans are proud of
21:33and continue to develop our young players.
21:36Coach, we thank you very much for the time.
21:38Good luck on Sunday.
21:39Good luck the rest of the way, obviously.
21:42You bet.
21:42Thanks, guys.
21:43Head Coach Todd Munkin.