Opening statement:
“Thanks for having me. My name is Pep Hamilton. Excited to be here. Excited to be a part of this tradition-rich franchise. We’re looking forward to doing all the things that (Head) Coach (Hue Jackson) talked about with regards to being a competitive team that can go out and have a chance to win each Sunday. Offensively, we’re going to be a physical team. To say that we’re going to be a run-first team is probably not the appropriate thing to say, but I will say that we’re going to work like heck to establish the run game. We’re ultimately going to do whatever it takes to feature our playmakers. We consider offensive linemen to be playmakers, as well. It’ll be exciting to watch our guys go out and compete every Sunday, but we have a long way to go. I guess the good news right now is we’re undefeated and tied for first place. We’re looking forward to having a great season.”
On integrating the offensive system and his responsibilities:
“We have a veteran offensive staff – myself, (senior offensive assistant/wide receivers) Coach (Al) Saunders, (tight ends) Coach (Greg) Seamon, (running backs coach/run game coordinator) Kirby Wilson, (offensive line coach) Hal Hunter. We have guys that have a ton of expertise in a lot of different areas. I think we’ll ultimately collaborate our thoughts and effort to support Coach (Jackson) and whatever strategies he comes with on a week-to-week basis. My job is really just to facilitate what it is that Coach wants to do and to make sure that we organize things that we can implement it to our plays and go out and have a chance to be successful on Sundays.”
On what happened in Indianapolis and if the way it played out left him bitter:
“I think it’s fortunate as a coach in the National Football League to be in a situation where you’re expected to win the World Championship, and ultimately, we didn’t get that done.”
On how his time with Colts QB Andrew Luck will help him possibly teach a young quarterback this season:
“I think it’s important that ultimately – between myself, of course, Coach Jackson and all of the coaches on our offensive staff – you have different reference points. You kind of have an idea of what to expect from a young quarterback early in his career in the National Football League. To answer your question, I do feel like every quarterback is different. The plan for that kid, for whoever it is we have at quarterback, be it a veteran quarterback or a young quarterback if we draft a quarterback, you have to have a plan that’s specific for that quarterback. I felt like over the years I’ve had an opportunity to not only watch Andrew grow but some of the other quarterbacks that I’ve worked with over the course of my career.”
On if he expects to be very active in scouting college QBs:
“I think that’s always been the case with every franchise that I’ve been a part of. You have an opportunity to evaluate guys and then share your opinion, but ultimately, it’s not my decision to make. It’s my job to help whoever we decide to make our quarterback transition into a winning quarterback.”
On if he expects to attend pro days and interviews with the QB prospects:
“Absolutely.”
On how much film he’s watched on the top QBs in the draft:
“Not a ton. We’re still working to implement Coach Jackson’s system here with our coaches and get ourselves ready for the start of the offseason program, but we’re slowly starting to transition to preparing ourselves for the draft. We still somewhat are in the early phases of that process.”
On the characteristics he likes to see in QBs:
“Accuracy, is he a winner and of course, leadership qualities are really important to Coach Jackson and myself.”
On North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz, Memphis QB Paxton Lynch or California QB Jared Goff:
“I haven’t watched enough to have a strong opinion about any of those guys. I had a chance to recruit Jared while I was at Stanford, and I’m not surprised at all that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in college football.”
On the QBs on the Browns roster:
“I think that, starting with (QB Josh) McCown, I’s always loved having a veteran guy in the room that has full credibility in the locker room. He’s been productive over his career. You don’t survive for as long as he has in this league without having the skillset, first and foremost, and then having a work ethic and a character that ultimately would cause coaches and executives to feel comfortable enough to put the keys in your hands, in a sense. I feel good about Josh. I feel good about (QB) Austin (Davis). I feel good about all the guys that we have on the roster currently, and I’m excited to work with those guys.”
On if the coaches have discussed the possibility of WR Josh Gordon being reinstated:
“We have not.”
On who are the Browns’ offensive playmakers:
“(WR Travis) Benjamin, big time playmaker, speed is off the chart. He’s shown that he can get over top of coverages and he is a difference maker. He’s a guy that if you get the ball in his hands and you give him space, he’ll make something happen with the football. He’ll score. Our tight end, (Gary) Barnidge, he’s a special player. Tight ends have typically been the quarterback’s best friend in Coach Jackson’s offense. So, we’re excited to see him continue to grow, and it was fun watching him play in the Pro Bowl. (RB) Duke Johnson (Jr.) and (RB) Isaiah Crowell, those guys have been very productive players for us and for this franchise. We expect that they’ll take another step as we move forward. We have plenty of playmakers on the perimeter, but I do feel like the strength of our offense is the guys up front. Like I said initially, I feel like our offensive linemen, in the style of offense that we expect to employ, we consider those guys to be playmakers because that’s where it all starts.”
On if it’s unnerving that two of the offensive linemen may not be with the Browns after free agency:
“Yeah, it is. I try not to think about it, but at the same time, I’m optimistic that things are going to work out. Just looking at what they put on film over the course of their careers across the board, those guys up front, it’s exciting to see that the core, probably the most important component besides your quarterback of your offense, we have a strong group in place.”
On the WR corps and if the Browns need to bring in bigger receivers:
“Not necessarily. Ultimately, we just want guys that can score touchdowns. If you look at just some of the defensive trends over the past few years, teams are starting to play a lot more man coverage. Having guys that are elusive, quick, fast, regardless of their size, that can create separation and can score the ball is what’s most important for us in this offense.”
On if Browns coaches have watched last season’s film:
“Yeah, we have to so that we can evaluate the guys that are on the current roster.”
On what the Browns’ red zone offense was missing last year:
“I don’t know. When I went back to evaluate the guys that are on the team I didn’t watch the game in the actual order. I more so watch cutups so I don’t have a strong opinion one way or the other.”
On what the Browns offense will want to do with OL Cameron Erving starting April 4:
“I think it’s very beneficial for rookie offensive linemen to have an opportunity to play at different spots across the line. I do feel like with the style of offense that we’ll end up using that there will be opportunities for us to put more than five offensive linemen on the field. I’m not saying that Cam can’t go in, compete and win a job. It was good to see that there were times when he was a dominant player. We expect that over time the more that he plays and once he has a chance to work with the offensive line coaches that we have here, he can be an every-down player for us.”
On what position Erving will play:
“I don’t know yet. We’ll see. I think it’s a luxury to have a guy that can play tackle and/or play center.”
On his philosophy in the run game and how he uses personnel:
“I think because of the attrition in the National Football League, you have to have more than one guy. I feel strongly about offensive line units, like I just mentioned. I do feel like our backs are very talented. They can play without the ball. I think Duke showed that last year. He had 60-plus catches. Isaiah can do anything that we’re going to ask him to do. We’ll ultimately need both guys, and we’ll need someone else to step up, as well. We’ll find a way if a guy is hot to get him the ball, but we’re going to need all those guys to step in and make plays for us.”
On if it is a drawback that Jackson will call plays and if he understands his desire to do that:
“No, it’s not a drawback. I want to win. I want to win this division, get to the playoffs and win some games, and ultimately, hoist the Lombardi. That’s what it’s all about. Personally, I don’t feel like… It’s not about me. I do know that for a fact. I do know that ultimately in order for us to have a chance to be successful, everybody has to be all in and support each other and ultimately support the head coach. I’m on board with whatever Coach wants to do.”
On why the coaches haven’t discussed Gordon:
“I’m sure that Coach Jackson and (executive vice president of football operations) Sashi (Brown) and (vice president of player personnel) Andrew Berry, they’ve discussed Josh Gordon, but we hadn’t really had a lot of discussions about personnel. Like I said, we’re still at the point of where we’re trying to get the offense in and get everybody on the same page from a terminology standpoint and get ourselves ready for the guys to report back on April 4.”
On QB Johnny Manziel:
“That’s something that Coach and Sashi, they’ve already addressed. That’s above my paygrade.”
