BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil said multiple times during his weekly press conference Thursday that the NFL is "an execution league," and those who perform their assignments better will win games.
And O'Neil can count veteran cornerback Tramon Williams as one of the players willing to accept that challenge and put in the necessary work in order to get the Browns a victory over the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium Sunday.
"It is on us," Williams said after Thursday's practice. "Players play the game. It's on us, and we have to make sure that everyone knows exactly what they're supposed to do, and that's what we've got to do. That's why we continue to come to work every day, to try to be better, and hopefully, we get there.
"It is what it is. We've got to continue getting better. That's why we keep coming to work every day. It's never going to be perfect. It's never going to be perfect, but as long as you have guys who believe in one another, you can get there, so that's what we're going to do."
After coming from the Green Bay Packers, where he was in the postseason in each of his last six years, including a Super Bowl XLV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2010 regular season, Williams wants to do whatever is needed in order for the Browns to win.
"We're not winning games," Williams said. "At the end of the day, that's what I'm trying to get to. I'm not playing well enough obviously. We're trying to win games and that's what I want to do."
Williams has been the subject of much talk this week because of an offsides penalty that allowed the San Diego Chargers to retry a last-second game-winning field goal attempt, which led to a 30-27 loss for the Browns. But despite refuted reports that the league office told Williams he was not offsides, the nine-year veteran defender will continue working to make a play that helps the Browns win.
"It really doesn't matter," Williams said of the chatter about the penalty. "The only thing that matters now is that we get better and don't put ourselves in that situation. It really doesn't matter. The game is over. It's not going to change anything.
"I'll just put it like this: I like to win. So if it comes down to me trying to make a play for our team to win, I'm going to go for it. And (Chris) Tabor I know he's a guy who wants to win just like we all do, and he trusts me. I don't want him to lose that trust in me by doing something that I shouldn't do.
"I'm not worrying about what they're saying. What I'm worried about is this team and how we can get a win. That's the only thing I'm worried about. That's over, man."
After the Browns' season-opening loss to the New York Jets, Williams was very forthcoming about the team's letdown of emotion in the game. However, during the loss to the Chargers, Williams saw a different mindset from his teammates. Now, there is just one more step to take.
"Win baby, win. That's it," Williams said. "That's the word of the day, man, win. Like you said, it's a progress, a progression. First week, we felt we believed but weren't truly there. Week to week, we got better with it. Week to week, we got better. Last game, I thought we really expected to win that game. Regardless of what it came down to, we expected to win that game. It didn't happen, but the attitude was there.
"This league is tough, man. It's like that with every team. Every team is good. Every team has good players. They may not be where they want to be at, at that time, but every team has good players, and they can become the team that they want to be at any time, so you always have to prepare for that."
