CHANGING CULTURE, CHANGING FORTUNES
By STEVE KING
Are things changing in Berea, and in Cleveland?
Yes, they are.
Finally.
That’s pretty obvious, what with the Browns, winners of four of their last five, standing at 6-7-1 heading into their game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Interim head coach Gregg Williams, one of the key reasons behind that turnaround since taking over at midseason for the fired Hue Jackson, talked about that on Thursday.
When asked if he sensed that the players are changing the culture in the locker room, Williams said, “I think the core of guys is very good in there. I really do. I believe in that. We talked a couple of days ago also about the word belief. I believe with all of my heart that culture beats strategy any day of the week. When you have that they way it is supposed to be, then we can start to do things in a way schematically that fits the athletic ability of the guys you have around.
“But you have to have the right culture. That starts from internal leadership, and then the internal leadership taking it to the field, and inside the white lines on gameday, that same type of mentality has to be there. There is less coaching going on those gamedays.
“What people do not realize is that it is a day for the players to make sure – Monday through Saturday, I’m trying to do everything we can to have that impact – but now you have to do it. We will assist and help in every way that we can, but Sundays become easier when Mondays through Saturdays are right.”
Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield is, of course, the other integral part of this about-face. Without him – without the perceived franchise quarterback – the Browns would not have improved.
In fact, Mayfield said the other day that anyone on the team who doesn’t want to win these final two games “can get out.”
Not surprisingly, that really pleased Williams.
“I love it. I love it,” he said. “I will back that up — every single week.
“You do not want to be around guys that want to be in a club or want to be a part of something unless it is winning. That is why he has the locker room. In practice, there could be a bad play or two and then all of a sudden bam, he circles the wagons. (Linebacker) Joe Schobert does the same thing, too. (Defensive end) Myles (Garrett) did it a couple of times today. That is what you need inside of the white lines. Yes.”
Yes, indeed.
