Eric Metcalf's expectations for Deshaun Watson and the Browns | Week 1

Browns fans week one is officially upon us and we are very excited here at the dog check podcast to be back with another episode as the regular season gets rolling Eric meaf back alongside we of course are part of the believe network podcast and also air weekly on Bal Sports Cleveland Eric it's been a little bit man it's been a minute I'm glad we get a chance to catch up here right before this starts first though I I want to get this out of the way early how was Paris because you had a chance to go over there and experien the Olympics and all that I I it looked like it was phenomenal great scene for for all the events just what was it like taking that in and being part of that a couple weeks ago it was great I mean it was my my third Olympics but I had never been to Paris I've only been south of France and so to go to the Olympics and be in Paris with like you said all the events all the different people good food good cigars good whiskey you can't you can't help but not like it you know what I mean and that's why at this point I'm still not really in football mode week one is a still com a little coming down and even though my stool Texas played this past week it wasn't a a real game so I still didn't have to get in football mode so it's it's still taking me some time this year hey I I Honestly though I think for me I was just on vacation this past week it's been a lot going on I'm I'm barely in football mode and I've I've kind of been in in the middle of it all but I can imagine like experiencing something like that had to be awesome and it probably does kind of delay your your willingness to get ready for football season because you're still kind of reminisent on everything but we're happy to be back and we know it's obviously an exciting time with football season finally upon us and the Browns kicking things off with the Cowboys on uh on Sunday at 4:25 start we know Tom Brady's gonna be on hand it's a big game let me I guess from like a bird's eye view of that match up specifically we know it's a big one because it's Dallas and all that but have we maybe overhyped because I I think a lot of people are going to go into this game picking Dallas just because it's Dallas and they they they see that the aura that that is and you know ESPN this is going to be the lead topic on on first take with Stephen A Smith is always the Cowboys right but I actually think the Browns like I I think this beginning portion of the schedule actually sets up pretty well for them Eric because you get the Cowboys and that's probably your tough game in the first like five games you play but it's week one and and I kind of feel like week one becomes an extension of the preseason these days in a way because a lot of these guys didn't take reps and all this different stuff teams are still kind of figuring out who they are what they do well so what's your outlook just on on this match up with Dallas and and the challenges they present but also how Cleveland obviously I think has a pretty good chance to win this game I feel good about it however you know you go guess let's start from the beginning when we're talking about the Cowboys they're winning the Super Bowl every year you let you let their fan base tell it they're winning the Super Bowl every single year so that's one thing we got to work against right so we're playing against the favorite Super Bowl champs in Dallas so and so but you know I look at this and I think when we're looking at man Forman on each team I think the Browns are the better team at each every position I mean I I think this that's just how it balances out well for the Browns the Browns were a very good team last year just had some some bad blows hit him and and still were able to make the playoffs and and and do well and so I this is a better team this year they were able to keep everybody together for the most part and and with that in mind even though they didn't play in preseason I think they're still they were still able to jail because they know who they are they know the coaches know who they have in the locker room what schemes they can run whether it be offense or defense and and I think they'll be ready to play When the Cowboys show up well speaking of not playing in the preseason we know there was a lot talked about with with DeShawn Watson and the fact that he didn't take any reps during the preseason he obviously had the joint practices where he got some reps in and um it wasn't always pretty during those those two days it was you know I think there's been some offensive line issues just throughout camp that led to some of that but he did take at least those reps but I I think that's kind of allowed fans to still have this heavy anticipation of what's he G to look like and maybe some nervousness about what he's going to look like what are you expecting to see from deshun Watson this year given another year where he only played six games he had the shoulder injury he's obviously coming back from that and he's ready to go and he's been cleared for everything but another year removed from that 2020 season that we all look back and say well that guy was the top five quarterback in football what is your expectation for him this season I expect desan to go out there and just be Deshawn Watson and that doesn't necessarily mean be the guy that he was in 2020 when he was thrown for 4,000 yards in Houston we don't I don't think the Browns need that I think they need somebody who's steady can go out there and make plays occasionally win games if they have to but I think it's gotten to the point where people were thinking about the contract and what have you and and everything and that's why they were like expecting so much from him when that's not what the Browns needed they needed somebody who's gonna take care of the ball and play winning football when it's all said and done this is a team that should be running the football I mean now we have playmakers all over so it might not be that way because we have all these receivers a good tight end and everything and of course Nick chub has been hurt but I think we just need him to go play winning football win games you know I I don't expect him to go out there and throw for 300 yards every week like flacko did when he was out there I but I don't expect him to go out there and throw the ball to your other team either right I just need him to be able to make plays and win if you if you think about the time desan has been here I think people don't realize that he's eight and4 you say a quarterback played 12 games when they were eight and four as a as a starting quarterback I think anybody would be happy with that it might not look pretty but the bottom line is wins and he and and every time he wins two he might lose one but he's gonna win two and so I I I feel good about that yeah I do think early on in the season too like that's kind of just the name of the game right it's survive in advance until your offense relase start to sort of gets in gear and I'm also anticipating too along those lines that there's going to be some Growing Pains both for Des Shawn but for the offense as a whole because it's not a completely new scheme but you get Ken dorsey's input on this thing there's some different things they're trying to do Deshawn's doing some different things the hope is that he's more comfortable in this offense but I do think because of that we're going to see this group kind of get off to a slow start and if they if he can just kind of manage the game in a way where they come out Victorious kind of like they did in week one last year against the Bengals I think Brun SS will take that for these first couple weeks just to kind of get them get them off in running before they really start rolling on all cylinders later in the season right that's why I like that Ken dorsy is there because he's had dual thre quarterbacks he's had Sam Newton he's been with Josh Allen and and te really and truly these were guys that people said weren't really guys who could throw the football and so I'm hoping that he has a little influence on DeShawn as well as stansky in in the play calling which makes it in turn easier for Deshawn and how he directs this offense along the lines of expectations you know I I it's interesting because last year they made the the team makes the playoffs given everything they went through injury-wise and especially at the quarterback position and now I think think like fans are kind of going into this year and they're like well hey if we if we can do that again if we can get back to the playoffs again like that that would that sounds good but my argument Eric is that I I think like the expectations should be higher for a number of reasons I think Deshawn is one of those reasons because you made that trade for him back in 2022 anticipating that he's this quarterback that takes you to that next level and gets you to that next level and I also think like Browns fans in away I mean you know this from from being around this fan base long enough I think they they sort of protect their feelings in a way because they're so used to to the the seasons that were bad and they weren't winning and so they're just like hey I'm good with the playoffs But Eric for me like I want to ask you the question like what you think the standard should be for the Browns but my answer truly is like I I'm not afraid to say this team should be an AFC Championship contending team at least in this in this and I understand the afc's tough I understand their division's tough but that's the type of standard that I have for this team because rer is super talented and if DeShaun Ken channels some version of that person he was in 2020 and and play really good football and this offense is perfect for him I'm expecting that that's the next level I'm not just satisfied with hey just get back to the playoffs like you did last year like that that should now kind of be like what that should be like a given almost for this team I think at this point is like every year you're in you're in contention for the playoffs but the standard for me is like go further get get to the AFC Championship game be a team that's in consideration for that level what is the standard to you I'm with you 100% I mean like you said Browns fans do protect their feelings a little pessimistic so they're not sad when if it doesn't happen but I think it's for starters they should be talking about winning the division There's an opportunity I mean you know this it's the best division in the league but at the same time they're one of the best teams in the league so they shouldn't be talking about okay just giving it to the Ravens or or say Cincinnati we can we've proven that we can beat both of those teams in in the last couple years so I think we're getting better in in the division I think this is a team like you said with all the players the coaching that can can move forward can win the division like you said win a playoff game and possibly be in the AFC Championship that's all you want to do is get in the tournament you get in the tournament you give yourself a chance and with this roster and hopefully the defense travels and hopefully they don't have to actually travel we can play at home then it makes it a lot easier for these guys and so I think that it's about getting the fast start out there winning football games you're supposed to win and win one or two that you're not supposed to win we sitting in the driver's seat I I like that I like raising The Bard at least wi in the division considering that we know Eric last time this team won the division you know this all too well it was your rookie year that was the last time 1989 that's crazy that's crazy these people these fans don't know what that well I shouldn't say not all obviously fans from that that era but a lot of these fans these young fans like they don't know what that's like you know exactly what that's like I know what it's like and I know what it felt like and I know these people will go crazy if it happens and so right now everyone shouldn't set the bar low that's that should be something that we're thriving for to win the division because we won a home game in in in Cleveland and we haven't had a playoff game we went the last two times we went to the playoffs we were still on the road yeah right yeah just imagine a playoff game in Cleveland hasn't happened at that stadium has it happened at that Stadium it would it would be something special I agree with you um and I like that kind of being the next level for you to maybe raise the bar to and I I I think too Eric like given how tough the schedule is this year given how tough this division is this year I think that would be a hell of a statement if they can come out and win the division and say like hey maybe you sweep the the Steelers and the Bengals and year and you split with the rap whatever it looks like like if you come out on top in this division that is definitely a statement that like you've taken that next step well you're not just the little brother to the to the Ravens and the Steelers anymore you're you know you have now ascended to that level so I I like that as another sort of element to what the standard should be for this team I think that's a good good good thought by you yeah I feel good about I mean These Guys these guys are they're adults now no when when miles these guys first got there they were young weren't you know didn't have any leadership but now they have leadership they've been together I like like you said the standards should be higher they know what they're doing as a team right now they know that they can play good football they know that they can beat the Ravens they beat the 49ers who went to the Super Bowl last year you know they they can they can play with these guys now it's about going out there and settling it in between the white lines and I think these guys can have the team and the coaching staff to do it you're listening to the dog check podcast part of the p network podcast and obviously wearing airing weekly on B Sports Cleveland appreciate you guys stopping on by as we get your ready for week one of the NFL season Browns and cowboys afternoon kickoff 4:25 uh we're all getting excited for it obviously getting excited for the start of the NFL season another thing we're excited for Eric at some point here in the in the coming weeks is going to be the return of Nick chub we know he's starting the season on the pup list which means he has to miss at least the first four games what is you as we talk about expectations and different things how how involved are you expecting him to be in the offense once they once he is back out because you mentioned like you think that running the football should still be a staple of this team we'll see what that looks like in the early weeks without him out there but once he's back we know how good Nick chub can be so how involved do you think he will be in this offense once he he's back out there I think he'll be involved I mean I'm sure they limited his touches just because looking forward to the the playoff run and so I would rather even if he's ready in in week five I'd rather he he have fewer carries then and more carries at the end of the season when it really matters and and so I think that's how they'll think about it in that respect but I feel like Nick chub's been a a dominant guy he's been a Workhorse he'll work hard to be ready and so when it's all said and done he he'll be ready to play football it's just a matter like you said how much they use him and I don't really care if they use him if they don't need him in the in the regular season I need him to be ready for the playoff run and and win the division like we just talked about along the lines of Nick chub and the guys blocking in front of him that create holes for him I I mentioned training Camp's been a little bit of a of a slog in terms of the offensive line and the progress they've made and there's been some concerns there especially at left tackle where they've had a bunch of injuries this preseason and we know Jed Wills is part of the active roster but not yet practicing with the team to this point Jack Conklin is practicing with the team and all signs point to Eric Jack Conlin being a starting left tackle for this team on Sunday against Dallas now I I know there's there's there's certainly been some inconsistencies for Jed wills at this point in his career these first these first four years he's entering year five it's a contract year he's got a lot to prove but if they go out and if Jack Conlin who hasn't played left tackle since College by the way but he he does have some experience there if he plays well at left tackle here in week one and let's just say like hypothetically like jedric Wills could be back week two week three something like that and but he's playing well should do you think there's a scenario where they just stick with with Jack Conlin at left tack and jedrick wills kind of becomes like your swing guy after that see I'm not even going to lie at the end of last season in my mind that was how it was gonna work out you already you had the crystal ball you coming already on the left side the one on the right that's that's that's how I saw it you know that's that's what I was seeing as like our best opportunity as far as the line was concerned and so you know if I think if if he uh Jack conin moves the left and it's going well I think it's it's going to be hard for Jed to get back in there yeah that's going to be fascinating to watch play out because we know dwan kind of represents the future for this team at at the on the right side and there's been some ups and downs for Jed quills but but Conklin's obviously got the the massive contract and so they kind of it's It's hard for them to get out of it right now so if you're going to utilize him and he's gonna do do a fine job on the left side kind of makes some sense we'll see how that sort of plays out on Saturday it'll be a tough test no matter who uh is trying to block obviously michah parsons's whether it's dwan whether it's him but that'll that'll certainly show us a lot about how those guys are are ready to go here in week one let's go to the defensive side of the ball because I always like to say defenses in football are kind of like bullpens and baseball where year to year it can just be so different like your Bullpen could be great in baseball one year like the Guardians this year their their Bullpen is fantastic but next year there's no guarantee that those guys are going to be just the same dominance that they were this year year and I kind of feel the same way about defenses in the NFL like one year they can be great and then the next year they maybe take a step back now the one thing I'll say about the Browns Jim Schwarz generally is kind of a model of consistency with his groups they usually come out even if they're not exactly the same or exactly as good they still generally are up there in like the top 10 top five competing for those you know those top marks and things just do you think this defense has a chance because we've heard a lot about miles Garrett trying to even improve upon last year when he wins Defensive Player of the Year as hard as that might be do you think there's a chance this defense is actually better this year than they were last year year year or two of Jim Schwarz system I think they're better as players and and and within the scheme you know a lot of times we don't think about the fact that from year to year I say the defense was great last year but this year they play more explosive offenses yeah that's very true so that that changes how the defense or the numbers actually look right and so they could play good football and still give up you know 300 yards to say a Miami Dolphins teams who who was very explosive but win the game and people like the defense isn't playing well well they they're having to shut down teams that are a lot more explosive this year so you know I I think numbers wise it probably won't look the same but I think going out there scheme wise and actually playing the games they'll be a very good defense yeah I do I I think too like Jim Schwarz has talked a lot about just the wrinkles he's trying to add disguising things a little bit more like last year I think it was a lot of let's just go out and play what we want what we're going to play it was we're going to sort of show you pre- snap everything and we'll roll with it and and they've worked hard I think this offseason to implement some new looks some new things and I'm excited to see what that side of the ball obviously looks like as well is there a player Eric and it can be on either side of the ball offense defense whatever maybe even special teams that you think is kind of like an X Factor like a guy that needs to have a good season as from the obvious one like DeShawn I think we all know Deshawn a lot of a lot of the Season hinges on Shan but is there a guy that you kind of have your eye on that's like that you're like if this guy is a big year I think it's going to mean really good things to the Browns maybe they make a deep playoff run maybe they make it to the Super Bowl whatever like who's the guy that you got your eye on in that regard that that kind of changes the math a little bit for this team and takes them to that next level for me I'm gonna go out there in a limp and it's not because we the guy isn't good I just want Jordan Hicks to be that guy I we we know def is good years past we've had a a great front forward off obviously we've had DBS back there and and we had a J doing his thing but in the from the middle standpoint we haven't had that guy who's just a straight run stopper who's been able and and also been able to cover running backs and so I think Jordan Hicks can be that guy who you know gives us that little Edge I mean we had we had Anthony last year but he was always hurt and didn't play that much and so I think Jordan Hicks is is is a guy that I'm really looking forward to to be the quarterback of that defense get everybody where they need to be lined up and go make play especially in the Run game how excited are you Eric to see especially given what what you how you served as a kick returner during your career to see this new kickoff rule are you expecting it to be sort of the gamechanging play that it's been advertised and and make that something that's exciting for fans again I think it will be I mean I think I think teams now if they are bold enough can put some of their best players back there because the hits are limited so if you can get a crease make a guy miss miss you can get after it and so I would love to play in this game I didn't really return kicks that much in towards the end of my career but if I could return them in in in this game get a head on a hat make a guy a miss and and and let's let's race I'd feel good about as return return you think you got a couple more returns in you can you go out there for a couple more with the Browns maybe I think I can field it you'll just call for a fair catch I'm just gonna fair catch it well and honestly Eric along those lines I I um this came up while you were while you were in Paris but I know there was obviously the Hall of Fame game Devon Hester got in this year that's a big deal for on a personal level I want to know what that means to you because I I think Devin and I I I I meant I meant to look this up and I it slipped my mind till this very moment I think Devin mentioned your name as somebody who like should be in consideration for the Hall of Fame in a similar sort of category like he's getting in for for the kick return accolades that you obviously had throughout your career and I think that's awesome that like the guy who's kind of bearing that cross to get to get into the Hall of Fame kind of Blazing that path for for a specialty type role is is mentioning you but obviously others as well that should should potentially be considered for this just um what does it mean to you to see somebody like Devin Hester get in knowing that that was obviously part of your career at a point in time as well it makes me feel good I mean like like you say he mentioned others should probably be in I don't know that me or anybody else will ever get in but at the same time when there when there's talk about it people get to think get to think about it and so you know I had I had records in the NFL before Devon broke them and and also scored touchdowns on offense so it's it's it's just something that you got to be excited about that someone who that's all they really did is in Hall of Fame so it gives everybody else a chance because when you talk about the Devon Hesters the Josh Chris the Brian Mitchells myself we we're guys who actually won games or help our teams win games through returning punts or kicks and and there's no way you can diminish that right even though the Browns didn't win many games when when Josh was playing he gave them an opportunity to be in the game right and so players like this are changing the game and you notice when they were kicking the ball in the end zone or or skying it in in punt in the punt game and guys aren't getting many returns that the game has changed but when you have somebody who's Dynamic and special who can return the ball get you three or four first downs on the return doesn't always have to be a touchdown they can get first downs for your offense and shorten the field or even take it to the house you got to respect that yeah it's also fascinating man because with this new kickoff we're all hoping that that kind of revives that role and makes that prominent again but if if if that doesn't happen if this kind of just becomes something where it doesn't it's not the gamechanging play that many are saying then it almost is like you know Devon Hester and some others are kind of like the The Last of a Dying Breed if you will of of guys like yourself that that returned kicks and did at a high level and and so it's kind of it's it's it's it's it's just weird because I grew up watching you know guys be able to do that at such a level and it was impressive and you felt like it was an important part of the game uh and there was always the line about like heyy special teams matter too and you saw that in those moments and it's it's crazy but hopefully that's what happens with this new kickoff Rule and we're talking about other guys having opportunities to get in did you have a aside from yourself did you have a guy that you like love the most as a as a kick returner since you since your playing days that you like really admired and liked watching his game Dante Hall that's a good one he special man and I'm tell you see I'm you know Turners are different everybody's different in in the position they play but Dante Hall I look at him as we didn't play the same but similar because we made guys miss I like guys who make guys miss and not just one cut we have a big hole you run and you score test I I like to see people make highlights and put people on their highlight films and so Dante was a guy that I could watch that oh he shook him and even if he he shook I'd like to see that kind of he was Shifty yeah he he was something I I remember watching Dante Hall growing up all right Eric we we'll get out of here with this I uh I want you to give me a record prediction for the Browns for this year just kind of off rip here you don't have to go game by game or anything like that unless you really want to but I want to I want to get a sense of where your head's at let's get the fans excited for this season with h with Eric mecast prediction for the Browns record this year man see I when I do this I have a number but then I also have to be realistic it's okay you don't have to say 17 and0 we we we all we all want that I feel I really feel good I I feel good about 11 and six I like hey I was gonna follow it up with mine not to be not to make for a boring sort of end of the show here but I I was going to say 11 and six too I did on another show I work on I did like the game by game went through the whole schedule and I ended on 11 and six and I was like all right that's it it's 11 and six then so all right we're we're in this together if I would went with my heart I I would definitely said 12 and five so the really one just one more loss take one away just one more loss I like that yeah I we're in this together if if the season's a disaster and and people want to aggregate this later and come back at us it hey it's me too it's not just Eric I know Eric's the more notable name here but I'm I I got your back on this we both are saying 11 and six here today and all we can say is we didn't play maybe if Eric would have played they would have won more games exactly Eric uh I'm excited that we're gonna be connecting each week on this show excited to have you back um I'm excited that football's back and I know we're gonna have some fun this season man I'm really looking forward to it thanks for joining me this week and uh I'm looking forward to talking some more down the line yes sir go Browns appreciate you guys listening as always just a a followup we are working on on having multiple shows a week second show really geared around you guys the fans where we're GNA do I'm gonna try to do a mailbag get your guys questions answer different things have some fun with it for now be sure to hit us up in the YouTube comments or wherever you get your your podcast know some of the thoughts that you might have and we uh we will have a second show for you at some point here coming down the pike I also think I'm making a some rounds on the the Cowboys believe network podcast so a lot of good stuff coming coming down the pike here as we get ready for the start of the the season Browns and cowboys Sunday 4:25 you guys know that already we're excited and we'll obviously have a lot of follow-up reaction for you next week as well keep on following the dog check podcast R get your podcast part of the bleed network of podcast and of course there weekly on B Sports Cleveland until next time we appreciate you and go Browns