Jacques Cesaire - Head Coach, browns Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-11 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 11, 2026, Jacques Cesaire addressed the media in a press conference for the Browns, discussing the team's recent adjustments and player performances as they prepare for the upcoming season. The focus was on the impact of player rotations and the readiness of individuals stepping into larger roles.
Transcript
Cesaire: a couple weeks now that without Alex, just how sort of the rotations there at in sort of, you know, kind of played, you know, figured themselves out over the last couple of weeks, especially as Derek has gotten more comfortable being here. Yeah, you know, I've worked with Derek in the past in Houston, so I'm really comfortable and I trust him coming in there. And Isaiah's been out there with us before, you know, he's been a starter. He's had snaps in the NFL and we trust what he's done. He's had a fantastic camp, so it's really just been kind of the next man up. And Alex has done a great job of just being around and still encouraging those guys. But those guys know that, you know, they got a tough job at hand and they're more than willing to take on that battle.
Cesaire: What is it about what you've seen from him that gives you confidence that he'll be able to step up when you guys meet him maybe in a bigger role this year? Well, first of all, I've been with Isaiah, like I said, for three years now and I'm very comfortable with him and I trust him. And the thing that I've seen that he's done this year, a great job of changing his body. His get off has been outstanding all summer long and he's just gotten stronger. And he understands the game now, understands what he has to do and where he can take his chances and what he's supposed to do and what his responsibilities are. So, you know, there's not going to be any big slip up with Isaiah in there because those guys, he was going to play a lot anyways, you know, if Alex hadn't gotten hurt. So I'm very comfortable with Isaiah and his progress and what he's been doing with Jared and with Sam Williams. So I'm just excited to see these guys go, you know.
Cesaire: How's the affirmation period for him? Is it maybe more so like plug and play, given the type of front that he was going to hand out last couple years? Yeah, Sam, you know, it was great against Sam and the thing about him is he has an explosive get off. He's strong, he's violent and he's played in this front before. So that was kind of an easy transition for him. So it's just him really just understanding how we say things, how we do things and what we call things here.
Cesaire: I know your first year there, I think it was with Isaiah. You mentioned him as a guy who you thought could be a 10 sack guy a season in his career. Do you still feel like that would be his threshold? Absolutely, absolutely. Obviously, you know, when you have a guy like Miles Garrett, he gets the sacks that he was getting and he wants to be out there all the time. You know, reps for those other ends that we had last year start to diminish. But that wasn't because Isaiah wasn't a great player. It's just, you know, Miles Garrett got a lot of reps. Alex was getting a lot of reps. So I'm really comfortable with, like I said, with Isaiah. And I think that he's primed for a breakout season. He's locked in. He's focused. He's stronger than he's ever been. And like I said, his rush has been outstanding.
Cesaire: How has Jared's attitude and personality kind of changed things in your room here? Yeah. JV, you know, there's a guy that came in and was not afraid to just step up in the leadership role. And he works hard. He's really trying to understand what we do here. I mean, it's hard for a guy that has been an outside linebacker to come in and put his hand in the dirt and play defensive end. And he's been nothing but great about it. You know, he's really tried to buy in and do everything that we've asked him to do. And he already, he knows already how to rush and he rushes violent. But just seeing him doing the things that we asked him to do close in and setting edges has been really just encouraging watching him develop over the couple of weeks that he's been here.
Cesaire: We've seen his energy out there on the field quite a bit. We've been out there. How much does his attitude, personality, energy sort of, how much do you hope that kind of becomes the attitude that kind of spreads through your group and the way that you play? Well, the defensive line has always been just an attitude piece for the defense. You know, we like to call ourselves the edge of the defense and that starts with running to the ball first. So Jared coming in, it's kind of like the sprinkles on the cake. Those guys in there, Malik, Mason, you know, Aiden, Mike Hall, KD, Alex, Isaiah, all those guys are crazy. Okay. And they all got attitude and they all play with a lot of energy and they have a lot of energy out there. That's always been our thing. So Jared coming in here for us has really been just like I said, the sprinkles on the cake for us, you know, he does a great job as a leader and I can't wait to see him run.
Cesaire: Mike is explosive. He looks better than he did when he came in as a rookie. I mean, he's strong, he's violent and he understands the game plan. He understands just what we want him to do in the defense now. And, you know, you saw the versatility the other day, you know, he has enough speed to play on the edge inside wherever we need him to play. So I can't wait to see him go because I know last year, you know, he had his things and everything like that, but I just can't wait to see him really go out there and just let it loose.
Cesaire: Malik is the, you know how I feel about Malik. I think everybody knows, you know, there's my fourth year with him and just the professionalism of Malik Collins is something that's just, it's not talked about enough and what he brings to that room every day. First one out there every day, working his craft and he's always encouraging the younger guys. He's always helping with the younger guys and teaching the younger guys. And it's just good to have a solid rock in there as a veteran like Malik Collins, you know, and I've said this before, you just sleep better at night knowing that he's going out there on your side of the ball.
Cesaire: Yeah, I mean, you guys just have to watch the game to find out. No, you know, Mike is a three technique, throwing through and he loves playing inside. He loves being a penetrator and rushing on those gaps on those guards. And it's really a mismatch when he's out there with those guards because you're talking about a guy that's almost 290 pounds and has the explosive ability of a defensive end in the NFL. So like I said, I just can't wait to just let these guys loose. You know, we've been hitting each other now for about a month. And I think it's time that we hit somebody else. We're out here. We're all trying to work our craft and trying to develop some kind of just pass rush plan. But if you're good at something, you know, keep doing it and keep doing until they stop you. And that is a big powerful man. And he knows how to rush to pass in the NFL. He knows how to rush violent. He knows how to run games. He knows how to run pressures. So, you know, I'm cool with him working on whatever he wants to work on. But when the lights come on, it's time to go. And I know he's going to go.
Cesaire: As he's, you know, going to his rehab and all that. And I think Coach that's kind of just the attitude that he's brought to, you know, what's happened to him. It's unfortunate, right? And I know it crushed him. It crushed me seeing that just because he's such a good person. But he continues to work and develop himself as a man first and then a football player. So him, him just being around and, and, and learning more of the scheme than before. And just seeing the bigger picture is only going to make him a better football player. And if he wants to come into coaching, if he wants to join this crazy business, you know, after 20 years of playing, yeah, sure. Go ahead. Appreciate you guys.
