Thursday in Berea was a day that was highlighted by both coordinators coming down to talk to the media about their perspective units. Also Coach Shurmur talked a ton about the Bengals.

 -Shurmur thinks you can get in trouble by judging a team after week 1. “I think it’s important, first off, that you don’t overreact to what happens in the first game of the season. They put out a team where they had a lot of new players and both of us lost so that’s the reality of it. I’ve been very impressed with Marvin’s (Lewis) team. Competing against them last year, as you know, we were ahead and didn’t find a way to stay ahead. They came back and beat us in the end so that’s something we’ve got to work on.

Watching tape you still see some of the same things you saw last year. From a defensive standpoint, they’re willing to pressure, they’re big, they’re physical and they do a good job of covering and so that challenges the offense. Then on offense, of course, Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, (Jermaine) Gresham, BenJarvus Green-Ellis has filled in pretty seamlessly as a running back for them.

 He had close to 100 yards. I know they’re working in some young and new offensive lineman, but we can say the same about our team. I’m very impressed with them. I think they do a good job. They way they play offense and defense fits for them and they good job on special teams.”

-One player that has to concern Shurmur is Bengals DT Geno Atkins who had two sacks in the Bengals opener vs the Ravens. Shurmur talked about the impact that Atkins can have from the inside,

“He’s a tough match because he can pass rush and get pressure from the inside of the defense. I’ve always felt that when the quarterback has pressure in his face, that’s as disruptive as pressure up the field. He does an outstanding job. He’s a top flight defensive tackle for sure.”

-The Browns didn’t win a division game last season and Shurmur understands that his team has to start winning within the division sooner than later. “You have to, it’s very important. The initial goal is to win your division because that assures you a spot in the playoffs.

That’s what you talk about and you want to become the first one of the 12 and you have to win division games. We understand how important it is. This is an opportunity for us to play a division opponent on the road and you have to win road games so it’s a great challenge for our guys. They understand how important it is and we’ve got to get it done.”

-With a young quarterback it’s expected that teams will pressure him. Coach Shurmur feels like that is something they must get use to, “I would anticipate they will bring pressure.

That’s in the defensive coordinator’s handbook. When they get together in the winter and they talk about how they do things, when you have a young quarterback, you pressure him. That’s just part of what they do. I think that will happen. What we do is we block them. We have different ways to block the pressures. We have quick throws. We have audibles. We have all ways to combat what happens, but we’ve got to execute.”