DAILY INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS
Head Coach John Harbaugh
Opening statement: "We basically got off the plane, closed our eyes for a few minutes and came out and practiced. Really, what we did was what our guys wanted to do, and it was pretty impressive. We had a really good practice, and now we'll give the guys – I don't know how many hours it is – but until Monday afternoon at 2:00 before we come back and start next week. So, they'll get a chance to recover a little bit and recuperate, and we'll make some decisions and move forward."
On having the team practice the morning after the game:"The guys that didn't play in the game were in great shape, and that was really the idea – we wanted to push those guys a little bit. They'll also get a hard conditioning workout today and a full-body lift. Those guys need the work day. The guys that played in the game, they won't do the conditioning. They did the practice, so they got a little sweat going, but they'll do the full lift. So, it's work."
On weighing a single performance vs. entire performance of the preseason when making cuts:"I think you balance it as best you can, and sometimes it just comes down to what you think is best for the team. There will be some need-decisions – you've got some injuries, which means you'll have to go heavy in one position or another. So, some guys that might have made it in different circumstances might not in these circumstances. I think all of that stuff kind of factors in."
On whether he puts more stock in one single performance compared to an overall performance when deciding the final roster:"If a guy has struggled all through camp, and has one good game, then no. If a guy has had a great camp and struggles in one game, no – it's not going to override a body of work, but it would augment what has gone on previously."
On the chances of someone who isn't on the team now making the final roster:"There's a chance of that. You mean someone that's on another team right now? There's always a chance of that. We have to look at every avenue to make our team better, so never rule that out with Ozzie [Newsome]. He's good at that."
On whether there is a chance the roster could change after final cuts on Saturday:"That's right. In the NFL, it's never set. There are no scholarships, there's no 85 [-man roster]. We've got 53 [players], and it's ever-changing. There are certain guys that you know are going to be here for the whole season, but you've always got to do what's best from week to week to try to win a football game."
On whether he put the team in kicking situations during practice:"No, we didn't. It wasn't that kind of practice. We were disappointed, as we said last night, that we didn't get any [kicking situations during the game], but we'll make the decision based on what we know."
On if LB Dannell Ellerbe's TD stunt in St. Louis affects his status:"No. That's a situation where I think it's a learning opportunity. The bottom line is we don't want any penalties – that's the most important thing. You never want to put your defense or special teams in harm's way. The other thing is we want to do things in a class way. Dannell is a class guy, and he wants to do things that way. It's a learning opportunity for him. He's fine."
On if CB Josh Wilson will be ready to play next week:"Yeah, he'll play. He'll play. He got in practice today; it's a learning experience for him. He's standing right over there. He seems like a bright guy, and he'll have to pick it up quickly."
On how Wilson fits into the secondary:"He's obviously a guy that has started for two years, so I wouldn't put any limits on what he can possibly do. It's just a matter of how quickly he learns what we're doing and how comfortable we are in putting him out there. But, a situation could dictate that he has to be out there, and that's why we felt like we needed a quality player who's got some experience."
On the challenge of playing the first four of six games on the road:"It's a challenge to play them on the road, but it's also an opportunity because if you can come out of the gates strong. And really, that was the primary purpose of our goal to have a great training camp because of who we're playing on the road. We have an opportunity to take control of this conference, and that's our goal."
On whether he buys into a conspiracy against the Ravens:"No. You play eight [games] on the road and eight at home. Everybody has to do that, so they can't get around that one. We'll play our share of home games."
On whether CB/RS Chris Carr will be in the mix with punt returns:"Sure, yeah. Chris Carr is a guy that we know can do it. He's a very solid catcher; he's a north-south returner. Sure."
On how much contract guarantees weigh into his decision when finalizing the roster:"That's a big factor. The budget is real, and that factors in tremendously. That's just the way the rules are written. Maybe that will change to some extent in the next contract, but you've got to factor that in now."
On DE Paul Kruger and RB Willis McGahee not being at practice:"Paul fell on his shoulder a little bit. I don't know the extent of it. Willis was out here for practice, so you might have missed him."
On the status of NT Kelly Talavou: "I would just say this about all the injuries: I don't have to talk to you guys about them. (laughter) We'll have an injury report on Thursday, and you'll see it when it comes out on Thursday."
CB Josh Wilson
On how practice was today: "Oh, man – fun. It was pretty easy physically, but the mental part is what I've got to pick up quick. That's what you've got to do in this league. You've got to be a fast learner, and that's what I'm trying to do – pick it up. I don't even know what today is. I'm still on that plane, so I'm trying to pick it all up. But it's fun. I love it."
On whether the learning curve is similar to going from college to the NFL: "No, no, it's totally different. Going from college to the NFL, you've got to learn a different way of thinking, you've got to learn the route concepts, you've got to understand so much more stuff. Now, it's just changing the words. It's the same defense. It's just a change of words, and that makes it a lot easier."
On whether the best thing is being close to home or playing for a winner: "Being here and being at home is definitely No. 2. No. 1 is having a pass rush. *(laughter) *That's definitely No. 1 – having a push rush and a front seven that is amazing. I grew up watching these guys and being excited. The circumstances may not have been how I thought I was going to get here, but I'm definitely glad I got here."
On how realistic it is to think he will play a big role in Week 1: "I think it's as realistic as me and you talking right now. I'm trying to play. Whatever I have to do – if I have to sit here and every day, go over this defense, come out here by myself and figure it out – that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do whatever it takes, and that's just the competitive nature in me, but I'm going to make it happen. I'm going to promise you guys [that] I'll be ready. Now, if I'm out there, of course that's a higher authority, but I'm going to be ready."
On how much time he spent studying the playbook during the trip to St. Louis: "It reminded me of being a rookie kind of. I'm walking everywhere with this playbook. Any time I've got… I'm trying to pull my coach to the side, 'Hey, let's go over this playbook. I've got to learn this and make this happen.' Normally, I carry my bible around, but right now I'm going to have my bible in my left [hand] and my playbook in my right [hand]."
On how exciting the trade was for him: "In this league, not very exciting because I'm going into the unknown. As the day went on, I started to get more excited as I got here and the guys welcomed me and the coaches welcomed me. Now, I'm really excited. Seattle… It was definitely not expected to let me go through the practice. I'll remember that. I didn't see it coming, but like I said before, when you feel like you're the stepchild and they've got their baby boy over there, they're going to massage him a little bit more than they're going to massage me."
On being tutored by CB Domonique Foxworth in college and now in the pros: "For me, that's a true blessing right there. I remember I had two years with Domonique, and my true freshman year I was his backup. All I did was listen to what he said. He told me, 'Do this, do that,' and my sophomore year we were out on the field starting together, and I'm still listening. Then he went on to get drafted, and I was still listening all the way through. He coached me up, and I'd say that's one of the guys who was very influential in my life in just the football aspect of the game. Now being here, I'm going to go over to his house and get in this playbook with him and milk it all up again. I'm going to start all over and keep this thing going. Hopefully, the success parallels."
On whether Foxworth is still coaching him up: "Oh, yeah. I'll always be open to coaching, especially [from] the guys on this team. They definitely know what they're doing."
On whether kick returns is something he wants to be involved in with the Ravens:"Hey, this is a playoff team, and this is a team that's going to get to the playoffs. This team is going to do whatever it takes to get to the Super Bowl, and I just want to be a part of that. I'm going to do whatever they need me to do. If they want me to get back there and do kicks, I'll score touchdowns that way. However they want me to do it, I'll try to make it happen."
On whether he's thought about this being a place he'd like to be long-term:"Oh, yeah. Why not? You're winning. I'm at home. I see guys with [Virginia] Tech tattoos, and I get to talk trash to them. (laughter) But you know, I love it here. Why would I want to leave?"
On the process of being traded and his arrival in Baltimore:"Let's start with this: As I told you, that very inspirational practice that I went to, I got off the field, and they told me, 'Hey, you're going to Baltimore and you've got a flight.' I'd say it was about 3 [p.m.] probably – and [they] said, 'You're going to Baltimore and you've got a flight at 10:15 [p.m.].' So, that's great. I've got to pack everything I've got to take, tell my wife – she has no idea – that's going to be nice, go home, get on this plane, and I guess tell my ex-teammates goodbye. And you know, I think that was the toughest part. These guys, I've grown a great relationship with. You know, talking to those guys, they still can't believe [it]. I was the jokester in the room; they miss the jokes. So, I got all that done [and] got on the plane – 10:15 [p.m.] on the plane; it's 1:15 [a.m.] to you guys – and got here at 9:00 in the morning [and] straight off the plane. I got picked up and went to a physical. I got poked. Picture everything you can think of, everything you can think of, got done. (laughter) And then I got over here and had a meet and greet with the coaches. They said, 'Go get changed, [you're] on a plane to St. Louis,' which I passed on the way here. And I get to St. Louis, and I'm hanging out with the guys. Like I said, I'm not quite sure what day I got traded on. And sleeping on a bed with… I'm not sure where I live right now. Somebody asked me, 'How far is home from here?' I don't even know how to get to the highway from here, so I'm still checking everything out, but I'm going to let the dust clear and now we have a little rest time."
On what his wife's name is:"Jazmin. Jazmin Wilson. We're high school sweethearts, so yeah, she's from here. As soon as I got off the plane, she gave me the deuces and went home. So, that was fine with me. [It gives me] more time to focus on what I need to be focused on."
