HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "It's good to see everybody. I appreciate you guys being here. [We had] a good practice [and] a big game [coming up on Sunday]. We're looking forward to it; we're just trying to prepare. We have about 48 more hours to get ready, and we'll try to prepare right up until game time."
Yesterday, offensive coordinator Todd Monken was talking about how QB Lamar Jackson and his control of the offense. I think he called him a conductor of the offense. How have you seen him over the years, especially this year, take even more control of the offense? (Jamison Hensley) "[Lamar Jackson] definitely has been. Conductor is a good analogy; I like driver, like a racecar driver. To me, he's driving the car and making those decisions in real time while the race is going on out there, and [he's] also feeling how the car is handling, and letting Todd [Monken] and Tee [Martin] know that during the game, 'Hey, this is good, let's try this.' But he's making great decisions in real time; it's a challenging thing to do. There's a lot going on out there for a quarterback. I just think he's been A-plus with that."
With CB Nate Wiggins going against these receivers, what have you seen out of him these past couple of weeks in how he's developing as a cornerback? (Todd Karpovich) "[Nate Wiggins] is really developing. I think he's learning fast. That's one of those positions where, I don't think you don't really understand it until you experience it. You're a corner, you're on the island. It's you and a great athlete, a great quarterback throwing to him, and you have one-on-one coverage so many times, and just learning how it really works. 'How fast are these guys? What do these routes really look like? How accurate are the quarterbacks in real time? How important is it for me to be in the right position?' And he's a very quick learner that way."
Talking about CB Nate Wiggins, he was named the NFLPA Community MVP that was announced today. What can you say about just the work he's done off the field? He's been doing that going back to his Clemson days with his foundation. (Carita Parks) "I guess it doesn't surprise me. He's just a good guy. I mean, Nate Wiggins is a really good dude. He's respectful, he cares about people, he treats people really well that I've seen – people that he's around, fans or even people in the building, whoever it might be, he's just a good person. To hear now for the first time that he got that award, I guess it just fits who he is perfectly, and I'd say, 'Congratulations.'"
These AFC North matchups can be physical at times. How excited are you to see RB Derrick Henry, who is probably the most physical back, play in these types of games? (Cordell Woodland) "He's definitely played in all these stadiums against all these teams before. This will be the first time [for him] in an AFC North game, with an AFC North team. I think he's built for it. I'm sure he's ready. We just have to go in there as a team and be on point, play winning football across the board, in every phase and every way, and give ourselves the best chance to come out victorious."
At the start of the week, you were wearing that "October Ready" shirt. Do you have a few words about the way things went for the Orioles? (Jerry Coleman) "I think they're a great team. I'm a fan. I'm a fan. I'm a fan who has the privilege and the opportunity to talk to the skipper. I think Brandon [Hyde] is a great coach, and I have a lot of respect for him, and I learn a lot [from] talking to him. I don't know much about baseball, really; my dad knows a lot about baseball. So, I'm a fan, and I just admire those guys. I just think they're a great team and a great upcoming team, and they have so much success in their future with these guys. They just compete and love to play, and that postseason success is coming. It's coming. There's no doubt about it, and I'm proud to be a fan of that team."
We know CB Arthur Maulet just got back a couple of days ago, and we haven't seen him in the last two days. Did he have a setback? Or did anything happen in practice? (Luke Jones) "He did. He had a soft-tissue setback, so he won't make it to this game this week, but he'll be day-to-day probably going forward next week. We'll just have to see."
You always talk about talk about, "It depends on how the roster pieces come," so I know you're not going to say anything about that, but have you seen enough from OLB Yannick Ngakoue that if you needed him this week, you feel like he's ready to play? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I would. I would say that, yes."
RB Derrick Henry is coming up on 10,000 career rushing yards. Obvisouly, the biggest weapon in his toolbox is that stiff arm. When you see him use that, whether it's in person or on film, what sticks out to you about that stiff arm? (Jonas Shaffer) (Laughter) "The same thing that sticks out to all you guys, it's that arm sticking out, and it's in the tackler's face. As an old defensive back, I just envision myself trying to knock that thing down and hanging on for dear life."
You never got stiff-armed at Miami University (Ohio), right? (Jamison Hensley) "As far as anybody knows." (Laughter)
RB DERRICK HENRY
On his first AFC North division matchup: "I approach it like any other game. It's a division opponent [and] a rivalry. I've been in a division game before, so [I] just approach it like another game and get ready – getting ready for a four-quarter battle."
On coming up on 10,000 career rushing yards: "[I'm] always grateful for the journey and everyone that's been a part of it. I've been blessed tremendously, and I'm very thankful to be able to be able to play this long and be able to reach a milestone that big. All the great ones before me that I idolized – they achieved that accomplishment, so for me to be doing something that the ones that I've idolized have done is so cool."
On if somebody would have told him at the beginning of his career that he'd hit 10,000 career rushing yards: "It's very cool. As a kid I always wanted to play running back and make it to the NFL. Like I said, for me to play this long and be able to reach that milestone that so many great ones before me reached that I idolized – it's like a kid at a candy store where you can't believe what's in front of you achieving that milestone. I'm grateful – grateful for every coach [and] every teammate that helped me get to this part. I'm just very thankful for it all."
On if there is a milestone that he's particularly setting his sights on: "No, not at all. [It's a] team sport; I put the team first – everything else is window dressing."
On if he knew the potential of the Ravens' backfield duo of him and QB Lamar Jackson: "No, I just want to come in here and be able to help this team, [and] help this offense and have an impact, really. This team has already been great; already had great players, and they've been winning for a long time, so I just wanted to come in and hopefully be an added piece to help us win more games and get where we want to go."
On if he believes teams will start defending the Ravens' offense any differently: "I really don't try to worry about that. I just focus on what I can do to help this team by execution – what we need to do as an offense. Not make it so it's not about the team we're playing, but us and how we execute and not hurt ourselves. If we continue to focus on that and continue to focus on being 1-0 – every team [is] going to have a scheme and a different plan – we just got to go out there and execute."
On if his pairing with the Ravens has been what he was expecting: "I don't really like speaking on things like that. We're just focused on what we need to do; doing our job at the best of our ability; trying to be consistent; trying to help this team and help this offense be the best that we can and [put] us [in a] position to win each and every Sunday."
On if he was curious on his fit when he signed with the Ravens: "No – I didn't know. All I wanted was an opportunity, and I'm glad that they gave me one, and I'm looking forward to playing the Bengals this week."
