HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "It's good to see everybody. I appreciate you being here. What questions do you have?"
With QB Lamar Jackson, he's increased his passing yards while really decreasing his interceptions. He has two interceptions now in 10 games. Why do you think he has been able to protect the ball, especially interception-wise, so well this year? (Jamison Hensley) "I think Lamar [Jackson] has just been intentional about playing as well as he can across the board, and that's a big part of it. There are so many things that go into playing the quarterback position, and then so many things that go into the thing that you're talking about, as well. Across the board, I think he just tries to be the best he can, do the best he can [in] every aspect of it, whether it's huddle communication [or] pre-snap making sure everybody is in the right spots. We've improved greatly in those huddle, pre-snap communication areas; we have to continue to get better at that and then operating the plays at a high level. So, all of those things go into it, and all of us would say we have to continue to improve with a sense of urgency in everything we're doing."
What's the latest on S Kyle Hamilton? I know you said after the game that it wasn't anything serious. Any further updates there? (Brian Wacker) "It's Monday. [Kyle Hamilton has] been here all weekend, getting treatment and stuff like that. We'll see how he looks on Wednesday going forward."
After taking a look at the film, what are some impressions from the Cincinnati game? And most importantly, how was WR Ja'Marr Chase able to get open so frequently after looking at it? (Jerry Coleman) "Yes, Ja'Marr Chase is pretty good, so that's one reason, if you're looking for the how's. He does a good job, and that's where it starts. He's a talented person, but [he got open] way too much, way too many [times], and it really comes down to how we're playing; it comes down to us. We have to play our coverages better in those situations, especially the deep middle and the intermediate middle part of the field. [Those] are the areas that have been a problem for us. We're just very inconsistent back there in that sense, and we're going to be attacking that. That's probably the one major thing, if I was going to be a priority thing on it. Obviously, probably everybody would agree with that. That's the number one target that we have to get better at, is that aspect of our pass coverage. So, we worked at it through the weekend, and we'll continue to work at it, and everybody is determined to get better, and we have a growth mindset to get better at everything with a high sense of urgency, but that one area has to get better."
CB Marlon Humphrey said that what's happening in practice isn't always translating to the field, that you're playing certain coverages in certain ways in practice, and then two days later, it's breaking down. Is that what you're seeing from the film? (Kyle Phoenix) "I've seen that happen, yes. It's not across the board. We've had really good practices, especially the last couple of weeks in terms of coverage, but it hasn't translated to the field consistently. I think they had 64 pass calls in the game, so that's a lot of passes to defend against good players, but you can't have those long touchdown passes. It's one thing to give up nine-yard completions [or] seven-yard completions on checkdowns and low routes and go tackle them. It's another thing to even to hit a sail route or an in-breaking route and tackle it. To not tackle it, or to let it get behind us, those are just things that just are below the line. Those are not OK. Not that you don't get beat every now and then – teams get beat here and there – but it's just happening way too much with us right now."
On the 70-yard touchdown to WR Ja'Marr Chase, where I believe it was a one-play drive where they responded to you guys scoring, was there a miscommunication on the back end? Was there a missed assignment? He kind of just broke right through the middle of the defense. (Cordell Woodland) "Yes, just the techniques were played wrong. They weren't played the way that they're designed to be played, whether something wasn't seen the right way, or it was misunderstood. We'll look at it from a coaching standpoint that we didn't coach it well enough. We have to coach it better [and] make sure that we understand it more clearly in that type of situation. That same route has been covered before; that wasn't the first time it's been run against us. Again, we have to be consistent with it, we have to be on point every single play, we have to have a clear understanding of what we're doing, and we have to be urgent about it."
CB Marlon Humphrey also said that something's got to change; he was speaking broadly. When you look at it, do you anticipate or will you look at any potential personnel changes, moves, etc., including responsibilities and things like that? (Brian Wacker) "Of course you consider everything. Everything is on the table, always. I don't think that's any news story; it's definitely not headline-worthy, because that's what you do. That's what I spent the weekend doing, and that's what our coaches spent the weekend doing, and that's what our players spent the weekend doing in the back end. So, we'll look at every aspect of it and pursue the best path that we can think of and that we see going forward with a great sense of urgency, like I said, and we'll be pointed towards the Pittsburgh game, in terms of what they do and who they have doing it, and go out there and play good football."
QB Lamar Jackson's lowest passer rating against any team is against Pittsburgh. I know he missed a couple games with injuries, but what has it been about Pittsburgh that has kind of stymied him? (Bo Smolka) "[The Steelers] have played well against us, and we haven't played well against them, in that sense, as far as moving the ball and scoring points and all that. This is a new game. We don't live in the past. We're moving forward and trying to ... We don't live in the past game; we don't live in the past record. None of that matters. It's the next game. No matter what happens, you get ready for the next football game in the National Football League. But we'll look at it scientifically; you go back and watch all the games and try to make sure that we are doing the things that we need to do to win this particular game."
I know you're focused on wanting to improve the coverage on the back end. The pass rush Thursday night might've been the best team-wide pass rush that you've had all year. Some people pointed to DT Travis Jones being back healthy. He played a season-high in snaps. What makes him so valuable to what you guys do up front? (Luke Jones) "The inside pass rush is really important [and] is a big deal, and it doesn't always show up with sacks. A lot of times it shows up with just pressing the pocket [and] shallowing the pocket out for the quarterback. If there's depth to the pocket, and he has room to step up and make throws ... In the [Cincinnati] game, [Joe] Burrow did step up and had a couple throws, but a lot of times, he wasn't able to step up, and that was all those guys. Of course, Travis [Jones] was who you mentioned; I thought he did a great job of that, and he always has."
If you look at the numbers, a lot of the big plays that you've given up in coverage have been in zone looks. If you were to sort of explain to people what you think are the fundamentals of playing zone coverage well, what are the key things? (Childs Walker) "The basic thing is to keep the ball inside and in front at its most fundamental level. Whether it's zone – it applies to run defense, as well – you have to keep the ball in front of you. We believe in top-down principles for sure. Sometimes we're in spot-zones, sometimes we're in match-zones, sometimes we're in fire-zone, sometimes we're in two-deep, sometimes we're in three-deep. All those things are different, and they have different ways of playing routes, but the bottom line is that you want to keep the ball in front of you, and you want to be able to see your threats and the ball. That's important, and maybe that's sometimes stated in terms of playing square. If you're running with a route downfield, or you're in press coverage, that can be zone, as well, and it looks like man. It's kind of a man version of zone, [and] you still have to be able to find the ball. That's kind of where it starts."
We haven't been able to talk to you since the CB Tre'Davious White trade became official. How do you see him fitting in, and what do you like about what he brings? (Jeff Zrebiec) "First of all, [he's a] high-level human being, great guy. Everybody that's been around [Tre'Davious White] says that. [He's a] high-level competitor [and a] tough, tough guy. [He's] willing to get out there and play hard like we like, so we respect that about him. We expect him to get in there and start taking snaps in the rotation at corner. That's why we traded for him, so we're looking forward to it, and I know he's excited."
With that, WR Diontae Johnson, it seems like his workload is starting to increase. Do you imagine his workload this week is kind of looking a little more like what you expect it to be throughout the rest of the season? (Cordell Woodland) "Absolutely, absolutely. [It's] the same kind of conversation, and [Diontae Johnson has] been here now for somewhat of a number of practices. Last week, we only had one practice. That was really where he got a chance to move around, but I would expect that to ramp up, yes."
Do you guys see CB Tre'Davious White as an outside cornerback and not moving around? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes, that's where [Tre'Davious White] has played, mostly."
When you look at the division, the Ravens and Steelers have separated themselves a little bit on top of the division. How big do you think Sunday's game could be in determining who gets the division title? (Jamison Hensley) "If you want to win the division, you have to win division games, so that's the deal. [The Steelers] have had a great season. They've done a great job against the people they've played against, and they've found ways to win [in] different kinds of ways. [Their] defense has been very consistent. The pass rush ... Obviously, it starts with the pass rush for them and the run defense. That's where they start, and then you have to deal with that. Then, obviously, I think their safeties and their corners do a great job of triggering versus the run and getting up there and making tackles, and then, they're very aggressive in coverage. And you know what? Every year for the last 17 years, that's what you could say about Pittsburgh's defense. They take on that personality, and it goes all the way back. [Steelers head coach] Mike [Tomlin] has done a great job with that; he's a defensive coach, and [I have] all respect for that. Then, you go back to Coach [Bill] Cowher, and you go back to Coach [Chuck] Noll. It's all in the same vein – the consistency with that. Offensively, they've done a great job with the two different quarterbacks. Now, they have Russell [Wilson] back – 'Russ.' I have a lot of respect for 'Russ' and what he does well. I think they're leaning into to his skillset, and they have some receivers that match that up a little bit. [The] offensive line continues to grow, and they have two really good [running] backs. That's who they are right now."
RB Keaton Mitchell obviously came back. Do you anticipate continuing to use him in that kickoff role, and what did you see from him outside the obvious of he looked pretty fast? (Brian Wacker) "Yes, Keaton [Mitchell] is a really good football player, so in that role as a running back, that's got some special teams elements to it, for sure. Boy, I like the ball in his hands, so we had him back there in kickoff return. I'm sure he'll be on some other phases, but really, we'll start working him into the offense, as well. I do see a little bit of a three-headed monster there, potentially. We'll see where that goes over the next course of games, and hopefully, that's something that can start to develop for us."
After the game, you described the K Justin Tucker miss as just "a bad swing." When you look at it again, is there anything more to that, or is it just a bad kick? (Bo Smolka) "That's how I would describe it. I'd really rather lean on what Justin [Tucker] would say. I don't want to speak for him on any kick, other than [a] great kick. But I watch him in practice, I watch the practice tape, and he's doing great. He's been kicking the ball super well, but he's had some of these that just haven't gone through for him, and those are broken down inch by inch. That's what we do – break them down inch by inch – and he's his own biggest critic, for sure. So, I think by his standard, he'd probably say that."
I know every game is important for you guys, but this week is against Pittsburgh. Given what it means for standings purposes within your own division, do you relate that to the guys? Does your speech change this week considering how big this game is? (Cordell Woodland) "Yes, It doesn't change in this sense, as I tell them that every week. Every game is a big game, and that's the thing in this league [that] I think is really important to understand. The more games you win, the better your position is, and it's not like basketball or baseball, where you play all those game, or hockey. You only play 17 regular season games – soon to be 18 – but that's not that many. In terms of what they mean, every game is really, super important. And then when you play in your division, they kind of become twice as important, because you give your division rival a loss, so it separates you, really, in one-and-a-half games, at least. So, that's just something that we really just have to understand, but we always do. That's why we say division games are so important. Pittsburgh is 7-2, so that becomes part of the equation, for sure. But in the end, that's not what matters; what matters is how we play. We go in there and execute, we go in there and play the brand of football that we're used to playing, that we know that we're going to play, and then we let the chips fly."
You mentioned QB Russell Wilson earlier. I don't know how much you've gotten into the film yet, but how have you seen him elevate the Steelers' offense, or just what does he bring from what you know of him, in general? (Carita Parks) "[Russell Wilson] is making plays in the passing game for them. He's done a good job in the boots, the play action, drop-back passes. He's using the full depth of the field. He's always been known for throwing the 'Russell Wilson deep ball,' so he does that. He gets out and runs around, scrambles around, makes some throws, makes a couple runs here and there, so he's kind of doing what he's always done, and that's always impressive."
Outside of T Roger Rosengarten, CB Nate Wiggins and S Sanoussi Kane, we haven't seen too much from the rookie class. Behind the scenes, how would you say they've developed as a whole? (Giana Han) "I think the rookie class is doing a good job [and] developing very well. You have to go guy by guy, because every scenario is a little different. Some guys have had some injuries they've had to deal with and stuff like that. I think they have all met their circumstances where they're at in the best possible way, individually. [I'm] not disappointed with anybody. I think they're all doing well, and I think they're all going to be good players."
Speaking of the division, when do the HBO cameras start showing up full time? (Jerry Coleman) (Senior vice president of communications Chad Steele: "After the Chargers game.")
Have you thought about how you're going to handle having the HBO cameras here? (Jerry Coleman) "I have, yes. We're not going to do anything different. We're just going to be us; that's how we're going to handle it. We're going to be very genuine. It'll be real." (laughter)
As you look at things in the secondary, do you see DB Brandon Stephens as a guy who could move around and perhaps play some safety if you needed him there? (Jeff Zrebiec) "No, that's not really on the table right now. [Brandon Stephens] has got a big job right now [that] he's trying to take care of. If you're talking about deep safety ... Now, we move guys around underneath all the time."
