Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta & Head Coach John Harbaugh
Eric DeCosta Opening Statement: "Well, thanks for coming in guys. Obviously, it's a long season. We appreciate you guys covering the team every day and writing about our team and our players, and I think it's great for the community. So, if you guys have questions, offer them up."
Since you guys have come back from Buffalo, have you guys talked to TE Mark Andrews? What's his mindset right now? And Eric DeCosta, I think Andrews is going into the final year [of his contract]. Can you talk about the future for Mark as well? (Jamison Hensley)
(HARBAUGH) "Mark [Andrews] is ... We've communicated, and I'm going to tell you what – Mark Andrews is one of the very best football players, one of the most committed football players. Nobody cares more about the success of this football team than Mark Andrews, and he made numerous plays in the game up until the plays that everybody is talking about and in the season. One of my messages to him was, 'We are not where we're at throughout the course of the season or in the game without the contributions of Mark,' specifically in the game and the plays that he made – spectacular plays all season, and then the unsung aspect of all the blocking he did inline and on the perimeter. So, Mark Andrews is a great football player, and he's also a very tough-minded individual. So, yes, he takes it hard because he cares so much. I love Mark Andrews. [Executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] loves Mark. All of our players love Mark. Mark is a huge part of our future. And we love him, and we're there for him. But if anybody can take a tough circumstance like that and handle it with class and grace and dignity and mental toughness, it's most definitely Mark Andrews."
(DeCOSTA) "Yes, I agree with [head coach] John [Harbaugh]. Mark [Andrews] and I have communicated – I'll leave those thoughts to myself, but as far as Mark's contract goes, he's no different than a lot of guys. In fact, I think all of our tight ends are in the last year in their contract coming up in 2025, so we'll have some decisions to make moving forward. Not as many tough decisions this year – looking at it – which I'm thankful for, but obviously, as we look out, we'll have some tough decisions after next season. So, a year from now, we'll have some tough choices and decisions to make regarding players. So, that room right now, all three of those guys are in the last year of their deals, ironically. [In] Charlie [Kolar], Isaiah [Likely] and Mark, we're blessed to have – in my opinion – the best tight ends room in the league, and we'll blessed this year on the field as well."
Obviously, another year you guys have a really good regular season. You win the division and you're a talented team, but unfortunately you fall short of your ultimate goal. How do you equate this season? How do you view this season? Is it a successful season in your mind? (Cordell Woodland)
(DeCOSTA) "Yes, perspective over 29 seasons, and we've had 27 seasons like this. I'm very proud of the team this year. It was a successful season – I'm not going to sit up here and say it was not a successful season. It was in just about every way of looking at it, but I'm disappointed and [Head coach] John [Harbaugh] is disappointed. We're all disappointed. Our team is disappointed. We had higher aspirations, and we didn't achieve those aspirations and goals, but I think it was a successful season. I'm very proud of the team, the players, the coaches, support staff, everybody, and I've already moved on. I've started watching tape. I'm immersed in college and pro scouting right now, talking about contracts and negotiations and different things. And for me, I think that's one of the blessings of my job. It's very seasonal. I'm in now one of my most favorite seasons, which is the offseason. It's a misnomer, because it's my busiest time of the year, but I love being a part of the solution, and that's what we'll be."
Have there been any conversations with QB Lamar Jackson, or will you kind of kick this can down the road as far as his contract and perhaps eventually restructuring something to get a little bit more cap-friendly, whether it's this season or next? (Morgan Adsit)
(DeCOSTA) "Yes, we've seen teams do that. And Lamar [Jackson] and I, we've had a lot of discussions about contracts over the years, and at some point, I'll probably talk to Lamar. I'm just really happy [and] blessed to have watched him play football this year. We just finished the season; I want Lamar relax a little bit and think back to what we accomplished as a team and what he accomplished individually. We'll have those conversations probably at some point. And from what I've seen with Lamar, he's just grown so much – even just over the last couple of years, in terms of his game as a player, as a leader [and] as a person. I love talking to him. We communicate all the time. And as I said, I'm blessed to be with him for the last seven years."
Speaking of QB Lamar Jackson, how does he change the narrative from what he's done in the regular season as opposed to the postseason. Is there anything more he can do to change what people think about him after the regular season ends? (Jerry Coleman)
(DeCOSTA) "What do people think about [Lamar Jackson]?
Well, there's the difference with the numbers and the way that he performs in the postseason and the regular season. I didn't think he played poorly the other day, but that's the perception out there. It all falls – it seems – on the quarterback. (Jerry Coleman)
(DeCOSTA) "I can say there's no player I'd rather have on my team than Lamar Jackson. I think he's the best quarterback in the league. That's my answer to that question."
What about the left side of your offensive line. [OL Patrick Mekari and T Ronnie Stanley] are both free agents. Ronnie is 31 years old and had a healthy year this year. What are you hoping to do there? (Vinny Cerato)
(DeCOSTA) "I think our goal is to always have the best offensive line that we can have. We made a tough call last year to go younger and have some younger guys play, and we knew we'd have a few growing pains. I think we had a few, but looking back on it, I think it was absolutely the right thing to do, and we saw our guys improve and get better and really mesh as a unit and gel. We are aware that we have some guys whose contracts are up, and we'll look at that and certainly have some discussions with players. We'll look at potentially bringing back our guys; we'll look at the draft; we'll look at free agency; we'll overturn every rock to find as many good offensive linemen as we can, and I think we have some good young players on the team – they've shown that. And one thing we've seen over the years with that position, is guys get better as they get older and more established. They get in the weight room, they get stronger and play better, so that's going to be the case with the guys we have. We're blessed to have really good coaches and some good young players, but also, we realize we're going to have – conservatively – 10 or 11 draft picks this year, free agency, and still a chance to get some deals signed with some of those guys."
Especially with T Ronnie Stanley's status in mind, what do you see from T Roger Rosengarten? First of all, as an NFL player, but is he still one that you could see moving to the other side if Ronnie isn't back? And what did you think of him as a rookie? (Luke Jones)
(DeCOSTA) "Well, [Roger Rosengarten]'s played both sides of [the offensive line], he's played left and right [tackle]. This year, it's a very hard thing to come in as an offensive lineman – as a rookie – and play well. And Roger, honestly, just got better and better and better and better. [He's] a mature guy beyond his years. I think a year in the weight room is going to really serve him well – as it will [with] all of our guys – but I can speak for myself and say I was very happy with what Roger did. It's a very tough position to play as a young player. I think his future is very bright – as all the other guys that he played with on the offensive line this year – and we're excited to see what he looks like next year."
I know there's always moving pieces on the coaching staff, and offensive coordinator Todd Monken has interviewed for head coaching roles. I know last year you basically had to overhaul almost your entire defensive staff. Do you expect your staff back or are you still anticipating there could be some departures? (Jeff Zrebiec)
(HARBAUGH) "Well, it's not for me to really know. I don't know for sure. It's awesome and great that these coaches have gotten that opportunity over the last few years. I'm kind of proud of that. The fact that guys are getting opportunities now, whatever those might be – I'm not exactly sure, because it's still pretty early. But you might have a better beat on that than I do sometimes in terms of following up on what's going on. Whatever chances they get, they're most deserving of, and I'm happy for them. Of course, I'd love to keep them. I tell them, I say, 'I'm rooting for you, and I'll definitely tell people how great you are, because you deserve it, but if it doesn't work out for you, I'm really happy that you're staying with us.' And our players, I've talked to a lot of our players, and I know our players feel the same way."
Have you talked to coaching consultant Dean Pees about that? Obviously, that's a little more of a unique situation. (Luke Jones)
(HARBAUGH) "Yes, I have. [It's a] little more nuanced thing. [I'm] just appreciative of Dean [Pees] and the job he did. I know [defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr] feels the same way [and] defensive coaches. He helped us. It was a good thing to have Dean come back and experience it. We connected this to our roots in terms of the structure of the defense, because Dean was a big part of that from 2012 and 2011 [to] 2010 even, as a linebacker coach, and then on through as a coordinator through [2017]. It was kind of good to get reconnected to a lot of that, and he was a good eye and ear for the players and coaches. He's interested in continuing in some sort of a role. I do think he's at that stage of his life where it's probably not going to be that full-time thing like he did the second half of the season. Mel, his wife, is amazing. She was here [and] she'd come by and be in the cafeteria and be around, and it was great to have her around. They're at that time of their life where they have some different priorities with their grandkids and stuff. But he is going to be still connected. He'll still have a role as a consultant for us. That's my plan, [and] that's his plan, and that's great."
What were coaching consultant Dean Pees' responsibilities as a consultant, and how do you evaluate defensive coordinator Zach Orr's progression, outside of what Dean added? (Giana Han)
(HARBAUGH) "Dean [Pees] was, like I said, he was a sounding board, and an ear, and he had ideas and he functioned as part of the staff. The thing about [a] coaching staff and, it's really important ... People ... You should understand this, I guess, because you work in different organizations, but it's always a collaboration, [and] it's a team effort. Dean was a part of the team and brought his abilities and experience and knowledge to the table and was just a great teammate that way and helped. He sure helped [defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr]. I mean, Zach's a great young coach. [It was his] first year as a coordinator, [and] there's things you have to learn only by experiencing it, and Dean had been a coordinator for probably 30 of the 40 or 45 years he's been a coach, and he learned all these things, sometimes the hard way. For Zach to be able to tap into that knowledge and that experience right away [and] fast was really a positive, and I think Zach would tell you the same thing. That was a big part of it."
A lot of years you've brought in a "camp leg" to kind of give K Justin Tucker some rest. Do you anticipate bringing in a kicker that will legitimately compete for that kicking job, or do you perceive that K Justin Tucker has the kicking job next year? (Bo Smolka)
(DeCOSTA) "Well, I think Justin [Tucker]'s going to go down as – in my opinion – if not the best kicker of all time, one of the best, and I think he finished the season strong. We'll have those discussions, but I think I have every expectation that Justin's going to be a great kicker for us next year and moving forward. We're blessed to have [senior special teams coach] Randy Brown, and [special teams coordinator] Chris Horton upstairs and [assistant special teams coach] Sam Koch – [they're] awesome coaches; special teams coaches. They'll be a part of the discussion, but the way that Justin finished – he finished strong this year towards the end. [He] had a little bit of adversity midway through the season, but I think Justin is a tremendous competitor, [and he's] very, very talented. He works his butt off, and I would expect him to be the kicker for us next year."
What do you think about ILB Trenton Simpson? He started off in the middle, and then he kind of drifted as LB Malik Harrison and ILB Chris Board took over. Is he still in the mix, or do you go with one or both of those guys going forward? (Kirk McEwen)
(DeCOSTA) "Well, I think [Trenton Simpon]'s an exciting young prospect. I think he's a really, really good young player. [He's a] developmental guy, and I think he's obviously – like a lot of our young players – they have their ups and downs and their growing pains, but I think his future's very bright. We've seen guys like him have their moments and then end up being really, really good players, and I would expect that. This guy's a young very athletic [player]. He can run; he's very explosive; he has a huge care factor, and it's our job to get that out of him, and I think we will."
The 2022 Draft class is now eligible for a contract extension. How much of a priority is it for you this offseason to ink some of those guys to extensions? (Tim Barbalace)
(DeCOSTA) "Well, we'll work on that. I mean, I think I sat up here in 2019 and said we're going to try to retain as many of our good young players as we can, and I think we've done that. I'm proud of that, and I think you'll see that continue this offseason."
What went into the thought process with the WR Diontae Johnson trade, and how disappointing was it that that didn't probably work out the way you hoped? (Cordell Woodland)
(DeCOSTA) "Yes, I think we looked at it as a chance for us to strengthen a position group, potentially, [with] a guy we've played against a lot. I think we did our homework. We understood the risks and the rewards. [We] didn't look at it as cost prohibitive. It was a relatively inexpensive deal for us to make, in many ways. We knew that it wasn't 100% going to be a slam dunk. It didn't work out. We always try to mitigate our risks. One of the jobs of a general manager is to mitigate your risk and look at the downside and the upside and see how it works out. In that particular situation, I really didn't see a lot of downside. I think we understood what the downside might be – that [Diontae Johnson] would be unhappy with his role, potentially."
You talked about hits or misses. WR Rashod Bateman was a total hit for you. You have to feel good about that when you put yourself out for a guy like that and he really shows up for you, and there's been a couple along the way this last year. OLB Odafe Oweh comes to mind as well as OLB Kyle Van Noy. (Kirk McEwen)
(DeCOSTA) "Yes, I appreciate you bringing up those guys, and I think ... I'm very proud of Rashod Bateman. This guy's had some adversity with injuries along the way that he's overcome – some serious injuries [and] some bad luck. I think he's taken some criticism, and he came back this year with a vengeance and just kept stacking, and stacking, and stacking, and fighting through some nagging stuff and playing and getting better every single week, and it's a great story. And I think he's just getting started; I really do. He's a great person, [and] he works hard. Again, [he's] another guy that really loves football and loves the game. I think his future's very bright, and I can't wait to see what he looks like next year. Those other guys, Odafe [Oweh] – [he's] another guy. I think he also had a lot to prove this year, and we made the decision to pick up his fifth-year option. I'm glad that we did. [He] finished with double-digit sacks this year and had some big plays in big games for us. Again, [he's an] ascending player [and] good young player. I think he's going to build off this year and be a better player. The other guy you mentioned is Kyle Van Noy. And, different from those guys, this is a guy that's really ... I think he's living his best life as a player right now, and he's an older player. That's exciting for us to have a guy with that experience that he's had. He's played in multiple cities, [and] he's been to multiple places. I think he really appreciated the Ravens, which is great. This is a guy that's ... He's played in what? Three or four teams. He loves this place. Our young players see that, and that resonates. And that's a big deal. He comes to work every day with a great attitude, he's a leader, and he's fun storyline this year for us."
Eric, the RB Derrick Henry signing worked out about as well as it possibly could have. I know he's under contract, but with a deal that's maybe weighted a little more in the second year. Is that a guy that you would also maybe talk to about an extension or something? What's the plan going forward with Derrick? (Childs Walker)
(DeCOSTA) "Yes, well some people – I think Jerry [Coleman] – thought he was over the hill last year." (laughter) "But I think he proved that he had a lot left in the tank. I'm sorry, Jerry, I couldn't resist." (HARBAUGH: "Jerry has been wrong before, it's OK.") (laughter) "We'll look at that. I think it's a good question. I'm just so grateful that Derrick [Henry] chose us last year. He came in and … I can honestly just say his attitude and the way that he played was amazing to watch. His relationship with his teammates, his humility as a player, his work ethic – I can't wait to see him next year. I know it was tough on him to end the way it did; tough on all of us. But I think we have a chip on our shoulders to come back next year with a vengeance, to start faster than we started this year, to not start 0-2 next year, to get out of the gates faster. I think Derrick will be a big part of that."
Coach, off what he said and starting 0-2 and the way you guys rebounded … How do you characterize this year compared to the 16 or 17 you've been as the head coach of this team? And what did owner Steve Bisciotti have to say since we don't get a chance to hear from him directly? (Jerry Coleman)
(HARBAUGH) "Every season stands on its own. That's the great thing about this whole adventure – just like life. This season was an awesome season in so many ways – the ways that really mattered. You don't live in the narratives; you live in the reality and the relationships. And that's been fantastic. That's the thing that I really treasure about this team, because this was a football team that was singularly focused on one another, the team and being the best team that they could possibly be and doing the best they could do. That doesn't guarantee that every outcome is going to be the way you want it to be in every circumstance, and that's why it's so hard to go all the way. That's why what the [Kansas City] Chiefs have done the last two years is so impressive, and that's what we're shooting for. But they did everything they could do – I felt like – in terms of every single day. Now our job is to do everything we can do in the offseason, like Eric [DeCosta] said, this in-season offseason, to improve our football team in every way; coaching staff, scheme, players, how we operate, everything we can do. Every single thing we can do to try to be better next year and what we present to our guys, and then them taking another step forward, individually, [with] all of our players. From Lamar [Jackson] and 'Ro' [Roquan Smith] and every single player we have, 'What can you do? What can I do? What can I do? What can I do to be the very best I can be right now and going forward?' And that's what you do in life. Our guys did that this year, and I think we'll take that to another level again next year."
What happened with S Marcus Williams? In minicamp when S Kyle [Hamilton] was hurt, he was the leader out there, making calls, aggressive. Then once the season started, I'm watching film and he wasn't even in the projections and wasn't physical. (Vinny Cerrato)
(HARBAUGH) "Yes, it was a tough season for Marcus [Williams], but I admire the way he handled it. He faced a lot of adversity that just kind of came with the production at the end and also the performance. You never pin it on any one thing; there's no way to pin it on any one thing. You know that. You have to kind of look at it as a whole, and there are a lot of factors in there. But I know this, I was impressed by the way Marcus handled himself through all of that. Because sometimes, the tougher thing is how you respond to the disappointment and the adversity that he faced as a result of maybe not playing as well. He did a good job with that. He was a team guy through and through, his attitude was positive right to the end, [and] he supported his teammates. That's kind of the measuring stick, for me, as a man, of how he handled it. I'll be forever proud of him and grateful for that."
Eric, that opened the door for S Ar'Darius Washington to step in and he made several impact plays for this team down the stretch. Just your thoughts on his season? (Tim Barbalace)
(DeCOSTA) "Yes, Ar'Darius [Washington] got a chance, and I'll credit the coaches. We were at a point in the season where we were looking for solutions to play better, and John [Harbaugh] and [defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr] and [assistant head coach/pass game coordinator] Chris [Hewitt], they all kind of got together and had a gameplan. I give the coaches a lot of credit for doing that; it really turned our season around. Ar'Darius is a great example of a guy who got a chance and ran with it. We knew … I'll go back to his draft class year, [and] he went undrafted because he was a step slow [and] he's a couple inches smaller. And we got him, and we were excited when we got him as an undrafted free agent, because he was a great football player. Then the question really becomes, 'Can he do the same thing at our level that he did at the college level?' He got hurt a couple years, unfortunate injuries, a lot like Rashod [Bateman] in that way. His first couple of years got held back a little bit. This year, he stayed healthy, and he became that guy that we saw in college. [He's] tough, physical, a playmaker, instinctive, smart, a leader. [He's a] great story. Just another one of these undrafted guys over the years that we've had that has developed into being a really good football player. We're proud of him. He's going to be a restricted free agent this year for us, and we're fortunate that we have him back again next year."
Eric, in a similar vein, how would you assess the season of your first-round draft pick CB Nate Wiggins? (Carita Parks)
(DeCOSTA) "We knew Nate [Wiggins] was a great athlete and a great cover guy. He's young. Even when you look at him, I mean I've got two sons and I'm getting older, but I look at him and he just seems young to me. He's a tremendous athlete, [and] he's got a very bright future. We want to get him stronger. You've all seen his body, and I think an offseason is really going to serve him well. He had some nagging injuries and things that he fought through, handled some adversity pretty well. He had the unfortunate car accident early in the year, which probably derailed him for a few weeks. But he's got a very, very bright future, because he can do some things that other guys can't do. Eventually, how far he develops is really going to be up to him. His future is unlimited, because he can do some things that are just very unusual and unique at his position. I can't wait to see what a good offseason does for him. Everything is fast forward, full speed ahead with him. He had a good year, [and] he can be great next year, but it's going to be up to him."
Eric, going back briefly to the safety position. I'm sure it was a tough decision to carry so many safeties on the roster once it was apparent that Ar'Darius [Washington] would be the answer there. What happened with S Eddie Jackson? John Harbaugh mentioned sort of the positivity that Marcus Williams carried through his tough struggles. Was there a different situation with Jackson that led the team to cut ties with him? (Kyle Goon)
(DeCOSTA) "I would say that's probably more of a roster decision in terms of us needing a spot at that time. I think Eddie [Jackson], he's a veteran player, and sometimes when you add veteran players, as a [general manager], you've got to look at the player and figure out, 'Is this player going to be happy in his role?' This is a guy who, I think Eddie was a two-time Pro Bowl safety earlier in his career, and it really comes down to probably I failed. This was a guy who didn't really want to accept his role as a backup safety and a special teamer, and I understand that. I really do. It was a good value for us to get him the way we did, and I think sometimes, if I'm guilty of mistakes, it's finding value but not always considering how that player is going to handle the situation that he's being forced into. Eddie just wasn't happy with his role; he wanted to play football. He got probably distracted at times. But I appreciate Eddie, he's a great player, he's been a great player in his career, he's played well against us in the past. I think he's got a lot of football left, and I wish him the best. I enjoyed being around him; it just didn't work out for him as well as he wanted it to, and it probably didn't work out as well for us as we wanted it to. But I think he can play football, and hopefully he has a good situation next year where he flourishes."
John, what have you learned about … You guys have had this great season, everyone was completely focused on getting to where you wanted to go, and it comes down to a couple things; an inch here, a bobble there, and it doesn't go your way. What have you learned about handling the part of football that you can't control and dealing with that in your growth as a head coach? (Pete Gilbert)
(HARBAUGH) "If you're going to be a coach in this profession and last, you're going to have to understand that and put things in perspective. There is a lot of perspective that goes on. We emphasize, we talk about, we practice, we drill, [and] we train. The guys talk about it all the time, and then a football game is played. That's what makes it so interesting, because you really can't predict anything that's going to happen. You want to draw correlations, and you want to find the one reason for it's this or that, but the reason is that it's a football game. You try to learn from it, and that's why I said individually and collectively, to try to be better the next time and to try to mitigate anything that you can control in your favor. That's what we work so hard to do, and when you get into these situations and these circumstances in the playoffs – we've had numerous opportunities now because we've earned our way in – you want to put four good games together. Or three good games together if you can get the No. 1 seed and stack them back-to-back. And more so during the playoffs than anything, they need to be as positive-centric as possible. You can't really afford too many negative plays, because they can make a difference. If you look at our team this year and in the past, for the past 17 years, you don't see us getting blown out. You don't see us falling apart. You're either in a game or in the season. You always see us fighting back. I think that is the real measuring stick; not the narrative that, 'You can't do this, you can't do that.' And you keep striving forward to stack those games together and put three or four really good games together, error-free games together, and go ahead and win a Super Bowl. And when you do that, it's really a great accomplishment. So, we're capable of doing that. We put ourselves into position to do that, and we'll keep striving for that. So, if I've learned anything, I've learned that."
John, you are going into the last year of your contract. Do you plan to or have you had any conversations about your future? (Cordell Woodland)
(HARBAUGH) "I talk to [executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] every day. I talk to [owner] Steve [Bisciotti] every day – not every day. Steve wouldn't talk to me every day. I talk to [president] Sashi [Brown] about every other day, but I'm happy, man. I'm happy, and however that goes, I trust God. I trust the people I work with every day who I love, who are my friends, but more importantly, we're on a mission together, and as long as that goes, as long as God permits that to go, I'm all about it. I'm fired up for it, and I'm not worried about those kinds of things. They take care of themselves."
Eric, to go back to the secondary for a minute, CB Marlon Humphrey talked to us various times about his approach this offseason, and obviously, getting healthy was a key thing for him. Based on the way he played, did you see anything different about Marlon's prep for this season? What difference does it make for this defense as a whole when Marlon is as effective as he was this year? (Kyle Goon)
(DeCOSTA) "It's a great story. I love Marlon [Humphrey]. We spend a lot of time talking together [about] different things, about life stuff, not as much football. I think the big thing for Marlon was just staying healthy, his offseason, how he trains, what he does, what he eats, how he runs, how he works out [and] his mindset. He came in; he was focused [from] Day 1. He felt like ... Marlon is a type of guy, he wants a challenge. He wants to be challenged. He wants to have a chip on his shoulder, and I think he would probably say that he heard some of the criticisms and some of the complaints. He's a highly-paid player, and he came back this year, and he proved everybody wrong, made plays, [his] attitude was great, [he was] a leader, physical like he's always been. [He was a] big-play guy, just outstanding. I thought it was great, and it really helped our defense through the tough times. His performance really never wavered from game to game. He was very, very consistent. He's in a great place, and he's another guy that we're very fortunate we have under contract next year."
How would you evaluate DB Brandon Stephens' season, and what would you say about his future? (Giana Han)
(DeCOSTA) "'B-Steve' [Brandon Stephens] is a great pro. [He has] an awesome attitude [and is] a great teammate. He'd probably say he didn't have as good a year this year, but his attitude never wavered. He was out there, very, very dependable, good practice player, tough, physical guy. He's a free agent, so there is a lot of pressure on him in his mind. He was a great [draft] pick, and I'm proud of him. This is a guy that's really only been playing DB for about four or five years, and he's grown a lot, and he's been a good player for us over the years. We'll have to see what happens with him. He's probably going to have a chance to test the market and see what his value is, but he's helped us win a lot of games over the last couple of years. He's been a big part of our success, and I'm proud of him for that."
I want to go back to the Bills game. One of the key sequences was when you guys had first-and-goal at the 2-yard line and got held to a field goal. A lot of people are critical with the fact that RB Derrick Henry had one touch in that sequence. What do you say about that sequence, and do you think of that... Once the season is over, do you kind of put that game off more than a week-to-week game? (Bo Smolka)
(HARBAUGH) "No, we look at it very closely. When you're not successful, the play-calling is going to be in question. We question it, too. We look at it very hard. We ran the first time, and they ran pretty much an all-out blitz and stopped it. You can definitely run three times into an all-out blitz if you want, but that's probably not very smart. The second play was an idea to sneak Ronnie [Stanley] out, and you have to give ... You can say, 'Wow, that's a bad call,' but if it works, and he's wide open, it's a great call. It's a little bit of a trick play,` probably, so we tried that. Sure, I'd like them both back. I would have liked to have thrown it on first down and not run the trick play on second down, and then, now we're in a situation where we're pretty much in a passing situation. They, again, were pretty much loaded up, and they got pressure and got a sack. That's football. That's the way it goes sometimes; it's disappointing. The play-calling is not good if it doesn't work. That's the bottom line, and that's how you look at it."
With K Justin Tucker, he did finish the season ... It seemed like coming off the bye, he got everything on track? What did you see that changed and all of a sudden, it seems like it corrected itself? (Jamison Hensley)
(HARBAUGH) "The thing about the Justin Tucker thing is ... We had a great conversation yesterday, a really long, honest conversation, and it was great, because we talk all the time, and he's really a good guy, a mature guy [and] a thoughtful guy. Maybe we all saw that Justin Tucker is human. Maybe we got a chance to see that. It's hard to be a great kicker in this league and be as consistent as he's been, and he ran into that – this adversity – probably a lot later in his career than most of these guys do, but it's something that probably had to happen in terms of his growth as a player and even as a performer. It's like golf. It's like making a great drive or a great putt time and time again, and he went through this thing that it was really more [mentally] than it was [physically], because he was kicking so well in practice, and he knew exactly what the format was: stay in balance, follow through, [and] hit it clean. That was kind of his swing thoughts, that he would make, he would make, he would make in practice – and then, taking those to the game under the duress of having those misses when he didn't do that, when he didn't get himself somewhat in the right frame of mind to be able to make that type of contact on the ball that he wanted. To pull himself out of that was going to be the test, and the fact that he went through that, pulled himself out of it ... Because it was only him. Only he can do it. He's the only one in his mind that can do that. If you're a high-level performer, maybe you understand that more than those of us who aren't athletes at that level, and that's the thing I was proud of him for, and I think that's going to serve him well going forward in his career."
You've dealt with a bunch of injuries to WR/RS Deonte Harty, and obviously, RB Keaton Mitchell coming back in the return game. That being said, you cycled through a bunch of returners this year. There were a couple of games where it seemed like some of those judgements were tough, or there were muffs. How do you kind of look at the whole of the return game this year and where it needs to get better? (Kyle Goon)
(HARBAUGH) "From a personnel standpoint, we'd like to get settled there. Kickoff return is different than punt return. [Executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] and I talk about this a lot. You can find kickoff returners – running backs seem to be very valuable in this new return game thing, and we have really good running backs. We have three guys who are really good at it, as running backs, so I'm pretty excited about those guys going forward. Punt return is a whole different thing. How many guys have done both? Brian Mitchell [and] Bryant Westbrook [were] able to do both. James Thrash was only a kick returner. The guys who have been here over the years have been kind of like that. Some have done both. Some have been more punt return-oriented, but we need to get settled at punt returner. That's a huge role on the team, whether it's one of the guys here right now or someone that we're able to bring in. That's an important position for us. You're making a good point."
Eric, with S Kyle Hamilton, his role changed this year. He did an excellent job in his new role, but would you prefer having him do more of what he did a year ago, and does that make finding another safety a priority for you guys? (Ken Weinman)
(DeCOSTA) "We'll look at that. I think we definitely saw a different type of performance from Kyle [Hamilton] this year, but if you look at overall how our defense blossomed with him back there, I think it was worthwhile. Did he make as many splash plays? Probably not, but I'd take the improvement in the defense rather than Kyle making splash plays and us not being very good on defense, so if we can add another safety, obviously, it would be really good for us. It gives us that multiplicity on defense and the ability to do a lot of different things. Kyle becomes that sort of [Swiss Army] knife again, but listen, we're blessed to have Kyle and Ar'Darius [Washington] back there. We've got good, young corners [alongside] Marlon [Humphrey]. I think we'll see, hopefully, I mean I would anticipate our secondary is going to play like they did over the last eight, nine [or] 10 games of the season next year, and that's a comforting thing. I am actually, ironically, looking at a safety [on tape] upstairs in the Draft." (John Harbaugh: "Do you want to tell us who that is?" laughter) "No, but we'll go through it, and we'll get all the players, and we'll rank the board like we always do, and if the best guy is a free safety at that pick, then we'll take him and be very happy with it."
How did you like Hard Knocks being in the building? Was it a distraction at all? I thought it made you look great. I thought it made the facility look great. Were you aware that it might be a selling point to free agents, seeing how the Ravens do things? I think it was a really good piece to be on. (Kirk McEwen)
(HARBAUGH) "It's a great question and point. We didn't know, did we? We didn't know, and it wasn't like we had a choice, but I will say, credit to the Hard Knocks people and NFL Films [crews] that were here. They were first class. They were non-intrusive. You didn't even know [they were here]. You forgot they were around so many times, which they probably wanted, but they were great. They were great to work with. They were professional. They respected the guys and the space, and I thought they portrayed it in a way that was really pretty accurate and pretty true. It felt right – the stuff I saw – so I don't know. I wasn't a big advocate of it before. I joked that I never watched it. I did watch these [episodes] just recently, and I give those guys a lot of credit. They're pros, and they deserve whatever credit they get for what they put out there. That was a really good series." (Eric DeCosta: "And they handled the [cricket] infestation pretty good.") "That's crazy, man. You guys have to hear this, man." (DeCosta: "Their trailer – I don't know if you guys know this – but their trailer was infested with crickets the entire time, and they handled it really well. They were surprised that crickets could actually thrive in winter conditions, but they did.") "Well, it was a warm trailer." (DeCosta: "It was a warm trailer, but it was really tough for them to handle that every single day, the chirping of all the crickets, so I give them a lot of credit for that.") "They did discover the cricket infestation, though." (DeCosta: "Eventually, they did find some crickets.") "They did find the root cause, and they pinpointed the culprit." (DeCosta: "They found about 12 crickets." Reporter: "No one placed those crickets in there, right?") "Well, they did find out who placed the crickets. The cricket-placer actually ended up taking credit for it at the end." (points to DeCosta, laughter)
John, how meaningful would it be to get offensive coordinator Todd Monken back, and is there anyway thing that you want for the 2025 offense that this year's team didn't have? I know the offense was so successful, but is there anything else you didn't have? (Jonas Shaffer)
(HARBAUGH) "That's two very different questions. It will be very meaningful if and when we get [offensive coordinator] Todd Monken back. I'm very hopeful that we will. Have you heard something? It sounds like you're tapped in pretty good ... Todd Monken will be a great head coach; I'll just say that. He's a really good football coach. He's an old-school football coach with kind of a new-school and creative mind. [He's] always creating. He works well with his staff. We have a great staff around him, so because of that, it would be very meaningful if and when we get him back, and we continue [moving] forward. I really am excited about 3.0, that iteration of this offense going forward, because we found ourselves through the last offseason and into this season, in terms of how we want to organize the offense and tie it all together and use the different platforms that you can use. We're kind of in every world offensively, and it's not easy to do that, but we can do that because of our quarterback, because our quarterback is capable of living in all of those different offensive worlds, and that's tough for a defense to defend. How we can continue to evolve that so we can operate it more efficiently, more effectively, more quickly with less verbiage and all those kinds of things, where everybody is even more and more on the same page, that's what we'll be striving for."
I wanted to ask, but I know there's been a lot of noise about TE Mark Andrews online, but recently a Buffalo fan created a GoFundMe, and they raised around $64,000 dollars to donate to Mark's charity. So, I just wanted to ask if you all have heard about that and what you all think about that? (Xavier Wherry)
(DeCOSTA) "I hadn't heard about it. I don't have any thoughts really on it. It's nice."
To go back to offensive coordinator Todd Monken for a second. The archetype that a lot of people think of for an offensive coordinator is the hot, young wonderkid in their 30's or 40's who has great new ideas. Is there something to be said based on the success that Todd has had with the Ravens for a guy who you called an "old-school" coach putting the work in a bunch of different places and has that experience? (Kyle Goon)
(HARBAUGH) "Yes, there is. And don't underrate experience, right? There are new ideas in football. There are new iterations, new ways are organized, new ways are applied, great ways are taught or not taught, creating a vision for your team, getting everybody on the same page so they can execute and operate together, making the best use of your ability and your talent, but the challenge for a coach that has been around over the years, is the ability to get out and front and stay ahead of the fact that it's always moving, and you have to keep moving, and you keep staying ahead to what people are doing. There are split-safety coverages change over the last three years, and people caught up with them this year again, so what's our next iteration of that going to be across the league? This is always an ever-moving kind of a chess game, but it's a higher level than chess – there's more to it. And [offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken] is one of those guys that can apply his experience, along with the fact that he's always thinking ahead. He's always trying to come up with the next idea, and then he's also very much [a] collaborator. You have [quarterbacks coach] Tee [Martin] and [tight ends coach] George Godsey and [offensive line coach] George Warhop and [run game coordinator] Travis Switzer and [wide receivers coach] Greg Lewis and [running backs coach] Willie Taggart. Those guys all bring in all of these ideas to the table and those guys [are] working together. To me, sometimes a young coach does a good job of that, sometimes an experienced guy understands the value of that and is able to utilize those people really well around him. It's the guys that last. Those are the guys that kind of prove themselves over time I think, and Todd is one those guys."
The job that offensive line coach George Warhop did, coming in at a tough time and building that offensive line. G Daniel Faalele went from being criticized to being a Pro Bowl alternate. I thought George did an awesome job teaching. (Vinny Cerato)
(HARBAUGH) "Agreed. [Offensive line coach] George [Warhop] is known as one of the best offensive line coaches in the league – everybody respects him. And for him to be available – I've told you this before – I've known him since we were 25 years old when he was working for Mike Gottfried at the University of Kansas, and we spent a week together talking football, and Mike spent a week with us during the season and spent time here, so those are the connections that you make. [George Warhop] was a great coach then, and he's a great coach now. How many guys could have come in that circumstance? 'Joe D.' [D'Alessandris] is loved, respected [and] did an amazing job here. We have a 'Joe D.' award; we have a room named after him; we love him. And for a coach to be good enough to adapt to the offense the way that it was built, the calls the way they were made, the way the techniques were taught and still put his imprint on it – because you have to coach it the way you believe it to being coached – and do it a seamless way where it makes sense to the guys, you have to be really good to do that. And to me, that's George Warhop, and I think he deserves a lot of credit for it, to your point."
We talked to FB Patrick Ricard on Monday, and he said he wants to retire as a Raven. There's only so many teams that even use a fullback, and this team seems ideally suited for one. Have you had discussions about bringing him back? What's his future here? (Bo Smolka)
(DeCOSTA) "No, we haven't had those discussions yet. His agent is a good friend of mine, and I think Pat [Ricard] knows how we feel about him, and I would for him to retire as a Raven, too. He epitomizes everything that we're all about. And he's another undrafted guy who just became – in my opinion – the best at his position. So, we'll have those discussions. This is not the first time he's been a free agent. In fact, I think he's signed at least two deals with us after his rookie deal, so this is probably his fourth contract now with us – if we can get him signed – and I would say that would be the goal."
With head coach John Harbaugh, what has kind of stood out to you about him as head coach over the 17 years? (Jamison Hensley)
(DeCOSTA) "That's a deep question. I wish I had more time to reflect on it, but I think coaches change a lot, which I think [head coach] John [Harbaugh]'s changed a lot over the years, in different ways – in mostly all good ways. I think he ..." (Head coach John Harbaugh: "Do you care to elaborate on the not good ways?") (laughter) "But that's ... But when I say that, I think his passion for the team [and] for winning has never wavered. He's resolute in his beliefs, [and] he's a man of faith. He comes to work every day, and that's inspiring, because he has a passion at practice every day that's probably unmatched amongst anybody – players [and] coaches. I know what I appreciate about John is you might have a fight with him [and] you might argue – it might be a bad argument –and the next day, he's going to come in, and he's going to put his arm around you, and he's either going to say, 'You know what, I still think I'm right,' or he's going to say, 'You know what, I was wrong.' But he has those conversations with you, and that's why you always are going to [have] a friend with John, because he doesn't hold a grudge, [and] he's willing to consider the other point. He's not stubborn. I mean, he can be stubborn, but he's always going to come back around. It's about making the right decision, not his decision, not my decision, not [executive vice president] Ozzie [Newsome]'s decision, not [offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken]'s decision; just what's the right decision for the Ravens."
What was going on with WR Zay Flowers' knee? Was he able to come back to play if you were still going, and was this something that needs rest in the offseason or is there more to it? (Morgan Adsit)
(HARBAUGH) "Yes, [Zay Flowers] had a great chance to play in this next game. It was ... Doubtful was a good designation for this game. They wanted to work him out before the game just in case, but I wasn't counting on it, honestly. I'm not going to rule him out until he's out. This next game [he] would've had a real chance. [He] should be fine going forward. I don't think it's going to be a surgery in the end, but they haven't determined that for sure yet. If they do it, they'll probably just do it to kind of just be sure. But yes, that's where it was at."
Along those lines, are there any minor cleaning up surgeries or operations you expect from just a follow up after the season? (Jonas Shaffer)
(HARBAUGH) "I'm not aware of that, [executive vice president & general manager] Eric [DeCosta]. Do you have anything? I don't think we have many. Is there a couple little things?"
(DeCOSTA) "If we get to that point, we'll be able to share some information with you guys probably at the Combine, but right now everything's still kind of in flux. We're still doing MRIs, and X-rays and different things [like] second opinions and all these different things, so it's too close to the end of the season for us to really say that definitively."
