SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR CHRIS HORTON
Opening Statement: "It's good to see everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. [We're] just looking forward to this week. Our guys are locked in, getting ready to go [and] taking it one day at a time. We've had two really good days of practice. We're really just trying to get our minds right, get our bodies right – mentally – so we can go out there and execute on Sunday. Questions?"
I think the Steelers have blocked more kicks and punts than any team in the league with 21. Do you have to look at bolstering your protections ahead of a week like this? How much attention do you put on that? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I think you put the same amount of attention you put on weekly. Just as far as from a fundamental standpoint, these guys, they do a great job of selling out on the play. They're going to try to find the weakness of the opponent. For us, it's [about] taking a good look at ourselves, diving deep into how they kind of tried to attack us in the past, and we end up working from there. At the end of the day, those things happen a lot of the times because there's some breakdown in protection. So, for us, let's go out there, let's execute fundamentally, and let's be on point, because we do understand that we're going to face a good rush team."
Does RB Keaton Mitchell change the calculus at all on kick returns given his speed and ability to break a big one? (Ryan Mink) "Obviously, for us, just having [Keaton Mitchell] and Justice [Hill] back there, it's actually a lot of value in kind of what we want to do and the things we want to get done. So, just having Keaton back there last week, just on that play – just thinking back to last week – there was some opportunity there, and I think the more teams continue to give those two players opportunities to return the ball, we'll find ourselves on the good side of those returns from here on out."
Last wee, there was another K Justin Tucker miss. Can we talk about specifically what happened on that play? When you have these misses, do you see trends, or do you take every single kick as its own separate thing? (Bo Smolka) "Every kick is its own separate kick when he goes out there, because every foot to ball contact, every snap to hold, you try to make those things as consistent as you possibly can, but even if you ask Justin [Tucker], every kick is different. His job ... he's going to go out there, and he's trying to make every kick, but specifically, just speaking on last week, I think if you ask him, he'd tell you he didn't make good foot to ball [contact] on that one. When those things happen, you get those misses, but again, he's in a good place. He's in a good place, [and] he's going to be OK."
Obviously, they have an aggressive special teams unit, with all the things mentioned like blocks. We saw them last week try a fake punt. Is this the type of game where you feel like your guys have to be prepared for anything on special teams? (Cordell Woodland) "Honestly guys, it's no different than every week for us. We try to find, [and] we try to look at tendencies. We take a good look at ourselves and see, 'OK, what are we doing a lot of,' then, we try to change those things up. It's Pittsburgh week; anything is expected, right? Those guys will go out there ... we see this a lot in this trend. When we've played these guys, they do things that they don't normally do against other opponents, so we'll be prepared for every and anything. It's our job to go out there and execute in that moment."
Most people are looking to the accuracy of K Justin Tucker with Sam Koch and then after with P Jordan Stout as his holder. Is there any merit to that? Is that a contributing factor to the accuracy issue? (Kyle Phoenix) "Personally, I don't think people ... [Senior special teams coach] Randy [Brown] is here every day. [Assistant special teams coach] Sam [Koch] is here every day. Those are the guys that I'm leaning on to kind of be the judge of what's happening with Justin [Tucker]. Any outside information and things like that, it has no merit here, because we have the best holder in the business here, and we have the best specialists coach [and] special teams coach here in the building helping Justin, so that stuff doesn't matter."
You've been a part of this rivalry for about a decade now. What is it about it that makes it so unique? (Melissa Kim) "Just being here for 10 seasons now, honestly, when you walk in there, and it's Pittsburgh Steelers [versus] Baltimore Ravens, it's football. It's like when you walk into an arena, and it's like gladiators. You know it's two teams that are physically going to try to get after each other, play after play after play, and they won't stop until the other man is down. To me, that's football, that's what football has always been, and I think that's what makes it special. On top of [it], you know that at some point in the game, one of the phases is going to make the play to either flip the momentum, stop the momentum or to win the game, and I think that's what makes this rivalry special from our standpoint. We've been on some good ends of making a lot of good plays, and that's what we're looking for on Sunday."
Pittsburgh's stadium is considered one of the more difficult places to kick. Have you found that over time? How do you prepare for that? (Bo Smolka) "I think over time, we've found that, but we've also seen our kicker go out there and have great days and great nights in that stadium, so that's what we're looking forward to. Everything that we're thinking about, it's on the up and up; it's on the positive end. It's a new year; everything is different, right? What happened last year and the previous years, none of that stuff matters. The only thing that matters is Sunday at 1 o'clock."
Can you take any credit for WR Tylan Wallace's receiving touchdown last week, because you've coached him for special teams stuff along those sidelines for years? (Kyle Phoenix) (laughter) "No, not at all, man. I'm just excited for Tylan [Wallace]. Any time that kid gets an opportunity, that guy just goes crazy. I just want to continue to see him keep developing, keep getting better, and that's all he does. He's such a hard worker, and he's just waiting for that moment, for that opportunity. He's making the most of them."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD MONKEN
When you look at the Steelers defense, what do you see? (Cordell Woodland) "They're really good across the board – good up front, really active at linebacker. Obviously, we know one of them [Patrick Queen] pretty well. So, they're active. Minkah [Fitzpatrick] is a very savvy, instinctual player. [DeShon] Elliott – they get [him] around the line. [He's] a great blitzer [and] tough. [Their] corners are really good cover guys, so [they're] a real challenge, and you can see that on film, and it's a staple of who they've been – physical, play great defense. So, it's going to be a real challenge for us."
They traded for LB Preston Smith, and OLB Alex Highsmith had been ruled out for this game. Do you have to watch film from what Smith was doing in Green Bay, or do you see how he kind of operated within their scheme? How do you kind of gameplan for a guy who's been moved, like him? (Kyle Phoenix) "Well, we anticipate [Preston Smith] and [Nick] Herbig to play over there. He was playing over there before he got hurt, so we anticipate those guys will probably be rolling. No, we'll see how it goes. We did practice against Green Bay, so we do have some film against Preston, and he's an outstanding football player, so we'll have to be ready for both of them. They're different players in some ways – both physical – but again, they're built a little bit different."
What is the challenge for you – from an offensive standpoint – when guys who played here, like LB Patrick Queen, are over there now and have that extra level of familiarity? (Brian Wacker) "It's hard to really ... It's different. I guess, it's that way now in college, with guys in the [transfer] portal and stuff. Back when I was there, you didn't have as many guys that might be on another team. You've just kind of come to grips with you know players are going to be on other teams. Jeremiah Moon is there with [Patrick Queen], and then we've got 'Tae' [Diontae Johnson] with us at wideout. So, it's just part of it. And we play each other twice a year. So, I just know [that] Patrick [Queen] is a really good football player, so that's the challenge within itself, more than anything else. He'll certainly know our personnel, and he'll know a little bit about what we do – obviously, he went against us all the time – but ultimately, we're a little bit different than we were last year, as well."
I think everybody sees OLB T.J. Watt over there and the upcoming matchup with T Roger Rosengarten. Can you explain why you wouldn't just want to give Roger an extra blocker every time? (Ryan Mink) "It doesn't always work like that, because some things they do defensively takes your protection rules off of that help, at times. Most of the time, I don't care who you're playing – T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, [Maxx] Crosby – you're going to have extra protection for those guys. It doesn't matter that it's Roger [Rosengarten]; it's whoever that tackle is, because those guys are game wreckers, and that's why they get paid so much. I mean, that's why those guys get paid so much. You're paid by the relative impact you have on a game, and that's really what it is. So, if you want to know who impacts the game the most, [it's] the guys who get paid the most, those are the guys, and [T.J. Watt] happens to be one of them, and it shows when he doesn't play – the impact that he has. So, we've got a real challenge, as we did last year a couple times."
What are you seeing from WR Diontae Johnson, in terms of getting acclimated to the offense? And has it been a challenging time for him – comes in, gets traded in the middle of the week and then has a short week before the game after that – to, I guess, get his footing? (Luke Jones) "'Tae' [Diontae Johnson] is doing great. It's not easy for him. You come in, in the middle of a season, and you're trying to get him up to speed of what is relevant now – what we're doing now – but that doesn't cover everything. 'Oh, yes, he's got to know two-minute – how we work that, when we've got to be up on the ball know both spots. Oh, we happen to check at the line; he's got to know all the signals; he's got to know everything else that we do. Oh, he's got to know multiple spots to be able to go in the game [and] to feel comfortable there.' He's doing great. He's doing great. We're going to continue to try and find ways to get him on the field, but we haven't really lost anybody, [and] we're doing pretty good with the guys we've got. I understand [that] he wants to play; I get it. The initial coming to us, being excited, great, that's awesome; 'When am I going to get a play?' So, I get it. I'm not frustrated by [it]. We'd want all of our players to want to get on the field, and he just happens to be one of our really good players that we're going to continue to try and find ways to get on the field."
You have experience at every level of football. Do you believe in genuine rivalries at this level? And do you feel like it matters to the players? (Childs Walker) "I think, when it comes to divisional rivalries, and depending on how far they go back or the meaning of them ... Sometimes [they're] one-sided rivalries, where you get beat down so much [that] it's a rivalry to you, but you've got the hell beat out of you for so long that the other team doesn't see it that way; that's not as much fun." (laughter) "But if it means a division, if it means winning a conference championship, if it means bragging rights in a lot of ways, or it goes back a little bit further, then sure, then it does mean something. I hope it does to our players; I hope it does. It means trying to win the division. That's the first way to get in the tournament [and] the first way to try to win a world championship. And we owe them one. We didn't play very good last year on the road. [We] gave that away. They did a hell of a job, but we didn't play our best."
Pittsburgh is very good at stopping quarterback scrambles and designed runs. Does the same kind of skillset apply for a defense in both cases? (Jonas Shaffer) "Sure, I think it's [about] being disciplined – I think that's the biggest thing – and when you play against a particular player a number of times, like we play each other ... We have our work cut out for us. They do a great job. Defensively, they do a great job [of] understanding how we try to attack people, so we've just got to do it better than they do it."
RB Keaton Mitchell has been able to return. How do you see yourselves kind of implementing Keaton into that fold? (Cordell Woodland) "[It's] similar to 'Tae' [Diontae Johnson] in the fact that [we're] trying to get [Keaton Mitchell] up to speed, and I think we're trying to get him even more involved in special teams, which is a good way to get him up to speed [and] to get him on the field. [We're] trying to find spots where you can get him in the game. Where those are, we'll see, but like I said, we're in a pretty good spot right now, so it's hard to really say – whether it's him or 'Tae' or whoever that might be, or Tylan Wallace, who's probably deserving of playing ... [We're] trying to find those spots where we can get those guys on the field and let their talent shine. They've all done a great job, and I think they're all going to continue to get their opportunities."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZACH ORR
You're on a pretty short list of guys that have played as part of this rivalry and now have coached as part of it. When you're preparing players, maybe even just new players, how do you describe this rivalry in a way that maybe people from the outside don't really understand? (Luke Jones) "I think it's really just the tradition. You have two great organizations; two organizations that pride themselves on winning football, playing really physical, and no matter what the circumstances, going out there and playing the best football possible. So, you just tell them that you're going against another team that kind of thinks the way we think, from a standpoint of, 'We're going to come in – no matter who we have on our squad – we're going to come in and compete at the highest level, and it's going to be a physical football game.'"
In past years, guys on either side would use the word "hate" when talking about this rivalry. OLB Terrell Suggs would say they wanted to kill WR Hines Ward. Do you feel like that's not really there, the way it maybe was in past generations? (Childs Walker) "I wouldn't say that – I just think you probably can't say that out loud like you probably could back then." (laughter) "Definitely, the rivalry is still there. Back then, I felt like they played a lot more when stakes were higher, but this year, this game [on] Sunday is going to be for first place in the division. I think it's been a while that this game has actually had the stakes this high in a long time. We know how they feel about us, [and] they know how we feel about them. It's respect at the end of the day, but it is what it is."
Head Coach John Harbaugh mentioned earlier this week about "turning over every stone" in trying to find for the defensive issues in the middle of the field and the pass defense. What's this week been like for you? You get a big win, but obviously, I imagine there's a lot to fix. (Jeff Zrebiec) "We had the weekend [after the Bengals game], [and] we were up here. Coaches especially – 'Harbs' and the defensive coaches – we were in just trying to go back through from day one, just all of our teach tapes, all of our coverage slides and just see what details might have gotten missed, or what details we might need to tweak. Every year is different, so [we're] doing that and grinding. [We] got in with the players [and] had a really good film session starting on Tuesday, and then [we're] really just looking at everything. We're looking at what we're calling, what we're running [and] looking at what we're asking the guys to execute and just trying figure out the best way to go out there and put the best product on the field. It's definitely been a work in progress – not just this past week – but I feel like this week has really amped up, because time is clicking with the truth be told. It's only seven weeks left in the season, and things are not where they need to be at for us, especially in the pass defense. So, we've been working hard – coaches and players – to try to get this thing figured out."
We saw S Kyle Hamilton back out there today. Just how optimistic are you guys for his availability on Sunday? (Alex Glaze) "I'm optimistic. It was good to see [Kyle Hamiton], so I'm going to continue to hold hope out. It would be a big boost if he's out there Sunday. Obviously, we know what 'K-Ham' means to us, so I hope to see him out there on Sunday."
After the game the other day, CB Marlon Humphrey was candid and kind of self-critical about everything with this pass defense. How have you seen your approach with him this week? Has he specifically approached you? Or what's the relationship there, especially this week? (Bo Smolka) "The relationship is great. Me and 'Marlo' [Marlon Humphrey] have a great relationship, so we've conversations right after the game, a day after the game, and leading up to now, and I'm pretty sure the conversations will continue to happen. But 'Marlo' has been himself, he's always been a leader. He's the longest-tenured Raven on our defense, so he knows what the standard is, and obviously, we've fallen short of the standard multiple times this year. Just like we've talked about as coaches, we're leaving no stone unturned. He's doing that, and the players are doing that as well. I've seen great leadership out of Marlon. He's had a heck of a practice, a heck of a practice week; he's going hard, he's leading the way more by example, but when he speaks up, everybody is listening. I'm proud of how he's leading us and trying to get this thing turned out."
CB Marlon Humphrey talked particularly about feeling like there was disconnect between what happens during the week, and then maybe what happens on Sunday. How do you address that in particular? Maybe feeling like everything is exactly where you want it on Friday, and then maybe it isn't two days later. How do you go with that? (Childs Walker) "I think the film session that we had was really good. It was holding each other accountable and having an open forum conversation. What is the problem that when we go out there on gameday? And it's not all the time, but certain plays that we feel like we've covered – or whatever the case may be – may not be getting done the way it needs to get done. And it's a combination of things, and it's not just them. I asked them, 'What can I do better?' Maybe I can cut out some things to make us lock in better. It's just open forum, open discussion, and that's what I think we're continuing to try find and chase. I'm excited. We've done some stuff this week, [and] I'm excited see it come to fruition on Sunday."
It seems like CB Nate Wiggins has played several good games in a row here and is really stacking them. Where have you seen him make strides? And do you feel like he can be a guy that sees even more action? (Ryan Mink) "Yes, [Nate Wiggins] – I've just seen him more locked in on his technique and fundamentals. He's always had good technique and fundamentals, but this is the National Football League. I think he recognized early on, you can't be relaxed for one second, you can't be relaxed for one play, because as soon as you're relaxed, that's what happens when you get beat. He's done a heck of a job coming in [and] working his butt off in practice, and it's been translating to the game."
With ILB Trenton Simpson, he's played like 90% of the snaps in the past three weeks. Where have you seen him grow the most this season in his first year as a starter? (Matt Ryan) "[Trenton Simpson] is just understanding offenses [and] schemes, whether it's blocking or route concepts. He's done a good job; he's a hard worker like I've always stated. With him, and a lot of these young guys, [they need] just experience. He just needs experience to get out there and get adjusted to the game speed to put himself in better positions, and that's what he's done. He's continuing to get better every week – week-by-week – and we're pleased at where he's at right now."
The film session that you mentioned, is that something that you always do, or was that kind of something to take stock of where you are at this point in the season? (Garrett Downing) "It's something that we always do, but it was really good. There were some really good conversations."
I hate to say this because you won, but when you left the stadium late Thursday night, how were you? Was frustration high with you? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I was crushed, honestly. I felt the same way that our players felt; I felt the same way Marlon [Humphrey] felt. People tell us – family, friends, people around the building on staff – saying, 'You have to enjoy the win,' which I'm grateful for the win. Honestly, as a defense, we did enough to win that game. Even though it was by the skin of the teeth, we did enough to win the game. [I] enjoyed it for two seconds, but, in this building, the standard is high, and that's what we like. I know I like that – I'm a competitive person. For this defense, we have high expectations for ourselves, and we're really competitive. And when we don't go out there and perform the way that we feel like we should go perform, it hurts. I was hurt, honestly. It took me a couple days to get over that and move forward, but I'm always grateful to win. That's the number one thing – if we win, I'm going to be good, but I always have to look at how we perform on defense, and if it's not up to the standard, I'm not going to be happy [for] too long after I celebrate the win."
Is that a new feeling for you? When you were a player, did you have games that you or your unit or your defense played poorly, but you got a win? How did you handle it then versus how do you manage that as a coach? (Kyle Phoenix) "[For] me personally, I've always been really self-critical of myself. Even as a player, if we won the game, if I felt like I didn't play good, I felt bad. As a coach, I still share those same emotions, but as a coach, you have to kind of figure [it] out and get yourself together and really understand the big picture of what needs to happen. Because as a coach, you naturally are in a leadership position, and players and other people around the building are going to see how you are going to respond. I think it's good that they see your natural, raw emotions, but then, how are you going to respond? And we always talk about how you're going to respond. I always look at it, as a coach, how am I going to respond? Am I going to sit there, pout and sulk? Or am I going to figure [it] out and do something about it and try to continue to work and get better. I think if we continue to do the latter, I think that leads by example in a good way."
How soon were you back here in the office after that Thursday night game? (Ryan Mink) "I was here the next morning. I didn't sleep much, but I was here the next morning."
How do you envision CB Tre'Davious White fitting into your defense? I know he just got here last week, but how do you envision his role? (Luke Jones) "[Tre'Davious White] has done a good job. Honestly, I've been surprised [at] how fast he's picked up the playbook and the language and the terminology. Obviously, he's been an All-Pro player, he's been a savvy player [and] a smart player – we've known that about him for a long time, but I was really impressed with him. He came in on Monday and got in with our DB coaches and grinded out the playbook, and he's coming out here and had a good day practice. I think every day at practice, he's gotten better and better. Like today was really good, so we'll see Sunday. I have full confidence in him if he has to go out there and play good ball for us."
What have you seen from WR George Pickens, especially with his partnership with QB Russell Wilson? And how dangerous of a downfield threat has he become, especially in this kind of reiteration of the offense? (Jonas Shaffer) "It's really dangerous. [George Pickens] has been a dangerous downfield threat since he came into the league – we've known that [about him since he was] a rookie. I think he has the unique and the crazy ability to judge the ball no matter where it's at and then come down with it and get his feet in bounds and make these acrobatic catches. And then 'Russ' [Russell Wilson] has always been a threat with his deep-ball throwing, so now you add those two guys together, it's explosive, it's dynamite. And regardless of the coverage, regardless of where you're at – you can be on them – the ball is going to go up to [George Pickens] at some point and time, and we're going to have make those plays if we want to come out with a win on Sunday."
ILB ROQUAN SMITH
On being on the same field as Steelers ILB Patrick Queen: "I'm excited about the opportunity. I'm happy for [Patrick Queen] as a brother, outside of this football stuff, but I know [our] offense has a great plan and have to take it to him out there on the field, even though I don't get to go against him. It's no 'brother' stuff, but you have to do what you have to do. I'm sure he feels the same way, but I'm excited about the matchup."
On if these types of physical games for division implications are the ones the defense looks forward to: "Oh yes, absolutely. I love physicality, and I think when you ask each and every guy in this room ... Throughout this evaluation process that the Ravens do, they bring in physical guys. Yes, I think the most physical team is going to win this game. Make no mistake about it, these guys are no fair dodging. They run the ball coming right at you. I have a lot of respect for the running backs and the way they run the ball, but hey, it is what it is. One man has to go down, and hey, I'm not going to be on that side."
On going through the film and seeing where the team can improve: "I think it's crucial, and I think it just goes back to what I said before, about each and every guy looking themselves in the mirror – including myself and each and every person that goes out there – just knowing to do your job to the best of your ability, because you see on the film, often times, it's mistakes that we make or somebody else makes a mistake. Then, another person [is] trying to make up for that and different things like that. Just all playing together and on one page as opposed to 10 people doing the right thing or nine people, then it just makes everyone look bad in a sense, so that's what it is. It's about more so each and every guy just holding themselves accountable and holding themselves to a high standard, knowing we're proving it play in and play out, but it's just a couple plays in each and every game. It's just about keep raising the standard and just being yourself."
On what it means to win his hip-drop tackle appeal: "First and foremost, [I'm] wishing a speedy recovery for [Chris] Godwin. It was never my intention to hurt anyone, like I've said before, but it was a clean tackle. It was just on Monday Night Football, the entire world was watching, and hey, it may look like something, but it wasn't. That was clear that it wasn't, but speedy recovery to him, and I move on with my day."
On the challenge or advantage of having players who have played with both the Ravens and Steelers in the rivalry: "I think it plays a small part, but make no mistake about it; they know what we're going to do; we know what they're going to do. It's about being the best man and beating the man across from you. From a defensive perspective, we know they're physical. So are we, and it's about play in and play out, doing your job and smashing the guy across from you. If we do that, we will like the odds."
On how he processed last week's game knowing it was a big division win, but the defense didn't like what they put on the field: "I think each and every game throughout this league, you enjoy winning because of how hard it is to win in this league. You definitely have to enjoy it, but when you have a standard, the standard is the standard. Like I said earlier, each and every guy has to play to their standard, and if you don't do that, it can make everybody look bad in the entire defense. It's not a bunch of bad players. It's certain plays here and there, and when you do that, things don't go our way, but it's not the end of the [world], but each and every guy knowing the mistakes throughout the game and focusing in on that and just eliminating that for the next game and so on throughout the season. We know if we focus in on the plays that we didn't do right – like the plays we did earlier in the game – [we] just can't allow a team to do some of the things that were done this past week. It definitely was embarrassing, in a sense, but we're moved on from that and focused on Pittsburgh now. We just have to get better."
