HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "Good seeing everybody. I appreciate everybody being here. What questions do you have?"
You're one of the teams that, when it comes to December and January, annually, are the most successful. What do you think is the key to being repeatedly successful at this time of year? (Jamison Hensley) "We're just trying to play our best football. That's probably in the past, but everything is geared toward and should be geared toward this time of year – you have to get yourself in position to play meaningful games in December. I mean that's the goal. Who's going to win in December? Who's going to win in January? Who's going to have an opportunity in February? That remains to be seen. It can be teams that can have the best season and then not get all the way to the end, but you can still have a great season. You can have an OK season, make your way into the playoffs, and you can finish it out because you get hot, and you play well. It's a long season in this league for a reason, and we're going to try to play our best football here at the end of the season in December and January."
What have been the most positive things being on the practice field coming after a Bye week? (David Andrade) "Well it's just great to be back out here with everybody. Guys are full of energy; they're locked in. The recovery was really good – [the bye week] was perfectly right on time, as it turns out, right now. We had a good practice."
Sunday is the start of three games in an 11-day stretch. What is the kind of big picture perspective you guys plan to take on that? (Jonas Shaffer) "Well, really the big picture is Sunday – that's the big picture. The big picture is, 'All hands on deck.' We're focused toward playing our best game so far on Sunday. We're going to need to do that, and that's what we're training and preparing to do. We have a plan for the three-game stretch, and that plan starts with Sunday."
You've dealt with short weeks, but did that plan take a little bit more from your side during the bye week of how you want to do those? (Morgan Adsit) "You mean back-to-back short weeks? Sure, yes. Three games in 10 days, that definitely was unique, so we've been thinking about that for quite awhile, and [director of high performance] Sam Rosengarten's a big part of that, but we'll be ready for it. We'll take it one week at a time. Right now, it's [about] Sunday."
Going back to the energy you were talking about in practice, how much is QB Lamar Jackson sort of a source of that and directing that in the practice today? (Kyle Goon) "Lamar [Jackson]'s always like that. Lamar likes to practice; he loves football. Lamar is a phenomenal leader in his way. All the guys realize leadership starts with competence. You have to be good and great at what you do to really be genuinely respected as a leader, probably in any field, right. Lamar's a great player, and he's a great teammate, and he demands perfection and excellence out of himself. That's what it starts with, and then it carries over to the rest of the guys. I mean the guys respect him, and I wouldn't just stop at Lamar. You can name the guys; you can start with Mark Andrews and Tyler Lindenbaum just off the top of my head guys on offense [as well as] Derrick Henry. There are a lot of guys that do a great job with that."
Speaking of QB Lamar Jackson, that was probably as animated or close to as animated as we've seen after that Philadelphia game. Once he gets back to it, what's kind of been his message and the way he's led in getting these guys back to where you want to go? (Brian Wacker) "Lamar [Jackson] understands that it's about chasing perfection in the details of everything that you do. It's the same. It doesn't change in that sense. You're not riding a roller-coaster of outcomes. You try to be the best you can be every single week, put your best performance out there, and whether you get the outcome you want or you don't get the outcome you want, it shouldn't change your approach. So, our approach is really pedal-to-the-metal, kick this thing in gear, put your foot on the gas, put the gas pedal to the floor, and let's get locked in on everything that matters and see if we can drive as fast as we can [and] as straight as we can to be as good as we can in this next game."
I know it's the NFL, and you want to give every team your full attention. What are kind of the challenges of going on the road to play a team that's having the type of year that the Giants are having? (Cordell Woodland) "The challenge is playing the team that we're playing, and this team has really good players, and this team has a lot of motivation to play well. They're going to be motivated to win the game. Thats the way it is in the National Football League. There's no difficulty in getting ready for a team. We understand how good every single team is. The New York Giants are a very talented, very tough [and] very well-coached football team. They're very capable, and we're going to have to play our best football to win the game. Thats what we're focused on."
TE Mark Andrews is one touchdown shy of the franchise record outright. What do you attribute his consistency to, particularly when he plays a really demanding and physical position? (Jeff Zrebiec) "That's a great, great question. Mark Andrews is just one of a kind. He has the nickname 'Mandrews,' as you guys all know, for a reason, because that's what he brings. He's all ball; he's all ball all the time. Everything he does is ... You can just tell he thinks about [football] driving home [and] driving into work, probably while he's sleeping. He probably dreams about it. He eats football [and] sleeps football for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That's really who he is. As a coach, you kind of like that. You kind of like players that breathe it, and live it, and eat it, and want to be part of it and can't wait to get back out on the practice field. That's what it takes. If you want to be at the top of any profession [or] you want to be at the top of football, you better be thinking about football and working at football all the time."
I know everything is focused forward, but this will be QB Lamar Jackson's 100th game on Sunday. What has it been like over the course of his career and having him as your quarterback and everything he's done in the first 100 games? (Kyle Phoenix) "Yes, little reflection there. That's pretty cool, I didn't know that, that it'll be [Lamar Jackson's] 100th game. It's been an awesome ride, 99 [games] and counting. Let's make it at least 100 more, but one at a time. [We're] focused on Sunday."
The defense has talked about turning a corner and all of that. One of those guys who's progressed nicely is OLB Tavius Robinson. What have you seen from him and his biggest jump for him this year for you? (Brian Wacker) "It's steady improvement. I would put [Tavius Robinson] in the same kind of category as we talked about with Mark [Andrews]. He has the same mindset. It's always about him coming in here and just doing whatever he can do to get better. You see him in the weight room. You see the way he trains. You see him in the meeting room. You see him in the film room on his own. You see him at practice. He takes very bit of coaching and tries to do it exactly the way he's coached to do it in the most physical manner he can. Where he's come as a football player, it's been remarkable. It's been really fun to watch, but I think he's just scratching the surface. I really think he's going to be even better than he's been so far."
We saw K Justin Tucker outside kicking field goals today while you guys were practicing inside. Is that kind of the plan, or did he kind of just go out there on his own? How did that come about? (Cordell Woodland) "They have a plan. They have a plan. The field was really muddy today, and it was raining as you know, so we didn't want to get out there and get on that bad field in terms of practice. It's not good for our health, potentially. It's definitely not good for our timing and all of that, so we came in here. The players don't like being inside. They want to be out there on the grass, but we had to force them in here. So 'Tuck' [Justin Tucker], and [senior special teams coach] Randy [Brown] and [special teams coordinator] Chris [Horton], they went out there, probably, I guess, maybe to get in the rain, because it might rain on Sunday, right. But the footing will be fine even if it is raining there, because it will be turf."
With the Giants, QB Drew Lock is banged up, and people say that QB Tommy DeVito is going to start for them. How much does that change things for you? (Jamison Hensley) "It really doesn't change anything. We kind of knew that was possible. We could kind of tell on Monday that maybe it was going that way. We've talked about both quarterbacks. We understand the nuance between the two and their offense, I believe. We have to play our defense well. That's really what we have to do, and if we do that well, then that give us our best chance."
Playing at the Meadowlands, is that a little bit different in terms of wind and the way it blows around in there? (Jerry Coleman) "It's not like the old days, when they opened up the garage door and closed the garage door. Now, [former NFL punter Sean] Landeta would tell you – Sean Landeta, [who is a] Baltimore guy – he would tell you that's all a myth; that there's nothing to it. It was kind of a mind game that [former Giants head coach] Bill Parcells used to play with everybody, but he knew how to play the winds in there. It's not like that in the new Meadowlands, but it' still windy, but it's a little more consistent.
S KYLE HAMILTON
On focusing on the Giants and ignoring external expectations for a Ravens victory this week: "Our expectations don't change, week to week; that's more of an outside looking in view on the game. [With] their record verse our record, you're just assuming something, but those guys play in the NFL, too, and they've got a lot of talent over there. I mean, we lost to the Raiders, who are 2-10 right now, so you can't really go into a game thinking that; you've got to go play every single game. So, I think we have that mindset, and we're locked in on the Giants."
On if falling to the Raiders and Browns helps them in games like this: "Yes, I think so. It helps us just not let our guard down. You've got to win every game in this league. [It] doesn't matter the situation, what week it is, who's on the other side, who's not on the other side; if they've got 11 guys out there, and there's a football, then you've got to win the game. So, we're kind of in the business of just taking [it] a week at a time right now and doing what we need to do."
On if the defense is turning a corner: "Yes, I think so. I mean, a corner in terms of not letting up as many points. That's a good corner to turn, but I feel like we've still got a long way to go. Just playing together as a whole, I think we've gotten better, but I think we can get a lot better in certain areas. And I think we're trending up, which is a good thing going into the playoffs. I was just talking to the DBs [defensive backs]; it's about who gets hot at the right time. And I feel like in all [of] professional sports, especially in football, it's a grueling season, but if you have confidence going into the playoffs – going into that stretch – then I feel like anything can happen. So, yes, to answer your question, I feel like we have turned a corner, but I still feel like there's a lot we can do."
On the next step for the defense to continue success: "For a few weeks in the season, we were kind of just trying to play defense and not give up big plays and stuff like that, because it was attached to our names, attached to our defense as a whole and everybody involved, and I feel like we kind of had a tendency to just try to soften up a little bit – just to keep everything in front of us. But I feel like now that we have that pretty well put together, I feel like we can get a little more aggressive now. It's all 11 [guys], especially me included – coaches, everybody – just [being] that much more aggressive and just go out and attack people."
On if the defense's earlier struggles sparked a different level of leadership and accountability from him: "Yes, I feel like yes. And I think it just comes with being in the league more and getting more plays, more reps and accolades; people start looking to you for advice or just kind of energy, and I feel like that's something I can get better at. And in terms of responsibility, I think everybody takes responsibility for our ups and our downs, but, me, personally, I do feel like I do take a lot of that, because we're the back end of the defense; we're supposed to keep everything in front of us, and if all else fails, just tackle [the] ball [and] get it down [to] play another snap. I feel like [if] we do a good job of that, then we feel good as a whole. And me, myself, I kind of critique myself harder than anybody – I feel like – compared to me. I have the highest standard for myself, and if I don't play a perfect game, which I never have, then I always feel like there's something that I'm looking for. So, [for] as much as you guys or mom or coaches – whoever – can get on me, I know I can be 10 times better than that, so I feel like indirectly and directly, I'm taking responsibility, just internally and externally."
On changes he's already made to his leadership: "Yes, just talking; it's so undervalued in sports, in general – just talking to each other, being comfortable with one another – because the more comfortable you are in the locker room, the more comfortable you'll be out here on the practice field, the more comfortable you'll be on Sundays. So, I feel like just talking to everybody, I've done a good job of that. I had the [green] dot for a game, [and] I feel like that even helped it progress a little more, and [I'm] just appreciative of everybody in the room trusting me with that opportunity – coaches, Coach [John] Harbaugh, players, everybody involved – and I feel like [that] gave me a little more confidence to go out here and be more vocal."
On if he's had leadership roles in high school or college: "I feel like it's kind of been the same thing for every level of football that I've been at. [In] high school, [I] came in, was a little scrawny sophomore, and I didn't even play varsity freshman year. But yes, I came in sophomore year; I was good, but I was still 15 [years old]. And then [I] get to next year, [and I'm] a little better at football, a little more confident and a little more vocal. And then senior year, I felt like everybody was kind of looking at me for leadership [and] stuff like that. [It was the] same thing with college. I came in; even though I was highly recruited, nobody really cares about that at the end of the day. And I had to earn my stripes there, too, and there are going to be ups and downs, but you go further and further, and you have a good freshman year and sophomore year, [and] all of a sudden, people are looking to you for that same kind of thing. I feel like it's kind of happened that way in the NFL, too. I came in; rookie year, I felt like a had an OK year – decent year – [and I'm] getting a little respect, but going into sophomore year, I felt like there were expectations, and then once you meet those, then ... There's no junior [or] senior year now; it's the rest of my career. So, hopefully, it's sustained for a long time, and I'm just appreciative to be where I'm at."
On his reaction to playing three games in 11 days: "I just kind of put myself in a basketball perspective. Those guys play back to back, so I guess there's a little merit behind us quote-unquote complaining about it, but they are playing 82 games, MLB players are playing 162 games, and we have 17, and we're trying to fight them to go to 18 right now. I think it's good in a sense that we'll see who is most prepared down the stretch, and it's really challenging for teams – everybody that's involved. I know there are a few more teams that are doing the same thing as us. It all comes down to culture and putting everything in boxes, putting the Giants in one box and winning that game, then moving on to whatever it may be. We could play the next day; we don't really care. Just, we're going to show up and do well."
On if it's just as much a mental challenge as physical challenge: "Yes, for sure, if not more [of a mental challenge]. We're so accustomed to the week, just Sunday to Sunday. [We] come in, and we have a schedule. When that's thrown off a little bit – like even if you have a Monday night game – it just feels a little different. Obviously, on a Thursday night game, and then you put both of those together on a short week, then you kind of have to get yourself back in your routine, mentally reset and refocus and just take time for yourself, honestly, because I feel like that will be a big thing the upcoming weeks. [There is] just a lot of football going on, a lot of games, and your body might be going through something, and your mental [is going through something], and you're getting to the end of the season, and we still have a long way to go after that. So, I feel like how well you deal with that is how well you're going to deal with the rest of the year."
On how he feels now compared to how he felt before the bye week: "I feel like everybody has the same answer as me – just better. We reported to [training] camp earlier than everybody else for that Thursday night game, and I think KC [Kansas City Chiefs] had their bye [week] a little while ago, and we were the last team [with the bye]. I guess we had the longest stretch, continuous, of anybody else. It's going to be that much better at the end of it all, when we do what we need to do, and we can look back on that and say, 'We did that, and we came out and won these [four] games.' So, I think we'll be better for it. I feel like it was good timing for us, and we'll come out re-energized and just juiced up."
On if TE Mark Andrews' competitiveness and intensity is above and beyond most: "Yes, [Mark Andrews] is kind of the pinnacle of that. I would say there are a few guys on the team, Mark being one of them for sure. [He] comes in and takes care of his business. From the moment he steps in the building to the moment he leaves, there is a purpose with everything that he does. I think as a younger guy, just coming in, especially now – I still feel like I'm young – just taking little tidbits, whether he may notice it or not, just talking to him today, just talking about body work and the little bumps and bruises that I've had ... He's just given me some advice with that. I sit next to him in the team meeting, and he's just super intentional about everything he does. He's in Year Seven, but yes, you can tell that it didn't just happen overnight. So, he's built like that, and I feel like he kind of rubs off on everybody."
On if his mom is tough on him with post-game evaluations: "Mom is tough. Mom is very tough. [There are] not a lot of 'Atta boys,' just in life, but it's all from a good place. My brother and I have benefited from it, for sure, just having thick skin, and I feel like that's why I'm so critical of myself, because I don't want to let her down, and I don't want to let everybody who's got me to this point down, and I feel like whatever I do out here that you all see is a representation of them. So, I try to make them proud."
On why hearing from parents, or specifically mothers, holds such weight on players: "I feel like we have respect for these coaches, obviously, but there is a different level of respect when it comes [to] your mom, dad, too, grandparents or whatever, but something is different there with your mom. You grow up, and you see everything that she's done for you to get you where you're at now. We have to listen to her more than anybody else, although I won't listen to her more than anybody else, too. That's just how much we butt heads on stuff. But she's always got something to say; most of the time, it's constructive. It may not be nice, but it's better for me in the long run. I feel like she's always the one person I can go back to, to shoot it to me straight. No matter what I'm doing, where I'm at, she can tell me, 'You're doing well,' [or] she'll tell me, 'You're doing terrible.' So, I feel like everybody needs that, and she keeps me humble."
QB LAMAR JACKSON
On how the team can deal with the public saying the Ravens should win on Sunday: "Just focus on our assignment. We can't worry about the outside noise. We can never worry about the outside noise, because like I always say, it's another NFL team we're playing, no matter the record."
On if he's still fired up about the Eagles game: "I'm still fired up. Nothing's changed."
On if he's going to run the football more because his mom said he should: "Oh, yes. If I get the opportunity, no doubt. I'm still going to play football though. Yes sir."
On how beneficial the bye week was: "[It] was like a breath of fresh air. We've been going [from] Thursday games, Sunday [and] Monday [games]. The games have just been going crazy for us, and we took a little deep breath, took a step back, relaxed [and] got our mind back locked in. I feel like we're going to do what we need to do."
On how he's looking at these next four games: "I'm not worried about all of the games; I have to worry about the Giants first. I'm just worried about beating the Giants; that's my only focus."
On how he weighs when to run and going through his progressions: "It depends. It depends on how the game is going, what's going on on the field, if I get a lane [and] if I see it. All of that plays a part, so I don't know."
On what makes TE Mark Andrews so good in the red zone and in the end zone: "Because [Mark Andrews] can go up and get the ball [and] track the ball well like a receiver. He's a big body receiver. I feel like anybody [who] guards him, I have a shot at having a successful catch with Mark. Him just being who he is since we first stepped foot in the league, he's just made my job a lot easier. I always say that."
On how long it took for him to trust TE Mark Andrews on contested catches: "Probably [our] rookie season. Going back to [the] Chargers [game in 2018], I threw [Mark Andrews] a line route between the safety and the backer, and Mark took caught it and just hauled tail. After that, it was like, 'Yes, that's my guy right there. That's my guy.'
On his favorite TE Mark Andrews memory: "There's a lot. I'm going to say last year and [our] rookie year. OK, we played [the] Raiders [my] rookie season, I threw [Mark Andrews] a ... I think they dropped him in coverage, so I just threw him a seam to the right side on our sideline. He caught the ball and started running, and I think he got caught. He was mad, and he was like, 'That's not happening no more.' Then, we played the Chargers later on in the season; he caught it, [and] nobody caught him. I don't think nobody was by him, so after that, that was dope. Then last year, we played the Browns over there in Cleveland, and that catch in the back of the end zone, that was dope, too. But there's a lot though. I'm just throwing you all little glimpses, but there's a lot. Mark is that guy."
On him and RB Derrick Henry being a part of the "Madden 99 Club": "I feel like that's overdue." (laughter) "But I'm grateful for it. I feel like we need more items though. I have seen everybody else get chains and all types of stuff. We only got little cleats, but I'm grateful for it though. I'm grateful. I appreciate that Madden."
On if not running as much is a testament to the development of his game: "I don't know. Pick your poison. Like, 'OK man, you need to run more,' and then I'm running a little more. 'Oh, he was open,' or something like that. You know you're going to get that, so I just play football, I really don't care what's been said, but it's good. I feel like that's good because it's like I'm balanced in a way, so that's cool."
On who started calling the offense a "pick-your-poison" type of offense: "That's an old saying. Me or Derrick [Henry]. One of us, because I believe that's when the questions started being asked. [It was] one of us."
On how antsy he is to get back on the field: "I'm antsy right now. I'm hyped."
On what he took away from the Eagles game: "Obviously, we took that 'L.' We sat back, watched film, looked at things we could have cleaned up on the field – little mishaps here and there. Those types of games, we can't have those. It won't be a perfect game, but you have to try to make it, especially with a high-rolling offense [and] that defense. We have to put points on the board, and I feel like [in] any game like that, we have to do that. It's going to be a slow game; it won't be one of those high-scoring games. Sometimes it might [be,] but nine times out of 10, it's going to be one of those low-scoring games, [and] we just have to find a way to win."
On Sunday's game being his 100th in the NFL: "That means I'm getting old; that's what that means." (laughter) "One hundred games? Dang. But for me just being a dual-threat quarterback ... They say we don't really last that long in the league, and for me to make it to 100 games, that's just dope, that's just God. God gets all the glory for that. I'm thankful."
On if he's watching Hard Knocks and how he feels about the cameras following him around: "It's cool I guess. But no, I'm not watching it – not right now anyway. You know I'm locked in during the season, so I'm pretty much seeing everything that's going on. But it's dope. I get to see it later on and stuff like that. When I get older, I'll probably watch it, so I can be like, 'Yeah, I was on 'Hard Knocks,' like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed – those guys – so it's dope."
On if he's curious about the other AFC North teams featured on Hard Knocks: "No, I have to worry about us. I have to focus on us. I can't worry about another team."
On what gives him confidence that Baltimore's best football is still in front of them: "My guys. Just me being around my guys. No one around in the locker room is moping around and stuff like that. There's still that energy [that] everyone knows. We have faith, we have hope, and we know what we're capable of. We talk about it. 'Broddy' [Broderick Washington] just talked about it over there after he broke the team down – just saying he feels like no one is beating us; we beat ourselves, and I can vouch for that. I feel the same way. So, me, just having those guys around me, that just gives me all the energy I need."
On the key to being successful in playing three games in 11 days: "Well, [we'll] try to win the first one, rest, try to get your body back how it should be – if it's not 100%, try to get it [as] close as possible – [and] just get ready to play football. That's all."
On if he feels like his body is in a better place now than it was in a couple weeks ago: "Absolutely. Like I said, [the bye week was] like a breath of fresh air. I feel refreshed. That week off, I just relaxed and let my body rest. It's done us good. It's done us good."
On if he thinks about the Ravens needing him to play at an MVP level for the team to be successful in the last four games and be positioned well heading into the postseason: "I'm going to try to play [at an] MVP level every game I'm in; it really doesn't matter. I don't think about anything like that – don't get me wrong – because I feel like the world should know what my goal is. But I just have to focus on [one] game at a time, and just me being who I am, I don't really care about me being MVP Lamar [Jackson]; I feel like I'm doing that regardless."
