SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR CHRIS HORTON
Opening Statement: "Good to see everyone today. Hope everyone is doing well. For us, what a great opportunity for us to go out and play another football game against a team [in the Dallas Cowboys that's a] a good team, special teams wise, and we're just looking forward to it. But we've got to start focusing, really focusing, on us and taking care of the things that we need to take care of, fundamentally, so we can go out and play our best football."
Head coach John Harbaugh brought attention to P Jordan Stout's punt in the fourth quarter. I know that Stout has had some good punts this year, but what about that one kind of went sideways? (Kyle Goon) "I just think that [in] that moment, that time, that situation, at that time in the game, it's really ... We've got to ... We want to be perfect on everything that we do, and for Jordan [Stout], he's just got to come out, and he's just got to go through his fundamentals on that punt. I think he might have felt rushed a little bit, given what happened with the snap. But just like we always say, just come out here, practice [and then] go play like you practice. This guy has been having heck of a practices, and we've been really fired up about what he's done in the practices, but we've got to carry those things over to the game, and he's a good enough player to where he should be able to do that."
Was there something that went awry on the snap before P Jordan Stout even caught and booted the ball? (Kyle Phoenix) "So, I thought [that] – looking at the tape – the snap was a little bit high and then ... But regardless of that ... We practice these situations and these things; we like to call them 'ugly balls.' You go through the same footwork, you go through the same drop, you go through the same swing; those things shouldn't change. And I think if we do that, we have a lot better [of a] punt."
K Justin Tucker's field goal attempts from over 50 yards have been a topic of discussion. What are you seeing on those? He seems to have the distance, but the angles are a little bit off. (Todd Karpovich) "Again, the distance is there. I think the confidence is there, and I think it might be – every now and then – a little bit of how [Justin Tucker] strikes the ball and foot placement on the ball and things like that. Other than that, that's all it is. There's nothing ... Those are things that Justin, himself, I know will get fixed [and] things that he's working on. I'm not worried about when we send him out there – from a confidence standpoint – whether he's going to make the kick or not; that's a done deal. We've got full confidence in him making that kick, but just from a fundamental standpoint, I think he's just got to go through it, like everything that we do."
Your first nine kickoffs to you were touchbacks. Do you go into the game telling your returners to not bring it out of the end zone? Is it a personal choice on every single kick? What's your outlook on a kick that goes into the end zone? (Bo Smolka) "For us, we just try to figure out, 'How can we maximize the play?' And we feel like – and we've always felt like this – even when the play was in the old system: If the ball is in the end zone, it didn't really benefit us as much, so if the ball is in the field of play, let's go ahead, and let's return those things. So, [if] the ball is in the end zone and we're going backwards, that messes up the timing of the play, and we feel like we can't maximize our opportunity on that play, so we pretty much tell our guys, 'Hey, just keep it in the end zone. We'll get the next one.' If they want to put the ball in play, the ball will be short of the end zone. So, that's how we operate."
We saw you make a change on a kickoff last week, and WR Tylan Wallace was next to WR/RS Deonte Harty? Is that kind of a moving target – trying to figure out which guys to put out? Or what kind of goes into your thinking there, when it comes to that role? (Jeff Zrebiec) "For us, it's always about decision making. [With] the guys we want to put back there, we want to make sure, first, we are making the right decisions when we are back there, and that's everyone. That's making sure that the players understand what we as coaches want and then the other player – the off returner – understands kind of what we want from those types of kicks. But there [is] really nothing that really goes into it. It's just kind of a, 'How do we feel? Would we want to see another guy back there?' And that's kind of how we operate."
What happened on RB John Kelly's kickoff return? Is that just youth and inexperience? (Pete Gilbert) "I can't tell you off the top of my head how many returns 'J.K.' [John Kelly] has in this league, but just from an idea and just consistency in things, us just putting him in that situation – having him float the ball, traveling into the end zone ... So, I think a lot of that we can take care of when we're in practice; have him have to go backward for a ball, [so] that way he understands where he is on the field, as well."
What have you seen from Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey that makes him the special player that he is? (Kyle Phoenix) "This guy [Brandon Aubrey] has a good leg, and that can be seen on the tape. Obviously, they'll try field goals from wherever with him. He's a young guy, and he's been consistent, and I think that's the most important thing when you talk about guys kicking and things like that, and he can do it ... He's got a soccer background, so he can do a lot more with the football – when you watch some of the things that he's doing with the kickoff play – with that soccer background. So, he's got a little bit of an advantage there. But other than that, man, I just think the kid is playing great, given the year and – what – two games that he's played so far."
Given K Justin Tucker's track record of excellence, when he's going through a rough patch like this, as his coach, do you say anything to him? He's so critical of himself and has such a high standard, but do you or senior special teams coach Randy Brown say anything to him, or do you just let him be? (Ryan Mink) "We kind of just ... We kind of let [Justin Tucker] be. We'll each, individually, talk to him on the side [and] just kind of see where he is, but it's Tucker. Like, nothing ... In my opinion – [from] just being around him for as long as I've been around him, I don't think anything really, truly fazes this guy, because he has a process, and he has a way [of] how he's going to do things, and I think he knows how to get himself out of whatever situation he's in. But individually, we don't hit him at the same time; we just kind of pull him to the side. I just want to know how he's doing. It's OK. It happens. He's human. He's still ... I still believe [that] he's still the best kicker in this game, so you just let him go out and let him be himself."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD MONKEN
When RB Derrick Henry had 5 yards in the first half, like 70-something in the second half. What was the big difference for him to be so limited and then have a breakout? (Jamison Hensley) "I thought our coaches did a great job talking at halftime of how we could attack them – we just did it better [and] we just executed better. We had some opportunities in the first half, and we just didn't take advantage of it. We had a couple of lost-yardage runs, but we just did it better in the second half."
You guys have faced pretty good pass rushers the past couple of weeks – you'll see another one this week. How does your approach change at all in terms of how you go out trying to scheme against those guys and so forth? (Brian Wacker) "100%. Those guys are hard to handle; I mean they disrupt the game; I mean obviously. It's the starting point of everything you do – like it's been every week, in terms of those guys and doing everything we can within our power – within our power [and] within that – to try and neutralize those guys. At times we have, and at times we haven't."
Does your strategy shift though to the skillset or to what you guys maybe want to accomplish? (Brian Wacker) "All the above, really. It certainly challenges you. Offensively, it all starts up front, and defensively, those guys make it hard – the elite defensive linemen make it hard on you; they have a chance to disrupt the game. So, it's our job with those guys to do as best as we can to stay ahead of the chains; not get behind the chains and allow those guys to tee off."
You and head coach John Harbaugh have both said that with the offensive line that we're going to play the best five guys; we're going to work, and we're going to work and figure out who they are and what they are. There's a lot of talk about the offensive line so far. When you watch them play, what does this group do well that you say, "Yes that's the best five?" (Bo Smolka) "Well I think they're getting better – I mean I do think that. Nothing of what we've done so far has been perfect; that starts with me and then every position. We have a long ways to go. We've taken a lot of steps this week to get there in terms of execution, but I've liked what I've seen. Now we just got to put it together consistently in everything that we do. Those guys as well, I've seen them come along, and we're going to continue to play those guys and play the guys that [have] the opportunity to play."
You had two really impressive second-half touchdown drives, and then you had the final three drives of the game in the fourth quarter. What was the biggest thing that you felt you came up short with – the getting behind the chains as you mentioned earlier or? (Kyle Goon) "I was more disappointed in the first half. You know the second half – we had the two drives; we had a turnover in between the two drives that we had, and then the fourth drive that we had, they jumped offsides [and] gave us an opportunity – we just didn't convert; we didn't get the third down. Then obviously the sack on the opening play of the last drive. In order to be consistent, we have to prep and prepare and execute at the critical moments – that's just the way it is. Starting the game off and then finishing the game – that's really what it is. We've had moments; we've flashed, but the consistency is where we're headed, because we have it – we have the guys to be able to do that, we just have to put it all together, and it's been a great couple of days [of practice]."
When it comes to play action, you guys had some nice success with that last week – but you haven't run a ton of it. How do you weigh how often to use that? It's easy to say, "Run it all of the time because it works," but then obviously you can't run it all of the time because it wouldn't. So how do you balance that? (Pete Gilbert) "Well the year started off kind of a little bit different than we were anticipating. Last year, we had 126 total snaps of two-minute [offense], [and] this year, we've had 33 already. So, of the snaps we've had, we're not in play-action mode. We've gotten ourselves behind the chains. So, when you're in get-back-on-track and then third downs, there's not a lot of play action there. In order for us to get back into that – like most teams, we want to be able to run, play action, move the pocket, do those things – that's good football. You've got to stay ahead of the chains, got to stay in rundowns, opportunistic, down and distances for you. When that happens, then we'll see more of it."
You guys are committed to G/T Daniel Faalele at right guard, but last year, you used G Ben Cleveland sometimes as a sixth offensive lineman. You've seen that around the league, teams kind of lean in with jumbo looks. Do you think that could work for you guys, especially with some of the injuries on Dallas' D-line? (Jonas Shaffer) "It could, I mean it could. Those guys are good football players. We're just not able to get them all on the field at once."
One of the outside criticisms is about offensive identity, and what is the Ravens identity. Do you think that's a fair criticism? How would you answer that question about the offensive identity? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Let's just say it like it is. When you execute at a high level, and you move the football and score points, there isn't criticism. When you don't, that's part of what we do. If you don't want that, then you don't take this job. That's part of what we do. When we have success, then it's good. I get that, OK. What do we want our identity to be? A team that executes at a high level [and] doesn't shoot itself in the foot with penalties and execution; that's the way it is. Our guys will play physical. Our guys come to play every week. We have to do a great job as coaches of putting our players in the best position to be successful and then going on the field and executing at a high level. That has to do with us – nothing to do with the opponent – [but in terms] of how do we do it better than they do it [and] in terms of execution, right, penalties, getting behind the sticks, doing those things, and that's what you want your identity to be. Irrespective of what personnel is out there, we want to be able to run it when we need to run it [and] throw it when we need to throw it, and we have the capability of doing that. But, where we're headed is to find that, and we've had a couple of great days [of practice], and it's our job to do it and to move forward. We're certainly more than capable of it, because we've seen it. Now, we just have to put it all together, because like I said, we're moving the football. We have opportunities out there, but we have to collectively execute at a high level."
The offensive line has been under fire this season. Have you had to approach them with a message or had talks about what's being said on the outside? (Kyle Phoenix) "Well, not really. That's what our players have to deal with now, is social media. That didn't exist when I was a kid. They have a day off on Monday. How do they not look at what's being said, right? How do they not? It's very difficult for them not to see that. Do they and I prefer to look at it when it's going good? Of course, holy cow. You much prefer that, but you have to own it; that's the way it is. That's what they ask us to do, is to look in the mirror and say, 'How do we get it better?' Don't feel sorry for yourself. How do we get it better? How do we keep working? How do we help the guys out? It's not all [on] them. I have to own the things that I can get better at. What can they get better at? What can we do schematically? We can help ourselves by staying ahead of the chains, right, [and] not putting ourselves in passing situations. That's the nature of what we do, right? When we're not having success, that's the way it is. We're paid to have success, and I think we're headed in the right direction; I really do. We're close. We really are. We're a couple of plays away from being 2-0. We're not. That's the nature of this league. How do we find those little percentage points to get better? That's our job."
With red zone scoring, you said last week that you want points, not just the yards you're getting. The Cowboys currently have the highest rate of allowing touchdowns in the red zone. This may be an oversimplification, but does that seem to you and this staff that this could be a real opportunity to take advantage of or capitalize on something that your opponent is currently struggling with? (Kyle Phoenix) "Well, it's a small sample size. It's [been] two weeks. I'd hate to think this is what we're going to be the whole year, and it's a small sample size, for us and them. Obviously, it's a big part of winning football games, is scoring touchdowns in the red zone. We've been pretty good there. A few times, we've ended up in two-minute [situations], down on the clock a little bit, but obviously, it's a huge emphasis for us. Obviously, they understand that, in terms of winning games, so when we get down there, we expect to score against ... It's not just them; it's anybody we play."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZACH ORR
How many friends and family do you expect to be at the game? (Jonas Shaffer) "I know my immediate family – [my] mom, dad, brothers, nieces, nephews – I would probably say about 15-to-20 [people] that I know [of] for sure, but I know [some] people who said they were going to be showing up. I'll be interested to see how many actually come to the game."
The last time the Ravens were 0-2, you were on this roster on special teams. What do you remember of the mentality you had then that you could maybe draw from, but also change what the outcome of that season was? (Kyle Phoenix) "It's a long season, and obviously, it's the start that nobody in this building wanted to get off too, but we're here. We can't change the past. Yes, the first two weeks were disappointing, but it's about what we do going forward. And we have 15 more opportunities in the regular season to become the best football team we possibly can be, and that starts with this week right here. I think the thing that you learn, and you try to tell guys, is that, 'Nobody is going to feel sorry for you.' At the end of the day, whether you won the first two games or lost the first two games, you're going to have to go out there and play in Week 3, and you have to continue to get better as a football team, because it's a week-to-week league, and we've been around long enough, the season can change fast one way or the other. So, you just have to keep grinding, keep finding ways to get better and continue to move forward."
For the past two weeks, a receiver has gone over 100 yards. What's been the challenge with shutting key playmakers down? (Todd Karpovich) "I thought we took a step this past week, but it still wasn't good enough, from a sense of a communication standpoint, and it's various different things. A couple of times, receivers make good plays. We've played a couple of good receivers. Obviously, Davante Adams has been one of the better ones for over a decade. I feel like we're right there; we're really close. We just have to continue to tighten up the screws just a little bit, and as coaches, we can do a better job [to make sure] that guys are fully locked in and fully understand what's going on. I think that we're on our way. I thought we took a step – the step wasn't good enough – but I'm excited about what we're going to look like this week."
It's a small sample size, but how would you evaluate the play of your trio of leaders: DT Nnamdi Madubuike, ILB Roquan Smith and S Kyle Hamilton? (Sam Cohn) "I think [Nnamdi Madubuike, Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton] are playing well right now. All three of those guys are great players, they're really valuable to us, but if you ask them, [they would say] they can go to another level, and that's what we're trying to do as a team. I'm excited about those guys. That's what makes those guys special players and special humans that they are, is that they're never satisfied, and they all look at themselves in the mirror just like how I'm looking at myself in the mirror. Right now, we're not the football team or the defense we want to be, and we're holding ourselves accountable, and those three guys are doing that as well. Even though they're playing good football, they're still great football players [and] they want to continue to get better and show more."
The difference between where they're at and where they want to be, do you feel like that's more communication, execution or sort of a mixture of both? (Sam Cohn) "Honestly, I don't think there's a right or wrong, direct answer to that. Obviously, you can look at those things and maybe say that, because we are 0-2, but I feel like if we were 2-0, the conversation may be different whether the play was the same. I don't know if I have a real answer for that."
You have another really talented receiver this week in WR CeeDee Lamb. Do you take any lessons in the last couple of weeks against WR Davante Adams in terms of how you would defend CeeDee Lamb? (Garrett Downing) "CeeDee Lamb, I've been very impressed watching him on film, just really studying [him]. Obviously, you know about him, you hear about him, he's one of the premier players in this league, but just really diving in and watching him on tape, I've been really impressed with him. He's really good. I think the lesson that we take is that when you have these guys at receiver, a guy like CeeDee Lamb, they can change the game in an instant. We're definitely going to have to have a plan, and we're going to have to execute that plan at the highest level to try to contain a guy like that."
When you go back and look at the second half and the success that Las Vegas had throwing the ball, do you feel that you were aggressive enough in calls in trying to get after Gardner Minshew II, or did they just execute? How did you see that? (Pete Gilbert) "First thing, I have to give [the Raiders] credit. They executed. [Gardner Minshew II] moved around and made some plays, [and did] things that we didn't want to happen. And I'm always a person that is going to self-evaluate myself, so, looking back at it, I feel like I could have done some different things to help our team out and help us try to control that. Hats off to [Gardner] Minshew [II] and the Raiders. They came in in the second half, they out executed us, and they beat us. I'm a person that you guys are going to know, I'm always going to take accountability [and] look [at] myself in the mirror, so, looking back at the film, there's definitely some spots in there where I feel like I could've done things differently."
Along those lines, have you gotten the accountability that you're looking for from the guys on the field, because it seems like the offense motioning kind of messes you guys up a little bit looking back at the tape. Raiders players were kind of left alone after the movement before the snap*. (Jonas Shaffer)* "Definitely. That's one thing that nobody is hanging their head around now, and why we're so excited, and we're still motivated to continue to go out here and get better and try to get some wins on the board, because guys are holding themselves accountable. I'm holding myself accountable, players are holding themselves accountable; every coach in here is doing that. When you have that, and there's nobody blaming each other or playing the blame game, I think that you can build, move forward and continue to get better. That's what I'm excited about – we know what we have to fix, guys are owning up to it, and we're working hard to get those things corrected."
We see DT Travis Jones, it seems like every game now, make a play where that strength is just so readily apparent. He came into the league as a pretty strong guy, I'm sure he's gotten a little bit stronger, but what is separating him the rate he's doing it at right now, compared to when he came into the league? (Jonas Shaffer) "[Travis Jones] in his third year now, so now he's adjusted to the game speed. He's seen a lot of schemes now from offenses, different blocking schemes, different pass sets from offensive linemen, so nothing is really new for him. He's seeing everything, and he's playing fast. That guy, he works hard. He came in strong, and I know he's gotten stronger, because every day he's in the weight room. Even on the players off day, I see him in the weight room. Hats off to Travis. We're excited about him; what's he doing is no shock to anybody in this building, because we've been seeing it every day at practice this whole offseason [and] whole training camp, and I think he's just getting started. I think he still has another level that he's going to show out here throughout the season."
With ILB Trenton Simpson, he only played 70% of the snaps in Week 1, but last week, he played 100%. Is that kind of what you expect to see going forward? (Matt Ryan) "It depends on who we're playing, and what we're trying to get accomplished, and what offense we're facing is trying to get accomplished. Like I said, 'Trent' [Trenton Simpson] is going to play a lot. He's going to have a big role for us this year. He's been having a big role for us, and he's playing good football. Depending on play time and everything like that, that's going to be tailored to the opponent that we're playing."
This secondary is a pretty veteran group and has a lot of talent. How much do you get a sense of just a pride factor of wanting to get back on track with them just knowing what they're capable of? (Garrett Downing) "The thing that's most exciting about it, guys are a prideful group, it's a talented group, and we haven't lived up to the standard that we expect of ourselves, and that's not just on them, that's on me, and that's on us as well. We're working hard on it every single day to figure it out. Those guys are busting their butts off in the meeting rooms and on the practice field to get to the level that we know we can get at. I'm proud of how they're approaching this adversity. Like I said earlier, it's not a spot that anybody envisioned, especially that group, but what are we going to do about it? How are we going to respond? And that's the approach they've had, and I'm excited to see how they take on this challenge and going forward."
How nice was it to have CB Nate Wiggins back on the practice field? How did he look to you? (Jeff Zrebiec) "It was good to see Nate [Wiggins] back out there. We love Nate. We plan on having Nate and him doing great things for us this year. I thought he looked good out there for a guy who hasn't practiced in a minute, and I thought he moved around really well and was in tune with what we're trying to do on defense. I'm excited about him, and hopefully we can get him back."
C TYLER LINDERBAUM
On the ramp up period for him after his injury in training camp: "It was good. I was training hard with the time off. [It's] just good to be back – just don't take any day for granted. Any time you can play football, it's a special day, so I don't take that stuff for granted."
On if it feels like the minor mistakes sometimes feel major in the moment and how the team deals with that mentally: "That comes with the position. All five of the guys have to be doing their job, otherwise things aren't going to work out. We know we have to clean up some things. We know we need to play better for this offense to get rolling, and it's a challenge that we're looking to take on."
On what the week was like with offensive line coach George Warhop going through the motions and getting ready for Dallas: "It's good. [Offensive line coach] George [Warhop] has been good coming in for us. [We'll] just continue to build that chemistry with him and learn how he talks [and] learn how he communicates. It's a big thing. As the days and weeks go on, guys are getting better with that."
On his reaction to the passing of former offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris after working with him over the past couple of years: "Obviously, [Joe D'Alessandris was] one of the best coaches I've had. It's a terrible situation. I feel terrible for his family [and] for his loved ones. The guys who have been coached by him know the man he is and what he stood for, so I know he's coaching an O-line up in heaven. It's our job to do what we can down here for him and represent him."
On what it's been like having RB Derrick Henry behind him: "Derrick [Henry] has been awesome. I've never seen a back like him, the way he can run, his size, his physicality makes you want to block for him – block for a guy like that – so [we'll] just continue to get better [and] continue to improve so we can showcase what Derrick Henry is all about."
On his anticipation going into AT&T Stadium and playing the Dallas Cowboys: "We know it's going to be a good environment, a really good team, a really good defense, so [it's] just another tough challenge. Being on the road, we have to be great with execution, great with communication and take it one play, one drive at a time and stay on track and do the things that we're good at."
On the challenges that Cowboys DE Micah Parsons presents: "Shoot, this is the NFL, so every team is going to have an elite pass rusher, but specifically [for] Micah [Parsons] – the challenges he presents, his skillset, being explosive, being that speed guy off the edge and using his quickness and using his explosiveness helps him. And it's going to be a challenge. Our tackles know that, but we're excited for the opportunity. We have to have a great week of practice and just have a gameplan ready for him."
On if the offensive line hears the criticism from the public or if they block it out: "It's our job to do what we can, play all five together. At the end of the day, we want things to be perfect, so even if we play our best game, according to the media, we're going to think it's not that good, so [we'll] just continue to get better, continue to build that cohesiveness and at the end of the day, the offense goes as the offensive line goes. Obviously, we need to step our game up and play better."
On how DE Micah Parsons moving around the line can stress the importance of communication: "Yes, [Micah Parsons] is certainly a guy that you want to know where he's at. When defenses do that, they're trying to stress the offense out, and they're trying to find the best matchups for us, too, as well. So, [well be] understanding where he's at, and at the end of the day, go out and play football."
