SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR CHRIS HORTON
With the new kickoff rule, with the action not starting until the returner catches the ball, for the coverage guys, how difficult of a transition will it be for the players to adjust to the new rule? (Jamison Hensley) "What I think from the kickoff standpoint, just giving those guys an opportunity ... It's kind of why we shoot the ball and then wait for the ball to be caught, and we just try to time that thing up. As the refs start to join the practice, we start to see how much leeway are we truly going to get in timing that ball up. But I don't think it's going to be difficult. Once that ball is caught, we are going, and we get down the field, [and] we cover the kick. I think the thing that's going to be different will be the angles of how we get to that ball, because we're so spread out in a short amount of field. Normally we run down the field, we reduce the spacing, and we close off the lanes, but that's going to change a little bit for us right now. So, we're just trying to figure that stuff out. I think the guys are having fun doing it, and as we go, I think we'll continue to get better."
It looks like the return team maybe had some signaling issues, but their back is to the hash a ton. Is there anybody who would be responsible for signaling the rest of the up team at the line that they have to hold, that the ball is brought or where the ball is going? (Ken McKusick) "I think that's going to be done two different ways. In my opinion, I'm leaving it up to the player. Let's figure out what works best for the player. We have time to get up field for, 'OK, where is the returner standing? Where is he going?' If we want to get a true jump, it probably might be better to be staring at the returner. But, if guys can't do that, and they want to see the cover guy, then just go off the cover guy's movement. If he is late, then I'm going to be late, and then the guy that I'm blocking, it won't really matter."
Are you guys going to have an actual NFL officiating crew out here at some point this summer to help you with that kind of stuff and to let you know how certain things are going to be called? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Correct. At some point, we'll have NFL officials out here. Once we get those guys out here, we're just going to keep trying things, putting those out there, just so we can get a good understanding of the play, and they're going to officiate it."
Do you feel like you can still get some more feel for it during the regular season? Or do you feel like training camp and the three preseason games are enough to get some comfort level with it? (Childs Walker) "As we move forward, I don't know how comfortable we're going to be, but I think we're going to have a pretty good idea of what we want to do and kind of really lay a foundation. Those things could change as the season goes on, but I think early on, we'll have a pretty good idea of who we want to be, who we are as a cover unit [and] what we do as a return unit. We'll probably feel pretty good about it, but again, those things are going to continue to tweak as we move forward."
How much will it change how you campaign for the roster structure? Do you want more linebackers up there, for example? With this new formation, what do you want for coverage? (Gerry Sandusky) "I don't really know yet, because we haven't played a game. Until we play a game, until we see what's happening – I've said this before – the roster is going be structured the way the roster is going to be structured. However that shakes out, we're going to put the best 11 guys out there that's going to help us, because there are other phases that's going to be played outside the kickoff/kickoff return play. We're still going to have to cover punts, and we're still going to need to be good on punt return, and that might take a different-bodied type player. So, we're going to have to maybe give and take a little bit of where we truly want to take from."
Is there any chatter getting out throughout the league about how people are approaching this? Or are you pretty much operating in the dark? (Giana Han) "You kind of talk to guys here and there, but during this time and at this point, it's like, 'Alright, let's figure this thing out.' And then, as the film starts to come in from across the league with the preseason games, you'll kind of have an idea of what some other people are doing."
How much variation is there going to be between each team? (Giana Han) "Honestly, I'm not sure yet. I think everyone is going to have a base way that they operate, and then as they see how these things kind of shake out in the preseason games, they'll start to adjust a little bit. I think you'll see some different things from week to week."
Were you surprised when you look at the XFL teams to see how few touchdowns that style of play produced? (Jonas Shaffer) "I don't necessarily know if I was surprised by that. I've said this before, if kickoff and kickoff return plays, you have to figure out what works best [and decide] what are the right schemes. If the kickoff team has a breakdown, there's still ways that you can cover kicks in this system and be effective. There are still ways you can get returns and be effective, but I'm not sure how you're going to score here or there. I think it will naturally happen as the play develops."
I know that the first NFL preseason game is on Thursday. Is that going to be kind of like milestone moment for you guys, but to actually see this play happen in a real NFL game. Is that going to be kind of eye opening? (Matt Ryan) "I think most special teams coaches are going to be glued into that game, and kind of see, 'What's happening on either side? How are they playing?' You just hope going into it, the teams put the ball in play, they play the play, so you can actually get a good feel for what's going to happen. So, we do have some more film to study in our league with our players."
How much work goes into to letting the players know a new rule of a touchback, so that they make the right decision, as opposed to the decision they've probably made their whole career? (Gerry Sandusky) (Laughter) "We talk about that every time we have a kickoff [or] kickoff return practice; we talk about the rules [and] how they've changed. Fielding the ball; every ball is a live ball now, so you have to down those balls. That's going to be new to a lot of college returners, who their last four or five years, or however many years they spent in college, [if] that ball hits the ground and rolls into the end zone untouched, that's a touchback. I wouldn't be surprised if some young guy just tries to walk away from the ball, but that shouldn't happen here, because that's one thing we talk about a lot and just ingraining those guys. That's why we shoot a ball every practice. I used to blow a whistle a lot when I wanted guys to go, but now it's like, 'Hey man, we go on the ball.' Because everything is going to be based on ball in the landing zone [and] the ball being caught. That's your key now. It's not my whistle in practice anymore."
How has WR/RS Deonte Harty compared to your expectations? (Giana Han) "He's exactly who I thought he was. This guy, just watching him on tape, seeing him across the league; he's a phenomenal returner, and I can't wait to get him going."
QUARTERBACKS COACH TEE MARTIN
How good was it to see QB Lamar Jackson back and healthy? (Giana Han) "It was good – just having [Lamar Jackson's] presence in the meetings, in the meeting room and on the field. He brings a certain energy, competitiveness and overall talent in the things that we've been doing. It's good to just get him back out [and] see the retention. I knew [that] once he came back, we could start getting some consistency, in terms of his growth and reps that we need in training camp. But it's been great."
How have you seen QB Lamar Jackson improve with all the new pre-snap responsibilities he has? What have you seen on the field in that regard? (Ryan Mink) "Well, it's just what we do at this point. Last year was the conversation about it, in terms of it being new – new system, new responsibilities – [but] it's just how we play the game now. It's kind of just a part of who [Lamar Jackson] is and how he talks and how he sees the game – from that perspective. So, [it's] his second year in the system; we've added some things, and we've trimmed the fat a little bit on some things that we tried [and] tinkered with but didn't major in, and so, we're streamlining for him and for our offense in general. So, [in] his second year in it, he's doing a heck of a job of it. [He] picked up where he left off, and it's been looking good."
QB Lamar Jackson talked yesterday about how the defense is talking a little trash, and they're mixing it up in there. You played quarterback; did you like that in the summer – having that sense of competitiveness? And do you like seeing it now? (Childs Walker) "Yes, I was a little bit like Lamar [Jackson]; I liked to talk a little trash, because you have the ball in your hand, and you can do something about it." (laughter) "And he's like that. He's been here – Year Seven – and [there are] a lot of teammates he's played with for a while. Sometimes, you don't know if they're serious or not, but they're all teammates, and they love each other at the end, so I like that. [It] kind of gets the juices flowing a little bit during practice."
For as good as QB Lamar Jackson is, he strives to be even better. Is there something in his game that you guys are focusing on? (Cordell Woodland) "Yes, we like to address everything. [There's] not a rep that goes by [where] there aren't teachable moments, and there aren't questions to be asked and answers to find and answer to questions, and that's how [Lamar Jackson] sees the game – whether it's the run game, whether it's the passing game. We watch individual drills. We watch pretty much everything that we put on tape – we watch it, and we learn from it, and that's just the humbleness in him, and him understanding that he's trying to get somewhere as a talent, he's trying to get somewhere as a teammate, he's trying to get somewhere as a quarterback. And so, I respect that, and every day, we go to work."
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken and WR Zay Flowers have talked about trying to get more explosive plays in the offense. From a quarterback's perspective, what can you do with QB Lamar Jackson to help enhance that part of the game? (Matt Ryan) "A lot of that is by game planning and play design – when you're trying to create and manufacture explosive plays. The other parts of it, in terms of Lamar [Jackson] extending plays: Are receivers making plays on the ball when it's man to man [and] getting open? With him making accurate throws. All that stuff comes together, in terms of the end result, in terms of making explosive plays. But you don't ... It's like a hitter in baseball; you don't step up to the plate and step into the box saying, 'I'm going to hit a home run every time.' You just want to put the bat on the ball, and sometimes it is a home run. And so, we get the ball in our hands, and we're going to play the system, we're going to play the play out, and if the end result is an explosive play, that's what we're going to achieve. And then there are times – with the two-minute clock running, you're down by seven, blah, blah, blah, blah – where you maybe [are] a little bit more aggressive in your approach. But that's kind of how we see it, for all you baseball fans here."
It seems like when QB Lamar Jackson does miss on a deep ball, he overthrows it a little bit. As a coach, how do you coach him on that? Is that him trying to be a little too perfect and drop it in a bucket? What do you say to him when that happens? (Ryan Mink) "I don't say anything. You've got to let it rip. You can't get into the head of the thrower – you just can't, you just can't. You just keep getting reps with those people, and so many things are variables there. Did he get moved off his spot in the pocket? Was it a clean release? [Was it] the position of the DB [defensive back] – so on and so forth. So, you don't make any excuses; you just go at it again and just keep trying until you get perfection, and that's what we're all trying to reach – is perfection – here, and that's what we're doing. That's what training camp is about; that's what ... The whole season; you never peak until your last rep of that season, but we're always chasing that."
WR Rashod Bateman has been overthrown a number of times, whereas if you compared that to WR Odell Beckham Jr., it seemed like QB Lamar Jackson almost had a respect and expectation for OBJ to go up and get the ball in a similar situation. Do you feel like that's anything that you can have a discussion with Lamar about or something that Lamar needs to improve on? (Ken McKusick) "Well, we looked at all of it. We looked at how we were missing, and to your point, in terms of missing long, what was it? There are a lot of different things that cause that, so we addressed that. We worked on it during the offseason, [and] we're going to continue to work on it here, but not in specific to the person, because it doesn't always – in our minds – come down to [you] missing a certain guy. You're just trying to address the throw itself. Everybody is different. Every receiver gets a certain amount of separation [differently]. They all have different skillsets, in terms of making plays on the ball, jumping ability, hand strength – so on and so forth – and you have to know who you're throwing to and who can make certain type [of] plays on the ball, and that affects how you throw the ball, how you place the ball, how much air you put on the ball and so on and so forth. So, there's a lot involved in that, but no, we don't just say, 'Hey, when you throw to this guy, it's different than that guy.' You don't have time to do that when you're getting rushed by a D-Line [defensive line], and you're trying to get the ball out."
When you think of a quarterback like Russell Wilson, he kind of throws a moonball. How much does trajectory matter for those 30-, 40- and 50-yard passes in the air. What is the conversation with QB Lamar Jackson about how you tinker reaction, motion and trajectory to be accurate, but also not compromise who you are as a passer? (Jonas Shaffer) "It's all based on separation and safety location. If you have a safety that is very close to making a play on the pass, you don't have much air on it. If it's a clean release, [and] the safety is on the other hash, [and] he's not on that side of the field, you may have more time to put more air on the ball. At the end of the day, it's just about ball placement, timing, separation from the receiver – it's a lot combined in that. And that's just all we're chasing. There's no one thing you can that you can say, there's no one way to throw a deep ball; I threw a lot of them myself. All of them were different, all of them are based on the things I just mentioned, and you just want to keep working to where you can get as many of those variables out of the way as you can, to where you can diagnose it. And that's what training camp and preseason is all about."
Head coach John Harbaugh talked about how the vision for QB Lamar Jackson is to be the best quarterback ever. I know that's something you probably don't talk about every day. (Ryan Mink) "No, we do, actually. We're not scared of that."
What are the conversations like in the quarterback room in that regard? (Ryan Mink) "From Day One, ever since I saw him play on TV in college, I thought that [he could be the best quarterback ever]. And having the opportunity to coach him ... I'm a father of four, and it's like, when you see something in young people, you tell them. When you see greatness, you tell them. You own it. You want them to believe in themselves. You believe in them. You want them to know that you believe in them, and that's what we're working for. So, no. We don't shy away from that statement, we don't shy away from those types of expectations, because if you're not trying to be the best, then what are you trying to be? Last year, about once a week, we talked about championship quarterbacks; it's the thing we kind of do once a week. And we talked about the characteristics of them, and we talk about what is important that week going into that game, and every week, there's an element about him being the greatest and about him showing up and showing out, like we like to say in the quarterback room. I see that in him. I believe that, truly, as his coach, and before I was coach, as a fan of his, and after I'm not his coach again, back as fan of his. That's how I think about Lamar [Jackson]."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD MONKEN
TE Isaiah Likely and WR Rashod Bateman have both talked about how comfortable they are this year – have you seen that from them, and are you more comfortable this year?*(Melissa Kim)*"Sure, I mean it's … every year that we're together as a staff, and the players, you're going to be more comfortable – you just are. The terminology is the same, [the] system's the same, [but] improved – like every year you're going to work on it, so there ought to be a comfort level of that. How do I say this … you're not building a house, like we built it last year – now it's like you moved in, and you're just fixing a few rooms, if that makes sense. It's a lot easier when you're fixing a few rooms than [when] you're building a whole house – [it's] easy to build on that way."
You have two of the best tight ends in the league with TE Mark Andrews and TE Isaiah Likely. How key is it trying get both of those guys on the field at the same time?*(Todd Karpovich)* "[I] would love to. I mean obviously [you're] trying to get your best playmakers on the field and they're two of them. Those two guys are unique weapons, so we have to do a great job of being creative – getting them on the field and finding a way to utilize ... because their skillsets are similar, but they're different. They're still built a little bit different, but we love both of them, and that showed last year – you know, when Mark [Andrews] went down, 'Zay' [Isaiah Likely] came on, and having them both together would be great."
QB Lamar Jackson talked yesterday about how aggressively the defense has played during camp. Do you find it useful to get reps against that style?*(Childs Walker)*"Oh yes, for sure. It was great last year, and it is this year. [For] one, we do a great job defensively, schematically, [and] two, they do a great job of challenging all of your rules, and then they do it with tremendous personnel – that makes it very, very difficult, but good for us in terms of development, right. Especially up front where you're trying to see who's going to emerge in certain spots for us, so it's been great. At times it's been difficult, [it's] been frustrating, but it's great – it's something you want to be able to go against every day."
Last year, you had 110 targets intended for tight ends, with 195 the year before that. Do you convince this tight end group that less is more, and how do you account for the enormous uptick in per-target productivity?*(Ken McKusick)* "Some of that is because of the uptick we had at receiver; I think that's going to be a part of it – when you're better at receiver, your targets go somewhere – that's one part of it. The other part is late in games when you're winning, you're running the football, and you're not throwing it nearly as much, so some of those come into play – and at times I don't really control where the ball goes – at times I do, but a lot of times, the defense controls that, our personnel control it, and who we're playing. But, to say that I don't like throwing to tight ends – that's not what you're insinuating – but we're going to throw it to them. There are reasons why that occurs – the other was there was a certain time of the year where we didn't have both – where now there's one of them, so that's a part of it. We love those guys, [and] we want them to have every opportunity. Mark [Andrews] last year probably didn't have as many targets as he wanted, but he had touchdowns – we got him the ball in the red zone, which helped. Obviously, finding a way to get [Mark] the ball and 'Zay' [Isaiah Likely] the ball more is a huge part of obviously what we need to do moving forward."
Head coach John Harbaugh talked about how this offense is evolving in Year Two. Is there an element of this offense that you are emphasizing more this year to really build upon from last year?*(Cordell Woodland)*"Well there's a lot to build on, and there's a lot to get better at – a lot of things that we worked on in the offseason, like any offseason, like, 'How do we streamline this? How do we make this to where we feel like we have the answers moving forward collectively?' And that the players know that. That's probably as much as anything as, alright, you're in a meeting, 'OK we're doing XYZ, why?' – And that they can say it back, say, 'That's exactly why we're doing xyz' – that's critically important; to anticipate calls; anticipate what we're going to do against a certain defense and those things. It's been great, [the] offseason was great, and our guys being here in the offseason, it's been a great start."
Your guys' dominant personnel grouping last year was 11 – it wasn't as efficient as you had hoped for. What did you kind of learn from how you guys did with 11 last year and what were some of your takeaways this year?*(Jonas Shaffer)*"Yes, you look back and you say, 'OK in our bigger personnel groups, what does that allow us to do' – sometimes run the ball more efficiently, not always, but also lends itself to explosive plays, you're going to get some of that – especially if you put Pat [Ricard] on the field, or if you get bigger that way – and we've got tremendous receiving targets at tight end, which does add to that group – but we certainly do have to become more proficient throwing the football out of 'Zebra' or 11 personnel."
How close is the competition for the three starting jobs on the offensive line, and is anybody sort of separating themselves?*(Todd Karpovich)* "I wouldn't say yet. I think some guys have stepped forward – [it's] still too early in camp to say that, but I like our group. That's why you draft – I said that the other day – that's why you draft, and that's why you develop; I mean, there is a salary cap; there are issues you're going to have in terms of your players – so that's why you do a great job, as an organization does, of drafting players and developing them, so when this time comes, and you have to make tough decisions, you've got guys ready to go and able to compete for these spots, which we do. We've got a good number of guys – I'm excited about it."
I talked to head coach John Harbaugh about when is the ideal time to have your offensive line, your starting line set. Do you feel like you need a certain number of weeks to have that chemistry building, or is it fluid?*(Childs Walker)* "OK, first off, would you prefer to already have it set? Of course. Would you prefer to have every position set? Yes. There is no assigned date of when we have to have it, if that makes sense. We prefer that it's the same 11 – every position we're going to play these guys – that way we build that continuity, but it's our job as coaches to utilize the personnel we have and keep finding who may emerge; when that happens, then we will end up in a position to where we can say, 'Alright here's our left guard. OK here's our right guard. Here's our right tackle.' All of that."
With Derrick Henry in your offense, how much does that give you – creatively time at the white board – to think OK, what can we do now that we didn't maybe do in the past? (Gerry Sandusky) "First of all, we're excited as heck to have Derrick [Henry]. They are things that he does, and his skillset that allows you to, not maybe from a creative standpoint, but maybe a little bit differently. Maybe certain ways that you want to run the football, utilize his skillset, utilize his speed and maybe getting him on the perimeter where he can really get that speed and get running downhill. So that's exciting. That really is."
Along those lines, with RB Derrick Henry, he was primarily used as a running back in under center formations. You use multiple running formations under shotgun. How much have you discovered his ability to run out of that formation, and what have been your creative ideas there? (Kyle Phoenix) "Early on, we had been doing in what we do, in installing and rotating the running backs, so we can see it. What we saw on tape [and] what he's done in the past is a reflection of what we anticipate, but we'd like to see it. We'd like to see it play out, from a receiving end, from a running end, [the] type run schemes, so we're just in the process in seeing it all develop and talking to him [about] what he likes and where we go as an offense."
Did you get a sense from RB Derrick Henry in how good he is in the mesh? He probably did not run nearly as much as he would here, in Tennessee. What can you tell me about his and QB Lamar Jackson's success with the mesh point? (Ken McKusick) "I do not. It hasn't come up nearly enough. I don't anticipate it being a problem, with reps. It usually isn't a problem, as long as you put in the time to make sure it can still be a weapon for you. Obviously, Lamar [Jackson] is always a weapon for us."
With the speed that you guys have offense, do you have an expectation for maybe how your passing game could look and also how defenses will defend it? (Jonas Shaffer) "Well, you're right. We were certainly efficient in a lot of ways last year. Certainly, we can be more explosive – [with] 20-yard plays down the field. Some of that is we were winning in games at the end, but another is, how do we get the ball pushed down the field? Some of that is catch-and-run. Zay [Flowers] is one of those guys; our tight ends are those guys. We have to get 'Bate' [Rashod Bateman] more involved. We have to be able to get the ball more down the field to him and Zay. [Those are] all good points. We do have to be able to be more explosive. We do have plenty of speed, now we just have to be able to utilize and scheme it."
You said that you put a big emphasis on getting WR Rashod Bateman more involved this year. QB Lamar Jackson missed time at the start of training camp, and Bateman wasn't able to be there today. Has it been tough to get that chemistry going when they aren't together a lot? (Cordell Woodland) "I'll revert back to the same, in terms of, would you love for them to be out there every day? Of course and developing that. But I don't know when that start or that end is, but every day they're together, we're going to get better. They're going to continue to grow as a duo. And you can see that when Rashod [Bateman] was out there, and Lamar [Jackson] was out there. I anticipate that to come pretty easily, pretty fluidly, because they've been here together now three years. Now, [there were] some things Rashod couldn't control. So, we'll continue to build that and grow with it. And I think up until the last couple of days, Rashod has had a really good camp. [He has had] a really good offseason."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZACH ORR
I think there was a lot of excitement about your promotion within the building and with media coverage, and there's curiosity regarding you being a first-time play caller and building it up here at training camp and during the offseason programs. What's your comfort level, and how do you think you're doing? (Kyle Phoenix) "I'm getting comfortable every single day. Like I said, Coach [John] Harbaugh does a great job of putting us in real-life game situations, so you have to think on the fly, you have to be prepared, you have to have your call sheet ready, you have to think a step ahead. It's a combination of that, and then going against our offense and going against 'Monk' [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] and Lamar [Jackson], Mark [Andrews], Zay [Flowers], both Zay's [Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely]. I can name a lot of people with our offense. Going against those guys makes it even that more challenging, but it's preparing me for the moment, and I feel more comfortable every single day with that. And another thing is the coaching staff that we have helped prepare me on defense. Those guys are great coaches [and] great humans, so it's not just me by myself; I'm leaning on those guys, and those guys are helping me out along the way."
You guys had 17 interceptions last week. How much of a key is it to play at a high level so quickly in this camp? (Todd Karpovich) "I think it's just the players taking ownership. They came in locked in and ready to roll since they got here for camp. One of the main things we talked about on defense is trying to eliminate explosive plays from the offense and taking the ball away. The ball is the most important thing in the game of football, and our job as a defense is to take it away, and guys have taken ownership of that, and they've really been focusing on doing that. So, t's been a pleasure seeing those guys attack the ball and catch the football and come away with some interceptions."
QB Lamar Jackson talked yesterday about how he feels that this could be a vintage Ravens defense, with the talking and hitting, even in practice. Have you liked that tone that has been set so far, and do you ever have to ask individual guys to dial it back a little bit in camp? (Childs Walker) "We have a lot of competitive guys on both sides of the football. Obviously, I'm with the defensive guys a lot more, and those guys are real competitive, and it starts with our leaders on defense; we have a lot of those guys. But no ... I mean, I do kind of have to tell them to tone [it] down a little bit, but I like those guys being real competitive. But we're taking care of each other, and Lamar [Jackson] and the offense, they get those guys going by competing at a high level and talking trash, so it's good. Iron sharpens iron – we talk about that all the time – and our offenses is one of the best offenses in the league. We've got the reigning MVP at quarterback, so it's good work, and it's a challenge every single day. I think both sides of the ball look forward to the challenge at practice of competing against each other."
CB Nate Wiggins obviously has the speed and talent to take chances and make plays. What do you say to him about the balance between taking chances and not leaving yourself vulnerable? (Cliff Brown) "Nate [Wiggins], he's a heck of a football player, [and] he's an instinctive player, so you don't want to take that away from him, but you just continue to just try to tell him to play within the system – which he does – have great eyes, play with great technique, which he's coming out here [and] working at every single day. And the plays will come to you. He has natural ability, so he's going to make his fair share of plays by doing his job, which he's done out here so far at camp."
It looks like ILB Trenton Simpson has enjoyed putting on the pads. What have you seen out of the intensity of his play so far? (Jamison Hensley) "Trenton [Simpson] is an intense guy, which we love. We love it. I think Isaiah Likely told me the other day ... He was like, 'Man, tell Trent to smile out there on the field,' and I was like, 'Ay man, that's how he rolls. That's how he rolls.' That's why we loved him when he came out of Clemson; he's a [really] physical player, and it's great to see that. We knew that last year. He came in as a rookie being real physical, and he's continued that and upped that. He's gotten bigger, stronger [and] more explosive, which he's displaying, which we're happy with."
In what specific ways do you think DT Travis Jones has to take a significant step forward this year? (Childs Walker) "I think in all of his game. [Travis Jones] just having more football awareness, just becoming a better student of the game [and] understanding ... When you're a first- [or] second-year player, a lot of stuff is still new to you, but now, [with] him going into his third year, he's seen most of the run scheme, most of the pass protections, and he's in here every single day working his butt off in the classroom and in the weight room. I think you're going to see a big jump in his game, in the run game and in the pass game."
As a rookie player, you saw the speed shift from training camp to the preseason, and that helped you get ready for your first regular season. Are you guys anticipating the same thing as a coordinator in your first year – using preseason to really get your feet under you? (Gerry Sandusky) "Oh, definitely. That's what I think the preseason is for. It's not just for ... As a player, obviously, I focused on it helping me out as a player. But as a coach – even when I was a position coach – it just kind of gave you a practice run of how it's going to really work on gameday. So, it's going to be good work. We're excited for it, and I'm excited for the challenge."
NT Michael Pierce was talking a little bit about playing with you. What is it now like to coach him, and is his story ever something you use to inspire others? (Giana Han) "Definitely. I love coaching 'Mike P.' [Michael Pierce], because 'Mike P.' comes to work every day. He's very wise [and] shares his wisdom with the young guys. When Mike speaks, everybody listens, and he's still playing at a very high level. So, I'm glad he's here with us. I'm glad he's on our team, on our defense. Definitely, you can use his story to show guys [that] it doesn't matter where you start, it matters what you do when you get here, and it matters if you show up every single day and do your job and continue to get better. Mike P., I remember when he first came in; I was like, 'Man, where is this guy from?' He's from Samford [University], and he just took it to a whole other level. I still remember that New Orleans Saints preseason game where he went just crazy, and he made the team, and then [in] the first week of the season, he was lined up in front of me, and he's been rolling ever since. So, I'm really happy that Mike is back [as] a Raven, and he's doing a heck of a job out here."
The Ravens announced that OLB Malik Hamm is on Injured Reserve. We haven't seen OLB Adisa Isaac out here. Is outside linebacker depth becoming a little thin for you guys? Is that a concern for you? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Obviously, losing [Malik] Hamm was tough. Our prayers are with him. We're still excited about Adisa [Isaac]. Hopefully, we get him back soon, but I think we've got guys that can help carry the load until Adisa gets back. You've got Malik Harrison who we've been training there, and he's doing a heck of a job at the outside linebacker position, along with 'Dafe' [Odafe Oweh], Kyle Van Noy, [David] Ojabo, T-Rob [Tavius Robinson]. So, definitely, you'd like to have another guy since Hamm went down, but those guys are competing and doing a good job."
You talk about ILB Trenton Simpson not smiling on the field, but when you look at him off the field, he's the nicest guy, and ILB Roquan Smith is very similar in that way – and even you, when you played. Is it abnormal for an inside linebacker to be able to flip the switch and be some of the nicest guy on the team? (Childs Walker) "I think you just ... At that position ... Really, just as a football player, but I think specifically at that position, you have to have a different type of mindset when you step out on that field. You have to be mean, you have to be tough, and you have to be physical. So, if you're going to play middle linebacker, you know [that] when you step between those white lines, it gets real, real fast, so you've got to be ready. So, I think that's where the intensity comes from at that position, especially with Roquan [Smith] and Trenton [Simpson]."
How much do you rely on ILB Roquan Smith to kind of be your eyes, ears and voice at the center of everything on the field? (Childs Walker) "I rely on [Roquan Smith] a lot, because obviously, he's a heck of a player, heck of a guy. He's a heck of a student of the game, he knows ball, and he's seen and played a lot of ball. Aa a coach, you always like to see how the player sees it from the field view, because as a coach, it's easy when you're in the classroom or on the whiteboard, and you're like, 'Let's do it this way, or they're doing this, they're doing that,' but the players might see it differently when they're on the field. So, I definitely rely on guys like Roquan to be my eyes on the field and let me know what he's seeing and come to the solution to do the best job we can do."
Will you be a booth coach or a field coordinator? (Gerry Sandusky) "I'll be on the field."
Is that your preference? (Gerry Sandusky) "Yes, that's my preference."
What do you see or feel better on the field than you would in the booth? (Gerry Sandusky) "[It's] just to eliminate the lag time of getting on the phone. [It's] getting that instant communication and just getting a chance to see how the guys are really feeling emotionally [and to] just get that real-time reaction with them."
You played in college for the NCAA Football video game. This is kind of a strange question, but what is your relationship with that game, and what is it like seeing it come back and seeing guys talk about playing it? (Jonas Schaffer) "That was my favorite video game growing up. I tell people all the time, I was the last one that was ... I was a part of the last video game before it came out on NCAA '14, and I was an impact player, and I was the highest rated player at my school." (laughter) "So, I let those guys know that for sure. But I'm glad that the game is back. It's a fun video game. I have a 6-year-old son now who enjoys it and plays it. He likes the mascots and the band playing in the background. So, I'm excited that the game is back. I haven't had a chance to play it as much as I probably would like to, but I'm glad it's back."
Does your son play with North Texas Mean Green? (Jamison Hensley) "Oh, yes, for sure, definitely. That's the only school right there." (laughter)
Do you think you would be unlockable as an ultimate player? (Jonas Schaffer) "No, I don't think I was that good. I don't think I was that good." (laughter)
