HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "Thanks for coming out. [It's a] great day … really, it's a great day for football, as is any day, but today is a great day for a lot of things. And our guys enjoyed being out there. [There were] a lot of great fans out here – some very special groups [and a] very special group of families was here, so we appreciate that. And also, we just want to say that our prayers, and our thoughts are going for all those involved with the Bel Air house explosion that happened – I just heard about it. We want to just express that to all the families and all the friends who are involved in that right now – all the first responders as well – that everything will go well, and [we] just encourage everybody and all the groups just for safety and to do the best we can in those areas to be safe. What questions do you have?"
It was another spectacular day for TE Isaiah Likely out there. What kind of a training camp do you think he's put together? (Jamison Hensley)"I would say Isaiah [Likely] has put together a fantastic training camp. To your point, another great day – [he] connected on a bunch of deep balls out there. He's been spectacular with the route running details. I feel like the timing has been fantastic with him. He's just a very special athlete. [He] comes to work every day ready to go to work, so we're really proud of him, and we'll keep going."
We saw S Kyle Hamilton go down – looked like a left leg injury. Any update there? (Brian Wacker)"[It] looks stable. Looks good. Obviously, we'll continue to do some tests tonight and tomorrow to make sure, but first indications are that [Kyle Hamilton is] fine."
Did you guys get a more substantial update as far as CB Nate Wiggins and where he's at? (Childs Walker)"Yes, [Nate] Wiggins is not a serious injury. It's the same one that I got last week on the water slide [drill]. Look at my movement – I would've been active for the game, so I think we're good."
Is that an official designation on the water slide injury? (Childs Walker)"It is, actually, yes. It was actually an AC sprain, so I'm no [physician], but that's very serious. I would say that from an immune system standpoint, there's some superpowers that have to do with healing with some people. I'm just one of those guys that just comes back [just] like that; so, I can't expect that of all our guys, so we'll see how [Nate Wiggins] responds." (laughter)
Do you think you'll be ready for Week 1? (Jamison Hensley)"I'm ready – I was ready for Friday. [I] might've taken a little shot or something to get it done, but [I] would've been out there if anybody wanted me out there."
Are you OK with the depth back on the secondary with some guys going down heading into your second preseason game? (Todd Karpovich)"Yes, we're in good shape. We don't have any serious stuff. We got Arthur [Maulet] – that's still going to be something that's going to go on probably the first couple weeks of the season – but that's all we have right now."
In Friday's game, it looked like it was tough getting the passing offense established. Between now and Saturday what kind of improvements are you looking to make? (Kevin McNelis)"Yes, that's just something we have to chase in practice. I mean in the preseason, and if you watch all the preseason games, the passing game is going to be the biggest challenge. I don't really see too many teams out there dicing people up in the passing game, because your guys aren't out there, so the timing is going to be what it is. I'm not too worried about that. It's obvious we want it to be as good as it can possibly be. We want to see guys step up, run good routes [and] make plays. That's a work in progress, but you're talking about developmental guys for the most part. I thought Josh [Johnson] handled that well. There weren't always the right routes being run. We had a couple little hiccups in protection with some of the younger guys, so just things like that are things we'll work through. I do think the offensive line played well. Go back and watch the tape from a run-blocking standpoint and a pass-blocking standpoint, man for man, I thought they played well."
Specifically G/T Daniel Faalele with the position change and now that he's practiced three or four weeks now at right guard. How do you think he did in the game – was it a continuation from what you've seen in practice? (Luke Jones)"I thought he made a jump in the game. The pass protection especially – [he] was really good with his feet, punched well, stayed square, stayed in front of people – I thought he played well. I thought he especially played well in pass protection; [in the] run game he was good, too, so that was kind of a ... I'd say he passed the test – passed the first test. [I want him to] keep building from there and get to the next game. We have a big week of practice this week to keep building, but I was happy with Daniel, I was happy with Ben [Cleveland] at center. I thought Ben played well at center – maybe he's a center. But he can also play guard, so there was a lot of good things."
Do you feel like G Andrew Vorhees and T Roger Rosengarten made a good case that they could play well in Week 1 if you decide to go that way? (Childs Walker)"I do think so. I do think so. [Andrew] Vorhees was very consistent and [Roger] Rosengarten was very consistent. For Roger, let's get him some more plays next week. We kind of ... Pat [Mekari] played well, and Josh [Jones] played well at left tackle, so Roger's reps were a little less. We'll get Roger some more reps next week [against Atlanta] and in practice this week. I would say the whole offensive line passed the test. There's nobody, really, in that group of guys you're talking about, that didn't look like they could play."
WR Devontez Walker had just one target on Friday. What do you need to see out of him for him to get more opportunities? (Taylor Lyons) "[Devontez Walker]'s been dealing with a rib thing, so he's been a little limited with that. It should be good this week if nothing else happens. I'd like to see him get out there and take a lot more reps and really see what he can do."
We saw you add a couple of veteran receivers – WR Russell Gage – and WR Anthony Miller we saw out there today. Are you just looking for more of a veteran presence in this wide receiver room? Is there something you're looking for with these guys you're bringing in? (Cordell Woodland) "I think sometimes, you're playing the opportunities. There's an opportunity to bring those guys in who've done some things [in the NFL]. Russell [Gage] has had a ton of catches in the league. Anthony [Miller] has been in the league [for] two or three years, and he's a talented guy. He hasn't broken through yet, but we're impressed with his talent. He had a workout, [and he] looked very good, he looks like he's in great shape. So, why not take a look at these guys and see what they can do and see if they can make a push."
Do you expect WR Rashod Bateman back soon? (*Jonas Shaffer) "*We do. We do expect 'Bate' [Rashod Bateman] back really soon. I don't want to speak for him, but I think he's right there."
We saw OLB Adisa Isaac practicing in 11-on-11 today. It looks like kind of a ramp up. Where is he at right now? (Kyle Phoenix) "It is a ramp up, so it was a limited type of a practice today. [He] looked good. [He] came inside one time, where he got pinned inside [and] was a little anxious to get in there and would've given up contained, so I'm going to talk to him about that. But seeing him out there, he chased Josh [Johnson] around the corner, you can see his speed – he looks big out there. I'm excited to have him back out there. Nobody is more excited than he is. It's hard. You come in, you're a rookie, and you're on the shelf for all of these months, that's tough. He's really excited to be back."
We saw T.J. Tampa Jr. Working off to the side. Is there any kind of update? (Jonas Shaffer) "[T.J. Tampa]'s getting close. It's probably not this week, but he's getting close."
We saw OLB Adisa Isaac out there getting second-team reps. It's a part of his ramp up I'm sure, but what are you seeing so far, in terms of progress from him? (Brian Wacker) "I would say right on schedule. This was the first day of limited practice, so I hope he ramps up quickly. That's going to be the hope. I would love to get him in the game this week if we could."
Do you have any updates on RB Rasheen Ali and S Sanoussi Kane? (Kyle Phoenix) "Both of those guys ended up being kind of stinger [injury] guys in the game. They'll go through a protocol with that – they usually involve those guys in the concussion protocol. I don't even know if they're in the concussion protocol to be honest with you; I'm not sure, but they'll be fine."
You said you were comfortable with G Andrew Vorhees and T Roger Rosengarten playing the first week. How close do you think you are to naming them as starters? (Giana Han) "I'm comfortable that they took the steps that they showed us that they have a shot to do it. They're not there yet, but we still have three weeks of work to do, so I think they're very much in the mix. How close are we to naming it? Probably another game, maybe two games, honestly."
Do you think OLB David Ojabo will be cleared to play in the preseason? (Jonas Shaffer) "I do think [David Ojabo] will be, but that's up to the doctors. They decide that; they just didn't clear him for this game. I'm anticipating he will be [available], but we'll see. He practiced full speed today, [and] he looked pretty good."
What have you thought of RB Owen Wright in the preseason opener and in training camp as a whole? (Tim Barbalace) "I think Owen [Wright] has been one of those guys – he's an explosive guy. I thought he ran the ball hard north and south. [He] hit it up in there, [he was] explosive, [he played] pretty solid in pass protection, [and he] ran the routes well. I thought he made a case for himself, so we'll see going forward. I really thought all the guys did. [Chris] Collier didn't get many reps, and [Rasheen] Ali ran in there hard. He was aggressive, and he's got that speed and explosiveness. The one he popped around the edges – [it] was kind of good to see that burst. I promise you, he's got good hands. He shows good hands out here in practice. He had that one drop, [but] I'm not going to panic about that. He has good hands."
You got your first look at the new kickoff. What are your assessments with it? (Kyle Phoenix) "I would say, it's hard to see all the little stuff, because everything is at the same time, and you have a bunch of guys running into each other [in] close quarters at the same time. There was a block in the back, there was a blatant takedown that went into somebody's knee, so I'm a little concerned about all of the chaotic injury potential for the play, but I thought it was a lot of fun. I thought our guys did a good job with it. I thought our coverage was good – we just had one that wasn't great, but the rest of them were great. I thought [during] our returns, we were blocking people well; we just have to keep building on it. I would say, probably if I could, that's probably going to be my last statement about what I think of it, because who cares? I want us to be good at it, and we were pretty good at it in this first game, so let's build on that."
