HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "OK, it's good to see you guys here. We appreciate everybody coming out. We have a great event here with Christmas gifts and things like that, that the players are doing with [adopt-a-family] groups that they're working with. It's really awesome to see. So, what questions do you have?"
Looks like you guys moved practice indoors? (Brian Wacker) "Yes, I guess there was a rainstorm coming. I don't know if it ended up hitting us or not, but there was going to be a big storm blowing in. So, we decided to beat it in here and not deal with the field getting really sloppy. We were outside for about 70% of the practice, and we brought in at the end for red zone [drills]."
Every team has their own personality, own personnel, but when you watch the Patriots, can you see kind of some of head coach Mike Vrabel's influence on them and sort of some of the similar teams you prepared for when Mike Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Yes, I do, from a scheme standpoint, for sure. We're really familiar with it; [Then Titans defensive coordinator] Dean [Pees] was there. Mike [Vrabel]'s [style] kind of fits Dean's – it's a very similar scheme to what Dean was doing there when he was there. Of course, Mike's a defensive coach, so he has a philosophy that he sticks to and does a great job. I think they're very well coached. Then, offensively, you have [New England Patriots offensive coordinator] Josh [McDaniels], so that's New England. That's what they've been doing all those years. It's a similar system. Josh's fingerprints are all over that, and of course, Mike was there [in New England previously] with Josh together. So, you can kind of see the imprint on what they're doing."
The Patriots already ruled out LB Robert Spillane. How big of a loss is that? (Jonas Shaffer) "[Robert Spillane] is a really good player; [he's] a Western Michigan guy, a Bronco. I met my wife at Western; you may know that. I've said that a few times. They won the MAC [Football] Championship this year. Did you know that? The Broncos won the MAC Championship. So, I am kind of proud of that. We've played him a lot. He's a really good player, a really underrated player probably. He's one of those guys that people want to make assumptions about, then all he does is go out there and make every single tackle – that's kind of who he is. So, it's a factor, but they have a lot of good players on defense. They play really well together. They have a really good linebacking corps. [They are] just a bunch of athletic guys, physical guys. So, I don't think it's going to change their style too much at all."
Was DL John Jenkins just kind of a precautionary of being around players or is that an illness that could impact him? (Jeff Zrebiec) "That's illness-related. I think [John Jenkins] should be OK by gameday, but there is a little 'flu bug' going around, and he got it. It found him."
I think RB Justice Hill has one game left on IR. Is he close to being able to come back after that? (Brian Wacker) "[Justice Hill] is. He is. He should be right there. I'm hopeful that he'll be able to play, but hats off to the guys [running backs] and to Rasheen [Ali]. He's played really well, too, but Justice coming back is a real possibility [for] next week or at the latest – I would think – the week after that."
Is the neck thing that popped up for WR Zay Flowers on the injury report, just a minor, precautionary thing? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes. Yes, [Zay Flowers] was full participation today. That was a deal where they wanted to just check it out, make sure he's feeling OK. [It was out of an] abundance of caution type of deal."
How did CB Chidobe Awuzie look today? (Jonas Shaffer) "'Chido' [Chidobe Awuzie] looked OK. I think Chido's going to be 'iffy.' We'll have to see how it goes up until the game. He was partial participation today, so I don't know. We'll have to see."
Are you excited for these last three games? It's in your hands. It's right there. (Jim Forner) "Yes, we're just very determined. Very determined, I would say is the word. We've been fighting all season, [with our] backs to the wall, and here we are again. So, we have a lot at stake. Our guys practiced really well again this week. I feel like everybody is all in for whatever it takes. Let's go play our best football and try to play our best game of the year against a really good team in our stadium. We're excited about that, but we have to go do it, so I think we're determined."
