OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD MONKEN
What does WR DeAndre Hopkins bring to the offense in terms of getting into what you guys are looking for? (Brian Wacker) "Well, we'll see. It's Day Four, but as I said in another interview I did in the offseason, I'd rather have too much talent, try to figure out how to manage it [and] how to have everybody embrace their role than not have enough [talent]. So, we love having another weapon. I thought 'Nelly' [Nelson Agholor] the last couple of years did a great job for us as our third receiver. I don't really see 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins] as a third receiver. I see him more as [that] we have three starters at wide receiver, but we also have the two tight ends. So, it'll be interesting as we get going, especially once we get to [training] camp and we get the pads on how we can integrate him into the offense, but we're excited."
Do you get a sense on how WR DeAndre Hopkins might be able to open things up for WRs Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, because he's a different kind of receiver? (Pete Gilbert) "[DeAndre Hopkins] is a different guy. And again, I can't wait until we really get to go full speed and get the pads on and really see it. We're not there yet. He's not there yet, so can't wait to get there and really see what we've got."
What did you like about QB Cooper Rush in the offseason and kind of seeing him out there today taking a lot of the first-team reps? (Reporter) "Yes. Again, he [Cooper Rush] is a pro. That's why he's made it in the NFL as long as he has. It's why his record as a starter is what it is, because it's not like those guys get a lot of reps. So, when he's had his opportunities, he's done an outstanding job – not a good job – an outstanding job of winning football games. He knows where to go with the ball. He knows his skillset. It's one thing to have a skillset. It's another to understand that. He's not Lamar [Jackson], so he's got to know where to go with the ball, be on time, use his arm talent, [have] anticipation with throws and be able to get the ball out and get it to checkdowns."
With WR Zay Flowers' 1,000-yard season last year, what are you looking for out of him to see him take the next step? (Kyle Goon) "Well, we've just got to get [Zay Flowers] the ball more. That's really it. The problem is we have a lot of those guys. He's an unbelievable football player. He's not only an outside receiver that has elite route running skills, but he's unbelievable with the ball in his hands. So, you have a guy that fits two positions and really plays two spots. Now, I'm not sure we're going to use that when it's [time for] contract negotiations that we see him as two players, but I'm just saying that you can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. He's a volume catch guy. You can use him in novelty screens, getting him the ball down the field. So, I expect him to take another leap in terms of his consistency, but when you make it to the Pro Bowl or you're an All-Pro, you're pretty good."
I'm sure you look at everything during the season, but was there something you honed in on this offseason or a particular area where you'd like to see the offensive group as a whole get better? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Great question. When we started the offseason, we had to really drill down into being specific and intentional of what those areas were, because if you just took a broad scope or perspective, you'd say, 'Well, we were really good at that. We were really good at this. We were really good at that area. We were really good at this.' And yet, that wasn't always the case in certain parts of what we did. So, we just really tried to drill down as [it relates] to the things that we do. How do we do them better? How do we function at a higher level? Obviously, we started to get the penalties cleaned up. How do we function better at the line of scrimmage from our operation to communication and really hone in, after looking at last year, what our guys do really well? What does Lamar [Jackson] like? That's really it. Why waste time? I felt like we did that last year. I felt like [the] first couple games, all the offseason of what we did, we kind of wanted to see it, and it wasn't good enough. It really wasn't, so who are we? Really, so we can come out of the gates fast."
We kept talking about the advantage of having two tight ends, two quality ends, and you probably have more than that with TE Charlie Kolar. But just the fact of TEs Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, how do you think that worked out last year, and do you think things can change with what you do with them? (Jamison Hensley) "Well, it works out great because both of those guys, first of all, they're good friends, and they're selfless. That's not easy. I know we played a lot of 12-personnel, but when we go 11-personnel, one of them is in the game, and they're both very capable guys. So, Coach [George] Godsey does a great job every week of [figuring out], 'How do we rotate those guys? Where do we have the targets aligned, so those guys feel like they're getting their opportunities?' So, it starts with them. They're the ones that make that decision that ... They're selfless, and I think it gives us ... First of all, I'm fired up they're all here to run it back with those guys, and I see us being very similar to last year in a lot of ways, because I think that's our best grouping."
Last year coming into the season, there was so much going on with the offensive line, filling three different starting spots and the unfortunate passing of offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris. Obviously, that made it a challenge going into the season. How is that different now with less moving parts along the offensive line going into this year? (Cordell Woodland) "Well, you'll have to ask those guys. What a great job [assistant offensive line coach] Travelle [Wharton] did, [offensive line] coach George Warhop did and our players. You'll have to ask those guys, really, because they're the ones that did it. They're the ones that went out there, let alone the new starters and those guys embracing the role. But since I've been here, and even before I got here, it feels like the next O-lineman just steps up. That's why you draft players. That's why you develop [players]. That's why you hope that over the years you're good enough to let those guys develop, and then when it's their time, be it Daniel [Faalele], or it took Patrick [Mekari] a little bit longer to get that opportunity. But, even guys in the past with [John] Simpson and before I got here, [Ben] Powers, let those guys continue to develop and have some other guys there in the wings. What a great job that the coaches did and our players did of just moving on. That's not easy. A new voice, new players, but what a great job they did."
We saw six false starts today. Any idea of what's going on in terms being out of sync, and that was one of the things that, at the end of last year, offensive line coach George Warhop emphasized, really cleaning up the penalties. (Ken McKusick) "Yes. That's not very good, is it? No. Well, one thing I told the guys [is] that what we can't do is ... First of all, we have a lot of guys repping, so the more you rep guys, it's going to put an onus on a lot of different guys, right? And some guys that, to be honest, probably won't be playing for us, but that's an excuse. The reality is we can't give in to just going to one cadence. That's an easy solution. The easy solution is we'll go on one every time, right? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, set, hut. Is that the best way to do it? I'm just being real with you, so we've got to work it now. Now is the time for us to work multiple cadences, right, because that was one of our things in the offseason. How do we get better at multiple cadences without jumping and flinching as much? For sure, it's disappointing. I watch it. I'm as disappointed as anybody, but we're going to continue to do it. We're going to continue to chart it, and the guys that continue to get penalties, they'll struggle to get on the field."
There's a chance you guys go into this season with a rookie kicker. Do you have any sense yet as to whether that might alter team strategy, or if you might be looking to be more assertive from 35 or 45 yards out? (Kyle Goon) "Not when they make every one. Heck, I don't know which [kicker] it's going to be, but as long as they make every one, it won't adjust anything. That's what I'm counting on."
We didn't see QB Lamar Jackson on the field today, but when you're dealing with him and when he's been in the building, do you feel good about the offseason he's had to this point? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Yes, I feel good. I always feel good about Lamar [Jackson]. He always comes in ready. I've never felt like when we've started camp, or whenever he's been here, that he is not ready. He loves to play football. He loves his teammates. He loves the Ravens. I've never felt that way, one way or the other, about his preparation. He'll be ready to go, and we'll be ready to go against Buffalo come Sunday night."
*WR ZAY FLOWERS *
On his aspirations going into this season: "To me, it's just get better every year, do a little bit more than I did last year, and as a team, get further than we did last year. That's kind of my goal, to do better. Just get better in every aspect of the game and try to push for the ultimate goal, the Super Bowl."
On what it's been like having WR DeAndre Hopkins in the wide receiver room: "[DeAndre Hopkins] is a real vet. He knows everything. He teaches you what he knows, he gives out the game, and he works hard, too, so it's easy to just follow him. It's easy to get behind him and do what he does. So, he's a great vet, and he's great for our group."
On what he is learning from WR DeAndre Hopkins: "[DeAndre Hopkins] is patient in everything he does. He understands that in practice, you have to detail it, so in the game it's perfect. I've been learning that from him."
On the advice WR DeAndre Hopkins has given him: "Just to take care of your body. It's really been like that with all my vets, 'Nelly' [Nelson Agholor], Odell [Beckham Jr.], 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins]. They all tell me the same thing, 'Take care of your body,' and maybe I can play [for] 13 years like him."
On what feels different for him going into Year Three: "I'd say [I have] more experience. I'm more into the game. I'm more [into] learning football. I've learned football a lot more than I did my rookie year, and I've just gotten a lot more experience on the field and understanding."
On how his knee is feeling and what he did this offseason to get ready for 2025: "I did a lot, but my knee is great. I feel 100-percent. I feel like I'm ready to go. I feel like I'm ready for the season. No limits, so I'm good."
On how hard it was to end the season injured: "Super tough, because when you've played 17 games, just to get to the first playoff game and you can't play in it, it is always hard. So, I think that was my first time [or] second time missing a game, ever, and missing a playoff game is different, so it kind of felt a little different. At least we get to play [the Buffalo Bills] in our first game this year."
On if he was able to move on quickly after having to miss the playoff game against the Bills: "I flushed it, to be honest, because I couldn't really do [anything] about it. I was hurt, so I just had to watch and help cheer the guys on and try to get to the next round. And if it was possible, I would've played."
On the importance of starting off strong this season and how the wide receivers can improve: "I feel like my position group played solid last year, if I'm being honest. This year, I want us to do the same thing, just play hard and do what we know we can do, and every time the ball comes our way, make a play. So, that's my expectations for the receiver group: block and just help the team any way we can."
On how working with QB Lamar Jackson this offseason helped prepare him for the upcoming season: "It's just getting our timing down, and the things we wanted to work on during [the 2024] season that we've seen, we talk about on the field. If we're running routes, he'll tell you, 'Run it this way,' or, ' I like how you ran it this way.' So, it's just really just talking a lot and detailing the small things that he wants to get down."
On the team's conversations around making it to the Super Bowl: "I feel like we talk about a lot, about beating ourselves, but on the field we just play our game. We know where we're supposed to be and where we're supposed to end up at the end of the year, so it's really on us. We talk to ourselves. 'L' [Lamar Jackson] will come in and talk to us about meeting after. This year, he wants to do a lot more meetings, and he wants [us] to do a lot more team stuff. He wants to do a lot more personal stuff with us, just to get that team camaraderie on a good level."
On his personal on-field goals for this upcoming season: "Do better than I did last year. Top everything that I did last year or prove everybody who says I can't. Whatever I can't do, try to prove to everybody, just show them I can do it. I'm just showing myself I can do it, honestly."
On his ability to evolve as a receiver and get more down-field targets: "It just showed me I could unlock a whole other level in my game, and I haven't unlocked it yet. So, once we start hitting those downfield passes more, I think it'll be a lot more explosive plays between me and Rashod [Bateman], and now, we have 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins], so it should be three times as much."
On playing flag football in the 2028 Olympic Games: "I play real football. I'm just here to play tackle football. I'm not really worried about going to the Olympics. I'm trying to win a Super Bowl."
On WR DeAndre Hopkins speed in Year 13: "Absolutely, [DeAndre Hopkins] still plays fast. Everything he does [is] fast, and like I said, he's a true vet. He does what he knows, he knows how his body feels and he goes. But, he was moving though. He had a little 20 [miles per hour] on [the board]. He had a good day."
