QUARTERBACKS COACH TEE MARTIN
Obviously, with the preseason over, now you guys get to unleash whatever you want do. How does this week kind of ramp up from what you've been doing up to this point? (Cliff Brown) "This is the slowest week of training camp. You've played the last preseason game. You see the first game right in front of you. You kind of have to keep working, but slow down at the same time. So, we've been popping out of our skin to get ready for the actual week of preparation, but at the same time, [we're] really proud of what we accomplished during training camp. Obviously, a lot of the starters didn't play in the games, but competing against our starting defense each and every day, the looks we got [and] how we were challenged – just speaking about the quarterback position – we came a long way. I just finished talking to the guys about how proud I am of them, from where we started to where we finished. And at this point, it's all eyes on Buffalo, and we're getting ready to go."
What did you see progression-wise from QB Cooper Rush as he got more comfortable in this offense? (Jonas Shaffer) "Cooper [Rush], he did an amazing job. Just coming in – first of all, [by] not missing a day during the offseason, [during] OTAs, mini-camp and football school – he was here for every rep. He got tons of reps, and early on, we addressed some things that he wanted to get better at. His moving within the pocket to extend plays [and] accuracy in all areas of the field were some things that just showed up on tape that we attacked. He did a heck of a job with his body, embracing our strength and conditioning program here with [strength & conditioning coordinator] Scott [Elliott] and his staff, embracing the culture here, how we work and how we get after it. I think he appreciates that and ultimately, how he played in the pre-season. The film every day speaks for itself. I thought he was very consistent in everything, protections, running the offense, finding completions, moving the ball [and] ultimately scoring points. [I'm] really proud of that. I think he understands the offense, and he's ready to roll for the season."
QB Lamar Jackson has talked several times about wanting to be more vocal and talking to coaches. We've seen him pull wide receivers coach Greg Lewis and offensive line coach George Warhop aside. Is that something that you encourage, or do you think he realizes it naturally, as part of his comfort within the offense and his progression in his career? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I think it's more about Lamar [Jackson]. It's about maturity and the progression of his career, like you said. He's at a point where he's seen a lot. He's experienced a lot. We've had two back-to-back years of some really, really tough losses that ended the season in a way that we don't want to end the season. If you know Lamar, like I know him competitively, he's probably thought about that every day [and] every minute during the offseason. So, that comes with a sense of urgency and a sense of purpose. He started training camp that way, speaking with the team. [There was a] private meeting where he spoke from his heart, and he's been leading that way every day. There hasn't been a day where his communication hadn't gone to the next level, his performance, his level of work, his level of everything. We talk about the things that we don't see on the field. He has upped his game in a lot of areas, and I'm really proud of that maturation, honestly. I give him all the credit though. He's growing at his own pace, and it's beautiful to see."
WR Zay Flowers told us that every conversation with QB Lamar Jackson could be about anything, and the conversation always goes back to winning. Has that been your interaction with Lamar? (Ryan Mink) "Oh yes, it's all about that. [Lamar Jackson is] competing at everything. He's the realest in the game, in terms of being 100 percent who he is. He loves his teammates, [and] they love him, but like you said, that conversation can go anywhere. Ultimately, it's going to get back to winning. We all want to be that way, and we're glad our leader is that way."
Considering that QB Lamar Jackson is one-of-one, and he does things that probably no other quarterback can do, what is the difference for you when coaching QB Cooper Rush? (Giana Han) "Everyone is different, and you have to coach them to their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, at the end of the day, we're all trying to get better at everything, so there's a general conversation that we're all searching for, and we're all chasing as a quarterback unit. Then, to your point, there are certain individual drills that are put in for Lamar [Jackson] specifically, and everyone else has to catch up. Getting ready for the preseason game, then it turns towards Cooper [Rush] and Devin [Leary], getting them ready to go out and have a really good performance. That's a great question in the sense of Lamar is so different than the backup quarterback, but ultimately, you teach to the starter, and everyone else gets it by osmosis. Ultimately, you have a better group if you do it that way."
Aside from QB Lamar Jackson being more vocal, what has stood out to you as you've watched his progression over the past six weeks? (Brian Wacker) "The vocal communication and the details that [Lamar Jackson is] discussing [has evolved]. Things where [he's] talking about a play [like], 'Hey, you could do that. You can do this.' But now, it's the attention to detail and getting things exactly the way he wants it. Whether it's a route, [or] whether it's a protection, he checks to something [and thinks], 'Could I have checked to something different?' The conversation has more depth, and it's good to see that. It makes for great conversations in our meetings, and it makes for growth in our system, because sometimes he suggests things that, as coaches, we see it one way, but he's the quarterback out there playing, and so we listen to him. [Offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken] has done a great job of taking his suggestions and implementing them into our system, whether it's a play or just a way to tweak a play. Nine times out of 10, Lamar is right. So, it's a great relationship that's been developed during training camp this year."
You're as close to QB Lamar Jackson as anybody. You know how hard he takes losses and the dialogue that's going to follow. When he has a game like the Buffalo Bills game, do you just give him time? Do you check in with him in the offseason and see how he's taking it? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Yes, definitely. [Lamar Jackson and I have] frequent check-ins, and during the offseason, it's about the person. He's a father; he's a human; he's a son; he's a brother, and he's Lamar Jackson to the world, too. A lot of conversations in the offseason are about that, and then, once we get to training camp, we're locked in early in camp about just all getting better. We're in the installation phase, we're in the growth and development phase, and then once the games start – about two weeks ago – I just got this sense that he was ready to play the first game. He was just popping around. The way he came out for pre-practice, the way he was working in individual [drills], I was like, 'This is mid-season Lamar right here.' And we hadn't even played a game yet, so at that moment, for me, it's about keeping him sharp in the meetings, keeping him interested in the meetings when he knows he's not going to play in a preseason game, but ultimately keeping him sharp for the first game. So, I have to do some magic tricks sometimes in meetings to keep his attention, but he supports the guys. He's a football guy, so he's always watching every rep of the preseason games when he doesn't really have to, but he's in there helping other guys with what they can do better."
Obviously, we're moving past the 2024 season, but could you sense any disappointment from QB Lamar Jackson that his success and the team's success wasn't recognized with that MVP? Was there any more disappointment with you considering just how historic his season was? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes, the nonverbal communication of the way [Lamar Jackson] attacks practice and the way that he reported to training camp with that sense of urgency says all that needs to be said. [It says] what's understood doesn't need to be spoken, so I just look at it that way. We went to work. What happened in the past, we all learned from it, we all grew from it, and that affected everyone in a positive way to where our approach about this season is going to be different because of it."
SR. DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT/SECONDARY COACH CHUCK PAGANO
We all know how intelligent S Kyle Hamilton is. How much do you sense or get a feeling of how that translates to the football field? You know Kyle is smarter than all of us, but how does that help him be a football player on the field? How has it helped him? (*Jamison Hensley)* "I think guys like Kyle [Hamilton] and some guys that were here before Kyle, guys like Ed [Reed], per se, they pick up the defense so fast. They're out there, and they're not thinking about our calls. They're not thinking about our scheme. Now, early on, probably [in] Year One [or] Year Two, but right now, where he is at in the phase of his football life, what he's doing [is] he's diagnosing the situation. He knows the down and distance. He knows the personnel group that's in the huddle. He can see and recognize a formation. So, he's one step ahead. And so, like 'Eddie' [Ed Reed], you just don't fall into 63 or 64 interceptions and get a gold jacket, right? Everybody was like, 'How does he do it?' It's preparation. Behind the scenes, Kyle prepares as good as anybody. He watches a ton of film, so he's got almost every play kind of whittled down to one or two plays in every situation, so [it] gives him a chance to make plays."
The defensive backs have talked about how they've been getting together off the field to watch film and just hang out and bond and all that stuff. But I know former Ravens safety Ed Reed was a huge guy that way with getting guys together. How important can that be? (*Ryan Mink)* "I think it's about the brotherhood, as they say, as we say, and I think that's huge. I think the game is one thing, but those relationships – we always talk about this – the game is going to fade [away] at one point for all of us that are coaching and playing, but the relationships are for life. So, I think that bond [of] breaking bread, doing things outside the building, getting to know somebody – not just the football player – this is what they do. It's not necessarily like who they are as human beings. So, I love the fact that they get together and they spend time [with each other]. We're hoping, as coaches, that some of that time's being devoted to football, and they're watching tape together and breaking bread, which I know they're doing. So, it's just one of those things. The closer [you get], the more you invest, you're going to do everything within your power not to let your teammate down, let your brother down. So, as you continue to build those relationships. [Then] that bond just gets greater and greater."
The Ravens have to make some decisions, obviously, in the coming hour. You've been around a lot of good football players over the years. How pleased were you with just the talent level as a whole in the defensive field? (*Jeff Zrebiec)* "[In my] 37th year in coaching – 19th in the National Football League – this is as good a group as I've been around in those 19 years in the National Football League. [They have the] talent levels, but they don't miss on the football character of the guys that come in here [from] top to bottom. Yes, it is a tough day. There's going to be some tough conversations to be had. We're going to have to say goodbye to a lot of really good football players, but the guys that are here, the guys that won't be [waived], they've done enough and put enough good stuff out there on tape. We always tell them when they come in that the reality is we got 90 [players] here, [but] only 53 make it. So, you're trying to make this team and 31 others. So, they've always done a great job here. [Executive vice president and general manager] 'EDC' [Eric DeCosta] and the personnel guys bring in a great group of guys that love football. Their football character is off the charts, and we're going to have to say goodbye to a bunch of good players."
Were you fired up for CB Keyon Martin on Saturday after he was, obviously, one of those guys who's making a late push to be on the team? (*Childs Walker)* "[Keyon Martin]'s done it all preseason, every single game. It's like, who is this kid? He just shows up, and he makes plays. He's so instinctive. He's so smart and is football savvy. His football IQ is off the charts. You see him walk in the building, and there's no way you're thinking, 'OK, he's working in IT or something or breaking tape down for somebody. Surely, he can't be putting pads on and intercepting footballs for touchdowns in the National Football League.' But [he weighs in] at a 'buck 60' [160 pounds], I think he is a 'buck 66' [166 pounds], maybe. He'll say he is a 'buck 70' [170 pounds], but he can't be. He can't be. He's a tremendous player. He did a great job."
What benefit do you think the grades that you guys have up in the positional rooms had on the team, the competition, the position groups? (*Jonas Shaffer)* "I think from a motivation standpoint, guys want to be recognized. I think when you go in there, what you do out here on the practice field, what you put on tape and then you're getting recognized, especially in front of your peers, I think it's really good. Then the other thing is, if you're not doing good, you're making some mistakes, and some bad things are happening, that's going to get posted, too, so you don't want to be that guy for sure. Anytime you can walk into a room, and you can see your name at the top of a leaderboard in one of those impactful categories, I think that's great."
Where have you seen S Malaki Starks show the most growth at training camp? (Ryan Mink) "[Malaki Starks] has been awesome the whole time, but I think the game has really slowed down for him. He's done a great job and picked up our defense. So, like I talked about [with] Kyle [Hamilton] earlier, he's now starting to be able to take the next step. He [was at] level 100 [and] level 200, [but] now he's getting into 300-level courses and [is] able to play a lot faster, play situations better, play down and distances, personnel groups and all those kinds of things. So, the game's really slowing down for him. He's just a natural back there. [He is a] really, really smart guy."
You now have RB Derrick Henry on your side. For many years, he was on the opposite side. What would you tell your defenders on how to bring down Derrick Henry? (Jamison Hensley) "There's one thing that's pretty much the same size on every man, and that's the ankles. So, hit him low, slide down, get the ankles together and hang on for dear life. If you get those feet wrapped up and those ankles wrapped up, you've got a chance to get [Derrick Henry] on the ground. So, you'd better get to him before he gets rolling. So, yes, good luck. It's like [what] I tell my wife when she's headed to the beauty salon: Good luck." (laughter) "I didn't mean that. She's going to kill me. She's going to kill me for that."
To have someone on the other side of the ball like WR DeAndre Hopkins, what is the frustration level for a DB to know that you can do everything right, yet he's still someone that can make the QB right? (Jonas Shaffer) "[DeAndre Hopkins] frustrated us for a long, long time being in the AFC South [and] having to go against him all those years. He's just so crafty and such a great route runner and is so savvy, and he knows every trick in the book on how to get open and how to create separation. You can cover him like a blanket, and he can still come down with the ball. So, it's great for our guys because they know [that] if they can line up against him and practice and do a good job and hold him down and make a play here and there, and then, just to have a chance to sit down with him and say, 'OK, what are you seeing? What am I giving away from a technique standpoint and a leverage standpoint? What am I doing wrong in press against you? What can you tell me about this guy that you played with?' There's so much knowledge and so much wisdom there to be had, but certainly, he's great for our guys to go against and [in] leading up to playing our opponents."
S Reuben Lowery III is one of those young guys who's made a bunch of plays all summer. His IQ is very high. What has stood out to you the most about him as you've watched him over the course of the offseason? (Brian Wacker) "Consistency. Every single day, you knew exactly what you were going to get, and [Reuben Lowery III] is one of those guys that is first in the building [and] last to leave. From Day One, he was asking all the right questions. He takes care of himself; he takes care of his body. He's not going to be one of those guys that walks out on the field and is not prepared and doesn't know what he's going to do. So, he's just been a model of consistency since he's been there, and that preparation shows up."
