HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "[It's] good to see everybody. [I] appreciate you being here. [It was a] good practice. [We] got the guys back from the break. They got away for a few days and saw family. Some traveled, some didn't, and now we're back at it. So, this is kind of our get-back-in-the-swing-of-things practice, all pointing toward the [Buffalo] Bills. Of course, Wednesday will be the first official practice of the week. What questions do you have?"
The first game this year is in Buffalo where the season ended last year. Do you plan to talk about the game at all to the players? A lot of players that were in that game are still back here. (*Jamison Hensley)* "Sure. We're preparing for the [Buffalo] Bills. That's the team we played. That's the last game they played, second to last game they played. [It's] the last game we played and the last game they played that we cared about, honestly. We're watching that game. You watch all the games. You watch the preseason games. It's just a thorough evaluation of everything."
Does last year's Buffalo Bills game serve as motivation because of the turnovers? (*Jerry Coleman)* "Yes, sure. Everything motivates you. It's probably true for any kind of circumstance. You always get motivated by disappointment, for sure, and that's something that certainly motivates us."
When would you need CB Jaire Alexander back for him to factor into Week 1? (*Giana Han)* "I need [Jaire Alexander] practicing this week. That would be the key, so we'll see where he's at on Wednesday. He did some things today, so that's kind of how it works. In terms of just injury updates, [you are] probably not going to get much out of me at this point, unless it's an obvious one [or] unless we know if a guy's going to play or if he's not going to play. So, you might get a little more on Friday, just because you'll know who hasn't practiced. If they haven't practiced, they're unlikely to play, unless they've been playing all the way up to that point, then maybe they'll play. So, I probably won't tell you for sure unless I feel like it's obvious that everybody knows already. So, that's where we're at with that."
Did you mention CB Jaire Alexander was doing something out at practice? (*Jamison Hensley)* "No, no. [Jaire Alexander] was working today on physical stuff. He's moving."
Do you know with TE Isaiah Likely that he's not going to b*e there this week? *(Childs Walker)** "As I said, that's probably one I'm not going to share at this point right now. We'll see as the week goes on."
When you look at the Buffalo Bills game from last year, do you flush it, or is there anything you take from that into this week? (*Brian Wacker)* "No, you certainly don't flush it, because there's a lot to learn. We have to understand how the game went, how they played us and what the schemes were. There were a lot of chess moves going on in that game that will be built on this game on both sides of the ball. The yes, of course [we look at] the way the game is played, what we could have done better, certainly, [and] what we did well. [It's] the same for them, I'm sure, too."
Are you guys sticking with the 'captains-by-game' thing? I remember last year you had captain patches throughout the playoffs, but you're still going to do by game and not by season? (*Jeff Zrebiec)* "Right."
DL NNAMDI MADUBUIKE
On if the divisional round loss in the playoffs against the Buffalo Bills serves as additional motivation going into Week: "It's going to be a great motivation. It was the last game that we played as a unit, so to go back there and to play the same team that we lost to [in the playoffs], [in a game] that we believe we should have won – we made self-inflicting mistakes – so everybody is fired up. Everybody is pumped up, everybody is ready to go, but it's just one day at a time at this point."
On if there is a revenge factor going into this game: "Yes, it is. Definitely, you want to get that bad taste out of your mouth from the last game that we played [in Buffalo]. So, it gets everybody fired up and ready to go. [It] gives us a motivational factor, just to put our best foot forward in practice."
On how preparation changes as you enter the regular season: "[It's] just locking in on the little things. Now [that] camp is over with, it's just about locking on the little things [and] being on point in everything, because now it really, really counts. Everybody is just locking in, doing the little things right. [We are] getting into that in-season routine. We have a camp routine, and then we have an in-season routine. You're clocking in [at a] different [time, and] you're going home at different times, so you have to adjust to the in-season routine. That's what we're doing right now."
On if the team has discussed the importance of this game against the Buffalo Bills with new players on the roster: "Yes, [we are] just [sharing] the mentality that we're going in there with, just locking in and just doing all that we can do as a team and just playing Ravens football on offense, defense [and] special teams. [We want to] just get the taste out of our mouth. Definitely having that game last year and losing and going back to [Buffalo for] the first game of the season this year, it definitely gives us a little bit more excitement [and] a little bit of motivation to go out there and do what we can do."
On if he has watched the team's divisional round loss against the Buffalo Bills: "Yes, I have."
On what watching the divisional round loss against the Buffalo Bills was like for him: "It's not a good feeling. We lost. [There were] things that we did [well and] things that we did [not do well], but the bad overrides the good. That's why we lost. So, it's definitely something that we're looking to [correct], and we really want to tighten the bolts on that."
On if he likes that they will start the season in Buffalo: "It doesn't matter where we play, honestly. But the fact that it's in Buffalo, and that was the last team that we played and that's the last place that we played, it gives us extra motivation to get that taste out of our mouth. The last time that we were [in Buffalo], we lost. So, we want to change that by executing in practice and just taking [things] one day at a time."
On how important it is for the defense to start the season fast: "It's huge [to set] the tone. Starting fast sets the tone for not only the defense, but for the whole team, as well. Starting fast and finishing strong, that's what we're all about. It starts in practice, though. It starts with everybody being locked in on the game plan, trusting 'Z.O.' [defensive coordinator Zach Orr], being in your spot and doing your 1-of-11."
On the focuses from the 2024 playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills going into Week 1: "Stopping the run. They have some good backs. Their backs are really shifty, [so] making them one dimensional, making the QB very uncomfortable. When [Josh Allen] is very, very uncomfortable, he starts to do things that are unorthodox of him. So, we want to put him in spots that are very tight and that are very uncomfortable so we can capitalize on those opportunities."
On if CB Marlon Humphrey's sentiment about the Ravens defense not being 'feared enough' is shared amongst other defensive leaders: "I saw something online about that. It wasn't something that we talked about in the defensive group. That's how Marlon [Humphrey] feels. That's how he said it. I feel like we have the right guys on this team – on the defense [and] offense – for everybody to take it all the way to the top, and it just starts in practice. It starts [with] just winning games every week. So, that's how he feels. I believe in the guys in this team, in this locker room, and I'm all about my guys and what they can do."
On how much of an emphasis there is on creating turnovers for the Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills: "It's huge. When you take the ball away from the offense [and] when you win the turnover for battles, you're more likely to win the game. So, I feel like the last time we went out there, they won the turnover battle. I think we had zero [takeaways], and they had three, and it was still a tight game. Just imagine if we had the same amount of takeaways as they did. I think that making an emphasis on making turnovers in practice and then translating [that] into the game is going to make us win games, for sure."
On his thoughts of the Buffalo Bills offensive line and if this game is a measuring stick for the Ravens defensive line's performance ability: "They have a good O-line. I think they have all the guys that they had last year. It's going to be a good test for us. We are watching the film that we did last year and [learning] just things that worked, things that didn't work, ways that we can scheme them up, and that's what we're doing now in practice. We're all excited about it. We're all fired up to get ready to go. It's like revving a car up. You're getting the engine going, but it is not take off time yet. So, you just have to be patient and just stay revving, stay practicing, stay sharp, and you're ready to play."
T RONNIE STANLEY
On watching the film from the last game against Buffalo: "We definitely weren't happy with the result, but you saw a lot of good things on there and a lot of positive things, as well."
On if the team talked about the last Buffalo game in preparation for this one: "Yes, definitely. That was the last place we played last season, and to be able to start off the season like that, it has definitely been talked about. We're very excited for that opportunity."
On how things change from a preparation and mindset standpoint for Week 1: "I think it's just [being] a little more focused on the opponent. Every day stays the same, in terms of practice and intensity and what you're trying to get out of each day, but I think we're narrowing down on the details of what our opponent's going to try to do against us."
On sharing with the younger players the importance of getting off to a fast start: "It's very important. Every game is so important in this league. You don't have that many opportunities, and it's very important to start off fast and not try to play from behind later on this season, and that's what we intend to do."
On the work the offensive line group was doing at the end of practice: "That's just us doing extra drills, extra individual work [and] working on our technique. There's a lot to always harness when you're playing offensive line and trying to get better at it. So, [we] just have the guys out there doing extra drills."
On if they decided as a group to do extra work after practice: "I just kind of like doing drills, and I would pull some of the young guys over to give me a look or give me something I needed [to see], and other guys just started joining, and it just became a thing. Now, everyone's kind of getting in drills now after practice."
On working with G/C Corey Bullock after practice: "Corey [Bullock] is a great player. I think Corey's a tremendous player. He is going to be a great [addition] for us on the roster this year, and he's gotten so much better over this offseason. He's stronger, smarter and more athletic, and he just wants to learn the game and be more technically sound. He's asked me a lot of questions, and I'm always here to help him."
On watching G/C Corey Bullock's journey from undrafted to the active roster: "It's been an amazing journey for [Corey Bullock] and especially [because of] the type of person that he is. He's a great guy, he's a humble person, and he works really hard. For someone to be able to continue his NFL career with that type of background, I'm just very happy for him."
On how important this Week 1 Buffalo game is for TE Mark Andrews: "Every game is going to be important to [Mark Andrews]. I know the type of competitor Mark is, and he's not going to let one moment [or] one bad thing [that] happen to set him back. He's a true warrior. He's going to push forward through those moments, and I know he's excited to prove himself and everyone else that he's still that guy."
On if they feel a quiet intensity to do what they didn't do the first time around against Buffalo: "Yes, for sure. That team sent us home out of the playoffs, so I don't think it's just [like] going into a normal game, per se. We're very unhappy with the result last time we were there, and a lot of us will give anything to leave there with a 'W.'"
On whose idea it was to start running post practice as a group: "That was actually our coach, 'Hop's' [offensive line coach George Warhop] idea. He just wanted us to get some extra conditioning."
On how much he thinks this offensive line has progressed heading into this season: "I think we've progressed a lot. I think especially [at] this time last year, we were dealing with a lot of issues [and] a lot of details. Right now, we're not seeing those same issues. I think [we're] understanding the playbook and executing. We're really far ahead from where we were last year, and now everything's more technical-based, and [we're] just working on that."
