SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR CHRIS HORTON
Opening Statement: "I hope you guys are doing well. Just a quick little recap about the game. First off, [I am] just very pleased with how our guys are playing right now. There are still some things that we come back into the film room [that] we watch, and we talk about. We're just going to make sure that we continue to chase our details and our execution. I do feel like we're getting the most out of our guys right now. The young guys are coming out, they're accepting the gameplan, they're taking the gameplan to the field and we're executing. But I think we could be a lot better on some of these things. We're just going to continue to work and [I am] looking forward to seeing our guys go and play against Kansas City. Questions?"
It seems like P Jordan Stout has taken a leap this season, would you agree? (Childs Walker) "I think Jordan [Stout] is doing a heck of a job. It just starts with him, his process, his approach to the game and doing what we're trying to get out of him with [senior special teams coach] Randy [Brown]'s coaching. We just have to continue that, right? Every punt is different. Every situation is going to be different. He's striking the ball well right now, and our cover guys are covering well for him. So, we just want to make sure we continue on that path."
What has been happening with the kickoff penalties? Is it something new that you guys are trying to figure out creatively? (Bo Smolka) "There is a price to be paid for everything, and that's one of them. And I think with Tyler [Loop], I think ... Look, the kid is doing a heck of a job. He is placing the ball where we want it on those deep kicks, but there is an advantage to trying to get that ball on the ground. And at some times, we want to be aggressive. We want to be a little bit aggressive, if we can. I think as we continue to move forward, those kicks will land in the landing zone. But we have to get out there, and we have to do it. And once we eliminate that ... I think our cover guys are doing a heck of a job, I think Tyler's doing a heck of a job, and we just have to continue to work those things when we think the time is right."
For RB Keaton Mitchell, what areas does he need to get better in to become a factor on special teams? (Jeff Zrebiec) "I think I mentioned this last week. Keaton [Mitchell] is doing a heck of a job, but to play gunner, you look at the guys we have out there – his position is a gunner, it's a gunner position, and we have guys in that position right now that are playing pretty well. So, that'll be a position that he'd be competing in. [Also], the kick returner position, I think he's a heck of a kick returner, but the guy that's in front of him [Rasheen Ali], the other [running] back that's up, plays slot on punt [team], and he's doing a heck of a job. He's covering kicks as an inside player, so it's not so much that he's not getting better at the things that he needs to get better at, it's just like, 'Where do we plug and play in that?' That's kind of how I see it. I think right now, we're going to keep bringing him along. He's going to keep coming out here. He's going to keep working. He's going to keep doing the things that we ask him to do, and then when his time comes, he's going to go out there, and he's going to play well."
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD MONKEN
It seemed like on that first drive that you had, the run game was going very well. What do you think changed after that first drive? (Jamison Hensley) "A number of things. After the first drive, we went three-and-out. Then, we had a good drive going, moved it down there. [We] didn't end up scoring, but then we were in two-minute [drill], so at halftime we really didn't have a number of plays. We never really got a rhythm running; it's probably the best way to put it, because longer runs will come as the game goes on. We never really got in a rhythm of running it. [It had] something to do with them, something to do with the flow of the game [and] something to do with just calling it and execution."
Head coach John Harbaugh said yesterday that obviously teams have schemed for years to take the run away from you guys, putting a lot of guys, maybe eight guys, up. You've beaten it before. What in your mind is the key to beating it now? (*Childs Walker)* "It's all of the above. There's not any one thing. It's a long season, and you're going to have games [where] you don't run it nearly as well. It's going to be harder when you're not able to stack plays together and stay ahead of the chains. When you get back on track, when you're in third downs, a number of our plays the other night came in the two-minute [mark]. Let's be honest about it. So, we can certainly do a better job scheming it, executing it, and I still expect it to be a strong suit for us."
Obviously, you have been without a Pro Bowl fullback in FB Patrick Ricard thus far this season. How much has that forced you to change how you do things, especially in the run game? (*Ryan Mink)* "Some of it has, but Zaire [Mitchell-Paden] has done a great job, and that's just an excuse. There are still the execution piece and the scheme piece that we have to be better at it. That's the way it is. These guys are pro players; whoever we put out there, we have to be able to run it and throw it."
On the missed opportunity down there with first-and-goal at the 3-yard line, I think it was four plays inside the 5-yard line. What in your mind broke down there? (*Bo Smolka)* "The first play, we had a chance to get it in. The second play, we had a chance to get it in. Third down was probably a poor call to go lateral. We lost yards on that play. People ask why the red zone numbers are a little bit down, and it is a small sample size. We're 4-for-4 when we don't go backwards and have a penalty, and we're 2-for-7 when we do, and that's going to happen when you go backwards. To be really good in the red zone scoring touchdowns, you have to be able to run it, which we are able to do, and then having an athletic quarterback allows you to utilize him in the run game. Also, he can make plays when things aren't there and there's tighter windows; Lamar [Jackson]'s proven to do that. So, it just was unfortunate is the best way to put it. We had the same kind of scenario against the [Cleveland] Browns where we threw it on first down, got a penalty, backed up, then unfortunately Mark [Andrews] didn't secure the catch, and those are blown opportunities that we can't let get away."
When you look at the reasons why QB Lamar Jackson was under pressure as much as he was, why he ended up taking seven sacks, I know it's not one thing, but what are the few things that you saw when you looked at that? (*Childs Walker)* "Like you said, it's not one thing. [It's] guys getting to spots quicker, situational calls [and] all the above. There's a number of things, and I think the one thing great about our group is they take ownership. It doesn't matter who it is. It doesn't matter what player [or] what coach, [they] take ownership when it doesn't look like you want it to look like, and that's everything you work for all week. So, when it comes to Sunday or Monday, it looks like you want it to look like, and when it doesn't, then you have to go back to drawing board and make sure that you're cleaned up every day, in your meetings and your practice habits."
I think QB Lamar Jackson had over 100 rushing yards against Kansas City last year. It was pretty productive on the ground against them with the design rushes and scrambles. Is that something that you expect them to try to take away this time, or is it just that's kind of how they have designed their defense to be and give some softness there? (*Jonas Shaffer)* "[With] some of it, [Lamar Jackson] naturally gets in called runs that he's involved in, and some of it comes when you're throwing the football. That's a weapon that he has in his arsenal, so when it breaks down, he can take off, and that gets on your rushing yards. [Kansas City has] done the same things that Detroit did, which is at times they've spied Lamar. People have asked me about the spy, and it's like, it's really good ... The longer the play develops and the more the quarterback ends up stepping up, that scheme prevents you from the quarterback being able to run. But the advantage of that for us is if they're not rushing, it's one less rusher, and if they're not in coverage, it's one less cover guy. So, there's give and take to every coverage and every scheme, and they made a couple plays on it, but the Chiefs have done that as well."
With RB Derrick Henry, he's been talking about working on overcoming the fumbling issue. Is there anything that you've been emphasizing with him in practice or just in general to help him get through that? (*Carita Parks)* "[Derrick Henry] works on it on his own. There's nothing I have to [say]. He knows that. He's a very conscientious pro. No one takes anything that we do more seriously on the offense than Derrick Henry. That's why he has had the career he's had. That's just something that he's been working on, and something we'll continue to work on with all of our players."
There's been a big debate this week. Is the offensive line not holding up long enough? Is QB Lamar Jackson holding onto the ball too long? Is there not enough quicker routes and quick stuff? Where do you see that whole debate? (*Jeff Zrebiec)* "Sure, all of that's true. It's not usually just one thing. It isn't. It's rarely like, 'OK, that's it.' If it was, it'd be a lot easier to fix. So, all of that is true. We could get the ball out of [Lamar Jackson]'s hands quicker, for sure. Could we hold up longer? Could we protect it better? Could we scheme up the protections better? All of that over the course of a game or a certain amount of throws, all those are going to pop up. You just try to avoid them the best you can, and we've done a good job of that. It showed up the other night."
Would you say you're concerned with the offensive line's pass protection? (*Sam Jane)* "No, it's like anything that shows up, like I'm not concerned about Derrick [Henry] fumbling, because he's a pro. He's going to fix it. I'm not concerned about our protection, because I think we have really good offensive linemen. I think we scheme it up really well. Sometimes, when you get behind the sticks, you're going to get more and more exotic pressures. When you're ahead in games, your protection is going to hold up a hell of a lot better than when you're behind. You're going to see a lot more exotic pressures, because they know you have to throw it, and that's going to put a lot more stress on your protection schemes and your offensive line. So, those are the things that you control by trying to get ahead and stay ahead, and that puts you at an advantage and ahead of the sticks, for sure."
I asked QB Lamar Jackson this yesterday, but I'm interested in your perspective as a play caller. Do you care if you get a touchdown with a quick drive, or are there points in the game where you'd like to have an eight-minute scoring drive as opposed to a three-minute scoring drive? He said he didn't really care, but I'm interested in your take? (*Childs Walker)* "I'll just say this. It is very difficult in the NFL to drive the football and have those extended plays. Somewhere along the lines, you bog down. So, would you love to have an 18- or 19-play drive, take 11 minutes off the clock and score a touchdown? That's the old saying 'score more longer.' For sure, there's no question you'd rather do that. That's what my cousin [Jeff Monken] tries to do at Army. 'Score more longer' and not give him the ball – 100 percent – but somewhere along those lines, you have to get an explosive play. You have to fight to get explosive to push the ball down the field. So, in the big scheme of things, no, because the best offenses don't turn it over, they score touchdowns in the red zone, and they're explosive as hell. So, if you're going to be explosive, you're going to have shorter drives. That's just the way it is, because even in the league last year, I think we finished second in third-down conversions at 50 percent. Well, the more often you get to third downs, just add the percentages. [If you] get to three third downs in a drive, and probably at some point, even if they get you off the field on one of them, you were 67 percent, and you didn't get in the end zone. So, somewhere along those lines, you're trying to get an explosive [play]."
The Kansas City Chiefs match a lot of heavier personnel on defense with even dime positions sometimes. What kind of opportunities does that present to an offense like yours when you line up with two backs and two tight ends in a lot of those cases? (*Jonas Shaffer)* "Well, [the Kansas City Chiefs] match [up with] you, but when we [put] in those bigger people, they're going to [put] in bigger people. They do a good job of matching their personnel with our personnel. We're hopeful to get Isaiah Likely back. That adds another tool for us, in terms of personnel matchups, so they do a really good job. Detroit last week played a lot of base [coverage] early on [and] on early run downs, whether we were in 11 personnel or not. So, some of that is to take away the run, and they have their thoughts of how to defend us. We just have to do a better job of consistently stacking plays. That's really what it is. We have everything we need to be a really elite offense. We just have to stack things together on a consistent basis."
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZACH ORR
How are you doing? (Bo Smolka) "I'm doing good, man. [It's a] new week [and] a new opportunity. It's a week-to-week league. Things go by fast. Obviously, last week was disappointing for us as a team, especially as a defense, but it's Thursday of game week. We have the Chiefs on Sunday, and you can't let the last loss linger into the next week. So, I feel like we've been having a good week of practice. [It was a] good day. The guys have been responding well, so I'm doing good."
What do you think was the biggest issue with the Lions being able to run for 225 yards? (Bo Smolka) "It was just a combination of us not doing our job, so we have to play better, and we have to coach better. It wasn't one particular person [or] one particular group; it was guys who [had a] mis-step or slow step in certain areas on certain plays, and when you go against a good team, and especially good running backs like that [and a] good offensive line, they're going to make you pay, and they did that."
Was it more of the scheme or a combination of problems? (Mike Preston) "I'll say it was a combination of both. I'm going to always look at it like, 'How can we help put the players in better positions?' Like I said, we have to play better, and we have to coach better. So, I have to do a better job of making sure that we understand what we're trying to get done and where we need to be at, and the players have to go out there and execute. So, I think it's a combination of both."
There's been a lot of talk returning the Ravens defense to the standard of the past. It hasn't looked that way thus far. How can you guys go about internal improvements to return to that level that you want? (Sam Jane) "Just own the mistakes and look at it and just try to find every detail of how we can get better. What's happened has happened. There's nothing we can change about it. Do we like it? No. Are we frustrated about it? Yes, but it's about what we do going forward. We can't change the past, and adversity's going to hit. Unfortunately, it's hit us again in this aspect, but what are we going to do about it? You can either sulk and let it get you down and lay in it, or you [can] get up, pick yourself up and figure it out. The group of people we have in this organization and the group people we have in that defensive room – we're going to figure it out."
Fans got a little bit confused when looking back at the game, they see some plays where OLB David Ojabo was an off-ball linebacker, OLB Mike Green was an off-ball linebacker, and CB Marlon Humphrey was kind in that box area. Were those guys properly aligned? What is the reasoning for those atypical spots? (Jonas Shaffer) "Yes, they were properly aligned, and that's really just more of the play call and the personnel that we had been in, and it just depends on what formation they give us. So, those guys, they were properly aligned in those places."
Head coach John Harbaugh brought up at times, you guys are really trying to do too much. You even mentioned that last season, the team was trying to do too much. What is your view on that, and how do you move past that? (Brian Wacker) "I think that's a fair assessment, because when you look at it, when you're not getting the results that you want, you have to take a step back and really look at [it]. 'OK, what can we do well?' Let's continue to do that and build on that, and what do we need to improve? If it's something that we feel like we can get done – [and] our guys can go out there and execute and go play fast – then we'll continue to build on it. But if not, then why waste the time with it? So, that's definitely something that we're looking at."
The pass rush has been a struggle. In third-down range, I think you guys are almost at 45%. When looking at those situations, is it getting more creative with blitzes? Is it just going back to what you did before? (*Sam Jane)* "Yes, you always want to be creative with blitzes and disguises. A lot of the situations that we ended up in, we gave up a couple third-and-longs this past game, but if you look at the second half, they weren't in third-and-long a lot, and it's tough to defend any offense [or] any team when you're living in third-and-short [or] third-and-medium. We didn't do a good enough job on 'get back on track,' which is second-and-7-plus. Too many times in the second half, it was second-and-10. They either got the first down, or it was third-and-1 or third-and-2 You just live in that type of world, especially against a good offense [or] a good team. They're going to make you pay, and that's what happened."
You dealt with a neck injury as a young player. Obviously, DL Nnamdi Madubuike is dealing with a neck injury as a young player. I know there's a lot that we don't know, but have you been able to be a particular resource for him as he works his way through this? (Childs Walker) "[Nnamdi Madubuike] is in good spirits. I don't necessarily know what's going on. All I can do is just pray for him. When I talked to him, he was in good spirits, so my thoughts and prayers are with him. I know how bad he wants to be out here and play football. It's a lifelong dream. He was playing well. I thought he was having one of his best seasons up to date, so I was crushed when he was going through whatever he was going through last week. Seeing him in good spirits and him with a smile on his face playing around was great, so hopefully we see him back soon."
I know last year I think it was, you said it was tough for you in the hours after that Cincinnati game here. Did it feel like that this week, and how do you personally block out the noise of everyone criticizing your defense? (Bo Smolka) "First and foremost, every loss and every time we go out there, and we feel like we don't play up to our standards is heartbreaking to me. I've always, since I was younger, my mom always told me, 'You never take losses well,' and I still don't. But I understand now as I get older [that] you [have] to move forward. So no, the loss definitely stung Monday night into Tuesday morning, but like I said, it is a week-to-week league. I've been around. I understand that you have to move forward, and you have to put that behind you. And as far as blocking out distractions, a lot of stuff that you guys are telling me, I had no idea about because I'm not on social media. I'm just blocked off from all the noise out there. And that's good. I think that when you can do that, and you don't listen to it, you can really focus in on what's important and what you have to get done, because if you listen to that, and you pay attention to that, it can definitely affect you with your job and just in your regular life. So, I just block out the noise, man. I am focusing on football. That's what we talk about here and just focusing on getting better."
Obviously, you guys never make excuses, but how challenging is it with the interior defensive line so banged up, with DT Nnamdi Madubuike not out there and other guys are hurt. (Jeff Zrebiec) "It's always challenging when you lose one of the best. 'Beeks' [Nnamdi Madubuike] is one of the best defensive tackles in the National Football League, so I definitely don't want to minimize that at all. It's definitely going to be – you're not going to be able to replace him, but I feel confident in the group that we have. We have some young guys, we have some guys who have played a lot of football and good football. So, the expectation is to go out there and go play well. I had full confidence that our guys were going to go out there and do it [against the Lions]. We fell short, but we have another week to work, and I feel fully confident in the guys that we have out there. We might have to do some things differently, but what we ask them to do, they should be able to go out there and dominate. So, I feel good about it."
Did you do anything different this week, whether it was meet with players extra – I know it's a short week so you're limited in what you do, but did you change your routine at all, whether it's individual meetings or another group meeting after what you saw Monday? (Jeff Zrebiec) "No, you don't necessarily change it. I don't think that it needed a drastic change. Like I said, it was a short week, so basically ... I thought the schedule was built well this week. We came in on Wednesday with the players and basically had two days in one and I think we got a lot of work done. We had to review the Detroit film. We had to get that stuff right that we needed to get right. Had a great meeting, a great discussion to make sure we on the same page, and then boom, [for the] second half the day, we were right on the Kansas City and moving forward."
I think OLB Odafe Oweh played just six snaps in the second half on Monday night. Is that just a reflection on where he needs to be as a run defender or are there other areas of improvement for him? (Jonas Shaffer) "No, I think you've seen [Odafe Oweh] make plays. We had different personnel groupings and different positions in there trying to stop the run. But I have full confidence in Odafe and his ability. So, I think his snaps will continue to grow."
I asked CB Marlon Humphrey the other day, what does the defense need to do to find some consistency? You mentioned turnovers. Do you see that as what needs to happen, or what is your perspective? (Carita Parks) "That's the No. 1 thing. That's the No. 1 thing. That's the thing we've been preaching, we've been drilling, and we've been working at. Our guys have been intentional about it. Obviously, we didn't get any on Monday night, but when you – it's tough. If you don't get any takeaways, that means you just have to consistently get off the field, and that's just tough to do in this league. You have to take the ball away, get off the field, create short drives, create negatives for the offense to really be a top defense. So, I agree with Marlon [Humphrey] in that aspect of, [when] you get takeaways, [then] a lot of those plays that you give up, they go away. So, that's definitely something we have to do."
S KYLE HAMILTON
On the message to the team as they get ready for this week's game at Kansas City: "Just get back to what we know. We know we have to prove ourselves every week in this league, and [we] didn't do a good job last week, but we have another week this week and a big game, and it's a big opportunity for us. The sky's not falling, so we'll be alright, and I think we just need to attack this game."
On if they do anything differently this week: "No, I don't think we need to change anything. I just think we need to do stuff better. Our philosophy doesn't change. It's just a matter of guys getting the job done, and I think we'll do a better job of that this week."
On why he's felt they haven't reached the level of play that they want to achieve: "I'm not really sure. I'm not a coach, so I don't really want to give my two cents on it. Not that I have any, because I don't. I feel like we're doing all the right things. It's just that, when game time comes, we need to put it on tape. I feel like we've given ourselves the hardest paths these past couple years, but we ended up in a good spot last year, so I feel like if we get it corrected even sooner this year, we'll be in a better spot."
On the most important things that the team needs to improve: "I think it's just tackling and physicality. I don't think the last game is who we are, and I think it hurts a little more when you come out like that, and it's uncharacteristic, and it's not a communication thing. It's not like you messed up in the back end or got the front set the wrong way. It's just a matter of not being in the right spots and not winning one-on-ones, and that's everybody included. So, it's up to us to do that on a weekly basis, and you can't take it for granted. It's a week-to-week league, and you're getting the best in the world every single week. So, you have to reinvent yourself but also keep things the same."
On the criticism that defensive coordinator Zach Orr has received and on if he feels like guys are in the right places and that it's just a matter of making more plays: "Whatever criticism [defensive coordinator Zach Orr] is getting ... I don't know, I feel like, sometimes, Ravens fans can be a little bit spoiled, with just the amount of success that this franchise has had. We lose five games, and the world is about to end. I think with Zach, it's unfair to put all the blame on him when there's 11 guys there on the field that are playing their hearts out, and he's put us in the right positions. It's just a matter of us doing the right stuff, and that's where I feel like the critiques of Zach or whatever [other] coaches are unfair, because he can't go out there and play for us. As much as he wants to, he can't. So, it's up to us to go out and get the job done. So, it's not a Zach thing. It's not a coaching thing on the defensive side of the ball. It's just that players have to get the stuff right."
On if Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy's potential return will change anything with how they will approach this game: "Yes, I'm sure it will. They've used [Xavier Worthy] a lot in the past. He had a big game against us the last time we played, so I always have to keep an eye on a guy like that. He's super speedy, and I think [Tyquan] Thornton showed up for them, too, in the past few weeks, and it seems like their coaches do a great job of just getting those guys prepared, and those guys do a good job. I feel like, in the past few years, it seems like at skill positions, guys' numbers have been called, and they haven't gotten a lot of reps over there, and then they make plays, so props to them. But it's up to us to kind of game-plan for everybody and have a plan for everything going into it, which I think we will. I'm excited to go out there and play."
On how he feels defensive coordinator Zach Orr has handled all the adversity faced over the last few weeks: "In coaching terms, [defensive coordinator Zach Orr] is mature beyond his years, and as a person, too. But, he has only been in it as a coach for – I don't know when he retired – but maybe eight [or] nine years. He's been a position coach for most of those years, and to assume the position of Ravens' defensive coordinator comes with a lot of responsibility, and I think he's handled it tremendously with grace. He separates and protects us for the most part. He comes in the rooms; it's not like he's pointing fingers. 'I could have had you all in a better spot,' or whatever it may be, and I think that kind of trickles down throughout the whole room. There's no hostility within it, and that goes for the whole defense. Having a leader like that, you gain respect. [The] rookies come in seeing that and realize the standard. We've been through the fire last year, and we're going through it right now. So, I don't think it's anything; I feel like 'Z.O.' would always say the same thing. We're 1-2. We're not where we want to be, but it's a long year. There are 14 more games, and hopefully we're looking back on our 1-2 start like, 'I can't believe everybody's making such a big deal about it.' So, props to him for just getting the defense in the right spot mentally to go out and attack physically."
On what he feels has been the biggest issue with the rushing defense: "It's a team defense kind of thing. It comes down to the simplest stuff – the stuff that you learn in Little League football [like] tackling and getting off blocks. There's not a certain defense you can put somebody in to make a tackle. It's just a matter of us doing it, and guys want to so badly, and that's something we've discussed. The 'care' factor is there, which is great. Even though we may not be getting the results we want, we can work with what we have just from a mindset perspective. It just comes down to tackling, getting off blocks, winning your one-on-ones, and it is really simple at the end of the day, but we still have to go do it. Obviously, those guys get paid on their side of the ball to not let us tackle them and hold us up on blocks. So, we just have to show that we're valuable in that sense, and that goes for everybody, DBs included. [It's about] going out and getting the run [game] fixed, getting the ball on the ground and living to play another down."
