HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening Statement: "I appreciate you all being here in our new digs. Thanks to [owner] Steve Bisciotti and [president] Sashi Brown for putting this whole thing together. The stadium is unbelievable right now, isn't it? The investment that was made [by the] Maryland Stadium Authority. I don't know how it works, but I know one thing; this stadium is incredible. It's an investment in this region. This is a gem. The stadium is a gem. [It was built in] 1996, and it's way better than brand new. All the different amenities, the sight lines and just the way it looks. It's gritty; it's got the metal; it's got the brick. It's like Camden Yards, it's old school. And yet, it's like a new iPhone, the way it plays. So, [we're] really happy about that. The fans were great. I was just telling the young guys, 'Man, you get a chance now to get connected to Baltimore fans, to Raven Nation, The Flock.' To feel them out there and feel how enthusiastic they were. [We] had a ton of people here, they sold [the practice] out in minutes, and we should sell twice as many tickets. We could fill the place for this thing. It was great. It was fun. And then for the noise, how about every time that our young kicker [Tyler Loop] got up there to kick a field goal, the crowd was screaming, right? That was really cool, to put a little pressure on him. So, that was fun. [I am] happy with the guys, proud of the way they practiced. That was a good step for us, I think, for young guys to get out here and just to feel what it's like to come in the locker room, park, walk in, get all that, get on that field [and] get in that environment, that's kind of a big deal. We were pretty good with the penalties and things like that for that environment, I think. [It was] not bad for the first day in this ... kind of a new situation. So, I felt pretty good about all that. Even the veteran guys – [I was] talking to Lamar [Jackson] and was talking to 'Ro' [Roquan Smith] – walking in the locker room is different. The game locker room is different than the practice locker room. We've been in there a lot. We've had victories, a lot of them, [and] we've had some disappointments, too. And you've lived that; and it's not like – you don't really, it's in you. It's just in your chemistry. [There is] something different about walking into the locker room. OK, what questions do you have?"
What did you think of K Tyler Loop? [It was a] perfect day [for him]. [He] also hit from 56 [yards] and 60 [yards]. (Jamison Hensley) "It was great. [Tyler Loop] did a nice job. He passed that test with flying colors. I'd say [he earned an] A++, and onto the next one. [I'm] so happy for him; just for him to get through that, and now he knows 'Hey, you know can do it, and you know how to do it, just like that.' And that's the kind of guy he is, I'm not surprised, but certainly very happy."
What's the difference between kicking in the stadium versus at the facility? (Brian Wacker) "Well, it's a good question. You wouldn't think of being different except the sight lines are totally different. I think the wind and stuff like that is different, too. They have been coming down here to kick with that, but still think the scoreboard on the fans in the stands, the targets that they make, that's the real thing. So, it's really valuable to do that."
It seemed like he was enjoying the crowd, maybe even playing to the crowd a little bit. Is your early sense of him that he might be that kind of guy, that he might be a big personality? (Childs Walker) "He's kind of got that kind of personality. He's a confident guy. He's a good mix of humility and confidence. He's a hard worker. So, I sure hope so."
You've talked a lot about the operation. How do you think P Jordan Stout and LS Nick Moore are working with K Tyler Loop so far? (Nikhil Mehta) "Nick [Moore] and Jordan [Stout] are doing really well. I think they're doing well in punts, too. I went to the punt operation as well. You have veteran guys doing a nice job, and they're presenting – we get the ball down, probably quicker than any team in the league. So, the kicker gets a really good look at the ball."
As you get here, and you have the stadium practice, like you said, guys are getting used to parking and coming into the stadium and everything. You got the preseason game this week. Is it starting to feel like we're getting closer to the real thing? (Cordell Woodland) "It really is. I mean, we've got quite a week. We had this [stadium practice] today, Tuesday the Colts will be at our practice facility, so that'll be another team, and then Thursday night, we'll be playing our first preseason game. Boom, boom, boom. It's quite a week in front of us."
What's the outline of the plan with the Colts coming in? Have you designed it? (Jerry Coleman) "Yes, you're not going to see the top guys [in the preseason game]. The guys you probably wouldn't expect to see, you won't be seeing in this game. So, we're going to try to get that work done with those guys on Tuesday."
Knowing in recent years, veterans aren't playing quite as much in the preseason. How valuable is it to have those joint practices, to have multiple joint practices? Are you going to give those guys a look, but in a little more controlled environment? (Luke Jones) "Definitely. I mean that's something you hope you get. You want to come out of the season firing all cylinders, but yet it's a long season so it's a double-edged sword. I don't think there's any obvious answer, but hopefully those practices are valuable to us."
To that point is having it, two of them against two different teams. I think last year you guys obviously had one against one team. How much more do you get out of that when you get to go against a different team? (Brian Wacker) "Well, we'll find out. I'm hoping it's different, because it's different teams. And then we used to do two days, which we kind of moved past that. The second day is just a chippy day – a cheap shot day. So, none of that and the culture are class organizations. Shane [Steichen] does a great job, [and the] Commanders [are] the same with Dan [Quinn]. We expect those to be good, clean practices."
We haven't asked you about T Emery Jones Jr. in a while. Is he getting close to being able to be a participant? (Jeff Zrebiec) "Yes, it's all up to the doctors. We were thinking mid camp, but until they say, until the doctor says [Emery Jones is] cleared, he's not cleared. So, I know you ask about that. I'm like, yes, Emery Jones. But until he's out there [actually practicing], he's not out there, in my mind. He's working hard. He's in the meetings. He's very determined. He's probably a little frustrated because I think he wants to get out there, but the doctors have to do what they think is right, and when they clear him, he'll be out there."
CB Jaire Alexander is a guy who seems to bring a lot of energy. I think I've even seen him talking trash to practice dummies. When he wraps up and then he said a little bit, I think one of the practices. What have you noticed from him the first few weeks? That competitive spirit and he's going against guys like WR DeAndre Hopkins. (Zach Pereles) "Well, you know, I coached the secondary in the past, and you can see the obvious skillset [with Jaire Alexander]. He can move. He's got a knack for playing the ball. We say a lot of times, 'You cover with your feet, and you play the ball with your hands.' You don't cover with your hands. He understands that. We had a few pass interference penalties out here where guys didn't understand that. So, he's just got a real feel for that part of the game. [He's] super talented, super confident, worked super hard, all again a plus."
Was there anything when you were out at the stadium that you looked around and said, wow, I haven't seen that before, that stuck out in the newness that you were talking about earlier? (Jerry Coleman) "Well, yes, the end zone. The end zone [club] boxes were cool. You see that in some of the newer stadiums like Dallas and Los Angeles. That's kind of neat and all of a sudden, boom, it's there in our stadium. It's like, it looks really, really cool."
