Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome into the Ravens Press Pass podcast. The Ravens are
getting ready to face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday
night at eight pm and a big time a wildcard matchup.
As they got ready for that game today, we had
a chance to hear from head coach John Harbaugh.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Okay, good, good to see everybody, really appreciate you being here.
Good week of practice, had the outside work, had the
inside work, We're ready to go. One announcement on the
injury front, Zay Flowers is not going to be able
to make it to the game this week, so he'll
get started again next week and we'll move forward with
the guys we have, and we're excited about the guys
we have, which is everybody else. Okay, what questions you have?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, thanks John, matting that work hard with baby again.
Do you think it's gonna be more of a collective
group effort as kind of affording the targets there to
be able.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
To catch and things like that.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Oh, absolutely, it's gonna be an opportunity. You know, We'll
move guys around, Guys will play spots based on the
game plan and and the ball will kind of go
where it goes based on the way. Uh, it unfolds
in terms of how they play us and kind of
you know, take what the defense gives you, kind of
an opportunity. So we've got a lot of weapons and
uh and Lamarrow distribute that thing the way he sees
fit play to play so much. They don't do even
(01:16):
the preset oft stuff.
Speaker 5 (01:17):
I mean, does it does his absence do you take
away anything that's in your get play?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
No, We've still got all our place, all the players
that we run, guys will be doing them that are
we feel our best suited to do the different jobs.
And in this game against the opponent we're playing.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
How much does it help happen Justice Hill back keeping
you know we're still coming back as well.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
I think helps a lot. I mean, you know, Justice
as an experienced player, Uh, he's been in these games before.
He's really vers stile in terms of what he can
do skill set wise. I mean, he can take some
of those jobs you're talking about that Zay does. He
can see in the backfield he's out of the backfield.
You can put two backs back there. It just gives
you a lot of options with Justice.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Obviously, this is a big time of the year. A
big game of what's kind of Zay's mentality right now,
knowing that he will missed his game time.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
He's locked in on his rehab. I mean, he's locked in.
Every time I walk in there, he's in there working
on it. And we'll see how it looks next week.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Jem, We've got you about the offensive line a lot throughout,
you know, even going back to the offseason. But you've
been able to start the same five since I think
it's week four and last week. But carry that, I
think that's about the only time anyone had missed because
of hell. How valuable has it been to build that continuity,
to build that cohesiveness when you're now entering that second seam.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Very valuable.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, it's important in every position. You know, it's important
in football. It's an eleven it's an eleven player sport.
I mean, there's a lot of moving parts there, and
it's always it's always about being cohesive and being on
the same page and timing and I mean those line
blocks in there, combination blocks, the communication part of it.
You know, that's something that really builds up over time.
(02:52):
And we work the other guys in too, in case
and those guys, but those guys haven't a chance to
work together all season, you know, and it was a
new group, as you know. So I think that's been
really really a big part of the success there.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Quick how you're going about the weather in the atmosphere?
Speaker 4 (03:05):
It comes Saturday, and now even.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Get yeah excited about the I'm I'm more excited about
the atmosphere than the weather personally. But uh, you know,
I think the the weather major aft of the atmosphere
a little bit too. You know, it's gonna be it's
just gonna be great, a great environment. I expect our
fans to be how they are, you know there. They'll
be into it, they'll be fired up. It's gonna be
a night game. It's gonna be cold. Uh, it's gonna
(03:28):
be dark, and our our team is gonna, you know,
try to play lights out. You know, we're gonna try
to play the kind of football that we're capable of playing.
But uh, I think our fans will be there to
to help us and support us and and be loud
when they're supposed to be loud. I'm quite sure you've.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Been doing this a long time. You've been to play
on plenty of times. I mean, do you do you
do your emotions change? How to going into the playoffs
understanding it's winna go hometown. How do you take the
new scene?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, it's uh, it's uh. You have done this for
a long time. You know, a lot of playoff games here,
a lot of playoff games. As an assistant coach twenty
seven years now, been to the playoffs most all those years,
you know, And is it is exciting? I mean, and
I'm still I'm so fired up. It's just it's the
(04:14):
most exciting thing in the world to be a part
of the NFL playoffs. It's the most it's the most
exciting thing in the world. To take that field with
an NFL team, with a bunch of guys as you love.
You love how committed there, you love how much they work,
how determined dedicated they are, that are gonna just lay
it all out there. You know, whatever happens happens, and
(04:34):
it's tough to win. You're playing the best teams. One
game deal. It's not a seven game series. You know,
you don't you don't have a chance to come back
to next you got to it's a it might be
a seven series game, you know, that's what it might be.
You know, you've got to find a way to make
the most of every series in that game and and
try to find a way to win the game and
figure it out as you go within the game. So yeah,
(04:55):
it's great, it's it's awesome players as you kind of
businesslike could lose when we've been around the I mean,
do you like what you're feeling from them?
Speaker 5 (05:01):
I do.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I see the same thing. I see exactly that childs.
I mean, they're ready to go, They've worked hard, they've
it's not you know, it's we don't look at like
a new season. We look at like an extension of
the season. It's we are who we are based on
what we've done and how hard we've worked, and we
want to keep building on that. Play our best football
right now.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
What was the focus for you guys in today's practice.
Speaker 6 (05:20):
I think we were maybe expected to go outside and
see you guys practicing there.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Yeah, when we were outside the first two days, you know,
and we got all of our fast work out there,
all of our timing. You know, you do get used to,
you know, throwing and catching in the cold, the wind,
blowing the ball around, those kind of things, you know,
bumping into each other, as much as we can and
practice in the cold. But today was an execution day.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Day.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Today was a mental sweat, you know, we like to
call it sometimes, and we were chasing perfect technique, perfect communication,
perfect execution.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Today, turn over, marketing.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Focus, playoff in general.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Had to go about the builds without number one.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well, yeah, I think what you said, the last part
of it right there was probably the key thing technique sound.
You know, just focus on technique sound and keep it simple.
H You know, I've heard it stated by a former
Pittsburgh Steelers coach that greatness is doing the ordinary things
better than everybody else. And doing the ordinary things is
(06:23):
the techniques in football, you know, doing the football stuff,
the self evident truths, you know, whether it's you know,
ball handling or throwing and catching, exchanging, defensively, tackling, punching
balls out, things like that that that relate to ball
security or takeaways. And that's it's important in every game,
and it's critically important in the playoffs for sure, and
(06:44):
I'm sure they'll be locked in for it and we'll
be locked in for it too. And which every team
does a better job with that, it's going to have
a better chance to win the game.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
What's the meaning behind the T shirt?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
They're good good good if you look it up. Jocko
Willink I think is the author of it. But the
idea basically is, you have a tough situation, good, you know,
opportunity to become tougher. You know, you have a disappointment
or set back, good, opportunity to get better, prove yourself.
You know, every situation you face is an opportunity. And
(07:18):
you know, if you can say good, that's good because
you're still breathing. You may still be bleeding, but you're
still bleeding and that's good. So that's kind of what
we've had that along with one and oh, have been
two things that we've been focusing on throughout.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
John.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Do you guys have any players or staff affected by
the buyers over in LA I'm not sure. You know,
my brother and his family are about ten miles south
of it right now, so I know our family does.
We have a lot of friends over there obviously with
the chargers. So hopefully that thing gets contained. Hopefully they
find some water to contain it. With what I read
(07:56):
they didn't have water, what a for shure. So our
prayers will be with them for sure, and if they
get that contained, a lot of people have lost a
lot unfortunately. But thanks for bringing that up. All good,
All right, thanks.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
As Hardball mentioned, wide receiver Zay Flowers is out for
this game, which means that there's gonna be more on
the plate Overshot Bateman. Bateman talk with reporters today in
the locker room after practice.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Like you said, they's not gonna play, but you've had
a great v Are you just how excited are you
to get into this game? I'm definitely excited.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
A lot of work is going in to getting us
to this joint. You definitely hate Isay's not gonna figure
out that with us, but I trust that I've got
to make the job doing it.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
That's all good. A fortune.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Hey, what stands out to you about what we need
to you to be successful in the play games?
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Just be myself. Don't go out there and do anything
that I haven't done, or try to be anything that's strict.
Just be myself and make place. Obviously you hate to
see the t not be out there.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
Uh, to sure meet your job talk, but is there
part of you that relss an opportunity to be you.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Know, more targets mot walls and pack that sort of stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
The situation that we have on our hands doesn't It
doesn't change anything about me and my role and what
I gotta do.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
My job is squaw to make players. Nobody know who's
on the field.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
So it might look a little different as far as
where I'm at and different things, but overall.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
We got a football games and playing I gotta go,
you know, playball.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
We also heard from running back Justice Hill, who's expected
to be back in the lineup after missing the last
two games.
Speaker 6 (09:38):
I'm I think we are capable of making plays, and
so I think anybody that goes out there more than
confident first in themselves, and the coaches are confident in
them making the plays too. So obviously as the big
losses a special player and hopefully it heals up really
soon that we can get him back here before end
(09:59):
of a run. But cool, yeah, man, we all step
up and make place.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
This is just how you're you to get back on
the field.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Yeah, I'm ready to play.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Man.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
It's a playoff game at Pittsburgh, so uh, I'm I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
What what do you we do you like?
Speaker 1 (10:13):
What do you take past playoff experiences and how does
that have help.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
This team moving forward.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
Uh, I think for me, it's just another game. Just
go out there just like it's a practice and training camp,
and uh just just be be in a moment for real.
Just make plays and do what you always do them
then make make the moment bigger than what it really is.
And so uh, I think that's the thing for all
of us, Uh, especially now that we've been uh to
playoff games and uh we've seen both sides of it. Uh,
I think we just going there levelhead and just go
(10:40):
and go play.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Oh what do you think it's gonna be?
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Saturday nights to the stadium.
Speaker 6 (10:44):
But hopefully Uh no, the weather don't scare to me
people all, but I think it's gonna be regardless.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Man.
Speaker 6 (10:50):
You know Baltimore fans, especially with this game being who
it is against, uh, they gonna be out showing out.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
So when you haven't played for for that long, is
there anything you do different to your extra to kind
of get back into that into that.
Speaker 6 (11:04):
Mode of like when you were playing with I mean
I mean that long. It was only a week and
so I mean we played two games, but it was
short weeks and all that stuff. But uh, I mean
it's football. I mean it's like riding the bike. I
mean you can go all year it out playing and
you can come back and know what to do. So
I don't think being out is gonna affect me much
(11:24):
at all. I'm just ready to get back out there
and play.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
We also heard from linebacker A Dafe away.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
Just to play hard, compete, and you know it just
one one of four, you know, just to get to
the big one.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
So let me see right now, when you watch Pittsburgh's offense,
obviously not a lot of points but on score, but
I'm sure you'll find things that still makes them dangerous.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
What do I see? Yeah, I mean any offense, the
NFL offense, so they can make anything happen. But you know,
they try to make a lot of big chunk plays
where we just kind of stop those. I like our
defensive line against you know what they do. So just
gonna go out there and compete.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Coming on with your first double digit sack season, where's
your confidence level going into this playoff?
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Very confident if I try to take that into every game,
just trying to make a play out there. Feel like
you make your name out in the playoff games and
and what what better game to make it against the Steelers,
you know, so yeah, very excited.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Your Zio talked about being air for can't you see
both quarterbacks, you know, and justin field to play Repster.
How does it affect things?
Speaker 3 (12:32):
They sprintle it and both quarterbacks, it's a little bit.
Speaker 5 (12:36):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I feel like both of them, they're kind of the
same but a little different.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Uh, Justice is gonna run a little bit more, so
we gotta, you know, we gotta be more disciplined in
how we play. Let's play action run uh run type downs.
Speaker 5 (12:50):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
You know, Russ sees more of the vets, so he's
gonna take more of the chances. I feel like, so
we gotta play those on this too. But I feel
like both of them can get after so it's gonna
be the same.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
You're listening to the Ravens Press Past podcast. Kickoff on
Saturday is at eight pm. That game is going to
be at Empty Bank Stadium. You can get a limited
number of tickets that we just dropped earlier today, some
great lower level seats available. Those are available today by
visiting Baltimore Ravens dot com slash tickets or by going
to seat Geek we'll see us Saturday at the Bank
(13:25):
for this matchup. Thanks for listening, and we'll be back
with you after that game against the Steelers.