July 26, 2025 • 29 mins
Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken, and Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr speak with the media after the first week of training camp.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome back to the Press Past podcast. It's July twenty sixth.
This is Cassie Chaerigo and the Ravens just wrapped up
their first week of practices of training camp. First off,
you'll hear from Special Teams coordinator Chris Horton.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What's up.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
What's up?
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Good to see everyone. Hope everyone's doing well. Really it's
it's been a really good four days of training camp
with our guys. Uh, with this young group, you know,
I thought this spring we got after the fundamentals, we
start to build the standard and the expectations for for
what we want as Ravens Special Teams, and we're just
gonna bring these guys along and I'm looking forward to
(00:40):
having each and every one of these guys develop and
continue to grow as we as we continue this this
fall camping into those preseason games.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Questions do kick off full thirty five yard line?
Speaker 5 (00:51):
How do you expect that to impact how you guys
approach returns and end kicks?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
You know, I think as a as a special teams
coach and UH, and as then as thinking about the
players in the game that are you know, that is
how they make their their living ball going to the
thirty five yard line. I think, uh, we had a
we had a nice increase in returns last year. I
think there's like three hundred and thirty four or thirty two,
and then there was opportunities for more for more touchdowns,
(01:17):
more big plays. Right, I think there's over almost fifty
big forty plus returns. So with the ball going to
the thirty five yard line, I don't think any any
defense is gonna want that, right, So it's gonna it's
gonna allow your kickoff team and now let's go cover.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Let's go cover more kicks.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
And I'm looking forward to to putting a group out
there that's gonna be confident and feel pretty good about
not allowing teams to get to the thirty five yard line.
Speaker 6 (01:41):
About the kickers, one of the biggest storylines here. What
have you seen in when do you want? When do
you want a winner in this competition?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
You know, I know I don't think obviously going into
you know, you just let the guys that go out
and they compete in the work and they get better
every day. And I think I think the the idea
is what Randy has these guys doing, it's gonna prepare
them for the game, and and when the winner shows,
it's gonna show, right and uh, and it ain't gonna
be you know, how soon is that gonna be? I
(02:11):
don't know, you know, but I do know that these
guys are gonna be out here getting valuable work every
day and in these preseason games. And when it and
when it's showing and when it happens, whoever wins that
job is gonna be the guy that's right for the team.
Speaker 7 (02:23):
What are you guys looking for? And that is is
just as simple as like when he never picks the
most kicks.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Season, You know, I think I think it's a little
bit it's a little bit more than that, right. I
think it's all about It's all about consistency and everything
that we do, and especially at that at that level,
at that position, really at every position, but mainly at
that position. Right, we want to see kicks made right,
and we want to see good foot the ball contact
and there, and there's a process about how these guys
(02:48):
are going about it and and and where they're kicking
from and what they're doing in practices and the things
that Randy is talking to these guys about every day
is gonna allow for each and for both these guys
to have success out on the field. You know, if
you just if you just think back to the to
the spring, you know, I think a lot of it is,
(03:10):
uh when when when Randy goes out and he's looking
for a certain type of guy that fits what we
do and and our type of teaching from a from
a kicking and technical standpoint, it's all about you know,
foot the ball and and then and the kicking a
straight ball and all those things right, and and the
access of the ball if the ball is turning. But
we want the ball to be straight every time, right,
And that's what we're working for. And that's been a
(03:32):
big improvement since the spring, and I think both guys
have gotten a lot better at doing that.
Speaker 8 (03:37):
John said, Mitchell said, I want to make your return
if I can.
Speaker 6 (03:41):
John has said he thinks of the new rules that
really plays to a running back being into return. Why
do you think that would be in what's your impression
of Kate and Mitchell so far?
Speaker 9 (03:50):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
You know, obviously Keaton has done a tremendous job for
for us when he has.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Been back there.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Uh So, just just the body type, the style of play.
You know, it took us a while to really figure out,
you know, kind of our identity and kind of who
we wanted to be as a kickoff returning union. And
as the season went on late in the year, Uh,
those body types, those running back body types, you know
when they're used to bouncing off tacklers, right, and so
it it allowed for that type of player to really
(04:18):
have success back there. But man, I believe like a
guy with some toughness, guy that's gonna run with speed,
with vision, he's gonna have success back there for us.
But Keaton, Man, he's done a heck of a job
and it's really good to see him out here.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Man, just just rolling was a.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
Point of contention last year. DEVI that is spe simply
a wide open competition.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
At this point.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Definitely, you know, you know for us, you know, I
talk about this every year. Punt returning is about being efficient,
and being efficient in a sense of like if you
don't if we in the game and we catch every ball, uh,
that's a plus for us and we get no returns.
But we're gonna figure out, you know what, how to
make that better. Maybe maybe the punt was short, right
and we fair called the ball and we have to
(05:00):
run up for Well, that's that's efficiency for me.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
And how are we catching the ball? What I'm looking for?
Speaker 4 (05:05):
And we as coaches and as a staff are looking
for guys that are not gonna put the ball on
the ground even in practice. And that's gonna be the
guy that's gonna win the job when he goes out
there and he's making yards and he's catching the ball
and filling the ball, making great decisions.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
That's what we're looking for.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
You honestly kicking out all the headline last year and
the times moved by guys.
Speaker 7 (05:24):
If you lost this offseason.
Speaker 8 (05:26):
When it's kind of getting help with the specially fifty
by years restoration and create a special team to wait, if.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
You know, we still have guys in the building that
that understand the standard, that understand the expectations of what
we're looking for. So as long as you gotta a
select few of guys, and yes we did lose some guys,
but with young guys, uh, they don't know any better, right,
so you got an opportunity to really mold those guys
into what you want them to be. And if if
(05:53):
they if they listen and they learn and they grow
on the way they're gonna be playing at the standard
faster than what we think. But they're young guys. They
don't know, they don't know the system. All they know
is like, all right, what is coach saying? And then
we have video and we have proof of what it
looks like on tape from past from the past, So
we're just gonna continue to do that.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I feel really good about the guys we got. You know,
we went out.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
We got Jake, so we got a veteran guy God
that's played in this league four years special teams and
played at a high level. So we got some guys
in there that could help these young guys and bring
them along.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
There's one more question of not that the players on
the Ravens who play special teams, who have long ten
years interest special teams on this team also tend to
have an offensive or defensive contribution that they make at
the same time. So how invested are you as a
special teams coach when you see somebody who might be
playing good special league picket player at desa Isaac as
being saying, you need him to be a good pass
(06:48):
rusher because I needed for special teams.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Got you know, it's I think it's the it's it's
the more you could do factor.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Right.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I tell the guys all the time, we're here to win,
right And A and if you got a good football player,
and you got a guy that his mindset is to
do whatever it takes to help the team win, he's
gonna give everything he's got on the defense, and he's
gonna get everything he's got on the special teams or
the offense. So from a decent standpoint, just just to
use that as as an example, I think the guy's
(07:17):
gonna be a really good pass rusher. I also think
he's gonna be a really good special teams player.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
And it's and it's hard job to just.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Just get him, get him to that point, to get
him played at a high level. And and once he
does that, he starts to have success on special teams.
All those things translate to the other side of the ball.
The same thing with the offensive guys. Right, you know,
I g I use Justice Hill for example, right. Uh,
while he was waiting on his opportunity as a young guy.
You know what he did, He played special teams and
(07:43):
he played at a high level. He played like a raven.
And that stuff translates to more opportunities on the other side.
Speaker 7 (07:49):
Of the ball, not feeling rushed to big a kicker
through four days. Just scuris what you've seen from each
of the guys individually.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
You know, uh, well, you know the k kicks have
been made, right, I think you know with with Tyler?
Uh with Tyler, excuse me. The thing we understand is
when when when we bought him in and we looked
at him, the dude has a strong leg, right, and
and he he's technically, he's sound, He kicks the ball
the way we want to kick the ball. And he's
been consistent, right, and that's what we're looking for. John.
(08:20):
When you look at him, he's been consistent. And when
you watch him over his college career, he was consistent.
He made kicks. And that was the kind of guy
that we went out and said, Okay, let's bring in
two guys that you know what, they're consistent in what
they do.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
One one might look more powerful than the other one,
but the kicks are going in and that's ultimately what
matters the most.
Speaker 6 (08:39):
Thought to You've got three preseason games, do you just
say both of them kicking at all of them?
Speaker 8 (08:45):
One getting a game, one getting a game and both.
Speaker 9 (08:47):
Getting a game like that.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
You know, I haven't.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
I haven't given thoughts of that, but I do know, Uh,
both guys will be out there and both guys will
be kicking.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Now addressing the media is offensive coordinator Todd Monkin.
Speaker 9 (09:05):
There's a lot of familiarity, a lot of returning players
in this offense. How much do you feel like that
lets you kind of take things to another level this
year in terms of what you're installing.
Speaker 10 (09:15):
Well, it was great having let's start off with the
staff offensive staff back. Okay, so this will be our
third year together. Every year year together with somebody a
group of people, I think the relationship grows knowing each other,
not only individually as a person, but when it comes
to game planning.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
So that's been great. That's been great.
Speaker 10 (09:38):
I think allowed us in the off season to really
be comfortable uncovering things that we can get better at
because you really got to drill down and look at
where we can get better, where can we be efficient
in areas we weren't nearly as efficient as we want
to be at the right times.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And then having a.
Speaker 10 (09:56):
Good number of our players back to give us a
chance to run it back one time, and it was
an easy decision on my mind. You'll have to ask Eric,
but to get a lot of those guys back because
they're still playing at a high, high level. This isn't like,
well we've got a diminishing skill set. No, our guys
are still playing at a really high level. So it's exciting.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
John has mentioned that a point of emphasis is pre
snap penalties.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
There seem to be several each day out here.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
Is there a common thread to those happening? And when
you leave here and go inside and meet what are
you telling the players about those?
Speaker 10 (10:32):
Well, you're right, there is a common thread, and that
is that we're going to continue to stress it and
use cadence in practice. And I've said this before. It's
real easy to get frustrated, which I do. I'm the
king of overreacting. Okay, so but if you do that,
then you'll just go on one all the time and
that doesn't help you either.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
So where is that sweet spot? Now's the time to
do that.
Speaker 10 (10:56):
We're practicing some other things in the throw game, in
the run game too, obviously, try like heck to be
you know, be on point when we play the first game,
you know, But Obviously we got a lot of work
to do.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
But that's not the only thing.
Speaker 10 (11:09):
That's the only thing that's obvious to the naked eye,
right that, Okay, we can see that play stops, there's
a yellow hanky. Okay, that's not very good. Well, there's
a lot of things we need to work at that
just that must be one of them. They will continue
to fight. Our rear ends off to be lead at it.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
Go do you feel in year three?
Speaker 6 (11:26):
Then to emplace you know what you want to do.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
It's not finding what you want to do, but really
in protecting what you do best.
Speaker 10 (11:33):
Some of that's true, and some of that is a
part of having the same players the same skill sets.
You know, how do we get the players.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
That we have.
Speaker 10 (11:44):
To stay an elite elite level at the areas their
lead at if that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
That's probably a crazy way of saying it, and then
improving the.
Speaker 10 (11:52):
Other areas where they can, you know, whether it's past
protection or their ball skills or they're blocking on the perimeter,
all those things.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
But it certainly helps.
Speaker 10 (12:00):
When everybody's back, you can kind of build off what
we already know what they are and just try to
get a little bit better in certain areas to just
follow up.
Speaker 9 (12:11):
On those questions.
Speaker 7 (12:12):
Is it kind of a more variance in the cadence
from last year or just everyone getting used to it?
Speaker 10 (12:17):
No, No, there really isn't anything different other than we're
starting back up again and it's hot and we got
a number of guys going in the game. Sometimes it's
the quarterback that you know, it takes a little bit
of time at the line of scrimmage, you know, more
than they should, and then all of a sudden you're
making calls at the line and you may forget.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
You're on a different cadence, you know. It's all those
things are a part of it.
Speaker 10 (12:42):
And but I'm not going to get in We're going
to fight like heck to be good at Why can't
we be elity cadence?
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Why can't we other teams? Can we? Sure us that
can be and should.
Speaker 8 (12:51):
Be seeing the communication it's when you are gay as.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well. It grows.
Speaker 10 (12:58):
It grows daily with each of us, you know, and
it's not just Labar, it's every player. I think our ability.
I think part of that too is with each year
you're really on the same page. I think he understands
what we're trying to do, and I think he understands
what we're trying to accomplish against what we're seeing every day.
(13:22):
And I think every day he feels more comfortable voicing
his pleasure displeasure in terms of what.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
We do or how he wants to see it.
Speaker 10 (13:30):
That's probably strong, but just be able to communicate because
everything goes for him, I mean everything goes through him.
Everything we do starts with his confidence in what we do. Right,
he already has confidence himself. He's an elite player, but
what we do to make sure that we're building it
to where when he gets ready to go on Sunday
he can perform at an elite level and let his
(13:52):
talent shine.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
That he's worked so hard to get to this point,
which he really has, and he said it.
Speaker 10 (13:57):
I read it yesterday. He really is just he's still coming.
He's still a young player, really a quarterback.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
In my mind, that he's been going off script of
it at times and that sometimes you let them get
away with it, sometimes you coach him up.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
I guess how do you balance that him seeing what
he's seeing and doing his free saying.
Speaker 10 (14:15):
Versus when it's time to follow exactly the play that
you're calling.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Well, it's all of our offense. It's collaboration.
Speaker 10 (14:22):
So at the end of the day, I think you
set the offense and he doesn't go a wall, he
doesn't go out of the blue, like it's not all
of a sudden. You know, it's within the parameters of
what we do and and now is the time to
do that. Now's the time to work on those things,
the rapport with the receivers. Those things ain't getting us
(14:43):
into a premium play. That's that's really what he should do.
But it's it's all of our offense. And you know,
like anything, I mean, once he takes over that control,
that's a good thing for the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
The more he does that, the more he is that,
which he does a lot of it.
Speaker 10 (15:02):
That's really good for the Ravens because the elite players
like him want that, they want the ability to do that,
and then you live with the end result.
Speaker 9 (15:12):
It's what you do.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You live with the end result, and usually with him,
it's pretty special.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
The depth at the skill positions is the best probably
in Ravens history.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I think that's fair to say. We look back in
teams who've had that kind of depth.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
That Saints around twenty ten used a fresh legs approach
where they'd be constantly running in oftentimes five eligible receivers
to replay. Do you see as that as something.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
You have in your cool kid this year?
Speaker 10 (15:35):
Well, first of all, it's start off with this. The
skill players that we have. Okay, Like I tell him,
every year is a new year. So the skill group
that we've got, I don't know what that is this year.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Okay. Our skill group can be elite and they were elite.
Speaker 10 (15:52):
In twenty twenty four, or it remains to be seen
what will be in twenty twenty five as an offensive
staff and as an offensive team. Now, do I anticipate
those guys will play an elite level? I do, but
that remains to be seen. I mean we haven't played
the twenty twenty five season yet. I forgot the rest
of it because once I kind of got fired up
about that. Oh yeah, no, I would agree with that.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I think that's great.
Speaker 10 (16:14):
I think I spoke about it in the off season, like,
you'd rather have too many players that want the ball
than not enough or that deserve it right. You want that,
you want to be able to try and balance touches
because that's what they want as skilled players, but without
a doubt, we should be in a position to where
we can keep guys fresh, we can very personnel groups
(16:34):
like we did last year and have a number of players,
because to me, that's balance. Balance is having enough players
that it's not just running past its touches, that they
are not just defending one player. That you're defending modes,
you're defending formations, you're defending players, you're defending concepts, all
the above. And we're very fortunate to have that. And
(16:55):
we'll see because we have to do it this year.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Keith Mitchell and how well he's running out here, you
anticipate that he's going to have a bigger certainly a
bigger role they needed last year offensively.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
Well, it's great to see him back because I think
last year when he came back, he's still in his
own mind.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I think he wanted to be ready.
Speaker 10 (17:12):
You'd have to ask him whether he felt that way,
was confident in that and when you don't practice for
such a long time. I'm excited to see him every
day out here, and I'm excited to see him when
we play in the preseason because.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
He's got a fight to get touches. You know, two
years ago we didn't have Derek.
Speaker 10 (17:28):
I mean, let's just say it like it is, like
it's a fight to get touches in the backfield. Justice
Hills an established outstanding football player. Now we got Derek,
So that third running back position is fighting for reps,
fighting for touches, fighting for the ability to be really
good as a pass protector, all that above special teams player.
Just because we're't a different place than we were a
year ago. But it's exciting to see him really kind
(17:51):
of be up to speed in the first four days.
Speaker 7 (17:54):
Go back to what you were saying about efficiency and
you have the kind of year you guys had last year,
how much higher to kind of view the ceiling? And secondly,
what are the one or two maybe those glare examples
from efficiency standpoint?
Speaker 10 (18:10):
Your fatus up, Well, we hit on it every time
I get up here, which is penalties, Okay, so we'd
I'm sure I'll be up here in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Well, the same thing again.
Speaker 10 (18:21):
But that that's number one is uh lost yortage plays
that falls into that, right, getting backed up. I mean
it's uh, you're up against it when you have those,
So obviously that's a huge emphasis off season. Obviously starting fast,
starting fast. The season off fast. Two years ago we
beat Houston, but we didn't play anywhere near a standard
(18:41):
on offense, and last year we didn't. We didn't come
out of the block. So starting faster, okay, how we
prep for that? How we game plan for that? And
then I think with every player, I think it's imperative
amongst our players and our coaches to maintain that high
left level. Is we got to challenge each other because
(19:02):
it's human nature. Oh whatever, as a player, an offense,
human beings. To settle a little bit, we're gonna be good.
I don't know twenty twenty five that we'll decide that
we have. We have plenty of talent. Talent alone just
you know, doesn't get you there. All the things that
win are the work that you put in and then
play at a high level.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
When accounts, how do you start fast?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
How do you go about?
Speaker 10 (19:26):
Because well, it starts with coaching. Okay, I've done such
a poor job the first two years. We weren't ready
the first game. Really, I shouldn't say that we didn't
do as good as job as we could have. Then
last year going to Kansas City, there were some things
we worked out, worked on in the off season that
really we went into that game and and also it
wasn't it wasn't just that is I would just say this,
(19:50):
scratch that, reverse it. We know each other better this
year than we did last year, starting with me, who
our personnel is, right with Derek, who we are, how
we utilize our tight ends, how we utilize our whiteoutes.
That's probably a better way of putting it. So that
I started off kind of on their own, I got
to do a better job. But I think we have
a better idea of who we I know, we do
have a better idea who we are what wins for
(20:13):
us with the players that we have.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Along those lines, I think one of the areas of
the passing game that wasn't just like the leite was
Lamar against man blitzes.
Speaker 9 (20:22):
And I know that's such a small thing, but is.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
That just something we think having consistency kind of continuity
just kind of takes care of itself, or is there
something more structural that you have been focusing on seniasm.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I think there's some merit to that, but it doesn't
make any sense.
Speaker 10 (20:37):
In some ways because we have guys that can separate
so against man, that isn't really an issue. It's doing
a better job of myself helping us get into a
better play maybe a better protection concepts that we run
anticipating it.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
But for sure it's crazy.
Speaker 10 (20:57):
You look at the statistic like how were we not
when there were so many other areas we relid at
and you're thinking, Wow, Lamar's ability to escape. Hey, our
guys that can really separate. We got a really good
offensive line leap we got to leap back. So that
doesn't make sense, but you're right, we need to be
a lot better.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
At Next up is defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
Zach, what does Eleander?
Speaker 3 (21:27):
I mean he brings a lot. I mean he brings
first and foremost.
Speaker 11 (21:30):
Energy, confidence, uh, hard work, and then playmaking ability. I
mean we go against the offense, our offense every day,
and they challenge our corners, especially on the outside, and
he's done a great job, man, so we've been happy,
pleased with them. He's a great student of the game.
I'm pleased with how fast he's picked up the system
and the and the vets and his teammates are helping
(21:51):
him out.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
But he brings a lot.
Speaker 11 (21:53):
Man, he can still play at a top level. He's
he's everything that we thought he would be and even more. Man,
it's a great, dude, glad that we got.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Them exactly so much talent, especially in the secondary and
all that stuff here last year there's.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
Counting that defense too, right, and there's some tough of
lives to getting got into the team. How does this
year you did with all that talent? Like what's your key?
So they're playing up to what the intention.
Speaker 11 (22:18):
I think it's uh, putting the work in every single
day in the in the classroom and out here on
the field and even in walkthroughs. And not to say
that that wasn't happening, but I see it at the
whole another level this year. So I'm I'm happy with it. Uh,
we're we're light years ahead of where we're at. We
still got a long way to go, but we're ahead
of where we were at last year. So that's a
credit to the guys who were here. Man, we didn't
(22:39):
like what we did last year, especially the first half
of the season, and we made a vow that we
wouldn't do that again. So we know that's just words.
We have to put action behind it. But so far, Uh,
it's throughout the spring and its first week of training camp.
The action's been real good. So I'm I'm happy with
the group you're talent.
Speaker 9 (22:55):
For happy secondary.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Do you think that gets you more fusibility in terms
of playing on.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Here in the rubbery that's you.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, it definitely does.
Speaker 11 (23:02):
I mean it's it opens the possibilities of playing man coverage,
blitzing more, playing different coverages. Our our dbs, they can
do everything man, and it's a credit to Double D
and Pegano. You'll see these guys start rotating playing different
positions as we get going.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Did a lot in the spring.
Speaker 11 (23:21):
So when the when the offense lines up and you
have multiple dbs on the field and they don't know
necessarily what coverage, what pressure, or what position those guys
are playing, it's an advantage for us. So you know,
we'll start working at but I'm excited about the possibility.
And it's just depth man depth and matchups for certain opponents.
You might want to put certain guys on certain people,
So it's definitely an advantage for us.
Speaker 7 (23:42):
Exactly.
Speaker 8 (23:43):
Marlon Hupefrey can be great candidate, and he said, we
don't think the Steelers fear are deep anymore. We don't
think the Bengals fear are depens anymore. What's your reaction
when you hear that, and why how do you change it?
Speaker 11 (23:54):
I like that. I like that, man like we want
to be the most feared unit in the in the league.
And you know, it's time for us to get back
to people being scared of playing us, and that's what
we want to feel when we're out there. Obviously he's
out there, we trust him. He feels that way. I
feel that way too. So that's one of our goals
this year is is to be the most dominant fear
of defense in the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
So let's go do it. And it's not just gonna
happen by us talking about it.
Speaker 11 (24:19):
We got to come out here, put the work in,
and then when Sunday or game day comes, we got
to go do it.
Speaker 7 (24:26):
Arnold also said turnovers creating turners that probably the biggest
point of emphasis. And to keep think when maybe six
teams have fewer than you guys.
Speaker 9 (24:33):
Did when last year.
Speaker 7 (24:35):
Yep, there's a whole bunch of things that go into it.
But form your standpoint, how do you go about sort
of coaching guy and what else to sort of what
the stress.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
To make the first thing. Man, we just teach it.
Speaker 11 (24:47):
Man, we're getting better at teaching it, teaching in the classroom,
showing opportunities on film, showing how to get the football out,
understanding how important it is. And I think coach Harbor
has done a great job this spring of talking about
what what's the really packfuls that impact the football games?
And takeaways for a defenses is at the top of
the list. And when we take the ball away, we'll win.
(25:07):
When we don't, uh, we got a good chance of winning.
But why put ourselves in that position? So obviously we
look at it. Last year we didn't take the ball
away enough. We had zero takeaways in the playoffs, and
we us as defensive coaches and players, we look at
it as the reason why we didn't get to where
we wanted to get to. So we're talking about it
every single day. We're teaching it, we're drilling it, and
(25:29):
we're making our guys aware of how important it is.
And you know, it's not just me talking about it,
it's the every coach is talking about it, even on
the offensive side of the ball. So I think that
it's good that our players are mindful of it. And
we understand as a defense that's the most important thing.
Just think about it. If we take the football away
and we keep giving our offense and LJ more opportunities
(25:51):
to score, will be in good shape. We'll come in
a lot of turnover, both in the coach coaches in
on the field where the players.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Is there any more in your mind comfortable this.
Speaker 10 (26:03):
Year going into camberish the PIP points, I guess.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Now we're not as much turning. Yeah, I think I'm
I think it's definitely more comfortable.
Speaker 11 (26:10):
I mean, I'm I'm more experienced, so I know I'm
better than where what I was last year, especially this
time of year. So I think that's where some of
the comfortability comes from. I think the uh, the players
and the coaches that are here, they understand of what
we what we want to get accomplished, what we have
to get accomplished, and understand the action.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Plan that we have to take to get that accomplished.
So it's great.
Speaker 11 (26:30):
Man, Sometimes changes is good, and I think that it's
it's it's been good for us from a coaching and
playing standpoint.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Oh Samuel stra and he thinks all guys might also
better where he was.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
I guess, after a week of camp and seen a
kind of what are some of your pressures, how do
you feel like he's spit against that?
Speaker 3 (26:46):
And he's fitting in great. He's fitting in great.
Speaker 11 (26:48):
Every test that we've thrown at him since the spring
up to now this first week of training camp he's
passed with flying colors, and which is expected.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
You know, you you saw him in college, do that.
Speaker 11 (26:58):
You talk to his coaches, you talk to people who've
known him, you know his his makeup. So uh, the
next step we'll start getting in pads here next week
and we'll start having these preseason games and regular season games.
And will he uh if he passed those tests, which
we expect him to do because he's a heck of
a person, heck of a player. And like I always say,
when you're a talented player and you work hard on
(27:20):
and off the field, the chances of you being successful
are dang near one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
So Malako fits that. Mold Zach, what do you say
from Mike Green this week?
Speaker 7 (27:29):
And what are you hoping to.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
See from him?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
And during drinking Yeah, I mean Mike, Mike just comes
in and works, man.
Speaker 11 (27:33):
Uh, smart player works hard, hard, work, doesn't really doesn't
really say much until we're out here on the field
and he has to communicate, which he does a great
job of.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
But he's just a worker man, just like all our rookies.
So right now is outside backer and a front guy.
Speaker 11 (27:49):
Right now, we're wearing shorts and T shirts with a
helmet on, so it's pretty much assignment sound and he's
been great with that. It's gonna crank up next week
and I'm excited for him. We know what type of
player we have, so now it's time for him just
to go out here and do it in practice, which
we believe you will, Zach.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Zach.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
John has already shouted out Ruben Lowry several times.
Speaker 10 (28:12):
Have you talked to Ruben about kind of maybe specific
things he can do to put himself in That conversation
has given how many talented guys.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Are in that secondary.
Speaker 11 (28:21):
Yeah, we talked to all our guys like that, and Ruben,
he's made play since he's been here, man, So credit
to our personnel staff finding him. They've done a great
job finding all these kids. It's one of the most
competitive rosters that we've had since I've been here. So
you guys gonna get a chance to learn a lot
about some of these guys that you might not know about.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
But Ruben has made play since he's been here.
Speaker 11 (28:42):
And we upfront with our guys in the meeting rooms,
like we tell them, hey, don't do the blackout distractions,
don't count numbers, don't worry about.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Who's in the room.
Speaker 11 (28:52):
All you do is show up, work hard, make plays,
and be consistent. That will lead to productivity. Now, you
put yourself in a great situation to do great things,
and so far Rubin has done that. Man, So he's
playing all over the secondary forest. He's been really impressive.
I'm excited to see him continue to grow and see
what he does the rest of the summer.
Speaker 9 (29:10):
Play your boundary quarterbacks, you keep them to one side
and you have a lot of depth this year. But
do you see Nate Wiggins growing into the kind of
player that you're gonna have follow opposing wide receiver bunds
in certain situations.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
In the future. Yeah, that might be something that we do.
That might be something that we do.
Speaker 11 (29:24):
Our guys right now, they're they're playing, you know, left
and right and rotating, so our guys are getting work
on the right side, they're getting work on the left side.
They getting work in the slot, which is good and
but I think that that might be something we'll look into.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
That's it for today's edition of Press Past podcast. We'll
be back with you on Monday.
Welcome back to the Press Past podcast. It's July twenty sixth.
This is Cassie Chaerigo and the Ravens just wrapped up
their first week of practices of training camp. First off,
you'll hear from Special Teams coordinator Chris Horton.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
What's up.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
What's up?
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Good to see everyone. Hope everyone's doing well. Really it's
it's been a really good four days of training camp
with our guys. Uh, with this young group, you know,
I thought this spring we got after the fundamentals, we
start to build the standard and the expectations for for
what we want as Ravens Special Teams, and we're just
gonna bring these guys along and I'm looking forward to
(00:40):
having each and every one of these guys develop and
continue to grow as we as we continue this this
fall camping into those preseason games.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Questions do kick off full thirty five yard line?
Speaker 5 (00:51):
How do you expect that to impact how you guys
approach returns and end kicks?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
You know, I think as a as a special teams
coach and UH, and as then as thinking about the
players in the game that are you know, that is
how they make their their living ball going to the
thirty five yard line. I think, uh, we had a
we had a nice increase in returns last year. I
think there's like three hundred and thirty four or thirty two,
and then there was opportunities for more for more touchdowns,
(01:17):
more big plays. Right, I think there's over almost fifty
big forty plus returns. So with the ball going to
the thirty five yard line, I don't think any any
defense is gonna want that, right, So it's gonna it's
gonna allow your kickoff team and now let's go cover.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Let's go cover more kicks.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
And I'm looking forward to to putting a group out
there that's gonna be confident and feel pretty good about
not allowing teams to get to the thirty five yard line.
Speaker 6 (01:41):
About the kickers, one of the biggest storylines here. What
have you seen in when do you want? When do
you want a winner in this competition?
Speaker 4 (01:49):
You know, I know I don't think obviously going into
you know, you just let the guys that go out
and they compete in the work and they get better
every day. And I think I think the the idea
is what Randy has these guys doing, it's gonna prepare
them for the game, and and when the winner shows,
it's gonna show, right and uh, and it ain't gonna
be you know, how soon is that gonna be? I
(02:11):
don't know, you know, but I do know that these
guys are gonna be out here getting valuable work every
day and in these preseason games. And when it and
when it's showing and when it happens, whoever wins that
job is gonna be the guy that's right for the team.
Speaker 7 (02:23):
What are you guys looking for? And that is is
just as simple as like when he never picks the
most kicks.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Season, You know, I think I think it's a little
bit it's a little bit more than that, right. I
think it's all about It's all about consistency and everything
that we do, and especially at that at that level,
at that position, really at every position, but mainly at
that position. Right, we want to see kicks made right,
and we want to see good foot the ball contact
and there, and there's a process about how these guys
(02:48):
are going about it and and and where they're kicking
from and what they're doing in practices and the things
that Randy is talking to these guys about every day
is gonna allow for each and for both these guys
to have success out on the field. You know, if
you just if you just think back to the to
the spring, you know, I think a lot of it is,
(03:10):
uh when when when Randy goes out and he's looking
for a certain type of guy that fits what we
do and and our type of teaching from a from
a kicking and technical standpoint, it's all about you know,
foot the ball and and then and the kicking a
straight ball and all those things right, and and the
access of the ball if the ball is turning. But
we want the ball to be straight every time, right,
And that's what we're working for. And that's been a
(03:32):
big improvement since the spring, and I think both guys
have gotten a lot better at doing that.
Speaker 8 (03:37):
John said, Mitchell said, I want to make your return
if I can.
Speaker 6 (03:41):
John has said he thinks of the new rules that
really plays to a running back being into return. Why
do you think that would be in what's your impression
of Kate and Mitchell so far?
Speaker 9 (03:50):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
You know, obviously Keaton has done a tremendous job for
for us when he has.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Been back there.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Uh So, just just the body type, the style of play.
You know, it took us a while to really figure out,
you know, kind of our identity and kind of who
we wanted to be as a kickoff returning union. And
as the season went on late in the year, Uh,
those body types, those running back body types, you know
when they're used to bouncing off tacklers, right, and so
it it allowed for that type of player to really
(04:18):
have success back there. But man, I believe like a
guy with some toughness, guy that's gonna run with speed,
with vision, he's gonna have success back there for us.
But Keaton, Man, he's done a heck of a job
and it's really good to see him out here.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Man, just just rolling was a.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
Point of contention last year. DEVI that is spe simply
a wide open competition.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
At this point.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Definitely, you know, you know for us, you know, I
talk about this every year. Punt returning is about being efficient,
and being efficient in a sense of like if you
don't if we in the game and we catch every ball, uh,
that's a plus for us and we get no returns.
But we're gonna figure out, you know what, how to
make that better. Maybe maybe the punt was short, right
and we fair called the ball and we have to
(05:00):
run up for Well, that's that's efficiency for me.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
And how are we catching the ball? What I'm looking for?
Speaker 4 (05:05):
And we as coaches and as a staff are looking
for guys that are not gonna put the ball on
the ground even in practice. And that's gonna be the
guy that's gonna win the job when he goes out
there and he's making yards and he's catching the ball
and filling the ball, making great decisions.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
That's what we're looking for.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
You honestly kicking out all the headline last year and
the times moved by guys.
Speaker 7 (05:24):
If you lost this offseason.
Speaker 8 (05:26):
When it's kind of getting help with the specially fifty
by years restoration and create a special team to wait, if.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
You know, we still have guys in the building that
that understand the standard, that understand the expectations of what
we're looking for. So as long as you gotta a
select few of guys, and yes we did lose some guys,
but with young guys, uh, they don't know any better, right,
so you got an opportunity to really mold those guys
into what you want them to be. And if if
(05:53):
they if they listen and they learn and they grow
on the way they're gonna be playing at the standard
faster than what we think. But they're young guys. They
don't know, they don't know the system. All they know
is like, all right, what is coach saying? And then
we have video and we have proof of what it
looks like on tape from past from the past, So
we're just gonna continue to do that.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I feel really good about the guys we got. You know,
we went out.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
We got Jake, so we got a veteran guy God
that's played in this league four years special teams and
played at a high level. So we got some guys
in there that could help these young guys and bring
them along.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
There's one more question of not that the players on
the Ravens who play special teams, who have long ten
years interest special teams on this team also tend to
have an offensive or defensive contribution that they make at
the same time. So how invested are you as a
special teams coach when you see somebody who might be
playing good special league picket player at desa Isaac as
being saying, you need him to be a good pass
(06:48):
rusher because I needed for special teams.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Got you know, it's I think it's the it's it's
the more you could do factor.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Right.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I tell the guys all the time, we're here to win,
right And A and if you got a good football player,
and you got a guy that his mindset is to
do whatever it takes to help the team win, he's
gonna give everything he's got on the defense, and he's
gonna get everything he's got on the special teams or
the offense. So from a decent standpoint, just just to
use that as as an example, I think the guy's
(07:17):
gonna be a really good pass rusher. I also think
he's gonna be a really good special teams player.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
And it's and it's hard job to just.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Just get him, get him to that point, to get
him played at a high level. And and once he
does that, he starts to have success on special teams.
All those things translate to the other side of the ball.
The same thing with the offensive guys. Right, you know,
I g I use Justice Hill for example, right. Uh,
while he was waiting on his opportunity as a young guy.
You know what he did, He played special teams and
(07:43):
he played at a high level. He played like a raven.
And that stuff translates to more opportunities on the other side.
Speaker 7 (07:49):
Of the ball, not feeling rushed to big a kicker
through four days. Just scuris what you've seen from each
of the guys individually.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
You know, uh, well, you know the k kicks have
been made, right, I think you know with with Tyler?
Uh with Tyler, excuse me. The thing we understand is
when when when we bought him in and we looked
at him, the dude has a strong leg, right, and
and he he's technically, he's sound, He kicks the ball
the way we want to kick the ball. And he's
been consistent, right, and that's what we're looking for. John.
(08:20):
When you look at him, he's been consistent. And when
you watch him over his college career, he was consistent.
He made kicks. And that was the kind of guy
that we went out and said, Okay, let's bring in
two guys that you know what, they're consistent in what
they do.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
One one might look more powerful than the other one,
but the kicks are going in and that's ultimately what
matters the most.
Speaker 6 (08:39):
Thought to You've got three preseason games, do you just
say both of them kicking at all of them?
Speaker 8 (08:45):
One getting a game, one getting a game and both.
Speaker 9 (08:47):
Getting a game like that.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
You know, I haven't.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
I haven't given thoughts of that, but I do know, Uh,
both guys will be out there and both guys will
be kicking.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Now addressing the media is offensive coordinator Todd Monkin.
Speaker 9 (09:05):
There's a lot of familiarity, a lot of returning players
in this offense. How much do you feel like that
lets you kind of take things to another level this
year in terms of what you're installing.
Speaker 10 (09:15):
Well, it was great having let's start off with the
staff offensive staff back. Okay, so this will be our
third year together. Every year year together with somebody a
group of people, I think the relationship grows knowing each other,
not only individually as a person, but when it comes
to game planning.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
So that's been great. That's been great.
Speaker 10 (09:38):
I think allowed us in the off season to really
be comfortable uncovering things that we can get better at
because you really got to drill down and look at
where we can get better, where can we be efficient
in areas we weren't nearly as efficient as we want
to be at the right times.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
And then having a.
Speaker 10 (09:56):
Good number of our players back to give us a
chance to run it back one time, and it was
an easy decision on my mind. You'll have to ask Eric,
but to get a lot of those guys back because
they're still playing at a high, high level. This isn't like,
well we've got a diminishing skill set. No, our guys
are still playing at a really high level. So it's exciting.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
John has mentioned that a point of emphasis is pre
snap penalties.
Speaker 8 (10:22):
There seem to be several each day out here.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
Is there a common thread to those happening? And when
you leave here and go inside and meet what are
you telling the players about those?
Speaker 10 (10:32):
Well, you're right, there is a common thread, and that
is that we're going to continue to stress it and
use cadence in practice. And I've said this before. It's
real easy to get frustrated, which I do. I'm the
king of overreacting. Okay, so but if you do that,
then you'll just go on one all the time and
that doesn't help you either.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
So where is that sweet spot? Now's the time to
do that.
Speaker 10 (10:56):
We're practicing some other things in the throw game, in
the run game too, obviously, try like heck to be
you know, be on point when we play the first game,
you know, But Obviously we got a lot of work
to do.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
But that's not the only thing.
Speaker 10 (11:09):
That's the only thing that's obvious to the naked eye,
right that, Okay, we can see that play stops, there's
a yellow hanky. Okay, that's not very good. Well, there's
a lot of things we need to work at that
just that must be one of them. They will continue
to fight. Our rear ends off to be lead at it.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
Go do you feel in year three?
Speaker 6 (11:26):
Then to emplace you know what you want to do.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
It's not finding what you want to do, but really
in protecting what you do best.
Speaker 10 (11:33):
Some of that's true, and some of that is a
part of having the same players the same skill sets.
You know, how do we get the players.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
That we have.
Speaker 10 (11:44):
To stay an elite elite level at the areas their
lead at if that makes sense.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
That's probably a crazy way of saying it, and then
improving the.
Speaker 10 (11:52):
Other areas where they can, you know, whether it's past
protection or their ball skills or they're blocking on the perimeter,
all those things.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
But it certainly helps.
Speaker 10 (12:00):
When everybody's back, you can kind of build off what
we already know what they are and just try to
get a little bit better in certain areas to just
follow up.
Speaker 9 (12:11):
On those questions.
Speaker 7 (12:12):
Is it kind of a more variance in the cadence
from last year or just everyone getting used to it?
Speaker 10 (12:17):
No, No, there really isn't anything different other than we're
starting back up again and it's hot and we got
a number of guys going in the game. Sometimes it's
the quarterback that you know, it takes a little bit
of time at the line of scrimmage, you know, more
than they should, and then all of a sudden you're
making calls at the line and you may forget.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
You're on a different cadence, you know. It's all those
things are a part of it.
Speaker 10 (12:42):
And but I'm not going to get in We're going
to fight like heck to be good at Why can't
we be elity cadence?
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Why can't we other teams? Can we? Sure us that
can be and should.
Speaker 8 (12:51):
Be seeing the communication it's when you are gay as.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well. It grows.
Speaker 10 (12:58):
It grows daily with each of us, you know, and
it's not just Labar, it's every player. I think our ability.
I think part of that too is with each year
you're really on the same page. I think he understands
what we're trying to do, and I think he understands
what we're trying to accomplish against what we're seeing every day.
(13:22):
And I think every day he feels more comfortable voicing
his pleasure displeasure in terms of what.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
We do or how he wants to see it.
Speaker 10 (13:30):
That's probably strong, but just be able to communicate because
everything goes for him, I mean everything goes through him.
Everything we do starts with his confidence in what we do. Right,
he already has confidence himself. He's an elite player, but
what we do to make sure that we're building it
to where when he gets ready to go on Sunday
he can perform at an elite level and let his
(13:52):
talent shine.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
That he's worked so hard to get to this point,
which he really has, and he said it.
Speaker 10 (13:57):
I read it yesterday. He really is just he's still coming.
He's still a young player, really a quarterback.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
In my mind, that he's been going off script of
it at times and that sometimes you let them get
away with it, sometimes you coach him up.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
I guess how do you balance that him seeing what
he's seeing and doing his free saying.
Speaker 10 (14:15):
Versus when it's time to follow exactly the play that
you're calling.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Well, it's all of our offense. It's collaboration.
Speaker 10 (14:22):
So at the end of the day, I think you
set the offense and he doesn't go a wall, he
doesn't go out of the blue, like it's not all
of a sudden. You know, it's within the parameters of
what we do and and now is the time to
do that. Now's the time to work on those things,
the rapport with the receivers. Those things ain't getting us
(14:43):
into a premium play. That's that's really what he should do.
But it's it's all of our offense. And you know,
like anything, I mean, once he takes over that control,
that's a good thing for the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
The more he does that, the more he is that,
which he does a lot of it.
Speaker 10 (15:02):
That's really good for the Ravens because the elite players
like him want that, they want the ability to do that,
and then you live with the end result.
Speaker 9 (15:12):
It's what you do.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You live with the end result, and usually with him,
it's pretty special.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
The depth at the skill positions is the best probably
in Ravens history.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I think that's fair to say. We look back in
teams who've had that kind of depth.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
That Saints around twenty ten used a fresh legs approach
where they'd be constantly running in oftentimes five eligible receivers
to replay. Do you see as that as something.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
You have in your cool kid this year?
Speaker 10 (15:35):
Well, first of all, it's start off with this. The
skill players that we have. Okay, Like I tell him,
every year is a new year. So the skill group
that we've got, I don't know what that is this year.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Okay. Our skill group can be elite and they were elite.
Speaker 10 (15:52):
In twenty twenty four, or it remains to be seen
what will be in twenty twenty five as an offensive
staff and as an offensive team. Now, do I anticipate
those guys will play an elite level? I do, but
that remains to be seen. I mean we haven't played
the twenty twenty five season yet. I forgot the rest
of it because once I kind of got fired up
about that. Oh yeah, no, I would agree with that.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I think that's great.
Speaker 10 (16:14):
I think I spoke about it in the off season, like,
you'd rather have too many players that want the ball
than not enough or that deserve it right. You want that,
you want to be able to try and balance touches
because that's what they want as skilled players, but without
a doubt, we should be in a position to where
we can keep guys fresh, we can very personnel groups
(16:34):
like we did last year and have a number of players,
because to me, that's balance. Balance is having enough players
that it's not just running past its touches, that they
are not just defending one player. That you're defending modes,
you're defending formations, you're defending players, you're defending concepts, all
the above. And we're very fortunate to have that. And
(16:55):
we'll see because we have to do it this year.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Keith Mitchell and how well he's running out here, you
anticipate that he's going to have a bigger certainly a
bigger role they needed last year offensively.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
Well, it's great to see him back because I think
last year when he came back, he's still in his
own mind.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
I think he wanted to be ready.
Speaker 10 (17:12):
You'd have to ask him whether he felt that way,
was confident in that and when you don't practice for
such a long time. I'm excited to see him every
day out here, and I'm excited to see him when
we play in the preseason because.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
He's got a fight to get touches. You know, two
years ago we didn't have Derek.
Speaker 10 (17:28):
I mean, let's just say it like it is, like
it's a fight to get touches in the backfield. Justice
Hills an established outstanding football player. Now we got Derek,
So that third running back position is fighting for reps,
fighting for touches, fighting for the ability to be really
good as a pass protector, all that above special teams player.
Just because we're't a different place than we were a
year ago. But it's exciting to see him really kind
(17:51):
of be up to speed in the first four days.
Speaker 7 (17:54):
Go back to what you were saying about efficiency and
you have the kind of year you guys had last year,
how much higher to kind of view the ceiling? And secondly,
what are the one or two maybe those glare examples
from efficiency standpoint?
Speaker 10 (18:10):
Your fatus up, Well, we hit on it every time
I get up here, which is penalties, Okay, so we'd
I'm sure I'll be up here in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Well, the same thing again.
Speaker 10 (18:21):
But that that's number one is uh lost yortage plays
that falls into that, right, getting backed up. I mean
it's uh, you're up against it when you have those,
So obviously that's a huge emphasis off season. Obviously starting fast,
starting fast. The season off fast. Two years ago we
beat Houston, but we didn't play anywhere near a standard
(18:41):
on offense, and last year we didn't. We didn't come
out of the block. So starting faster, okay, how we
prep for that? How we game plan for that? And
then I think with every player, I think it's imperative
amongst our players and our coaches to maintain that high
left level. Is we got to challenge each other because
(19:02):
it's human nature. Oh whatever, as a player, an offense,
human beings. To settle a little bit, we're gonna be good.
I don't know twenty twenty five that we'll decide that
we have. We have plenty of talent. Talent alone just
you know, doesn't get you there. All the things that
win are the work that you put in and then
play at a high level.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
When accounts, how do you start fast?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
How do you go about?
Speaker 10 (19:26):
Because well, it starts with coaching. Okay, I've done such
a poor job the first two years. We weren't ready
the first game. Really, I shouldn't say that we didn't
do as good as job as we could have. Then
last year going to Kansas City, there were some things
we worked out, worked on in the off season that
really we went into that game and and also it
wasn't it wasn't just that is I would just say this,
(19:50):
scratch that, reverse it. We know each other better this
year than we did last year, starting with me, who
our personnel is, right with Derek, who we are, how
we utilize our tight ends, how we utilize our whiteoutes.
That's probably a better way of putting it. So that
I started off kind of on their own, I got
to do a better job. But I think we have
a better idea of who we I know, we do
have a better idea who we are what wins for
(20:13):
us with the players that we have.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Along those lines, I think one of the areas of
the passing game that wasn't just like the leite was
Lamar against man blitzes.
Speaker 9 (20:22):
And I know that's such a small thing, but is.
Speaker 5 (20:24):
That just something we think having consistency kind of continuity
just kind of takes care of itself, or is there
something more structural that you have been focusing on seniasm.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I think there's some merit to that, but it doesn't
make any sense.
Speaker 10 (20:37):
In some ways because we have guys that can separate
so against man, that isn't really an issue. It's doing
a better job of myself helping us get into a
better play maybe a better protection concepts that we run
anticipating it.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
But for sure it's crazy.
Speaker 10 (20:57):
You look at the statistic like how were we not
when there were so many other areas we relid at
and you're thinking, Wow, Lamar's ability to escape. Hey, our
guys that can really separate. We got a really good
offensive line leap we got to leap back. So that
doesn't make sense, but you're right, we need to be
a lot better.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
At Next up is defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Speaker 8 (21:24):
Zach, what does Eleander?
Speaker 3 (21:27):
I mean he brings a lot. I mean he brings
first and foremost.
Speaker 11 (21:30):
Energy, confidence, uh, hard work, and then playmaking ability. I
mean we go against the offense, our offense every day,
and they challenge our corners, especially on the outside, and
he's done a great job, man, so we've been happy,
pleased with them. He's a great student of the game.
I'm pleased with how fast he's picked up the system
and the and the vets and his teammates are helping
(21:51):
him out.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
But he brings a lot.
Speaker 11 (21:53):
Man, he can still play at a top level. He's
he's everything that we thought he would be and even more. Man,
it's a great, dude, glad that we got.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Them exactly so much talent, especially in the secondary and
all that stuff here last year there's.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
Counting that defense too, right, and there's some tough of
lives to getting got into the team. How does this
year you did with all that talent? Like what's your key?
So they're playing up to what the intention.
Speaker 11 (22:18):
I think it's uh, putting the work in every single
day in the in the classroom and out here on
the field and even in walkthroughs. And not to say
that that wasn't happening, but I see it at the
whole another level this year. So I'm I'm happy with it. Uh,
we're we're light years ahead of where we're at. We
still got a long way to go, but we're ahead
of where we were at last year. So that's a
credit to the guys who were here. Man, we didn't
(22:39):
like what we did last year, especially the first half
of the season, and we made a vow that we
wouldn't do that again. So we know that's just words.
We have to put action behind it. But so far, Uh,
it's throughout the spring and its first week of training camp.
The action's been real good. So I'm I'm happy with
the group you're talent.
Speaker 9 (22:55):
For happy secondary.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Do you think that gets you more fusibility in terms
of playing on.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Here in the rubbery that's you.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, it definitely does.
Speaker 11 (23:02):
I mean it's it opens the possibilities of playing man coverage,
blitzing more, playing different coverages. Our our dbs, they can
do everything man, and it's a credit to Double D
and Pegano. You'll see these guys start rotating playing different
positions as we get going.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Did a lot in the spring.
Speaker 11 (23:21):
So when the when the offense lines up and you
have multiple dbs on the field and they don't know
necessarily what coverage, what pressure, or what position those guys
are playing, it's an advantage for us. So you know,
we'll start working at but I'm excited about the possibility.
And it's just depth man depth and matchups for certain opponents.
You might want to put certain guys on certain people,
So it's definitely an advantage for us.
Speaker 7 (23:42):
Exactly.
Speaker 8 (23:43):
Marlon Hupefrey can be great candidate, and he said, we
don't think the Steelers fear are deep anymore. We don't
think the Bengals fear are depens anymore. What's your reaction
when you hear that, and why how do you change it?
Speaker 11 (23:54):
I like that. I like that, man like we want
to be the most feared unit in the in the league.
And you know, it's time for us to get back
to people being scared of playing us, and that's what
we want to feel when we're out there. Obviously he's
out there, we trust him. He feels that way. I
feel that way too. So that's one of our goals
this year is is to be the most dominant fear
of defense in the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
So let's go do it. And it's not just gonna
happen by us talking about it.
Speaker 11 (24:19):
We got to come out here, put the work in,
and then when Sunday or game day comes, we got
to go do it.
Speaker 7 (24:26):
Arnold also said turnovers creating turners that probably the biggest
point of emphasis. And to keep think when maybe six
teams have fewer than you guys.
Speaker 9 (24:33):
Did when last year.
Speaker 7 (24:35):
Yep, there's a whole bunch of things that go into it.
But form your standpoint, how do you go about sort
of coaching guy and what else to sort of what
the stress.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
To make the first thing. Man, we just teach it.
Speaker 11 (24:47):
Man, we're getting better at teaching it, teaching in the classroom,
showing opportunities on film, showing how to get the football out,
understanding how important it is. And I think coach Harbor
has done a great job this spring of talking about
what what's the really packfuls that impact the football games?
And takeaways for a defenses is at the top of
the list. And when we take the ball away, we'll win.
(25:07):
When we don't, uh, we got a good chance of winning.
But why put ourselves in that position? So obviously we
look at it. Last year we didn't take the ball
away enough. We had zero takeaways in the playoffs, and
we us as defensive coaches and players, we look at
it as the reason why we didn't get to where
we wanted to get to. So we're talking about it
every single day. We're teaching it, we're drilling it, and
(25:29):
we're making our guys aware of how important it is.
And you know, it's not just me talking about it,
it's the every coach is talking about it, even on
the offensive side of the ball. So I think that
it's good that our players are mindful of it. And
we understand as a defense that's the most important thing.
Just think about it. If we take the football away
and we keep giving our offense and LJ more opportunities
(25:51):
to score, will be in good shape. We'll come in
a lot of turnover, both in the coach coaches in
on the field where the players.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Is there any more in your mind comfortable this.
Speaker 10 (26:03):
Year going into camberish the PIP points, I guess.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Now we're not as much turning. Yeah, I think I'm
I think it's definitely more comfortable.
Speaker 11 (26:10):
I mean, I'm I'm more experienced, so I know I'm
better than where what I was last year, especially this
time of year. So I think that's where some of
the comfortability comes from. I think the uh, the players
and the coaches that are here, they understand of what
we what we want to get accomplished, what we have
to get accomplished, and understand the action.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Plan that we have to take to get that accomplished.
So it's great.
Speaker 11 (26:30):
Man, Sometimes changes is good, and I think that it's
it's it's been good for us from a coaching and
playing standpoint.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Oh Samuel stra and he thinks all guys might also
better where he was.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
I guess, after a week of camp and seen a
kind of what are some of your pressures, how do
you feel like he's spit against that?
Speaker 3 (26:46):
And he's fitting in great. He's fitting in great.
Speaker 11 (26:48):
Every test that we've thrown at him since the spring
up to now this first week of training camp he's
passed with flying colors, and which is expected.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
You know, you you saw him in college, do that.
Speaker 11 (26:58):
You talk to his coaches, you talk to people who've
known him, you know his his makeup. So uh, the
next step we'll start getting in pads here next week
and we'll start having these preseason games and regular season games.
And will he uh if he passed those tests, which
we expect him to do because he's a heck of
a person, heck of a player. And like I always say,
when you're a talented player and you work hard on
(27:20):
and off the field, the chances of you being successful
are dang near one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
So Malako fits that. Mold Zach, what do you say
from Mike Green this week?
Speaker 7 (27:29):
And what are you hoping to.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
See from him?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
And during drinking Yeah, I mean Mike, Mike just comes
in and works, man.
Speaker 11 (27:33):
Uh, smart player works hard, hard, work, doesn't really doesn't
really say much until we're out here on the field
and he has to communicate, which he does a great
job of.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
But he's just a worker man, just like all our rookies.
So right now is outside backer and a front guy.
Speaker 11 (27:49):
Right now, we're wearing shorts and T shirts with a
helmet on, so it's pretty much assignment sound and he's
been great with that. It's gonna crank up next week
and I'm excited for him. We know what type of
player we have, so now it's time for him just
to go out here and do it in practice, which
we believe you will, Zach.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Zach.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
John has already shouted out Ruben Lowry several times.
Speaker 10 (28:12):
Have you talked to Ruben about kind of maybe specific
things he can do to put himself in That conversation
has given how many talented guys.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Are in that secondary.
Speaker 11 (28:21):
Yeah, we talked to all our guys like that, and Ruben,
he's made play since he's been here, man, So credit
to our personnel staff finding him. They've done a great
job finding all these kids. It's one of the most
competitive rosters that we've had since I've been here. So
you guys gonna get a chance to learn a lot
about some of these guys that you might not know about.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
But Ruben has made play since he's been here.
Speaker 11 (28:42):
And we upfront with our guys in the meeting rooms,
like we tell them, hey, don't do the blackout distractions,
don't count numbers, don't worry about.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Who's in the room.
Speaker 11 (28:52):
All you do is show up, work hard, make plays,
and be consistent. That will lead to productivity. Now, you
put yourself in a great situation to do great things,
and so far Rubin has done that. Man, So he's
playing all over the secondary forest. He's been really impressive.
I'm excited to see him continue to grow and see
what he does the rest of the summer.
Speaker 9 (29:10):
Play your boundary quarterbacks, you keep them to one side
and you have a lot of depth this year. But
do you see Nate Wiggins growing into the kind of
player that you're gonna have follow opposing wide receiver bunds
in certain situations.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
In the future. Yeah, that might be something that we do.
That might be something that we do.
Speaker 11 (29:24):
Our guys right now, they're they're playing, you know, left
and right and rotating, so our guys are getting work
on the right side, they're getting work on the left side.
They getting work in the slot, which is good and
but I think that that might be something we'll look into.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
That's it for today's edition of Press Past podcast. We'll
be back with you on Monday.
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