Head Coach John Harbaugh, Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Willie Taggart, running back Justice Hill, and quarterback Cooper Rush speak with the media ahead of the Ravens' preseason game in Dallas.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome into the Ravens Press Past podcast. The date is Wednesday,
August thirteenth, and today was the last day of training
camp practice open to fans. After today's practice, we heard
from head coach John Harbaugh, running backs coach and assistant
head coach Willie Taggert, as well as quarterback Cooper Rush
and running back Justice Hill. We'll start the podcast with
(00:25):
Coach Harbaugh's post practice press conference.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Okay, good seeing everybody. Appreciate everybody being here. Big practice
for us. Padded a lot of situational football. It's a
lot of physicality, very important practice in camp, and everybody
handled exceptionally well, very pleased before we're at this is
an important week for us. We have one more big
day all tomorrow being Shells, but it'll also be a
(00:52):
camp practice they try to continue to improve. We think
this is the improvement week. This is the opportunity week
in camp to really build the base under your football team.
I feel like the guys did that, so happy with that.
What question do you.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Have yesterday with Michael Phelpos, How did they How did
how did he do with the talk?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Give can listen to a little bit of that.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Well, the two talks and you probably probably would be
online I would think here if not already. But Michael
and Ray, you know, it's amazing. I just I was
looking around at the faces of the players. You know,
if I had a mirror, I think my face would
have been the same.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Just listen to these two guys. I mean, we had
two of the like two arguably the greatest ever I
would say, the greatest ever to do what they do
in history. That's pretty rare. And they're standing right next
to each other on the same field, and like Rashen
Ali said to me, he said, he said, yeah, he said,
(01:47):
And Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and Rokwan Smith, Marlon Humphrey,
you know, he named it off read in that group
and it kind of opened your eyes a little bit.
And then the words that they shared with the guys
who are just uh, we're just so spot on. It's
all the things that are guys they know, they believe in,
and to hear them reinforce and putting such terms like
in terms that the guys are very vulnerable about, you know,
(02:08):
and kind of talked about their careers a little bit.
It was a once in a lifetime oach in.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Terms of the event itself that went on afterwards.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Was that a team bonding thing?
Speaker 5 (02:20):
And I think a lot of people think it regretted
that everyone knows how to swim these things.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, yeah, it ended up being a team bonding thing.
It really wasn't a plan team bonding thing, you know.
And I have found over the years, Jerry, that the
plan team bonding things really aren't don't really work, They're
not really real. The best team bonding things are the
things that you just kind of find yourself doing together,
you know, spending time together, having fun, having a meal,
whatever it might be. And I guess swimming, you know,
and jumping off the high dive and doing cannonballs. And
(02:46):
I didn't think there was too many canniballs off the
high high dive, you know, most of the guys were
going like that trying to survive that one. But I
was pretty impressed with guys getting up there on that
high board from what I saw on video. I wasn't
there in person. I saw the video of Travis always
learned how to swim. I thought that was really cool, so, uh,
you know it's good. And now now, guy, if they
don't know how to swim, now they're more confident, and
(03:07):
they can maybe instill that confident in their kids for
going forward. It's a neat thing. I'm good credit Michael
for doing it.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
You hold your breath.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Some of those guys I didn't I didn't know. I
didn't see enough of them. Well, I got the injury
report afterwards. Everybody was healthy, so we're fine.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
We talked about going over situations.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
We actually saw you practice a free kick in the
half situation.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
Just how many guys do you have to even explain
that exists, because I mean, that's pretty obscure back of
the rub.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It really is, you know, and uh, and we did.
We explained it to him in the spring. We explained
it to him again. Now Daniel started does a great job.
He showed he showed a couple of clips that's happened
the Chargers, happened for them last year. We showed that one.
I was always very jealous of Jim because I always
figured it's a special teams guy. I would get that,
get that first, you know, and he gets it first.
You know, It's like he always does gets the first things.
(03:52):
But yeah, it's a I think the guys have done
a good job of situational football, though, ask a situational.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Football question, because I think all these special situations come
up you can't possibly practice at all, And how do
you prepare your players.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Or how do you expect it to get prepared in terms.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Of one field game management decisions and they come up naturally.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, it's a great question, and it's really is a challenge,
but we do try to practice them all. We try
to review them all. We try to show tape of
them all so they can see like TV copy when
they see it in real time, see how it plays
out in real time and get an understanding of how
it comes about. I mean, we also practice the hurry
up field goal. We call it the Bonzi field goal
today because it came up and practice at the end,
So we went ahead and practiced it with the third offense.
(04:35):
And you know, I don't think it's probably gonna come,
but it could, you know. And now they've been through it,
so you try to get it all practice as much
as you can, and then when it comes up during
the course of the season with other teams, you always
show it to them and reveal with them and try
to remind them about.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
It specifically in that like are times where you don't score,
rep player has to make get your name.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
A few years ago.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Chicago Game Movie scored the touchdown the Melby side the
tame They win that football game maybe eight percent of
the time.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
How about that?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Services we work it. We've worked at already a couple
of times this year we say we say get down
at the five. And the reason we say get down
at the five is because if you carry past the five,
your momentum may bring in and we've seen that happen
in history, right, So that's a that's an alert, and
those are the way we do it. Is there there
there one word or their phrases or terms that tell
the guys in the huddle in real time? We'll say
that well liked alert, bonds, eye alert, get down, get down,
(05:23):
clockt alert, get down, time out, whatever it might be,
to remind the guys that should hopefully put the whole
picture in their head about what they're supposed to do.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
John's kind of dominating some of those past rust rills
in the veryet. What have you seen from him in
terms of taking a step into the season compared to
last year.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Well, I'm I'm excited about him. I think he's ready
to roll. He's had he's had a great couple of
years of preparation. You know, he tweaked his ankle last
year at the high ankle. He played through it, did
a great job. And for him to play on that
severe of a high ankle sprain and play the way
he did was was incredible. So now he's healthy and uh,
you know he stays healthy. But he's had a camp
(06:01):
this week.
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Improvement week and opportunity week going into the secondary season game.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
What have you seen him through camp?
Speaker 8 (06:06):
From your receiver or of all those lines taking STAPs
getting better of those one.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
That's such a great question. Yeah, the little things. Uh,
you know, there's for instance, the deep balls. You know,
in terms of we've tried to hold it, we try
to hold a line vertically away from the sideline and
create room for the quarterback and try to stack the corner.
I've seen them do that better this week. You saw
a couple of those those plays out here today. Depth
of route running, spacing against zone covers, things like that.
I really are starting to get pretty sharp. And you
(06:31):
wonder why, all of a sudden the passing game maybe
look looks better and better, And then you see it's
the details of the route. Running a lot of times.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Cooper rushed a little bit. What have you used to
kind of seen from him?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, Cooper rush. I mean he's a professional. He's a pro,
operates the offense well, makes great decisions, handles the protections,
gets the ball out on time, accurate passer. I think
he's I think he's a winning quarterback, you know, And
you see that every day in practice, and I mean,
you know, it's it's pretty hard to stack quarterbacks up
next to Lamar Jackson, you know, and and but we
(07:03):
do that.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
We can.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
We always make those comparisons. But the important thing for
Cooper is to be Cooper, you know, and do the
things that he does he does so well and and
win games for you playing that way. And he's done it. Really.
I think he's had a really good camp.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
It'll be another quarter or so for him against Dallas.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
We've kind of got a plan for that, but I'd
rather wait till the game, you know, before we commit
to that and just kind of see how plays out.
But we have we do have a plan for that,
and he's I would think he'll get more throws and
more reps than he had the last game, for sure.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
This game kind of guy today, you waiting the decision
for us Lamar Derek.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
A lot of the players that did not play in
that first preseason game when well they also not play
in the second.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Right, our plan is to have is the same guys
that didn't play at all in the last game will
not play in this game. Okay, great, thanks you. Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
That was head coach John Harbaugh answering questions following today's
training camp practice. Next up, you'll hear from Ravens running
backs coach and assistant head coach will he Taggert.
Speaker 9 (08:03):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 7 (08:07):
Believe you've got these three really challenged running backs, you
the three, the three that Top Monk has talked about
trying to get the ball to. How are you working
with Todd Monkin to try to figure out how those
snaps and those touches are gonna get to be done?
Speaker 9 (08:20):
Well, I think when it comes to uh, Derek and Justice,
we we have a good rotation going. You know, Derek's
our normal down back and Just is our third down back.
You know, and as the game goes and Derek need
a blow, we know Justice can go in. And and
then when it comes to Keaton he's so unique and
the things that he can do, and each week we
(08:40):
try to find different ways to get him the football
so he can so he can do his thing. And
it was great to see him back to himself last week.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Williams. He feels safe. He kind of crazy to even
ask this service fill. They're expanding what he does.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Or branching out and in some way, what are you
gonna see for him.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And in your tool.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Or in this offense, what you might do that he
didn't see much surely?
Speaker 9 (09:08):
Well, I think I think as you saw towards l
the latter part of the season, you start to see
his game get better. I think that's because he's got
comfortable with our offense and understanding the things that we
wanted him to do. And so going into year two,
I think you just everything we asks him to do.
I think you sit on a higher level than what
it was before because he's more comfortable with what we
(09:29):
asking him to do now, you know. And and Derek
practiced like or pro He practiced like he's a rookie,
you know, so and he wants to be better. He
don't want to be the same, so we expect for
him to be a lot better. I expect for him
to be a lot better once because he know the
offense so much better to.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Make those hillsides and textics. Look where to change?
Speaker 9 (09:48):
Nah, I think, uh, Derry no the answer he's gonna get,
you know, if he asks me that. You know, I
like looking at him on social media knowing that he's
out there working.
Speaker 10 (09:57):
Well, you college, His big pre season opener was that
a uh you know, I.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Knew this was gonna happen kind of movement for you.
Speaker 9 (10:06):
Well, I knew he was gonna come and I press
people by the way he played, you know. Uh, tell
you what was cool about the other night? Was that
day le Jonty and I was sitting in the meeting
and I asked him. I was like, so, what do
you think about the city. What do you think about Baltimore.
He's like, Coach, I'm gonna introduce myself to the city
to night. And so when he got that that punk return,
I was like, you gotta be kidding me. You know,
(10:28):
you did you You did surely that by introducing yourself
with that punk return. So that was pretty cool. You know,
he kind of spoken into existence, you know, but that's
what he does, you know, He's been doing that since
day one when we recruited him. Nobody recruited him and
we got him, and from day one he he just
showed he was a heck of a football player.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
When you see you know he talking about Derek, you
log of people always talked about that signature stip on
off his mean, how you.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Know the strong of a weapon is that, you.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Know, especially for you know, you know, defenders to defend
even though they know probably were becoming some times.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
Well, once you see him in person, you can understand
if he put those palls on you, it's gonna be trouble,
you know so and I think once he showed it
on film once, everybody else know that can happen when
they come up in there. So I think sometimes there's
some business decisions whether to tagger him or not. But again,
Derek's such a unique player. You know, he's big, physical,
(11:23):
he's strong, and he got good feet like a little guy,
you know, and that's that's tough, you know what I mean,
because he can run through you, he can run around you,
he can make you miss, and not many people can
do that.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Go to Keith Mitchell, it looked like PRITTI a new team.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Also earlier in camp took a lot of the murder
contact than some of the other running backs in particular,
And I still hear people talking about the kneede for
him to tackle the fumul eis and that would potentially
somehow he could for us.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Where are you on that? Well?
Speaker 9 (11:53):
First of all, I think Keaton's back to himself, you know.
I think the latter part of last year he was
still trying to get used to his knee. Getting a
good feel for the game again, and having this off
season has been big for him. And and he's stronger
than what he was before, seemed faster, you know. And
I think right now again for Keating. For Keating, he's
(12:15):
running the ball more physical, you know. So when he
runs in there, he's not running like a little guy.
He's he's running with power. So I think a lot
of that power and hitting is him hitting the defender
rather than the defender necessarily hitting him at times. So
but I think it's Neil strong. He's shown throughout training
camp that is strong and and ready to go. And
I think, keeping me, we'll we'll see the old Keating.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
In a few minutes. Just what ways have you seen.
Speaker 11 (12:40):
Him in oh Man.
Speaker 9 (12:42):
First of all, that's I told you all before. I
called him a junk yard dog because he does everything
for us, you know, and he does at elite level,
you know. And Justine knows his role and he plays
his role to the best of his ability. He's been
great not just as a player, but as a teammate
and bringing other guys along. I think he's he helped
uh Derek adjusts last year and when he came into
(13:04):
a new team, and uh Just was right there with him.
I personally say he was a big part of helping
Derek with his success, you know, and and integrating with
the team, you know, to Justice, just he's what you're
looking for in the football player and the teammate and all.
He's a heck of a football player. You you saw
last year just when he got the ball. He made
the best of the opportunity when they come. And that's
(13:26):
what you want from guys, is when that opportunity come,
you step up and take advantage of it. And and
Justice does that every single day. He takes pride and
that guy come into work every day with a smile
on his face. And I say every day every day,
and it's great. The beer around Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Being back to himself.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Is here point others in or training camps when he
first saw for first thought.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Confident, like, yeah, that's sticky Mitchell.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
I remember, yeah, when I saw running past a couple
of NFL players like they're in college, I was like, yeah,
he's back.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
You know.
Speaker 9 (13:56):
I saw him do that before his rookie year, run
around some guys, and I said, all that and training
camp as well, you know so, and it's just it's good.
It's good to see that, you know. I mean, that
was a brutal injury. You know, he was hacking. He
was having a heck of a season, and then last
year sprinkling him in there a little bit. It was
good to see him back to himself now. It's really
good to see him walk around with confidence now, smiling
(14:18):
and talking and joking like he normally do. He's back
to himself now, and that's good for all of us.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
One more, I keep Mitchell, how was he coming along
as every host protector in the pocket.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
What have you seen out of pending in terms of
that much better?
Speaker 9 (14:30):
Much better? You know, and again it's a rookie year.
He didn't have that opportunity to do that. You know
and and he's so much stronger than what he was
his rookie year. You know, he have a better understanding
of how to do those things. He wouldn't actually do
that a lot in college and now you have a
better understanding of how to do it now. And now
he's doing it with great technique and with confidence. And
that's more than anything. And he's blocking and if you
(14:51):
got to have confidence, and he's able to do that now.
And he can have confidence because he knows know what
to do, he knows to play. He's not thinking a lot.
He can go out and just play and and that's development.
You know, he's development to become a better pass blocker
as well.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
We talked we talked to John about the new grading
system and how you got your crew now.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
And you know, in meeting rooms, the guys can tails.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Have you gotten any heapback from kind of players of what.
Speaker 9 (15:15):
It's been like, Oh, you hear it every day. I
mean when they walk in the meeting room, the first
the first thing they do is look up on the
board and they give each other. They joke on each other,
whether you're up there at the top of at the bottom.
It's been a heck of a thing where the guys
are really bought into it. And for me personally, it's
been great because it's fundamental. It's how you play the game.
And our guys are taking pride in doing the little things,
(15:36):
the little fundamental technique, and they don't like when they
get bad grades.
Speaker 11 (15:40):
That's what you love, you know what I mean as
a coach.
Speaker 9 (15:42):
A lot of things you ain't got.
Speaker 11 (15:43):
You don't have to say it.
Speaker 9 (15:44):
They mad at themselves, you know, and so the next
day they're gonna go out and make sure that they
get better. And it's been I mean, we seeing it,
We see the results, you know, of the guys out
there trying to do the things that we actually we
see those guys out there what we call winning football.
They're out there playing winning football, and I personally think
is gonna make a different with this football team this year.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You're listening to the Ravens Press Past podcast. That was
coach Willie Taggart's press conference after today's practice. Now you'll
hear from quarterback Cooper Rush.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
How do you feel the emotions will be when I
know it's just the preseason games. We're going back in
Dallas and being on the visiting side.
Speaker 8 (16:26):
It'll be different over on that sideline, it'll be something new.
But looking forward to it, see a lot of a
lot of close relationships over the year, over the years
there and get to catch up with some guys. It'll
be cool.
Speaker 10 (16:38):
How do you think it's been trying to you know,
get caught up to speed here and how different is
it skin wise from what you're used to in Dallas.
Speaker 8 (16:47):
Yeah, it was a lot of new, but you're really
starting to feel comfortable, starting to own it, starting to
be I feel like you're in command out there of
what's going on. All the reps and OTAs were huge,
getting to run the show and just continuing those in
camp and kind of run through the installs again have
been have been big, and you know, every day it's
getting more and more comfortable.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
With Lamar.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
Yeah, it's it's incredible watch It's really cool. You don't
getting to see what one of the best does every day.
The way he sees space, sees the field. It's been
fun obviously sees the game and just gonna know him
that way and in the media room, man on the field,
it's cool.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Let's go doubt about that. I mean from the outside
looking in, we all see how great the playing is.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
But it's gon surprise you. What what's something about him
that you've learned that maybe he didn't.
Speaker 11 (17:31):
Know the leads?
Speaker 8 (17:32):
Uh? I mean he can he can do it everyway.
If you wanted to sit in the pocket through for
three yards, you could do it. If you want to
run around three hundre yards, he could do it. That's
what's pretty impressive. Kind of whatever your challenge him to
do that day, he can go do it.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
How long does that take to kind of get up
your speed and you can feel company before and come
on to.
Speaker 8 (17:53):
You know, be able to go out there and run plays.
Wasn't too long. You know you're kind of study and
you learn. But then to get comfortable intent trying to
you know what monks think on this type of play,
how to run it within the system and you know
that takes a few more laps through it and really
in command of like all right, I know what's going
on now, really focus on what the defenses present on
you knowing where guys will be anticipating things like that.
(18:14):
It's starting to come along.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
Said it was Tampa, thenes interested you journey Mayor and
where do you kind of get out of the relationship
that you and is there sol.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Sort of pre existing thinking there.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
That don't become apparent as you guys.
Speaker 8 (18:33):
Getting the chance to Yeah, Tampa is my one and
only uh visit as a as the uh through the
draft process, I had a chance to sign there as
undrafted guy was between there in Dallas. So yeah, I
met with Monk there and all the staff and so
it's just funny how you know, nine years later you
find your way to retire.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
We haven't talked since you've signed with the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
How was free agency, Like, I mean, was it pretty
apparent that it was going to be Ravens or were
there other options maybe even option to go back to Dallas.
Speaker 8 (19:02):
Yeah, Dallas was in play, but then you know, Baltimore
kind of came out of nowhere early on in that week,
and uh, you're like, oh man, it's a good place
to be. Obviously a head coach that's built a culture
here for a long time and uh, you know, a
winning program, and so it was super excited about that
and really glad they called.
Speaker 10 (19:20):
Been like we're you're obviously football is a big deal
in Dallas.
Speaker 11 (19:23):
The case a little different here in the atmosphere on
the cover.
Speaker 8 (19:27):
Yeah, I mean, uh, depends how you look at down there,
but no, I've been really enjoying it.
Speaker 10 (19:33):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (19:34):
Like I said, it's been a little slower paced, but
it's it's fun. I mean, this facility is amazing. Getting
to see this and uh, being around a team that
you've always seen from Afar have success. Now you see
why well coached great locker room leadership, things like that,
and a lot of talent. I didn't realize how how
talented we were, especially on offense, until you got out here.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
It sounds like you're.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Gonna have a new Drives in Dallas, sort of like
you had against the Colts.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
It's the mentality, sort of like show your former team
you're doing well in your spot. I mean, how do
you kind of go on with that infrest of motivation.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
You're really trying to show the current team I'm doing
well and things like that are the main focus and
getting ready to play.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Those games do matter.
Speaker 8 (20:13):
Those presee games do help guys in my position.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Those reps do count.
Speaker 8 (20:17):
You learn from them so when you can when you
have to go out there and the real thing, it works.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
What you're saying about coming to you exciding and kind
of your what went into the decision specifically, and they
were kind of maybe kind of put you over the
three edge.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
Yeah, just a chance to go, you know, on on
a really good team that you know, you're you know,
if you've got to go in there, you can go
do and win games and important games a team that's
in it and uh, you know, a team that's got
tons of weapons at every position. So all those go
into it and it was exciting process and was really
happy with it.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
What are your impressions?
Speaker 8 (20:53):
Yeah, I think we do a really good job of
just being versatile. We got a lot of depth of
different positions. Are tight end rooms deep, the receiver deep,
different types of running backs, you can play bullyball, you
can spread them out, and I think it does a
good job kind of using all that were at last
game last.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Year for Dallas they decided to start Trey. If you
would have been able to play, I think you would
have made another extra incentive in that. Any any hard
feelings the hell that maybe that last.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Game went down help for you, No, I mean it's
you know, business.
Speaker 8 (21:27):
If I played better go out there, I don't know,
But no, you don't really think about that stuff.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
It's a.
Speaker 8 (21:32):
I had a great time there with awesome eight years,
Like I said, really close with a lot of people
in the organization, so it'll be cool, all right.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yep, thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You just heard from QB Cooper Rush talking about his
return to Dallas this weekend and more on the Ravens
Press Pass podcast. Next up, we have running back Justice Hill.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
With any different fuel you know, this training camp coming
in here. Any do you feel any kind of difference,
you know, this camp compared to all the ones that
you've been needing with for him?
Speaker 10 (22:07):
Nah, I mean I think each camp kind of gets
a little bit easier because.
Speaker 11 (22:11):
You know what they expect. But uh, but we're gonna
get it in.
Speaker 10 (22:15):
We gonna get some work, and that's that's the fact here.
So uh, it's been it's been a great count got
some good work, getting to see all every all the
young guys, uh what they bring to the table, and
and then for us just getting better as a room.
Speaker 11 (22:26):
So it's been a fun.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Count.
Speaker 11 (22:27):
I can't complain how nice is Ben Just that.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
He pickled fully back at the next that one says
it looks like himself.
Speaker 10 (22:33):
Again, Yeah, no, I mean heat and he had to
work really really hard to get back from that gruesome injury,
and last year was like the first year trying to
get back to it.
Speaker 11 (22:40):
But I mean, he worked his butt off this off
season and.
Speaker 10 (22:42):
Uh, he's getting back to himself, you know, And so
it's gonna be fun to see what we all do
out there when we get like going going when the
season comes around. And so you know, I've been proud
of his, uh his journey, just how he came to
work every single day, came with a small and I
know it's a lot of tough days in there, and
he made those tough days good.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
So you've dropped off special teams affectively right last year
at some point let's talking about if you miss it.
Speaker 11 (23:06):
Yeah, I'm not gonna.
Speaker 10 (23:07):
I actually do kind of missing because I mean it
just kind of gave me my foundation, gave me a start,
gave me a chance, because I mean, without special teams,
I probably wouldn't even been here for too long. And
so uh, special teams got the special placemart. Uh and
so I'm a missy, but uh, it's kind of nice
being on being off of it too, So I'm not
gonna play.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
It along those lines. I mean, you do have this
stature now where I mean you're.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
Being held out of preseason games when you think back
to those days and knowing what dis point in preseason
now second preseason game, final cutsantly not too far away.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
What's that like for a young player?
Speaker 6 (23:41):
What's that level burdency now compared to you know, going
through OTAs and you're supposed to leak at games.
Speaker 10 (23:46):
Yeah, I mean when I'm whenever I'm talking to guy
and they talking about it, I just try to tell
them this just another day and just treat every day
the same, because I mean, if you start thinking too
far ahead, you know, it's just sometimes not the best
things happened for you. So just trying to say focus,
locked in. I mean, it's at the end of the day,
is a game. You know this game, been playing your
whole life at you obviously elite at it.
Speaker 11 (24:06):
That's why you're here.
Speaker 10 (24:07):
And so yeah, I mean, obviously you're gonna have some
nerves every time you go into a field, but when
you know what you've done, the work that you put in,
you can.
Speaker 11 (24:14):
Go out there with some confidence. You know you're gonna
put your best feel for it. When the Ravens extending
you last year, I mean then has there come of a.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Confidence or an insurnament during feeling like all right, I
have BROWDI.
Speaker 11 (24:28):
Do this organization sort of like having things in that.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Later you've got best status down, you got the most for.
Speaker 10 (24:34):
Boys hear h, I would say so yes and no,
I'm I think I've always had that confidence, and I
just felt like I just needed some opportunity to show that.
But yeah, with them extending to me, I mean it
was obviously that they trusted in me and trusted things
that I was doing, and so for me, I just
wanted to continue to improve on think the things that
(24:54):
they paid me for. I mean, whether it's blocking and catching, uh,
making plays. I mean that it's what they brought me here,
drafting me here to do, and that's why they still
have me here today.
Speaker 11 (25:03):
So I'm just gonna continue to do those things at
a high level.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
Justice as a really good pass protector, what do you
what parts of your game do you think make you
such a good pass protector?
Speaker 10 (25:12):
And how what have you seen a keeping Mitchell remember
or Yeah, I mean it's obviously my size is my stature.
Speaker 11 (25:18):
You know, that's what makes me leave Blacker.
Speaker 10 (25:20):
But you know, I mean it's just the want to
it will, Like I just want to make sure my
guys are making the play and as simple as that,
like I just have the will to do it, and yeah,
keating it.
Speaker 11 (25:30):
I mean he's coming along too in that aspect.
Speaker 10 (25:32):
I think a lot of times coming to college, coming
into college and that's like your first time really past
protect so you might not be the best at it,
and then as you get more and more reps, like
anything in life, you're gonna get way better. And so
like for me, I mean I've been doing it for
a while and each year I just try to continue
to get better in that and I really just focus
on it as well. So whether we're doing the act
you walk through, try to make sure I'm practicing my technique.
(25:54):
And then when it comes to full speed, full speed
in the games, it's just kind of like I've been
there before.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
As you're gonna have a pointy in how anything. So
many graphs are I mean, weren't fill it out here
in the team drills me, so.
Speaker 11 (26:05):
You might have been in the reslace stand for you ms.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
How do you balance that in a way between like
getting those graphs out there with the team or you know,
staying all.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
The year too, just like gay.
Speaker 10 (26:16):
Yeah, game practice, Uh they call it being a pro.
I guess like I just make sure I take care
of myself. I've been doing it for so long. Reason,
like riding the bike. I mean, you can not do
it for a long time and you can go out
there and know how to ride it. So uh yeah,
Uh it's been a transition not doing as much as practice.
But uh, when the game comes around, I know i'm'a
(26:36):
always be ready.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Justice what's up stood out to you? But out though,
just short of the reporting version of it, because just
as you.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
Talk about that, Yeah, I mean the more the longer
you're end into something, the longer you learning something, you
just get more and more comfortable. And so I think
Monk is more comfortable calling certain plays. Uh h Lamar
is more comfortable checking to certain things and uh and
then Mug is also good at putting all the guys
in the right spot to maximize their abilities. And uh,
(27:07):
it's just gonna be exciting to see because we continue
to add into the offense. Uh, you can tell everybody's
getting a lot more comfortable, a lot less thinking. And
whenever you out there and don't have to think, you
can just play at elite level at least speed and
elise swift and and have elite execution. And that's always
what we're trying to do on offenses, execute and score points.
Speaker 11 (27:25):
And I think he's going to be a really good
year to put up a lot of points.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
So I know the training gam is kind of bride
and you kind of put the blinders on every day.
But are there any moments when you know.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
You're you're in a meeting room with Derrick Henry or
on the practice you're with Derrick Henry and I think
this guy will maybe go down as one of the
greatest of all time.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Do you ever have the kind of those moments?
Speaker 11 (27:45):
Yeah, every day, you know, every day.
Speaker 10 (27:47):
It's like the way the way he prepares for just practice,
the way he prepares for games, the way his mentality is.
When he's actually in a game, he's actually cool to
observe because you kind of see the difference between a
normal person, a normal guy in the league and somebody
that's gonna be a Hall of Famer one day.
Speaker 11 (28:05):
And so, uh not definitely learned a lot from him.
Speaker 10 (28:08):
I always give my hard time always joking around with him,
but uh, telling him the small loosen up a little bit.
But but uh no, man, he approaches the game the
way it should be, and I mean he's definitely gotten
rewarded for it, and he will give rewarded for it
in the future.
Speaker 11 (28:23):
With some some good accohades.
Speaker 7 (28:25):
So coach Tagger was.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Just saying that you helped bring Derek thelong when he
came on the team to last thing. You know, what
ways did you do that and how did that strengthen
your relationship as.
Speaker 11 (28:36):
A teenage h I don't know. I think I just
me myself.
Speaker 10 (28:39):
I mean, I wasn't trying to point I really can't
point out anything now. I'm just like, oh, I brought
him along and did something. But I just me myself
and he's being himself and we just have fun out
here and try not to get too serious. I mean,
obviously it's a business at the end of the day,
but at the end of the day it is a
game too, So I just try to have fun and
just remind each other that.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Just came back noticeably bigger.
Speaker 11 (29:03):
Yeah, you know that's my.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Derek.
Speaker 11 (29:07):
Yeah, he work hard man. So yeah, I mean, I
don't know if they'll say that.
Speaker 6 (29:13):
The training camp.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
It's helpful is to have fans out here and it
doesn't feel like training.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Game camp kind of shifts.
Speaker 11 (29:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 10 (29:22):
Uh, Now, it's always fun when the fans are here
because it feels like you're in a game atmosphere. Yeah,
you know, a big play happens, you hear them screaming,
I mean, a black play happens, you hear lose, and
so uh, it's definitely fun happened to them out here
and just being able to interact with them after the
practice and see how juiced up they are about our
team and us as players too. Uh, And you just
(29:43):
want to reciprocate the energy to them because I mean
we would none of us would really be here without
the fans.
Speaker 11 (29:48):
So uh, I loved them out here.
Speaker 10 (29:50):
But yeah, when the season comes wrong and it's quiet
out here, it's just definitely a little more serious.
Speaker 11 (29:54):
I guess.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
That was Justice Hill talking about this Raven's running backs
room and his training camp and more. That's it for
this edition of Raven's Press Past podcast. Don't forget to
subscribe to this feed, and for more training camp content,
check out the Raven's Lounge podcast, where our insiders are
telling you everything you need to know about Raven's training camp.
(30:22):
So make sure you subscribe to The Raven's Lounge podcast
as well as Raven's Press Past podcast. Today, that's it
for this episode. We'll be back with you soon
Welcome into the Ravens Press Past podcast. The date is Wednesday,
August thirteenth, and today was the last day of training
camp practice open to fans. After today's practice, we heard
from head coach John Harbaugh, running backs coach and assistant
head coach Willie Taggert, as well as quarterback Cooper Rush
and running back Justice Hill. We'll start the podcast with
(00:25):
Coach Harbaugh's post practice press conference.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Okay, good seeing everybody. Appreciate everybody being here. Big practice
for us. Padded a lot of situational football. It's a
lot of physicality, very important practice in camp, and everybody
handled exceptionally well, very pleased before we're at this is
an important week for us. We have one more big
day all tomorrow being Shells, but it'll also be a
(00:52):
camp practice they try to continue to improve. We think
this is the improvement week. This is the opportunity week
in camp to really build the base under your football team.
I feel like the guys did that, so happy with that.
What question do you.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Have yesterday with Michael Phelpos, How did they How did
how did he do with the talk?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Give can listen to a little bit of that.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Well, the two talks and you probably probably would be
online I would think here if not already. But Michael
and Ray, you know, it's amazing. I just I was
looking around at the faces of the players. You know,
if I had a mirror, I think my face would
have been the same.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Just listen to these two guys. I mean, we had
two of the like two arguably the greatest ever I
would say, the greatest ever to do what they do
in history. That's pretty rare. And they're standing right next
to each other on the same field, and like Rashen
Ali said to me, he said, he said, yeah, he said,
(01:47):
And Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and Rokwan Smith, Marlon Humphrey,
you know, he named it off read in that group
and it kind of opened your eyes a little bit.
And then the words that they shared with the guys
who are just uh, we're just so spot on. It's
all the things that are guys they know, they believe in,
and to hear them reinforce and putting such terms like
in terms that the guys are very vulnerable about, you know,
(02:08):
and kind of talked about their careers a little bit.
It was a once in a lifetime oach in.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Terms of the event itself that went on afterwards.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
Was that a team bonding thing?
Speaker 5 (02:20):
And I think a lot of people think it regretted
that everyone knows how to swim these things.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, yeah, it ended up being a team bonding thing.
It really wasn't a plan team bonding thing, you know.
And I have found over the years, Jerry, that the
plan team bonding things really aren't don't really work, They're
not really real. The best team bonding things are the
things that you just kind of find yourself doing together,
you know, spending time together, having fun, having a meal,
whatever it might be. And I guess swimming, you know,
and jumping off the high dive and doing cannonballs. And
(02:46):
I didn't think there was too many canniballs off the
high high dive, you know, most of the guys were
going like that trying to survive that one. But I
was pretty impressed with guys getting up there on that
high board from what I saw on video. I wasn't
there in person. I saw the video of Travis always
learned how to swim. I thought that was really cool, so, uh,
you know it's good. And now now, guy, if they
don't know how to swim, now they're more confident, and
(03:07):
they can maybe instill that confident in their kids for
going forward. It's a neat thing. I'm good credit Michael
for doing it.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
You hold your breath.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Some of those guys I didn't I didn't know. I
didn't see enough of them. Well, I got the injury
report afterwards. Everybody was healthy, so we're fine.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
We talked about going over situations.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
We actually saw you practice a free kick in the
half situation.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
Just how many guys do you have to even explain
that exists, because I mean, that's pretty obscure back of
the rub.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It really is, you know, and uh, and we did.
We explained it to him in the spring. We explained
it to him again. Now Daniel started does a great job.
He showed he showed a couple of clips that's happened
the Chargers, happened for them last year. We showed that one.
I was always very jealous of Jim because I always
figured it's a special teams guy. I would get that,
get that first, you know, and he gets it first.
You know, It's like he always does gets the first things.
(03:52):
But yeah, it's a I think the guys have done
a good job of situational football, though, ask a situational.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Football question, because I think all these special situations come
up you can't possibly practice at all, And how do
you prepare your players.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Or how do you expect it to get prepared in terms.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Of one field game management decisions and they come up naturally.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, it's a great question, and it's really is a challenge,
but we do try to practice them all. We try
to review them all. We try to show tape of
them all so they can see like TV copy when
they see it in real time, see how it plays
out in real time and get an understanding of how
it comes about. I mean, we also practice the hurry
up field goal. We call it the Bonzi field goal
today because it came up and practice at the end,
So we went ahead and practiced it with the third offense.
(04:35):
And you know, I don't think it's probably gonna come,
but it could, you know. And now they've been through it,
so you try to get it all practice as much
as you can, and then when it comes up during
the course of the season with other teams, you always
show it to them and reveal with them and try
to remind them about.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
It specifically in that like are times where you don't score,
rep player has to make get your name.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
A few years ago.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Chicago Game Movie scored the touchdown the Melby side the
tame They win that football game maybe eight percent of
the time.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
How about that?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Services we work it. We've worked at already a couple
of times this year we say we say get down
at the five. And the reason we say get down
at the five is because if you carry past the five,
your momentum may bring in and we've seen that happen
in history, right, So that's a that's an alert, and
those are the way we do it. Is there there
there one word or their phrases or terms that tell
the guys in the huddle in real time? We'll say
that well liked alert, bonds, eye alert, get down, get down,
(05:23):
clockt alert, get down, time out, whatever it might be,
to remind the guys that should hopefully put the whole
picture in their head about what they're supposed to do.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
John's kind of dominating some of those past rust rills
in the veryet. What have you seen from him in
terms of taking a step into the season compared to
last year.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Well, I'm I'm excited about him. I think he's ready
to roll. He's had he's had a great couple of
years of preparation. You know, he tweaked his ankle last
year at the high ankle. He played through it, did
a great job. And for him to play on that
severe of a high ankle sprain and play the way
he did was was incredible. So now he's healthy and uh,
you know he stays healthy. But he's had a camp
(06:01):
this week.
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Improvement week and opportunity week going into the secondary season game.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
What have you seen him through camp?
Speaker 8 (06:06):
From your receiver or of all those lines taking STAPs
getting better of those one.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
That's such a great question. Yeah, the little things. Uh,
you know, there's for instance, the deep balls. You know,
in terms of we've tried to hold it, we try
to hold a line vertically away from the sideline and
create room for the quarterback and try to stack the corner.
I've seen them do that better this week. You saw
a couple of those those plays out here today. Depth
of route running, spacing against zone covers, things like that.
I really are starting to get pretty sharp. And you
(06:31):
wonder why, all of a sudden the passing game maybe
look looks better and better, And then you see it's
the details of the route. Running a lot of times.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Cooper rushed a little bit. What have you used to
kind of seen from him?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Yeah, Cooper rush. I mean he's a professional. He's a pro,
operates the offense well, makes great decisions, handles the protections,
gets the ball out on time, accurate passer. I think
he's I think he's a winning quarterback, you know, And
you see that every day in practice, and I mean,
you know, it's it's pretty hard to stack quarterbacks up
next to Lamar Jackson, you know, and and but we
(07:03):
do that.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
We can.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
We always make those comparisons. But the important thing for
Cooper is to be Cooper, you know, and do the
things that he does he does so well and and
win games for you playing that way. And he's done it. Really.
I think he's had a really good camp.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
It'll be another quarter or so for him against Dallas.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
We've kind of got a plan for that, but I'd
rather wait till the game, you know, before we commit
to that and just kind of see how plays out.
But we have we do have a plan for that,
and he's I would think he'll get more throws and
more reps than he had the last game, for sure.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
This game kind of guy today, you waiting the decision
for us Lamar Derek.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
A lot of the players that did not play in
that first preseason game when well they also not play
in the second.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Right, our plan is to have is the same guys
that didn't play at all in the last game will
not play in this game. Okay, great, thanks you. Okay.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
That was head coach John Harbaugh answering questions following today's
training camp practice. Next up, you'll hear from Ravens running
backs coach and assistant head coach will he Taggert.
Speaker 9 (08:03):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 7 (08:07):
Believe you've got these three really challenged running backs, you
the three, the three that Top Monk has talked about
trying to get the ball to. How are you working
with Todd Monkin to try to figure out how those
snaps and those touches are gonna get to be done?
Speaker 9 (08:20):
Well, I think when it comes to uh, Derek and Justice,
we we have a good rotation going. You know, Derek's
our normal down back and Just is our third down back.
You know, and as the game goes and Derek need
a blow, we know Justice can go in. And and
then when it comes to Keaton he's so unique and
the things that he can do, and each week we
(08:40):
try to find different ways to get him the football
so he can so he can do his thing. And
it was great to see him back to himself last week.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Williams. He feels safe. He kind of crazy to even
ask this service fill. They're expanding what he does.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Or branching out and in some way, what are you
gonna see for him.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And in your tool.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Or in this offense, what you might do that he
didn't see much surely?
Speaker 9 (09:08):
Well, I think I think as you saw towards l
the latter part of the season, you start to see
his game get better. I think that's because he's got
comfortable with our offense and understanding the things that we
wanted him to do. And so going into year two,
I think you just everything we asks him to do.
I think you sit on a higher level than what
it was before because he's more comfortable with what we
(09:29):
asking him to do now, you know. And and Derek
practiced like or pro He practiced like he's a rookie,
you know, so and he wants to be better. He
don't want to be the same, so we expect for
him to be a lot better. I expect for him
to be a lot better once because he know the
offense so much better to.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
Make those hillsides and textics. Look where to change?
Speaker 9 (09:48):
Nah, I think, uh, Derry no the answer he's gonna get,
you know, if he asks me that. You know, I
like looking at him on social media knowing that he's
out there working.
Speaker 10 (09:57):
Well, you college, His big pre season opener was that
a uh you know, I.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Knew this was gonna happen kind of movement for you.
Speaker 9 (10:06):
Well, I knew he was gonna come and I press
people by the way he played, you know. Uh, tell
you what was cool about the other night? Was that
day le Jonty and I was sitting in the meeting
and I asked him. I was like, so, what do
you think about the city. What do you think about Baltimore.
He's like, Coach, I'm gonna introduce myself to the city
to night. And so when he got that that punk return,
I was like, you gotta be kidding me. You know,
(10:28):
you did you You did surely that by introducing yourself
with that punk return. So that was pretty cool. You know,
he kind of spoken into existence, you know, but that's
what he does, you know, He's been doing that since
day one when we recruited him. Nobody recruited him and
we got him, and from day one he he just
showed he was a heck of a football player.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
When you see you know he talking about Derek, you
log of people always talked about that signature stip on
off his mean, how you.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Know the strong of a weapon is that, you.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Know, especially for you know, you know, defenders to defend
even though they know probably were becoming some times.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
Well, once you see him in person, you can understand
if he put those palls on you, it's gonna be trouble,
you know so and I think once he showed it
on film once, everybody else know that can happen when
they come up in there. So I think sometimes there's
some business decisions whether to tagger him or not. But again,
Derek's such a unique player. You know, he's big, physical,
(11:23):
he's strong, and he got good feet like a little guy,
you know, and that's that's tough, you know what I mean,
because he can run through you, he can run around you,
he can make you miss, and not many people can
do that.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Go to Keith Mitchell, it looked like PRITTI a new team.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
Also earlier in camp took a lot of the murder
contact than some of the other running backs in particular,
And I still hear people talking about the kneede for
him to tackle the fumul eis and that would potentially
somehow he could for us.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Where are you on that? Well?
Speaker 9 (11:53):
First of all, I think Keaton's back to himself, you know.
I think the latter part of last year he was
still trying to get used to his knee. Getting a
good feel for the game again, and having this off
season has been big for him. And and he's stronger
than what he was before, seemed faster, you know. And
I think right now again for Keating. For Keating, he's
(12:15):
running the ball more physical, you know. So when he
runs in there, he's not running like a little guy.
He's he's running with power. So I think a lot
of that power and hitting is him hitting the defender
rather than the defender necessarily hitting him at times. So
but I think it's Neil strong. He's shown throughout training
camp that is strong and and ready to go. And
I think, keeping me, we'll we'll see the old Keating.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
In a few minutes. Just what ways have you seen.
Speaker 11 (12:40):
Him in oh Man.
Speaker 9 (12:42):
First of all, that's I told you all before. I
called him a junk yard dog because he does everything
for us, you know, and he does at elite level,
you know. And Justine knows his role and he plays
his role to the best of his ability. He's been
great not just as a player, but as a teammate
and bringing other guys along. I think he's he helped
uh Derek adjusts last year and when he came into
(13:04):
a new team, and uh Just was right there with him.
I personally say he was a big part of helping
Derek with his success, you know, and and integrating with
the team, you know, to Justice, just he's what you're
looking for in the football player and the teammate and all.
He's a heck of a football player. You you saw
last year just when he got the ball. He made
the best of the opportunity when they come. And that's
(13:26):
what you want from guys, is when that opportunity come,
you step up and take advantage of it. And and
Justice does that every single day. He takes pride and
that guy come into work every day with a smile
on his face. And I say every day every day,
and it's great. The beer around Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Being back to himself.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Is here point others in or training camps when he
first saw for first thought.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Confident, like, yeah, that's sticky Mitchell.
Speaker 9 (13:49):
I remember, yeah, when I saw running past a couple
of NFL players like they're in college, I was like, yeah,
he's back.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
You know.
Speaker 9 (13:56):
I saw him do that before his rookie year, run
around some guys, and I said, all that and training
camp as well, you know so, and it's just it's good.
It's good to see that, you know. I mean, that
was a brutal injury. You know, he was hacking. He
was having a heck of a season, and then last
year sprinkling him in there a little bit. It was
good to see him back to himself now. It's really
good to see him walk around with confidence now, smiling
(14:18):
and talking and joking like he normally do. He's back
to himself now, and that's good for all of us.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
One more, I keep Mitchell, how was he coming along
as every host protector in the pocket.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
What have you seen out of pending in terms of
that much better?
Speaker 9 (14:30):
Much better? You know, and again it's a rookie year.
He didn't have that opportunity to do that. You know
and and he's so much stronger than what he was
his rookie year. You know, he have a better understanding
of how to do those things. He wouldn't actually do
that a lot in college and now you have a
better understanding of how to do it now. And now
he's doing it with great technique and with confidence. And
that's more than anything. And he's blocking and if you
(14:51):
got to have confidence, and he's able to do that now.
And he can have confidence because he knows know what
to do, he knows to play. He's not thinking a lot.
He can go out and just play and and that's development.
You know, he's development to become a better pass blocker
as well.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
We talked we talked to John about the new grading
system and how you got your crew now.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
And you know, in meeting rooms, the guys can tails.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Have you gotten any heapback from kind of players of what.
Speaker 9 (15:15):
It's been like, Oh, you hear it every day. I
mean when they walk in the meeting room, the first
the first thing they do is look up on the
board and they give each other. They joke on each other,
whether you're up there at the top of at the bottom.
It's been a heck of a thing where the guys
are really bought into it. And for me personally, it's
been great because it's fundamental. It's how you play the game.
And our guys are taking pride in doing the little things,
(15:36):
the little fundamental technique, and they don't like when they
get bad grades.
Speaker 11 (15:40):
That's what you love, you know what I mean as
a coach.
Speaker 9 (15:42):
A lot of things you ain't got.
Speaker 11 (15:43):
You don't have to say it.
Speaker 9 (15:44):
They mad at themselves, you know, and so the next
day they're gonna go out and make sure that they
get better. And it's been I mean, we seeing it,
We see the results, you know, of the guys out
there trying to do the things that we actually we
see those guys out there what we call winning football.
They're out there playing winning football, and I personally think
is gonna make a different with this football team this year.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You're listening to the Ravens Press Past podcast. That was
coach Willie Taggart's press conference after today's practice. Now you'll
hear from quarterback Cooper Rush.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
How do you feel the emotions will be when I
know it's just the preseason games. We're going back in
Dallas and being on the visiting side.
Speaker 8 (16:26):
It'll be different over on that sideline, it'll be something new.
But looking forward to it, see a lot of a
lot of close relationships over the year, over the years
there and get to catch up with some guys. It'll
be cool.
Speaker 10 (16:38):
How do you think it's been trying to you know,
get caught up to speed here and how different is
it skin wise from what you're used to in Dallas.
Speaker 8 (16:47):
Yeah, it was a lot of new, but you're really
starting to feel comfortable, starting to own it, starting to
be I feel like you're in command out there of
what's going on. All the reps and OTAs were huge,
getting to run the show and just continuing those in
camp and kind of run through the installs again have
been have been big, and you know, every day it's
getting more and more comfortable.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
With Lamar.
Speaker 8 (17:10):
Yeah, it's it's incredible watch It's really cool. You don't
getting to see what one of the best does every day.
The way he sees space, sees the field. It's been
fun obviously sees the game and just gonna know him
that way and in the media room, man on the field,
it's cool.
Speaker 5 (17:23):
Let's go doubt about that. I mean from the outside
looking in, we all see how great the playing is.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
But it's gon surprise you. What what's something about him
that you've learned that maybe he didn't.
Speaker 11 (17:31):
Know the leads?
Speaker 8 (17:32):
Uh? I mean he can he can do it everyway.
If you wanted to sit in the pocket through for
three yards, you could do it. If you want to
run around three hundre yards, he could do it. That's
what's pretty impressive. Kind of whatever your challenge him to
do that day, he can go do it.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
How long does that take to kind of get up
your speed and you can feel company before and come
on to.
Speaker 8 (17:53):
You know, be able to go out there and run plays.
Wasn't too long. You know you're kind of study and
you learn. But then to get comfortable intent trying to
you know what monks think on this type of play,
how to run it within the system and you know
that takes a few more laps through it and really
in command of like all right, I know what's going
on now, really focus on what the defenses present on
you knowing where guys will be anticipating things like that.
(18:14):
It's starting to come along.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
Said it was Tampa, thenes interested you journey Mayor and
where do you kind of get out of the relationship
that you and is there sol.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Sort of pre existing thinking there.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
That don't become apparent as you guys.
Speaker 8 (18:33):
Getting the chance to Yeah, Tampa is my one and
only uh visit as a as the uh through the
draft process, I had a chance to sign there as
undrafted guy was between there in Dallas. So yeah, I
met with Monk there and all the staff and so
it's just funny how you know, nine years later you
find your way to retire.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
We haven't talked since you've signed with the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
How was free agency, Like, I mean, was it pretty
apparent that it was going to be Ravens or were
there other options maybe even option to go back to Dallas.
Speaker 8 (19:02):
Yeah, Dallas was in play, but then you know, Baltimore
kind of came out of nowhere early on in that week,
and uh, you're like, oh man, it's a good place
to be. Obviously a head coach that's built a culture
here for a long time and uh, you know, a
winning program, and so it was super excited about that
and really glad they called.
Speaker 10 (19:20):
Been like we're you're obviously football is a big deal
in Dallas.
Speaker 11 (19:23):
The case a little different here in the atmosphere on
the cover.
Speaker 8 (19:27):
Yeah, I mean, uh, depends how you look at down there,
but no, I've been really enjoying it.
Speaker 10 (19:33):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (19:34):
Like I said, it's been a little slower paced, but
it's it's fun. I mean, this facility is amazing. Getting
to see this and uh, being around a team that
you've always seen from Afar have success. Now you see
why well coached great locker room leadership, things like that,
and a lot of talent. I didn't realize how how
talented we were, especially on offense, until you got out here.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
It sounds like you're.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Gonna have a new Drives in Dallas, sort of like
you had against the Colts.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
It's the mentality, sort of like show your former team
you're doing well in your spot. I mean, how do
you kind of go on with that infrest of motivation.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
You're really trying to show the current team I'm doing
well and things like that are the main focus and
getting ready to play.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Those games do matter.
Speaker 8 (20:13):
Those presee games do help guys in my position.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Those reps do count.
Speaker 8 (20:17):
You learn from them so when you can when you
have to go out there and the real thing, it works.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
What you're saying about coming to you exciding and kind
of your what went into the decision specifically, and they
were kind of maybe kind of put you over the
three edge.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
Yeah, just a chance to go, you know, on on
a really good team that you know, you're you know,
if you've got to go in there, you can go
do and win games and important games a team that's
in it and uh, you know, a team that's got
tons of weapons at every position. So all those go
into it and it was exciting process and was really
happy with it.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
What are your impressions?
Speaker 8 (20:53):
Yeah, I think we do a really good job of
just being versatile. We got a lot of depth of
different positions. Are tight end rooms deep, the receiver deep,
different types of running backs, you can play bullyball, you
can spread them out, and I think it does a
good job kind of using all that were at last
game last.
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Year for Dallas they decided to start Trey. If you
would have been able to play, I think you would
have made another extra incentive in that. Any any hard
feelings the hell that maybe that last.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Game went down help for you, No, I mean it's
you know, business.
Speaker 8 (21:27):
If I played better go out there, I don't know,
But no, you don't really think about that stuff.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
It's a.
Speaker 8 (21:32):
I had a great time there with awesome eight years,
Like I said, really close with a lot of people
in the organization, so it'll be cool, all right.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yep, thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You just heard from QB Cooper Rush talking about his
return to Dallas this weekend and more on the Ravens
Press Pass podcast. Next up, we have running back Justice Hill.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
With any different fuel you know, this training camp coming
in here. Any do you feel any kind of difference,
you know, this camp compared to all the ones that
you've been needing with for him?
Speaker 10 (22:07):
Nah, I mean I think each camp kind of gets
a little bit easier because.
Speaker 11 (22:11):
You know what they expect. But uh, but we're gonna
get it in.
Speaker 10 (22:15):
We gonna get some work, and that's that's the fact here.
So uh, it's been it's been a great count got
some good work, getting to see all every all the
young guys, uh what they bring to the table, and
and then for us just getting better as a room.
Speaker 11 (22:26):
So it's been a fun.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Count.
Speaker 11 (22:27):
I can't complain how nice is Ben Just that.
Speaker 6 (22:30):
He pickled fully back at the next that one says
it looks like himself.
Speaker 10 (22:33):
Again, Yeah, no, I mean heat and he had to
work really really hard to get back from that gruesome injury,
and last year was like the first year trying to
get back to it.
Speaker 11 (22:40):
But I mean, he worked his butt off this off
season and.
Speaker 10 (22:42):
Uh, he's getting back to himself, you know, And so
it's gonna be fun to see what we all do
out there when we get like going going when the
season comes around. And so you know, I've been proud
of his, uh his journey, just how he came to
work every single day, came with a small and I
know it's a lot of tough days in there, and
he made those tough days good.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
So you've dropped off special teams affectively right last year
at some point let's talking about if you miss it.
Speaker 11 (23:06):
Yeah, I'm not gonna.
Speaker 10 (23:07):
I actually do kind of missing because I mean it
just kind of gave me my foundation, gave me a start,
gave me a chance, because I mean, without special teams,
I probably wouldn't even been here for too long. And
so uh, special teams got the special placemart. Uh and
so I'm a missy, but uh, it's kind of nice
being on being off of it too, So I'm not
gonna play.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
It along those lines. I mean, you do have this
stature now where I mean you're.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
Being held out of preseason games when you think back
to those days and knowing what dis point in preseason
now second preseason game, final cutsantly not too far away.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
What's that like for a young player?
Speaker 6 (23:41):
What's that level burdency now compared to you know, going
through OTAs and you're supposed to leak at games.
Speaker 10 (23:46):
Yeah, I mean when I'm whenever I'm talking to guy
and they talking about it, I just try to tell
them this just another day and just treat every day
the same, because I mean, if you start thinking too
far ahead, you know, it's just sometimes not the best
things happened for you. So just trying to say focus,
locked in. I mean, it's at the end of the day,
is a game. You know this game, been playing your
whole life at you obviously elite at it.
Speaker 11 (24:06):
That's why you're here.
Speaker 10 (24:07):
And so yeah, I mean, obviously you're gonna have some
nerves every time you go into a field, but when
you know what you've done, the work that you put in,
you can.
Speaker 11 (24:14):
Go out there with some confidence. You know you're gonna
put your best feel for it. When the Ravens extending
you last year, I mean then has there come of a.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Confidence or an insurnament during feeling like all right, I
have BROWDI.
Speaker 11 (24:28):
Do this organization sort of like having things in that.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Later you've got best status down, you got the most for.
Speaker 10 (24:34):
Boys hear h, I would say so yes and no,
I'm I think I've always had that confidence, and I
just felt like I just needed some opportunity to show that.
But yeah, with them extending to me, I mean it
was obviously that they trusted in me and trusted things
that I was doing, and so for me, I just
wanted to continue to improve on think the things that
(24:54):
they paid me for. I mean, whether it's blocking and catching, uh,
making plays. I mean that it's what they brought me here,
drafting me here to do, and that's why they still
have me here today.
Speaker 11 (25:03):
So I'm just gonna continue to do those things at
a high level.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
Justice as a really good pass protector, what do you
what parts of your game do you think make you
such a good pass protector?
Speaker 10 (25:12):
And how what have you seen a keeping Mitchell remember
or Yeah, I mean it's obviously my size is my stature.
Speaker 11 (25:18):
You know, that's what makes me leave Blacker.
Speaker 10 (25:20):
But you know, I mean it's just the want to
it will, Like I just want to make sure my
guys are making the play and as simple as that,
like I just have the will to do it, and yeah,
keating it.
Speaker 11 (25:30):
I mean he's coming along too in that aspect.
Speaker 10 (25:32):
I think a lot of times coming to college, coming
into college and that's like your first time really past
protect so you might not be the best at it,
and then as you get more and more reps, like
anything in life, you're gonna get way better. And so
like for me, I mean I've been doing it for
a while and each year I just try to continue
to get better in that and I really just focus
on it as well. So whether we're doing the act
you walk through, try to make sure I'm practicing my technique.
(25:54):
And then when it comes to full speed, full speed
in the games, it's just kind of like I've been
there before.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
As you're gonna have a pointy in how anything. So
many graphs are I mean, weren't fill it out here
in the team drills me, so.
Speaker 11 (26:05):
You might have been in the reslace stand for you ms.
Speaker 6 (26:07):
How do you balance that in a way between like
getting those graphs out there with the team or you know,
staying all.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
The year too, just like gay.
Speaker 10 (26:16):
Yeah, game practice, Uh they call it being a pro.
I guess like I just make sure I take care
of myself. I've been doing it for so long. Reason,
like riding the bike. I mean, you can not do
it for a long time and you can go out
there and know how to ride it. So uh yeah,
Uh it's been a transition not doing as much as practice.
But uh, when the game comes around, I know i'm'a
(26:36):
always be ready.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Justice what's up stood out to you? But out though,
just short of the reporting version of it, because just
as you.
Speaker 10 (26:43):
Talk about that, Yeah, I mean the more the longer
you're end into something, the longer you learning something, you
just get more and more comfortable. And so I think
Monk is more comfortable calling certain plays. Uh h Lamar
is more comfortable checking to certain things and uh and
then Mug is also good at putting all the guys
in the right spot to maximize their abilities. And uh,
(27:07):
it's just gonna be exciting to see because we continue
to add into the offense. Uh, you can tell everybody's
getting a lot more comfortable, a lot less thinking. And
whenever you out there and don't have to think, you
can just play at elite level at least speed and
elise swift and and have elite execution. And that's always
what we're trying to do on offenses, execute and score points.
Speaker 11 (27:25):
And I think he's going to be a really good
year to put up a lot of points.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
So I know the training gam is kind of bride
and you kind of put the blinders on every day.
But are there any moments when you know.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
You're you're in a meeting room with Derrick Henry or
on the practice you're with Derrick Henry and I think
this guy will maybe go down as one of the
greatest of all time.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Do you ever have the kind of those moments?
Speaker 11 (27:45):
Yeah, every day, you know, every day.
Speaker 10 (27:47):
It's like the way the way he prepares for just practice,
the way he prepares for games, the way his mentality is.
When he's actually in a game, he's actually cool to
observe because you kind of see the difference between a
normal person, a normal guy in the league and somebody
that's gonna be a Hall of Famer one day.
Speaker 11 (28:05):
And so, uh not definitely learned a lot from him.
Speaker 10 (28:08):
I always give my hard time always joking around with him,
but uh, telling him the small loosen up a little bit.
But but uh no, man, he approaches the game the
way it should be, and I mean he's definitely gotten
rewarded for it, and he will give rewarded for it
in the future.
Speaker 11 (28:23):
With some some good accohades.
Speaker 7 (28:25):
So coach Tagger was.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Just saying that you helped bring Derek thelong when he
came on the team to last thing. You know, what
ways did you do that and how did that strengthen
your relationship as.
Speaker 11 (28:36):
A teenage h I don't know. I think I just
me myself.
Speaker 10 (28:39):
I mean, I wasn't trying to point I really can't
point out anything now. I'm just like, oh, I brought
him along and did something. But I just me myself
and he's being himself and we just have fun out
here and try not to get too serious. I mean,
obviously it's a business at the end of the day,
but at the end of the day it is a
game too, So I just try to have fun and
just remind each other that.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Just came back noticeably bigger.
Speaker 11 (29:03):
Yeah, you know that's my.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Derek.
Speaker 11 (29:07):
Yeah, he work hard man. So yeah, I mean, I
don't know if they'll say that.
Speaker 6 (29:13):
The training camp.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
It's helpful is to have fans out here and it
doesn't feel like training.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Game camp kind of shifts.
Speaker 11 (29:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 10 (29:22):
Uh, Now, it's always fun when the fans are here
because it feels like you're in a game atmosphere. Yeah,
you know, a big play happens, you hear them screaming,
I mean, a black play happens, you hear lose, and
so uh, it's definitely fun happened to them out here
and just being able to interact with them after the
practice and see how juiced up they are about our
team and us as players too. Uh, And you just
(29:43):
want to reciprocate the energy to them because I mean
we would none of us would really be here without
the fans.
Speaker 11 (29:48):
So uh, I loved them out here.
Speaker 10 (29:50):
But yeah, when the season comes wrong and it's quiet
out here, it's just definitely a little more serious.
Speaker 11 (29:54):
I guess.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
That was Justice Hill talking about this Raven's running backs
room and his training camp and more. That's it for
this edition of Raven's Press Past podcast. Don't forget to
subscribe to this feed, and for more training camp content,
check out the Raven's Lounge podcast, where our insiders are
telling you everything you need to know about Raven's training camp.
(30:22):
So make sure you subscribe to The Raven's Lounge podcast
as well as Raven's Press Past podcast. Today, that's it
for this episode. We'll be back with you soon
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