General manager Joe Schoen met with the media prior to Wednesday's practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Here is what the general manager had to say.

📰 Schoen began the press conference with an update on the practice squad, announcing the signing of offensive lineman Geno VanDeMark. To make room for VanDeMark, defensive back JT Woods was released.

📰 Following Sunday's moves to get the roster down to the initial 53, the general manager said he feels "good about the group that we have and expect us to be competitive week in and week out. I really like the group, both sides of the ball, special teams. The cut down was very difficult this past weekend from a depth standpoint, some difficult decisions we had to make. And even the top 70 guys in terms of the practice squad, that was difficult for us."

He went on to add, "We'll continue to look to upgrade the roster and even the practice squad, cause the practice squad now is truly an extension of the active roster. Your ability to bring guys up and down. So again, we've had a good camp, I like where we are as a team. And again, I'm looking forward to seeing how we do."

📰 On fourth-year cornerback Deonte Banks, who put together a strong performance throughout training camp and the preseason: "Tae Banks, starting in the spring. I'll give (Defensive Backs Coach) Addison Lynch, Double D (Defensive Pass Coordinator/Secondary Coach Donald D'Alesio), (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard (Wilson) all credit. They invested in the kid, and he's had a really good camp. And hopefully can continue to build on the camp that he's had. He had a really good day yesterday out there at practice. So, he continues to stack days, and he's working really hard. And again, hopefully he can continue on that trend. But I'm proud of Tae – corner's not an easy position. You're confidence can go up and down. And he's continued to battle and fight. And again, he's taken advantage of the opportunity that he had this year."

📰 Coach John Harbaugh announced after the preseason finale that Dominic Zvada had won the kicking competition. Schoen said that the undrafted rookie has looked impressive since the day he stepped foot inside the building. "He's been really good since he got here this spring, post-draft. Mentally tough kid, he's got some personality and some swag to him, which you like, and a really strong leg. And he's putting it through the goal posts so far. So, that's the goal, hopefully he keeps it up."

📰 Schoen likes what he has seen from the team's interior defensive linemen this summer, but just like every other position across the roster, they will always look for ways to improve the team. "We signed DJ Reader, Shelby (Harris), we traded for C.J. Okoye, we've got DA (Darius Alexander). Bobby Jamison-Travis had a good camp. We've got a couple of vets on the practice squad, probably going to sign another one next week. So yeah, I feel good where we are right now. And again, we'll continue, that's something we'll continue and see what opportunities are out there. But not just D-tackle, but every position. But again, I like where we are right now."

📰 While he can't predict exactly how the season will play out, Schoen does know he can count on a few things with John Harbaugh at the helm. "We're going to be prepared. We're going to be prepared for the game. We're going to be physical. You're going to have to go 60 minutes to compete with us. And we're going to be disciplined on both sides of the ball. And we're going to be ready to go. I know we're going to be ready to go. Week in, week out, we'll be ready."

📰 In regards to wide receiver Darnell Mooney: "Some of his most productive years have come with (Offensive Coordinator) Matt Nagy calling the plays. You've got to lean on the coaches on those type of things in terms of how they're going to use the pieces that they have on offense. And the type of routes that Mooney's going to run are routes that he had success with Nagy in Chicago."

Schoen added he's "excited to see how Matt Nagy puts it all together at the receiver position, tied in with the run game. I think it's going to be really good."