Head Coach John Harbaugh

Q: You said yesterday that it was unrealistic for (quarterback) J.J. (McCarthy) to be the backup for the whole game. I'm just wondering, is the plan for him to know the offense well enough to potentially be the backup next week? And if not, what is the timetable with him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think that's a possibility. We'll see how it goes during the week, but that's definitely on the table.

Q: And just a quick follow-up. I mean, what's your approach with a player like him, where he's not just trying to grow like any young player, but he's trying to regain some confidence and not let the negative – what happened in Minnesota – affect him too much?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Not really thinking about that. We're just focused on preparing for the next game. Getting him ready for the Commanders game. That's really what we'll be looking to try to get accomplished.

Q: Big picture type of question here regarding (cornerback) Deonte Banks, but basically this can apply to any player, I suppose. Banks, coming off the rough last two years or so, when you have a guy whose confidence is down, how do you kind of like measure encouragement and how you approach him versus correcting and saying, 'Hey, this mistake is unacceptable.'

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't know. It's worth thinking about. It's not something that we really probably took as much stock in because we haven't been here as a staff, just in all honesty. We didn't live through the last couple of years, and probably heard about it more. We've read about it. We've heard about it. We get asked about it a lot. But with Deonte, we just started practicing. We started meeting, started practicing. He was in good spirits from day one. Came out of the gates great. And just, it really wasn't part of the conversation. Any of that was never really in the equation for us, I would say.

Q: Yeah, but you still have to get a feel for the guy. Obviously, you sat with him. You got to know him and not – as a teacher, not everybody is teachable the same way, if you know what I'm saying.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, yeah. Well, we just taught the defense really and talked to him about playing technique the right way, and he was just really amenable to it. We didn't really have any kind of an in-depth conversation about the past. You know, that really wasn't part of it. Just said, 'Hey, man, we know what you're capable of, let's go play some good football.' And maybe that was just all it took, maybe that's all that was really needed. I do think he felt the confidence. I think he felt happy about the opportunity, maybe. Maybe he was freed up a little bit from the past, whatever happened. I mean, he had a great year his first year. So, maybe he leaned into that a little bit more. I'm not really sure, but it just wasn't something we thought too much about. We just made it about the football, probably, more than anything.

Q: I said to (running back) Cam Skattebo yesterday after the game, does first place, 3-1, have a nice ring to it? And he said, '13 games to go has a nice ring to it. We haven't accomplished anything yet.' What's your reaction when you hear one of your key players talking like that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Wisdom. My reaction is that's a very wise statement. He's exactly right. And we have a game this week, a very pivotal game, a very big game in terms of the opportunity that it presents our football team now, where we're at. We have an opportunity to make headway on the season, and we've got to do it one play at a time in one game that we have to play this week. So, we're excited about it. I know about the rivalry. I know how big this rivalry is, how big this game is. Been around the Commanders enough, close enough to them the last many years to kind of understand where they've been and what they do and how they think a little bit. So, just looking forward to it.

Q: Just wanted to see if we can get a quick update. There was a report that (wide receiver Braxton) Berrios is on IR. Just wanted to see if you could confirm or just give an update on that.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Right. Not on IR at this point. We'll probably know more (at the) end of the day today, tomorrow, to see where exactly where he's at. He had an ankle, foot, got twisted up there on one of those – I think it was one of the punt returns. So, we just have to see where he's at once we get through the day here.

Q: And then same thing with the (safety Jason) Pinnock and (defensive lineman Chauncey) Golston, they're coming out okay, or what's their update?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Same thing. We'll know more tomorrow on all those guys.

Q: Hey John, what went into the decision to pull (safety Tyler) Nubin after the first two series, and then how did you feel like he played when he went back in?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, we were planning on rotating those guys as it was anyway, and they both played quite a bit in the game. I will say, and ironically enough for whatever reason, he played way better the rest of the game than the first two (series) coming off the calf injury. So, he was probably feeling his way a little bit. The first two series weren't his best work, but after that he played outstanding football. But it was really kind of a planned rotation anyway. They were both going to play, and that's just the way the defensive coaches worked it out.

Q: And then as far as center, you said yesterday it wasn't long term, but where does that leave you this week? Like is JMS (center John Michael Schmitz Jr.) back being the starter? Is that open? Is (center Bryan) Hudson the starter? How do you approach that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We'll see. We haven't really talked about it yet today. So, we haven't had that personnel meeting yet, but I'll say Huddy (center Bryan Hudson) played really well, and we were excited about him going in. So, maybe create some options for us, but JMS was playing really well too. So, a very good problem to have, I guess you could say if that's what you want to call it.

Q: (Wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) had a good game yesterday. He was very demonstrative though towards the sideline several times, seemed like in the second half, even when the offense was moving the ball. What was that about exactly? And what do you chalk up kind of whatever he was saying to the sideline there, too?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, I don't even know what he was saying because I didn't hear it – I couldn't hear. But he's emotional, he's a competitor. I do think that – he and I talked after the game just like we always do, and one of the things that comes through in getting to know Malik is that he's definitely a high-energy, emotional self-motivator. I think that's kind of how he gets his energy riled up. So, if it helps him play better, great. If it gets in his way at some point in time and we think it's hindering him in some way, then I'd like to see less of whatever. We always talk all the time about (it to the) guys. If it's helping us, we want more of it and if it's hurting us, we want less of it. So, I don't think it was hurting him in any way, whatever that was, and we had a great conversation after and I think I understand that part of him. I'm getting to know him a little better that way. But there's plenty of things to work on for everybody, all of us. So, I'm not too worried about anything like that right now.

Q: Also, real quick, (running back) Devin Singletary has been inactive the last two weeks at running back. I know (running back) Najee (Harris) has gotten more work, but has Najee essentially taken over that role and Singletary at the moment is just de-emphasized in the game plan, or do you intend to bring him back into the mix with the running backs?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He could come back in. Yeah, I don't think de-emphasize – I don't know, maybe it's a fair word for now, but that's – we've kind of gone with those other three guys for now, but it could change at any time. We have complete confidence in Motor (running back Devin Singletary). I mean, that guy is a guy we trust and believe in as a player – and I feel kind of bad because you'd like to see him out there because he does so many good things, but it's hard to get four backs up. It really is a challenge to do that, and those other guys do have some defined roles right now. But Motor's right there. He's ready. He's willing. He's in good spirits, and I know he wants to play, that's for sure.

Q: Towards late in the second quarter, down 14-12, you went for two, right? Sometimes coaches are like, 'I'm not going for two.' It was an urgency, obviously, to tie the game there. What went into your thinking there?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, it was kind of a coin toss, sort of. When we didn't get it, I immediately regretted it. I was mad for doing it. Generally speaking, historically, we have not been a go-for-two team in the first half. Just so many things can happen after that. I've found it's not really worth it. And after missing it, not getting it, I felt the same way after that one, in all honesty. But the idea was that we wanted to tie it up at that point in time. I thought we had a really good play, that we'd have a chance to tie it up. So, kind of rolled the dice and it didn't work out for us.

Q: It's good to hear that you second-guessed yourself. We're not the only ones who are allowed to second-guess, right?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Quite regularly, or anybody else I can blame over the headsets.

Q: Another one real quick. You mentioned yesterday about you like the way your offensive coordinator called the game. You like the way (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard (Wilson) added more pressure. I mean, when you go into the week, obviously, you're very involved with what the offense and defense are going to do. Now, how much do you say, this is what I want? Or this is, let's talk about it? You have to trust them, but you're also the head coach, you want your fingerprints on it. How does that kind of balance itself out?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It's definitely a balancing act. What you don't do is you don't interfere with the play calling while they're making the calls. I mean, that's just a recipe for disaster. I've learned that the hard way. There's a flow to calling the game and you've got to let the guys call the game. Between the series as we talk, we have great conversations. All of our coaches are very open-minded. And everybody's batting, you're batting stuff around. I appreciate the fact that they listen. And every now and then, maybe they do what you suggest. But I think Dennard called a great game. It was a plan for probably a little more pressure in this game than some of the other games. And he dialed it up, really at some appropriate times. I thought he did a great job. And (Offensive Coordinator) Matt (Nagy), too. We were able to create some plays, some downfield throws. That was big for us. That was a big part of the plan. We would have liked to have gotten the run game going a little more consistently. I thought Arizona did a good job of playing really stout run defense. It was uphill. It was uphill. But we fought and battled and got some yardage in the run game, but not as many as we wanted. We would have liked to have created some more opportunities for play-action passes. We were a little spotty with the drop-back pass game. We've got to keep working on that. But I thought (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) made some plays. Made some plays when they had to be made. And that was really the key to the offense, even though it wasn't as consistent as you want it to be. And we've got to keep chasing that. Penalties, some of those things. We did make plays. We made plays that had to be made. We scored touchdowns that had, we had been struggling in the red zone. It was a big problem for us. We hadn't scored touchdowns in the red zone in a couple weeks, I don't think. And I don't think we scored a touchdown in one game, right, recently. Was that last week? So, that was a big point of emphasis, and we took a big step that way. We did a lot of things operationally better. We got out of the huddle quicker. We were at the line faster. We had streamlined some things and made them a little more operational for our guys. All those things showed up in the game and led to yards and points and things like that. But then you go back and look at it, we've got to take another big step this week. We've got to keep taking big steps every week.

Q: With the wide receiver position, if Braxton has to miss time, how do you look to replace that? Do you look internally?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think our first look would be internally, yes. We've got guys that have been here practicing who are in the system, know what they're doing or are preparing for this opportunity. Kind of like we did with Trace, too. So, that would be our first look. I'm sure we'll turn over every stone, too. But sometimes the best stones are right under your feet. So, that would probably be our move, I would think.

Q: Are you talking (wide receiver) Charlie Jones or are you talking practice squad also?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Charlie Jones, yes, and then practice squad, too, yeah.

Q: And then what's your approach? How do you take it? Obviously, (Commanders quarterback) Jayden Daniels hasn't played the last couple weeks. It sounds like he's going to play, but how are you approaching that topic?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Exactly as you're saying, we're going to have to prepare for Jayden. I mean, that's got to be, until they say he's not playing, we're assuming he's playing and we'll be preparing for all the things he does, as if he was 100 percent healthy. They're not going to put him out there if he's not ready to play. So, that's the way we'll approach it.

Q: Just following up with what Jordan asked, what makes the Commanders different when Jayden Daniels is on the field and healthy?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He's different. He's a premier quarterback who can operate just in all those modalities. Is that a good word? I mean, he can RPO. He's quarterback driven. It's drop back pass. It's under center. It's under center, play-action, downhill run game. He does it all. He's a very accurate passer. Outside throwing lanes, especially accurate, which is tough. Nice touch underneath. I mean, he's proven himself to be a very, very dangerous quarterback, obviously. So, yeah, premier guy and it looks like we're going to get him, so we're going to have to be at our best.

Q: (Kicker Dominic) Zvada, obviously he's off to an incredible start. What was it about him that, you guys seemed to really target him of all the undrafted kickers in the universe. It seemed like he was really the guy. What was it about him going way back that maybe you saw this was possible?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He was. I give (Special Teams Coordinator) Chris Horton, he deserves all the credit on that. He did a great job of just scouting all the kickers, and Chris has got a great eye for talent. And he went and visited all these guys. Same thing with (long snapper) Ben (Mann) as a long snapper. People really weren't talking about Ben. That's a great story. (Senior Personnel Consultant) Chris Mara was involved in that because Ben's grandfather (Chuck Mercein) was a former Giant. And so, Chris (Mara) brought him to our attention, and then Chris Horton went and looked at him. But seeing him in person, then seeing him on tape, Chris showed me just his mechanics and his talent level, but his mechanics were so solid. It's a guy you didn't feel like you were going to have to reinvent the wheel with technique-wise where he could be consistent. He's got a long way to go. I mean, he's made a bunch of kicks, but there's a bunch more kicks out there to be made. But he's got a good head. He's confident. We'll make sure we keep him humble, make sure he stays locked in. All the guys do a good job of that, all the players do. But he's a wonderful guy. He works his tail off every single day. And I do think he focuses on just kicking the next kick straight. That's really what he thinks about. He's wise beyond his years that way. So, hopefully he can keep doing that.

Q: And then one quick pivot. What are you, as a program, what do you do when the guys are fumbling? I don't mean this to sound high school-ish, but is there a punishment? Do they carry the ball around, or do you do something different in practice? Because your top three backs, I think Cam has three, (running back Tyrone) Tracy has one, and now Najee has one.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, we do. We have these heavy balls now that we bring in, and they carry this. But it's not really punishment. They do it all anyway. They carry them around. We punch them out. They've got to hold them behind the line. But that's what all the guys do anyway. So even our managers have to not fumble the ball. They'll punch it out if they're holding it loose. So, it just kind of needs to be like an organizational priority. You protect the football at all times if it's in your hands. But really the main thing we do is we practice it. We drill it. We punch it out play to play. And we do drills. We do a drill every single day for all the ball carriers. It's a new drill every day. (Running Backs) Coach (Willie) Taggart leads the charge on that. And we're putting them in all the circumstances. I just think Najee's never been a guy that fumbles too much. And sometimes you try too hard. Sometimes you try too hard to get the extra couple yards, to break out of the pile, to get the run game going. And then the ball becomes a little bit vulnerable in there and I just think we just stick (to it). You watch what, Skatt and Najee have been doing too. But protect the ball at all costs. The yards are going to come. Make that the first priority. Don't forget that. Play to play. Keep reminding each other of that. It's definitely a priority for us. The priority for us. Not turning the ball over, whether it be fumbles or interceptions. If we're going to accomplish the things we want to accomplish, that has to get done. That is the number one priority offensively. Everybody knows it. We all know it. We have to know it and do it. And the guys are believers in that so we'll continue to work on it.