Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Okay, appreciate everybody being here, another beautiful day. Also, a day of mourning, I guess, with (former Chicago Bears Head) Coach (Mike) Ditka. Coach Ditka passed away. Got to know Coach Ditka a little bit because my brother got drafted by him, played for him. We'd go to training camp every summer up in Wisconsin, Platteville. And Coach was just a great guy. Met him a few times since in Chicago with (Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach) Jim (Harbaugh) here and there. He always knew what he stood for football-wise, right? Coach Ditka, so may Coach Ditka rest in peace. What questions do you have?

Q: How much do you guys take notice of what's going on, obviously, in the rest of the division? Obviously, the Cowboys lost last night, Eagles are going through some things this week. How much do you bring it up to guys and do you take notice?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I think you take notice. It's talked about, probably not too specifically. It's more like you talk about it probably at work with your colleagues and friends and stuff. 'You see the game last night?' You kind of keep track a little bit of the division, certainly more than the other teams that you're playing against. So, we certainly know what happened in the game. I didn't stay up for it. It was too late. But I saw the highlights in the morning, and guys were talking about it. (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) gave me the rundown. He stayed up and watched it, so he gave me the details. But the Eagles. The Commanders are the ones we're kind of focusing on this week. So, you spend more time on the game that you're playing.

Q: Do you take note of the fact that you can create space? There is an opportunity there for you guys.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean there is an opportunity. We might mention it, but it's more offhanded. I think everybody understands really none of it matters unless you play well. You've got to play well enough to win and then find a way to win the game. That's what creates the space for you. It's not really talking about it. You've got to go play well.

Q: When you were building this team this offseason, how much of it was about building a team to beat the Commanders, Eagles and Cowboys? Like placing the emphasis on we have to take care of our area first?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I think that's probably always part of it for sure. Understanding who you play against, who's been winning the division mostly, which has been the Eagles. You probably start with them and then work your way through the whole division. But really more than that, it's just principle-wise how you want to build your team and then secondly who the players are. But that's definitely part of it.

Q: Everybody loves when Skatt (running back Cam Skattebo) lowers his shoulder and runs somebody over. But are there plays, I don't think he has a 15-yard run, are there plays in the running game where you need more explosives out of the running game?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We definitely need more explosives in the run game. That's definitely something that we'll be chasing and looking for. Every play has got its own story that is told. We look back at it and study it. I think everybody in the offense will tell you this play, that play, whatever. There's always something that can be done better. A lot of times it's the difference in the play. It's really our execution mostly, usually. Sometimes you're overwhelmed with numbers or something like that. But there's definitely been plays where we can get more yards on.

Q: How did (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) look this week in practice? Obviously, he didn't practice Wednesday, but the last two days?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He'll be ready to play on Sunday.

Q: Is that just something that might be the future for him moving forward?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I can't predict the future. Can't predict it.

Q: You have, going back to what I was asking, you have a lot of power backs. Obviously, you're confident those guys, (running back) Najee (Harris), Cam (Skattebo). Those are guys who can make a difference.

JOHN HARBAUGH: We've got all the players we need to win all the games, to win every single game. All the players we need to win every single game. But we're always looking too, to get better. The first way to get better is that the players you have get better. That's really what you focus on. Focus on your guys improving every single day at what we do. We'll get better at the run game because we're going to run the ball and we're going to practice running the ball. If an opportunity comes up at some point in time to add a player, then we're going to do it. That's what you do in every single position.

That's always on the table.

Q: You interviewed (Washington Commanders Defensive Coordinator) Daronte Jones, right? For the DC job here?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah. Am I allowed to talk about that? That might be tampering or something like that (laughter). He's coaching for another team now.

Q: Watching film of their defense, what do you see about their scheme?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't want to say because it might give something away. We watched a lot of film of their defense.

Q: Coach, how do you balance the pass rushers and their desire in your coaching to pin their ears back and get after (Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels), but also maintain the rush lanes so he doesn't crush you with his legs?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, that's right. That's a really big thing. That's a big factor. That's a big challenge because pinning your ears back, what does that exactly mean? There's lanes, so to speak. There's leverages. There's angles involved. I think it's really important to understand that you're rushing to the quarterback, not past the blockers or past the offensive line. If you try to rush past the offensive line, you're usually going to be past the quarterback. That's not good. So, we want to be to the quarterback in a direct fashion, direct manner. Our guys are really focusing on doing that. But that doesn't mean you can just run offensive linemen over. They don't let you do that too often. So, you've got to have ways to go about getting past them to the quarterback. That's the challenge. I think if you think about it that way, you can see it's not the easiest thing in the world to do. But that's what we work on all the time. We have really good pass rushers, I think it's starting to heat up a little bit. I feel like you can feel it. So, it's good.

Q: Do you think playing in the weather the last two weeks will help you for what seems like it's going to be another pretty miserable weather day?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Planning on it, absolutely. I feel like we've gotten a lot of practice. Our very first practice at camp was in the rain. So, we started off, obviously, God had our back. He knew what was coming. I'm pretty sure He's the only one that can predict it because the weather people, they've gotten the last two weeks right, though. We should be fine. But we're going to still be intentional about it and focused on it. Ball handling, throwing the ball, catching the ball. And footing, too. Footing is another big deal. It's even a bigger deal on a grass field like that. We're going to have to really be thinking about our footing. I know (Director of Equipment Operations) Tim Slaman does a great job with everything. And he's going to have all the different shoe options out there. Even during the game, if guys feel like they've got to change them, they will. Try to make sure we get the footing right.

Q: How's (quarterback) J.J. McCarthy doing in his sort of upload here?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Good. He's doing well. I think he's made tons of progress in the last two weeks. From last week to this week, he's made a lot of progress.

Q: Do you want to tell us who the backup quarterback will be?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I really don't. But I appreciate you asking, though (laughter).

Running back Cam Skattebo

Q: How's the shoulder?

CAM SKATTEBO: Good. Yeah, just a little muscle tightness. Nothing to worry about. I'm good.

Q: They got to force you to put on a red jersey?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, they told me to wear it just for safety. Just doing what I'm told.

Q: And the way you played, I'm guessing it won't deter you from lowering your shoulder?

CAM SKATTEBO: No, no, no. My shoulder's okay. I literally had a little bit of muscle tightness in my back and over the last couple of days I've worked it out and I feel great.

Q: Why do you think you guys haven't had a lot of explosives in the run game?

CAM SKATTEBO: I think we haven't fully came into our own yet. I think up front we're in a new scheme, new system, and these guys are learning. Sisi (offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa) coming in, this is going into game five of his career. The guys up front are learning the system. B-Hud's (offensive lineman Bryan Hudson) the center now. At times, going on, we've just got to continue to work and get better at what we're doing. I think as time goes on, it's going to get better and better. These guys are going to really find the flow in the system and things are going to be just fine.

Q: Are there things you can do on your end too? Obviously, you run a lot of guys over. Are there times you should be making a cut or a juke or something?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, for sure. I think early in the year, I kind of like to punish my opponents. When game seven, eight, nine comes around, they're not going to want to do that. That's when you kind of just get to run past them. When they lower their shoulder and close their eyes. Right now, I'm just doing me. I obviously could probably make a move here and there, but sometimes it's better for the team, beating up on the other team, is lowering the shoulder. I've got to be better, obviously, in the run game. I could definitely make a couple different cuts a game and completely change the outcome. I'm going to continue to work on that and continue to grow.

Q: How critical of an opportunity is this to take a hold of the division? With Dallas losing yesterday, how much are you guys talking about that? Is this something you guys can't let slip here because you built a three-game lead?

CAM SKATTEBO: We're not really thinking about anything – obviously, coaches and stuff are thinking about that stuff, but we're thinking about going 1-0. As a team, we're not worried about games from four weeks from now. We're worried about this game, not really worried about first place yet. We're still going into our second division game. Yes, it matters, but when is it going to matter down the road? We've just got to go out there, execute, go 1-0, and we'll be 2-0 in the division, and we'll continue to work from there.

Q: This game could be a messy slog weather-wise. Is that your kind of game?

CAM SKATTEBO: I already told Coach Nags (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy), 'Just give me the ball, we'll be fine (laughter).'

Q: He's got a lot of people telling him that these days (laughter).

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean, we have a lot of playmakers on the offense. When you get a lot of guys together that really love the game, really want the ball, and can do special things with it, you have guys pulling strings from coach. When time calls, the ball will get to the right person, and I believe that. (Quarterback) Jameis (Winston) has been doing a better job of spreading it out and getting to who wants the ball and who needs the ball at that time. Like I said, over time, we just need to get more comfortable in the system and continue to work our little flaws out, and I think we'll be just fine settling.

Q: One thing you haven't done a ton this year is getting on the screen game. Is that just something you guys haven't been able to do? It seems like a strength of yours but has it really hasn't been featured. CAM SKATTEBO: That's up to the play callers. I do what I do. If the screens come, they come. If they don't, they don't. I've got to do what's best, with what is given to me. I've got to do my best in that situation, with what's given to me in my role. If it's running down the middle of the field every time, then I've got to do that to the best of my ability. I'm doing what I have to do to keep this team from losing football games and keep winning.

Q: Anything about the Commander's defense when you look at it, does it stand out to you?

CAM SKATTEBO: They're a really good team. I think the film shows you that they're better than what their record says. They play hard. They play fast. They're athletic up front. Their linebackers are really good. We're going to have a challenge in front of us, especially with the weather. It's going to be a slugfest, and I think it's going to be a fun game for us. But yeah, they're a good football team. It's the NFL. Everyone's good.

Q: You didn't play the Vikings game last year, but their DC comes from the (Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian) Flores tree. Just from a pass protection standpoint for running back, did they challenge you a lot with the looks they send?

CAM SKATTEBO: I mean, I think Flores has really done a good job with his guys that he has in Minnesota, and he really trusts those guys. Obviously, over the years, he's built that into that team. Being able to do that and trust the guys that are doing it for you is a huge part. Obviously, coach going over to the Commanders and coaching those guys, he still has to build that full trust in them and be able to call plays how he wants to. Like even Coach Nagy, you've got to get comfortable. You've got to let the guys learn the system and be ready to go in the flow of the game. I think as time goes on, he'll get more comfortable. Right now, we're just going by our rules and making sure we're picking up when they bring it.