Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Okay, good seeing everybody. Appreciate you being here. Good three days. Real good start. Guys are working very hard. Practices have been very fast. Very on point.

A lot of things to improve on. A lot of things we're working on. A lot of really good execution by guys. It was fun. It's fun to get back at it.

Had to come in today because the grass was kind of slick out there with the rain, so came in here for the footing. Thought that was a good part of it. Always worry about being inside. You know, being inside it's harder to breathe in here and the acoustics aren't as good for the music as some of you all were complaining about.

You know the songs?

Q. No. Some of them.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Knew them all? Nice. Going to be some oldies but goodies. My playlist is definitely in the mix. You may have noticed.

What questions do you have?

Q. What is going to be your plan this time of year with Andrew Thomas?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He practiced two days. We're going to -- we're working him back. He has a shoulder he's coming back from. Not too much of the real physical contact stuff. He's got a foot he's working through. So those things are things we'll manage. Different guys have different things this time of year.

So that's what we're working on.

Q. Shoulder, is that from last season?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't know when it's from. I can't really remember. I wasn't here. That's where he is right now, you know.

Q. The foot related to previous surgeries?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I don't really remember because I wasn't here. But it's where it's at right now. It's just part of the process. It's not like an injury-injury. He doesn't need every rep anyway. We're just managing it.

Q. Coach, what advantage does a left-footed kicker give you on kickoffs?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I wouldn't think too much. You know, ball might track a little bit differently than a right-footed kicker, but fielding kicks is pretty easy. Now, if he can get the ball on the ground and get it bouncing around with some of those hops, those squib kicks, that would be maybe different.

But I don't think it gives you any advantage really.

Q. Obviously the question about rookie mini camp, what you tried to accomplish. Wondering how this applies to here as well. What do you look for? What's your priority in OTAs?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, it's the same type of a process in the sense that it's offseason. Now, rookies were here for like a day; they hadn't done anything yet, so it was more teaching periods. More -- you saw more team periods today. I think you saw a faster pace type of a practice than you saw last time. We had many more guys.

Rookies have been merged in to some degree, so they're working their way in. But got the veterans here so it's a faster practice. Call it fast rehearsal. It's not a contact practice. No contact at all really.

Working with each other as much as possible. Got to work with the guys that do that because guys get fired up. You know, they want to go. You got to make sure they -- we can't get near the quarterback. Can't pull and push guys. No physical contests out here. No competition in the sense you're competing one on one to make a play, because it's not -- it's no contact.

Football is a contact sport.

So it's more about I'm competing against myself, my technique, my assignment, my ability to execute really fast. I think one of the things that's amazing to me -- I tell these guys this, and you guys see it out there. You have the advantage that the fans don't have. You're standing right here on the sideline. You're seeing how fast these guys move, right, and how big they are.

And there is 22 guys intersecting full speed. I'm just surprised that there is not more collisions in the intersection, which goes to show you how talented these guys are. I think it's across the league in the NFL. These guys, for them to practice fast like this on a no-contact basis and not run into each other is just an incredible thing. It's a testament to their abilities.

Q. Is that your approach of them kind of taking...

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, I mean, we want it to be fast, but it's them. They're doing it. They are the ones that have do it. The players are out there doing it, right? They're practicing at a really high level, high pace practice, which is exciting.

Q. John, what is the challenge for Jaxson with all the new players around him, new targets? You know what I mean? He doesn't have to be perfect with these guys today, but so many new guys he has to throw to. New offense, new coaches. Especially these -- the new guys you brought in, he's got to get used to all these guys.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I definitely think it's a process for sure. Kind of get used to each other and that's why you want to go fast, because if you're not moving out there fast, how do you get accustomed to it.

That's why you want to push it as much as you can to be as game speed as you can. Again, it's a dress rehearsal. It's not the game. But you want them to feel the timing of all that stuff and see how guys are going respond to different things just by repetition, the value of the repetitions.

Q. John, when you took the job in Baltimore, the franchise was a decade old. So you come here now and it's a century old. How much have you dug into the history maybe more than you knew just as a casual fan?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I would like to say that I have dug into it, but I haven't. I know as much now as I did at the press conference which is what my dad taught me, you know, books we read.

But I feel like same way I felt. It's really a neat thing, but more -- more the feeling is the responsibility to do well, to respect the tradition with the way you perform. We're responsible as a football team to be our very best and go out there and be good enough to win the games that we need to win. That's our job.

That's kind of what I was saying at the town hall the other day. I love CeeDee's (Lamb) comeback by the way. It was cute. It was cute. Comeback was cute, too. So it was good.

And the point is that that's what we got to be focused on, the very next thing. Life is lived going forward. Not looking back.

But it's understood looking back, so let's understand where we come from and let's get ready for the next challenge, which is really our next game. It's also our next day, be as prepared as we can be for that next game.

Q. For as long as your defense, whether it was Ed Reed, Weddle, Kyle Hamilton, always had that playmaking safety. In that town hall you said the other night you think that the safeties here are good. What are your thoughts on Nubin and Holland?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I like both those guys. I think they're looking really good out there. They take control. They communicate. Javon Holland is a proven NFL high level safety, and he's very young and just starting his career.

And then Nubin, same thing. Coming out he was a guy that everybody liked. High draft pick. He looks good, too. He's leaned up. He's moving well.

Of course, we know Ar'Darius (Washington) personally. Gives you a third piece in there. Then there are other guys too. Elijah Campbell looks good out there. (Jason) Pinnock looks good. Hate to miss somebody, but it's a good looking group to me.

Q. What can you glean from Jaxson's leadership or leadership style in these last three days?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, it's a great question. It's a hard question to answer just because what's his leadership style, I just think he's -- probably the best way I can say it is he's genuine. He's just himself. He is who he is. He wants every play -- the thing I noticed about him is he wants every play to be perfect and every play to be successful.

That's probably a good place to start. Ultra competitive guy, and if it doesn't go right he's not happy. You know, he'll get to the next play. Seen him make a bunch of plays. He's enthusiastic, he's charismatic, guys love him.

This dude works. He works at it and he wants to be great, so coaches appreciate that.

Q. From a coaching perspective then, from what you were saying about how it's really not competition yet here, how do you balance that with your quarterback? You talk to your coaches about it?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah. Well, yeah, I mean, I think hopefully you try to make the point that we are competing against ourselves, I mean, against execution. So really the offense should complete most of the passes because passes aren't being contested at the catch point right now.

So if we're executing, doing things the right way, we should be completing passes out here. Ball shouldn't hit the ground too often.

That's the challenge. Maybe he understands that. That's why he wants things to be so right play after play.

Q. John, what do you see from the rookies as they start to mix in with your veterans, and are you seeing what you hoped to see?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Right. Yeah, you want them to get up to speed real quick. You want them to -- it's like these North Jersey roads. In the Midwest we have like on ramps. You know, here you got right turns. There's a semi coming 70 miles an hour, you hit the gas.

We need our guys to hit the gas and get up to speed quick. They're doing a good job of it.

Q. We haven't asked you in a couple months, where is Malik at in his rehab?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, it's in the middle of it. He's in the middle of it. It's such a hard thing. It's an ACL and whatever else he had in that knee. Not a simple knee, you know.

So he's in the slog of it, the grind of it I would say. So he's fighting through it. You know, he's here every day, working hard at it. Just impossible to predict. I mean, the goal is to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp. That would be the goal.

We'll see what happens. If he's out there, great. If he's not out there, great. We'll be ready to go either way.

But I know he's fighting like crazy to do his best to be out there. He's with the guys every day.

Q. Obviously had second procedure. How has he been handling it all? Seems like it's been kind of tough rehab for him in general.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, to me, I can't speak for him. I think it's probably the first time he's been hurt like this. My experience with guys is the first time they have a serious injury, it's tough. It's tough because it's new for him. It's a tough process.

So our job is to stay close to him and stay with him, and his job is to trust and work hard. He's doing his job and the trainers and docs are doing their job and he will be back.

Q. What have you seen in Mooney and Austin, guys who have been in this league?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I'm excited about those guys. They're pros, starters, established starters in the NFL, and they look good. When you talk to those guys, maybe talk to Jaxson later, ask him what he thinks about those guys. I think he's going to feel good about those guys.

Q. Darius Slayton, what happened with him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He had a sports hernia thing. That's one of those deals you just got to -- you can try to nurse it through and he nursed it through last year I guess.

And so I think we all agreed just get it fixed and he'll be 100% for the start of training camp.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q. (Head Coach John) Harbaugh says it's not necessarily about one-on-one competition, but knowing the competitor that you are, how do you balance the idea of making plays versus growing day to day in practices and it's not like training camp.

JAXSON DART: I'm just continuing to try to learn the system. It's new to me. It's new to everybody here. It's been really cool to have a lot of amazing minds kind of collab and make something that's been really fun to operate. So, I think everybody out here is just trying to go along with just competing but just executing.

There's steps in my game that I want to grow within the pocket. So, I just think that each and every rep you're just trying to identify pre-snap, post-snap reads and then just be really solid with progressions. And those are just steps I'm trying to take at this time for sure.

Q. What do you like about this system so far?

JAXSON DART: Well, it's a lot of things that I haven't done before. So, it's been fun to kind of get new experiences, try new things, have communication with the coaches on what I like, what they like and get a ton of reps at it. So, I think that's been fun for me.

At the same time, there's a little bit more that's involved within it. So, it's been fun to learn, to have the command, the control at the line of scrimmage. And you have the keys to get what you want and put your offense in the best situation.

So, it's very versatile. There's a lot of just things that we can do within the system from a personnel standpoint. And the guys have been able to pick it up at a good level, and we've been able to play fast.

Q. What's your sense of (wide receiver Darnell) Mooney and some of the new guys and the challenges, getting a rapport with them? You don't need the rapport perfectly now but you want to sooner rather than later?

JAXSON DART: I think it benefited us to have time before he even came back here early, and we got a lot of reps in the offseason before we came back. So just having those conversations before he even got here of what's your timing on this route, what are your kind of favorite releases and what my footwork is going to look like to match up with his routes.

So, for a lot of the new guys here, that's really been day-to-day communication. And they're just dudes who are just bought into the grind and into what we're doing here. So, it's been really fun each and every day.

Q. Where was that that you guys worked out?

JAXSON DART: California.

Q. What are some of the things in this offense that you haven't done a lot before?

JAXSON DART: Definitely a lot more of the under-center action game, for sure. I just think that the overall command. There's a lot of kills, alerts that go into really every play.

We're able to play fast but at the same time there's a lot that's on the quarterback's shoulders. So, I just think it's really just another growth, another stepping point into my experiences as an NFL quarterback. And I think it's just been fun to learn these new things and expand my knowledge of the game.

Q. I know cadence became a thing last year but is the hard count something you guys are emphasizing?

JAXSON DART: Oh, yeah. We got them to jump a lot today. That was fun.

Q. Obviously this is year two, but sounds like there's still a lot of learning. How do you balance from what you want to build on from last year but you're also learning a new system almost like last year in a way?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I think every time that you're learning a new system, there's a lot of things that you have experience from a terminology standpoint, especially when you're in the NFL and you're able to learn at a faster rate.

And not only me. I mean, a lot of the coaches, this is a brand new system from a communication, terminology standpoint. So, I think everybody out here is learning.

And we've been able to put in a really good plan into place to take those necessary steps each day where it's not overwhelming. But at the same time, it's very versatile, and there's just a lot of things we can do within it.

Q. What was your reaction when you first heard Sisi (offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa) say he was going to die for you on draft night?

JAXSON DART: I was hyped. I was yelling at the TV back to him. He was the guy on the offensive line that I was hoping that we would be able to get. Watched a lot of his tape with some of the coaches and the people here. And we were just -- I was thrilled just to get the chance to play with him.

I followed him since he was a high recruit at high school and went to IMG. I also tried to get him to play with me in college. So just happy to have a chance to play with him.

Q. What stood out about his tape that you liked?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, he's very natural. He hasn't played a ton of guard in his career. But already coming out here, just his ability to pick up on things fast. His technique is elite for being a young guy. He's only 20 years old. He's still like a baby in the league. He has amazing feet. He's very strong. Very powerful.

He's a great dude. Loves the game. You see him late in the facilities here, you see him working out, getting those extra reps in. So, I just think that he's going to bring the right mindset and be a really good guy in the room as well.

Q. What are your early impressions of (tight end) Isaiah Likely?

JAXSON DART: He's just a ball player. He's kind of unorthodox in some ways that he moves, but he's extremely savvy and smart. And so, it's awkward for guys to cover him because he's able to just, as a big guy, his stature, just able to bend and move in some ways, makes it really hard for defenders.

He has a great mind of the game. Against zone coverages, he's able to find zones. And you saw him in Baltimore, too, on scramble drills, just his instincts taking over and making really good plays with (Baltimore Ravens quarterback) Lamar (Jackson). It's been great, and super happy to have another playmaker like him out there.

Q. I don't want to be the creepy guy but it looks like you're bigger and stronger than last year. Is that a focus this offseason?

JAXSON DART: I think when you just get into the league, there's a little bit more resources that you have when it comes to a nutrition standpoint, building out a plan. Had a really good offseason. And I was happy to make it through this past season healthy.

So being able to continue to make those strides, those growths, and make plans in place of where I wanted to get better at, especially with just my health and nutrition.

Q. Is your weight up or body fat down?

JAXSON DART: I'm actually pretty similar from a weight standpoint. I just think I'm just leaner. And our strength staff has done an amazing job.

Q. Is there any danger in your position to being too muscular, too strong?

JAXSON DART: No, I'm not close to that. I'm not like (former quarterback) Tim Tebow. I'm not like that.

Q. (former Giants quarterback) Eli (Manning) always worked on flexibility more than muscle tone. It got him through however many, 200 straight games.

JAXSON DART: I'm probably the most mobile I've been in my career right now. Just my hips and the disassociation from my upper to lower body, being able to make throws. I think my body is in the best shape it's been.

Q. You were asked the other day about the whole sliding thing and protecting yourself and you've conceded the NFL is different than college, you were more aware of it. You have a new regime here, right? How much they talk about that to you or how much they preach to you, you need to get down on certain situations. Is that something that is at the forefront of their radar at all?

JAXSON DART: That was, like, one of our first meetings with (passing game coordinator/quarterbacks) Coach (Brian) Callahan just pulling up my tape and just going over situationally, like, is it worth the risk here in this situation. And that's what we talk about a ton is situationally just being smart.

Coach G-Ro (senior offensive assistant Greg Roman) talked about it today. It's important for the quarterback to make sure how he's feeling one play that he's going to feel that same way the next play. And at the same time, just having the experience last year of sitting out two games, I hadn't done that in my career. So, I just hated that time of not being out there with my teammates.

So obviously I understand the most important thing is to be out there. So, you just grow and learn from things. And I think I'm going to do a good job at it this year for sure.

Q. Given your competitiveness though. Is that difficult, how do you balance that?

JAXSON DART: I mean my competitiveness isn't going to change at all. I think, just like I said, it just goes into situationally. Just what times it's worth it and what times it's not. And just making those mature decisions.

Q. Obviously you have your own expectations within these walls. But can you feel the excitement and optimism outside this organization of the team going into this year? And if you can, how does that impact you guys right now?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, for sure. This fan base and everything around it, everybody's been so hungry for so long, especially to have an established culture and identity as a team, a product that can be consistent on the field each week.

And lucky for us, we got a coach who is well beyond established in what he's done in his career. And I think everybody within the organization, it's been really unique to just see the amount of buy-in we've had so far. And everybody's just hungry each and every day, and I think it starts with the guy at the top.

Q. You said you want to throw in the pocket. Take us through, what does that mean? What do you want to do better in that regard?

JAXSON DART: I just think from a footwork standpoint, being able to be cleaner throughout my reads. I think there's times when you look back on tape and experiences and maybe you weren't as quick as you wanted to be through a progression. You look back and you say why was that?

And it starts with your eyes, making sure they're in the right spots. And that's been a huge emphasis with Coach Callahan, watching different guys' tapes.

And the amount of elite NFL quarterbacks he's coached and been around and just his knowledge being able to shed on to me about that stuff has been really cool. I think it's just an emphasis for us on the communication level, just growing in that department as a quarterback.

Q. Your buddy (running back Cam Skattebo) joked about getting a thousand carries the other night. Obviously joking. I assume they're going to leave some plays for you in there?

JAXSON DART: Oh, for sure. They'll be out there. Those aren't ever going to leave.

Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas

Q. What is this spring going to be like for you? We're used to you not doing a whole lot. Sounds like (head coach John) Harbaugh said you did some. Also maintaining shoulder and foot he said.

ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, they have a nice ramp-up planned for me. Just precautionary thing. Obviously, what we care about is September, being ready, so I've been trusting that.

It's definitely tough sometimes because I want to push it and I want to get better, but I'm trying to trust the process to make sure I'm ready to go when it counts.

Q. You'll probably do more than you've done in the spring previously?

ANDREW THOMAS: Than before, yeah, right. I'm not in a boot, walking around (laughter).

Q. Is the shoulder from last year?

ANDREW THOMAS: It's lingering. Something that I've been dealing with. I think I'm in a good place.

Q. What about the foot? Is that the thing you've been dealing with the last couple years?

ANDREW THOMAS: It's just maintenance. Obviously the Lisfranc, tough injury, but doing our best to manage it.

Q. Shoulder require surgery?

ANDREW THOMAS: No.

Q. What was your reaction when Harbaugh was hired? As a guy that's been here a long time, been through a half a dozen coaches, what was your excitement level or reaction to him coming here?

ANDREW THOMAS: Very excited. Obviously, his reputation speaks for itself. A true ball coach, so I was excited that he's going to come here and hopefully get things going in the right direction.

So, it's early right now. I like what he's doing so far. We just have to continue to trust the process and approach every day to get better.

Q. This is your first head coach that's had experience, winning a Super Bowl. What does that bring? What do you take from that?

ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, first, I would just say the respect that he demands, you can just tell by the way everybody reacts to him, when they're speaking to him.

I think he's been there before so there is a different confidence that he has that you can feel as a player.

Q. What do you like that he's been doing so far?

ANDREW THOMAS: I would say first is just empowering us as players. Like a lot of our team meetings aren't just about football in general. It's just about life and we talk about principles and just how you approach every day as a man.

I think that reflects the character of the team when we take that as a priority.

Q. You look at the offensive line as a unit from your time here and how you finished last season, where is your level of excitement for this group going into this year and how can you build on it?

ANDREW THOMAS: Very excited. Continuity is a huge thing for us up front. I thought we played decent last year. Added some more pieces. Brought a lot of guys back. So, I'm really excited for that.

But obviously doesn't matter what's on paper. You got to execute on the field, so that's what we're working for.

Q. Any early impressions of your rookie right guard?

ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, Sisi (offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa) has done great so far. He's really smart. It's kind of unique, because normally when we bring young guys in we're teaching them the playbook. For us, we're all kind of learning at the same time because we're installing new things every day.

But he's done a great job. Obviously has all the physical traits. That's why he was drafted that high. So excited to see him get out there.

Q. Everybody is obviously a different person, but like yourself, (Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman) Dex (Lawrence) was here for a long time. Great player on losing teams, just like you. Obviously reached his boiling point with the losing. Where are you in terms of your going through another rebuild, your future with the Giants?

ANDREW THOMAS: It's a new year. All I can do is control what I can control. That's trying to be the best player and best leader I can be.

If I want this place to reach the goals that we have set, I got to be part of that so that's what I'm trying to do.

Q. You worked the first two OTAs?

ANDREW THOMAS: Uh-huh (yes).

Q. And then you thought that was fine?

ANDREW THOMAS: Like I said, they're managing reps and stuff like that just to make sure it responds the right way. But yep.

Q. What did you think of Dex asking out?

ANDREW THOMAS: I don't know what was going through his mind. Obviously, he made a decision that was best for him and his family. I wish him the best.

Obviously, he was a great player, great teammate, but we have to move forward.

Q. How important was it for you to have you have basically 4/5ths of your starting lineup from last year back how important is that?

ANDREW THOMAS: It was great seeing familiar faces. It's great for an offensive line. You know, had a lot of reps together and we're going to continue to build on that, so hopefully we can continue to get better each and every year.

Q. Do you feel like there is higher expectations for this year's team than in years past from the fan base?

ANDREW THOMAS: I'm not sure. Like I said, we're just focusing on today, getting better today. If we do that and start to stack those 1% days getting better, we'll be where we want to be.

Q. There have been a couple times this spring with Harbaugh, whether it's been with us or in group settings, where he's run down players and then he's kind of thrown in, don't forget about your left tackle. You like your left tackle, don't you? Do you feel a level of respect? Have you felt that level of respect from Harbaugh from the moment he got in the building, and what does that mean for what comes next not just for this team but you individually?

ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, definitely. He called me when he first signed and we spoke about the offensive line and the identity of the offense that we want to have, and being physically dominate up front and that I would be a big catalyst for that.

So, I'm excited for that pressure. I'm going to lead those guys and be a great dominating unit. So, we just got to continue to work to reach that.

Q. What differences are you seeing with (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) as far as his command out there with OTAs? Just can you send more confidence, more command from him?

ANDREW THOMAS: Honestly, I wouldn't say confidence has changed. Jaxson has always had that moxie, that confidence, the way he plays.

But I will say I think he's doing a better job of just communicating with everybody as far as what he sees, the way he wants us to block certain things or routes, different coverages and picking up pressures.

I think he's being more vocal with that. I wouldn't say his confidence changed at all.

Q. Were you in (tackle) Jermaine's (Eluemunor) ear at all during free agency?

ANDREW THOMAS: He snuck in here a few times because I was working out here in the offseason and I was talking to him. Obviously glad to have him back. He's a great player. We're going to continue to push each other to be better.

Q. Coach Harbaugh mentioned how this could be the first time (wide receiver) Malik Nabers has gone through an injury like that and rehab. You've had to fight back from an injury like that. Have you given any sort of advice in terms of how to deal with the mental side of it? From an offensive line standpoint, when you have a receiver like that on the outside, what's that like for you guys when you see him making plays?

ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, I think an ACL is a tough injury, especially for a skill player. But I think Malik has a good support system around him, and I think not just me, but everybody as a team, we're all leaning in to make sure that he feels confident that we're going to be ready for him when he comes back.

There is no rush. Make sure he does everything. When he's 100% obviously he's a game changer, so we're just like trust your process with the trainers and supporting him through it.

Safety Jevón Holland

Q. What were the push-ups for?

JEVON HOLLAND: I think it was like a penalty or something. Yeah, ten push-ups.

Q. Is that a thing for the whole team?

JEVON HOLLAND: I guess so. We just started doing them, so yeah.

Q. How many, ten?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, I think ten push-ups, yeah.

Q. You've had a lot of different head coaches. What's different about Harbaugh? Can you tell something about him that says, this guy has an extensive winning resume?

JEVON HOLLAND: The fact that he's won tells me he has an extensive winning resume. Other than that, his demeanor and how he kind of cultivates the group. His message; very direct. You can tell like he has a plan for how he introduces things day in and day out, and it's very streamlined, so it's nice.

Q. I just asked him this, whether it's Ed Reed, Eric Weddle, Kyle Hamilton, he's just always had that playmaking safety, which is obviously what you came here with the reputation as. Does that excite you? Did you watch any of those guys on film in his Ravens defense? Like do you think you can be that kind of guy for this defense?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, yeah, I've watched -- yeah, I grew up loving Ed Reed, Eric Weddle. K-Ham and I are good friends. I love his game, so of course.

Q. Picked K-Ham's brain about this defense?

JEVON HOLLAND: Not really.

Q. About Harbaugh?

JEVON HOLLAND: Not really. I figured I would just experience it for myself, yeah.

Q. What are your thoughts of it so far?

JEVON HOLLAND: The defense?

Q. Yeah.

JEVON HOLLAND: It's really fun. I'm really enjoying it. I was a similar version with Anthony Weaver in 2024, so some of it is recall, but there are differences and whatnot. Obviously completely different DC, so definitely enjoying it though.

Q. You said similar than the last few years or last year?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, yeah, it's completely different from last year, and then the year before that, with Weaver, he was from the Ravens so there are similarities.

But just the way it's called, the rhythm of the coach, it's all different.

Q. How does it fit your strengths, what you see as your strengths?

JEVON HOLLAND: I mean, I feel like we're kind of in the same like two-high. At this point, I've had so many different defenses that I don't think like one defense is like fitting my strength. I think it's me that adapts to the defense, which is the reason why I can jump from defense to defense.

So I just kind of find my role and like nestle in there and expand from there.

Q. What has that communication been like with Dennard so far? Is he open to feedback when you guys come in and tell him like, we like one thing and maybe not like...

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, he's not like a tyrant or anything. He's not like, just don't tell me. He's definitely open to it. He wants to make sure there is no gray areas. That's a big thing for us.

Everything is black and white. No gray area so no confusion so communication is clear.

Q. (Regarding secondary coaching background.) Does he coach the secondary harder?

JEVON HOLLAND: I wouldn't say harder, but there is just like an intent. You can kind of see it. Questions and whatnot can be asked to Dennard.

I've had defensive line/defensive coordinators which is like a little bit different. Asking the question to my like DB coach instead of like the DC kind of thing. Which is like -- doesn't really make a big difference, but when you do have a defensive back defensive coordinator, there is like just like that extra little, you know, like a little.

Q. This is your second year here. Second year is supposed to be more comfortable with everything. Because there is a whole new coaching staff and new defense, does it seem like it's very new to you or does some of that familiarity help? You know what I mean? Second year but it's your first year in a lot of ways?

JEVON HOLLAND: Not really. Counting the interim coaches from last year, it's like my seventh defensive coordinator, sixth head coach, so change is always -- kind of like part of my career at this point.

The recall though, like having something similar as a defense I've been in before, that's been nice. To be able to just like, okay, it's not all completely new. I'm familiar with some of the language. So, yeah.

Q. You say you've been in a lot of defenses. Been in a lot of defenses and coaches. I don't think you've been around a coach in the NFL that has had the success that probably he has.

JEVON HOLLAND: Right.

Q. Does that change the way you think guys look at it a little bit at all? To you maybe give it a different feel?

JEVON HOLLAND: In terms of how he speaks to the team?

Q. In terms of, hey, we know what he's already done; he's been successful to a degree in the NFL, right?

JEVON HOLLAND: So to the credibility part, I don't necessarily think that anybody would like change their perspective on a coach whether he's credible or not.

But to him having a history of winning and having a process, absolutely. Like you can tell that he's done things a certain way that he's comfortable with and he kind of puts things in order.

So we're learning in a certain way, training in a certain way, OTAs are structured in a certain way. Yeah, the staff, you know, is kind of organized in a certain way so that we're able to both see our performance and improve on it day in and day out and then get help when we need it.

Q. Coach was talking about the speed right now and getting up to game speed. Can you feel that this year in OTAs already moving a little faster?

JEVON HOLLAND: Faster than last year? Yeah, for sure. I don't think it's different than something I've done in the past. Like that's kind of a thing in the league. People want to mimic game speed to a certain extent in OTAs.

So I have kind of been in like a realm of that before. It feels similar for me. I don't know if other guys have been in that same kind of thing. I don't know, some people do walk-throughs through OTAs, save the body or whatnot. There are different perspectives and sciences about how you approach OTAs.

Q. What's your experience with the rookies so far? First impressions?

JEVON HOLLAND: Doing a great job. Really absorbing a lot of knowledge.

Q. How do you assess your play last season?

JEVON HOLLAND: Just take it how it is. When I was out there I was trying to make plays and help my team win.

Wide Receiver Darnell Mooney

Q. What are your initial impressions of your new quarterback?

DARNELL MOONEY: Very, very good things. All great things. (Did) some work during the (spring), so very catchable ball. Friendly to the receivers, you know. He has some swag about himself as well.

Q. In what way? How do you see that swag?

DARNELL MOONEY: The swag? I mean, the way he walks, the way he talks to us. What can I say? He's very (understanding) of everything. If we have to do something within a play, that scramble drill is something we can do because he's good at just playing football. So, he has that swag. I would say that.

Q. What did you know about him before?

DARNELL MOONEY: Not much. Not much. I probably watched one game last year just chilling. Thursday night game with him and (running back Cam) Skatt(ebo) just going crazy. But that's all I knew.

Q. Why did you sign here?

DARNELL MOONEY: Familiarity with (offensive coordinator) Coach (Matt) Nagy. Not something I have to learn within the offense, a new offense. I can just run my route and just the familiarity with that. And then that was top notch right there. That was what I've seen. And I felt like when I'm doing something, when I'm picking, it was more scheme, schematically fit for me. That was the biggest goal right there.

Q. How similar -- I know you've only had it a couple weeks but, how similar is the Matt Nagy playbook now to the Matt Nagy Bears playbook?

DARNELL MOONEY: Oh, he's expanded a lot. A lot. Expanded a lot. There (are) some things that we (did) in the past when I was with him my first couple years, but we've been separated for quite a good time. There (are) some new things he has brought onto his thing, and there are some things that I'm good at that I have learned on my way.

Q. What's your sense of the receiver room? Some guys aren't practicing, some of the guys are here. You're new. How hard is that? A lot of new guys. What's your sense of the whole situation?

DARNELL MOONEY: I feel like the room is very good. Everybody comes in, works hard. The mentality of everybody is just to get better every day. I feel like if somebody is not practicing, they're really feeling something or it's something that is aggravating them that they – it's something (that) can't allow themself to be themself, you know.

But, no, the room is good. We're all learning right now. Right now, is a learning process of the playbook. Everybody wants to make plays, but we just kind of started getting up and going with football in itself. So, yeah, I think everybody is good.

Q. When you signed here, what did they explain what your role probably would be, and now that you're here, what do you sense your role is?

DARNELL MOONEY: My role is to make plays and dominate. There is not much that's been talked about. Everybody is at every position right now. We're learning right now like I said. There is no set position right now. Everybody is everywhere.

Q. Do you feel like this is a good chance for some of the new receivers to kind of build some of that rapport with Dart obviously with Malik (Nabers) and Darius (Slayton) being out?

DARNELL MOONEY: For sure. The more reps you get with him, with Dart, the more familiar he gets with and you the more connection you have. So definitely, definitely.

Q. You mentioned you worked out together. What were the conversations like in terms of Dart taking command? How impressed were you with him just taking that ownership?

DARNELL MOONEY: That's something that you should do, you know. You have to be able to have those interactions outside of here. The coaching staff, they have their establishment, what they feel like can do to win games. We kind of have to put in the work to get better and then go out there and make the play happen.

Q. The program didn't start long after you got here. When and were those workouts with Dart?

DARNELL MOONEY: Probably like around April, April-ish.

And just a lot of routes on air. Like I said, I was familiar with the offense, so talking about some things that he got from Nagy early on and some things that I was remembering at the time to just try to speed up the process.

Because we're behind. We're (really) behind everybody. Everybody is probably – they have some type of togetherness. We're all new to it, to everything. We're catching up, so we've got to do whatever we can to speed up.

Q. With that familiarity that you have with Nagy and success in the league before, do you feel like you've had to step in and take that leadership role in the receiver room with Malik and Slayton being down?

DARNELL MOONEY: Yeah. I mean, I'm always just myself, you know. I'm an observer guy. I'm usually a slow-motion, slow-burn guy I would say. I'm always feeling guys out, seeing how guys workout in themselves, see what they might need in me.

But if guys have questions, I'll definitely answer them. I'm not really stepping on any toes. I'm just feeling out guys. But everybody is very respectful, you know. There is nothing -- there is no big leader role, you know. But if I have to be that, I will.

But like I said I'm a slow, slow burn guy, so whatever I can fit, wherever I can help, that's where I am. But Slay and Nabers, they're around, you know. It's not like they're not around. You see them every day. Even working out and all that. Everybody is around.

Q. What's your sense of what you have done so far in your career and what you still are capable of doing?

DARNELL MOONEY: I don't know, man. That's a good question. That's a good question. I'm usually in the moment though. I'm usually here where I'm at.

Like I said when you asked me my role, it's to dominate and make plays. I feel like I'm getting better and better and wiser within football in itself, so feeling good with that.

Q. What's been your observation of a Harbaugh team as you're watching and learning?

DARNELL MOONEY: I mean, right now, like I said, we're learning. We're learning the playbook. We're learning the playbook. Now, everybody will probably have their stories about these practices and all those things, but we haven't gotten into anything crazy yet – as I've felt.

I know when I was with Nagy my first two years I was running a lot then, so probably nothing much will change. I think I'll be used to it. I'll be fine.