Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Good to see everybody. Appreciate you being here. Hope you enjoyed it. It was fun out there. The crowd was into it. We had a lot of people here. We had a spirited practice. A lot of things to work on, but a lot of things that were done really well, and we're looking forward to getting in there and getting to work with these meetings, seeing some tape and continuing the process.

Q. Is there a bit of a difference with the fans here, just energy wise?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I'd say so. Yeah, I'd say so. The energy is there as far as practice, but it definitely impacts the guys as far as the juice. It's fun to have people watching.

Q. (Linebacker) Abdul (Carter) seemed to have a pretty active day as a rusher.

JOHN HARBAUGH: He did.

Q: What have you seen from him and what do you expect from him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He has had two good practices. He is doing everything well right now. He was in the backfield quite a bit. He's going against a really good tackle (Andrew Thomas), too. Those guys are making each other better. I just appreciate that kind of competition. Ones against ones a lot of times. And he looked good. He is not the only guy.

Q. How much can it help a guy like Abdul, who's still a young player, to go up against a guy like Andrew Thomas every day?

JOHN HARBAUGH: A ton. It can help him a ton, you're right. Plus, they talk. It's not just going against each other, but that's where it starts. And then they talk about the plays afterwards on tape. They might talk a little bit at each other during practice, but afterwards they're talking about the play itself and sharing ideas. And a guy like AT (tackle Andrew Thomas) will give him a lot of pointers.

Q. When you watch Abdul on tape, you obviously can see the talent. What does he have to do, when you look at it in your opinion, to take this game to the next level?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think he would tell you just a consistency level. Down, after down, after down. All downs, all situations. Being a complete player on the edge. We'll move him around, too. That includes even dropping him into coverage sometimes. All those things. Play the run, rush the passer, all the movements, stunts, things like that. Cover for guys on movements. All those things that he's determined to do, I've heard him say it many times, to be a complete player.

Q. What have you seen from his approach, just behind the scenes?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I've seen that. I've seen an amazing work ethic and a really deep determination to do every little thing right. Very serious-minded guy. He smiled a couple times today. That was the first time I've seen him smile since camp started, so that was good to see.

Q. Where was Art Green?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Art had a little tightness, a little muscle tightness, so he was out of practice.

Q. Nothing serious?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't believe so. He's getting some tests. I don't think so, but we haven't heard yet.

Q. You mentioned that Abdul and AT go at each other sometimes and talk. That's not Andrew's way, though.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, no. I'd say probably you're right. Probably Abdul's talking more and Andrew is just kind of looking at him.

Q. Is that what you like from a left tackle? What have you seen from him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, Andrew, he's special. He's a one-of-a-kind, elite football player. Elite left tackle in every way. He's in phenomenal shape. He's moving great. He has worked super, super hard. He's healthy. He's ready to roll and looks really good.

Q. What do you think of the jawing back and forth? Is that just the natural part of things getting more physical.

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think it's just the guys are having fun, competing and getting after it. It was good. It was all good-natured and it was a highly intense practice. It was fun to be a part of. It was fun to be in the middle of it. That's why I said when we came off the practice field, "We just had football practice in the NFL. In a beautiful setting." It was awesome.

Q. What's the story with the patches on some guys' jerseys?

JOHN HARBAUGH: The patches are something we've been doing since '08. They are kind of an honoring of the military award medal type things. We started those. There's two patches right now for the guys. So far, it's the offseason program, if they made a certain amount of the off-season program. Then there's guys who have – the sword is a playoff appearance for the Giants at some point. Then there's other things you'll see as we go, once we get the games going.

Q. Some guys have Pro Bowl?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, Pro Bowls will be in there. Maybe we don't have the Pro Bowl patches yet. I don't know. Pro Bowls will be part of it. Game awards. Different kinds of game awards will show up on there.

Q. John, I know we talked about (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) yesterday. We probably could talk to you about him every day. We talked about how perfect he wanted to be every play in the spring. Is this kind of the proving ground? I know you said you're chasing execution, but is this kind of where you want to see him take some chances? "Let's see what you can make out of some of these calls and don't be afraid to make a mistake or make an interception." Or something like that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I do think there's truth to that. You push the envelope a little bit in practice and see where you can fit throws in and things like that. I would hope that they would do that. I think that's definitely his mindset.

Q. He's been under the center a ton these first two days. He didn't do that a lot last year. Why is that important and what are the challenges for a quarterback to be under the center?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't know how much he's done it, but he looks good doing it. It hasn't been an issue at all. I would say, under center in the passing game, it does really discipline your footwork because the drops are so important under center. I think it enhances – he would tell you it helps even in the gun, in the pistol, or whatever. It's just another element. It's part of our offense, what our offense is going to be. We're going to be in various elements of it. That's one of them.

Q. We saw a few guys with penalties. Are you kind of emphasizing how important it is to be disciplined and not get penalties?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Absolutely. We'll try to be penalty-free in practice if we can be. We'll look at them all. We'll evaluate them tonight as a staff. We'll show them to the guys tomorrow. There will be a lot of arguing in the team meeting about whether there's – we had one yesterday. Was it a push-off? If you remember the one, I think (wide receiver) Jalin (Hyatt) had it on Tae (cornerback Deonte Banks), right? Was it a push-off, was it not a push-off? It didn't get called. We don't have NFL officials right here, so we don't have that luxury of them making those calls. But these guys are doing a great job, so that's really important.

Q. John, yesterday (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) got in the backfield, tipped a pass from (quarterback) Jameis (Winston). Today, the pick six. What have you made of his burst and the speed he's been showing?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I like to see a lot of that. That's what you want to see. He's a pretty athletic guy. He's aware. He does have good hands. The ability to rush the passer and also the awareness to bat balls down is massive. Batted balls is a big stat in defensive football in terms of getting off the field. So, it's something we work on. We do not coach our guys against batting balls down in any drill we do. We want to practice it.

Q. Coach, I know you talked about your connection to West Virginia playing WVU when you were a college athlete at Miami of Ohio. That was the start of the Don Nehlen era, which was a very prosperous era for WVU football. How much do you recount from that time playing the Mountaineers, if anything at all from Coach Nehlen?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I remember Coach Nehlen beat us really bad when I was coaching at Cincinnati. He beat us really, really bad. I was a special teams coach and our punter, he had the best day in the history of football. He averaged like 50 yards a punt and he had about 15 punts. So, it was quite a day. You can go back and check it out. It was in 1989. It was a bad day for the Bearcats. But Coach Nehlen played with my dad at Bowling Green. My dad coached for Coach Nehlen in 1967, '68, '69 at Bowling Green State University. Coach Nehlen came back and coached with my dad under Bo Schembechler at Michigan in the '70s. Danny Nehlen was a longtime equipment guy there. We were buddies. We played basketball just about every day. A lot of great ties to the Nehlen family. Coach Nehlen, Merry Ann (Nehlen). They just had the most awesome – Vicky, daughter, and Danny. I just love that family so much. Yeah, treasure those days.

Q. Back to Kayvon really quickly. Do you like how he's handling playing largely with the second-string defense so far? He's mainly been a starter in the league for the most part. Do you think he's bringing a good attitude to that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Absolutely. I don't think he's worried about it. He knows he's going to play a bunch. These guys know. We have three starters at outside linebacker. Those are all starting football players. So, slice it how you want. Do a depth chart any way you want. Those guys are all going to play a ton of football. Same thing for inside linebacker. I put (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden) in the same category. We've got three starting inside linebackers. That's a really good situation. We treat them appropriately, all those guys. They're going to play a lot of ball.

Q. John, I meant to ask you yesterday. I know you joked about (running back) Cam (Skattebo), how you wish he would have stuck the landing on it. How much do you feel the need to talk to him about stuff like that or just being careful of the surroundings and taking care of himself outside the building or not?

JOHN HARBAUGH: To me, it's a very good question. It's something that we talk about everything all the time. So, those things, that, other things have come up every day with Skatt (running back Cam Skattebo) or anybody else. There's a lot of guys we talk to every single day. We have interactions with everybody on the team. So, Skatt and I have had, I don't know, five, six really good conversations since he got back. That might have been talked about in there with some other stuff.

Q. Might have been?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It might have been. It might have been. There might be a good chance. So, I think it's just part of the ongoing process, just communication, being on the same page, trying to be the best we can be in everything we do. He's great. He wants to be great. He listens and talks and tells you what he thinks. It's all good.

Q. What's your message for something like that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: The big picture message is you want to take care of yourself. You want to take care of your team. Do everything you can do to be healthy, be back, be right, be good. What does that mean? It's not going to be the same situation the next time for anybody. It's going to be different, so it's really the principle you talk about.

Wide Receiver Malik Nabers

Q: How are you feeling?

MALIK NABERS: Feeling good.

Q: What was it like to get on the field yesterday and get back to playing football?

MALIK NABERS: It felt good. I mean, I might not show it, I like to be a person that you never know my facial expressions. I'm always just smooth and calm but it felt good to be out there with the guys, get a couple of throws, just moving around. I haven't moved around in a long time, running routes felt good out there.

Q: Do you expect to play week one?

MALIK NABERS: There's no target date. Just stacking days. I'll continue to let everybody know how I feel and when I'm able to get back out there.

Q: How did you feel after running routes yesterday? We saw you back out there today doing some work.

MALIK NABERS: I felt great. My body continues to be stacking days. The training staff have a good plan on what they want me to do, so I'll continue to keep that in mind, just tell them how I feel and continue to get out there as much as possible.

Q: What's your optimism level right now? It seems like you feel good about everything. What's your mindset right now?

MALIK NABERS: My mindset is just stacking days. Trying to get back out there with my teammates, so if I can just keep on stacking days with the training staff and continue to see improvements on my body, continue to see improvements on my knee and where I'm at. It gives me more confidence to go out there and be able to play.

Q: I think the last time we talked to you said you're not going to put a timeline on it, you're going to listen to your body. Do you anticipate being ready for week one?

MALIK NABERS: Like I said, no target dates. Just continue to listen to the training staff. They continue to ask me questions and when I'm ready, I'm ready.

Q: When you got that second procedure done for the cleanup, was that like an extra mental hurdle for you to get over as far as rehab and process and what that was going to take?

MALIK NABERS: When was that date that I had the second surgery? When I had the second surgery that everybody thought, I didn't. I don't know where that's coming from.

Q: You didn't have a second procedure?

MALIK NABERS: I didn't have it on that date.

Q: When did you have it?

MALIK NABERS: I don't know when that came out, but I never had it on that date.

Q: Was it earlier than that?

MALIK NABERS: I don't know. I just never had it on that date.

Q: People talk about having surgery, the way you had, guys have that all the time. The rehab life, it can be a lonely life, dark times. For you mentally, how hard was it and when did you feel like you finally got over that hump to feel like, you know what, I can kind of see that light at the end of the tunnel?

MALIK NABERS: I mean, this is my first time I've battled with a mental battle, I've had have a mental battle. I would say just keeping friends and family close. People that know exactly how they see you in the near future or what they see and how you attack things. I think just having positive people around you, that helps in this long-term battle. You can definitely get lost in your own mind. You never know when you're going to be able to do something. I got stuck in that also, just dealing with this rehab, just long-term, just doing a lot of stuff and not seeing improvements. Always staying in the same spot week by week. But just seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, it's that everyday process. It's just thinking that you're going to get better and believing that you're going to get better and just stacking days, like I said, and just trying to make every day a positive matter. Don't go into the day just not expecting to get some out of it. I think I've attacked this rehab as I'm trying to get better every day. No day is different. I'm outworking the day before and just try to improve on a matter of just getting back healthy.

Q: Do you think you're going to get back to where you were or better or do you know you're going to get back to where you were?

MALIK NABERS: I got extreme confidence in myself. I'm not going to put myself in any spot that I feel like I'm not going to be better than what I was before. So, I don't see myself being what I was before. What I was before, what you all saw my rookie year, I felt like that was basic. I got high standards for myself. I know everybody has high standards for me also. But the standard that I hold myself to is very high. I feel like whatever that standard that I hold myself to, you'll see or sooner or later?

Q: You said your rookie year was basic?

MALIK NABERS: My rookie year was just basic to me. I left a lot of stuff on the field, and I missed a couple games. I'm just excited to see where I'll be when I'm done.

Q: What have you seen from (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) grow the most since year 1 to year 2?

MALIK NABERS: I've just seen him be that leader that we need, game manager, that person in the locker room that gets everybody going, and picking guys up. He's picked me up through this process also. He can read people very well. He reads me. He's always coming up to me. He's like, 'What you thinking about?' Because I'm always in my head. I'm always thinking about stuff. He's always like, 'I know you're thinking.' I have great talks with him, and he's always pushing me to be better, pushing me to just continue to stack days, pushing me to just get back to what I once was so we could play together and be great together.

Q: Has there been any urgency for you guys building chemistry to make up for last year?

MALIK NABERS: We had a talk about that. I'm basically a friend of the quarterback. I'm able to be at any spot you need me to be. I talk to Jaxson all the time, and he's like, 'You're always exactly where I need you to be.' Even in walk-throughs, I'm always there. I'm always seeing what he sees. I'm a friendly person with the quarterback. I feel what he feels, and I know what he feels. Just having those talks with him also outside of football, even when we're sitting outside (with) each other just talking through plays, and I'm able to see what he sees before he sees it, that always makes everyone better too.

Q: How big is it to not start training camp on PUP, just being able to keep building that connection with him and get the work in since you're building a new one?

MALIK NABERS: I don't know what PUP is (laughter). I got to do more research on that. I was just happy to be out there and let those guys see what improvements I made. I kind of let everybody talk on the internet about it. I just stayed in the dark and just did my own thing.

Q: I know you are limited but you are pushing yourself, has there been one moment on the field, where you've done a cut or a little spin or a little push off your knee and you felt as if 'yeah, I'm good' just one physical thing like that?

MALIK NABERS: After these first two days? I feel like the training staff did a very good job on getting me ready before I was even allowed to step foot out there. Those cuts I've been doing with the training staff, those routes I've been doing with the training staff, it was normal to me that I was able to go out there and go full speed.

Q: We know your history with (wide receiver) Odell (Beckham Jr.) and something you wanted, to be teammates with him. What is the last month and a half been like to have him around?

MALIK NABERS: Just a great role model, a great leader that we put in the room. He's had a few injuries in the past. He had the same injury as me. So, just talking through with him on just how he handled that and what was his rehab process and the things that he did to help himself come back. Just keeping him in the corner, he's always feeding me good energy. So, it's good having him around. He's always lifting me up. He'll always continue to call me, ask me how I feel, send me text messages, just motivation. So, just having him around has been great.

Q: Is it surreal, surreal for you? We know the story going back.

MALIK NABERS: It is surreal. Yeah, it is surreal. I got family members and friends that it's so crazy that they see me playing with him, they see me on the sideline with him. I'm just taking every moment in.

Q: When did you start running routes and reaching that progression. How important, if at all, is getting into a preseason game to test yourself?

MALIK NABERS: I don't really know the exact date when I started running routes.

Q: Was it like weeks ago, just now, this week, months ago?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, weeks ago, for sure.

Q: And preseason? Is that important to you? Like is that a goal for you at all to be able to test it.

MALIK NABERS: We'll see what (Head) Coach (John) Harbaugh wants for me. We'll see what his plan is. We'll see what the training staff's plan is and I'll take it from there.

Q: Who has been maybe the best resource for you on the team? You talked about Odell, what he's been through, his injury. Anybody on the team been a good resource to talk to just to kind of like keep your spirits up, keep your mental going with all this?

MALIK NABERS: I just feel like, overall, it's not basically one person. I just feel like, overall, the whole team has been a great resource for me. Just coming up, asking me how I feel, asking me how the rehab is going, giving me great motivation to keep on going. And they were excited to see me out there. They haven't seen me run. So, they were really surprised too. The first time seeing me running, it was like 'I looked good.' They asked me how I feel, and I was telling them how I feel, and they were very happy. So, I think there have been great people in my corner for showing the team staff that has been motivating me to get back to where I once was.

Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas

Q. Saw you and (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) out there having some battles. What's that been like going up against him?

ANDREW THOMAS: It was great, we compete every day. Obviously, he's a talented player. We push each other each and every day.

Q. Do you see growth in his game from a year ago?

ANDREW THOMAS: For sure, he's stringing his moves together better. He's using his power more, and you can tell he just has a better understanding for different types of blocks, different types of attacks, recognizing play schemes.

Q. What are you seeing from his approach? How his approach has changed from his rookie year, or just from off-field stuff? From behind the scenes to the mindset of a player.

ANDREW THOMAS: I'm not sure, honestly, but I'm sure there's some growth that happens. Obviously, he wants to be a good player, so when you have that drive, you just have to get it going in the right direction. You just learn as you go. He's a young kid, he's going to learn, he's going to get even better, so I'm excited to see him play.

Q. If you get beat on a couple reps by a teammate, how do you balance your own corrections with the excitement of what he can do for your team in the game?

ANDREW THOMAS: I never get excited when I lose. When it's Sunday, it's just us, obviously I'm cheering for those guys. But in practice, I want to win every rep just like they do.

Q. What could you have done better today, then, on a day like this, where he seems to win it?

ANDREW THOMAS: I've got to look at the film, just from a feel thing, and just stay more square in my set, trying to stretch the rushers a little bit more. I'll watch film and see what I can do better.

Q. Curious what you think of him, when he's rushing, is how low he's able to get. How much do you notice that, and how much is that a challenge for offensive tackles? How do you approach that?

ANDREW THOMAS: Yeah, he can work edges really well. Part of that is that he's not a super tall rusher. He's bending down with good ankle flexion. He's really low to the ground, but he also has a good change of direction, so you can't just anticipate which way he's going to go, because he can cut off both feet.

Q. You didn't get any training camp last year. How important for you are all of these reps? How nice is it to be healthy right now, and get practice every day?

ANDREW THOMAS: I'm excited for it. Like you said, I didn't get an opportunity to hone in my craft before it was live last year, so taking advantage of every rep I have.

Q. When we were talking to (head coach) John Harbaugh before, he just mentioned your battle with Abdul today and he said, "Well, those guys are going at it, talking back and forth." And then he kind of said, "Well, Abdul was talking." That's not your thing, is it?

ANDREW THOMAS: That's all defenders. They make one play and they are the best. You get a sack a game, you are All-Pro. I'm all about consistency. I love the competition. I want that. I never say much I just speak with how I play.

Q. Can someone get you to engage in that?

ANDREW THOMAS: It would have to be something cheap. If you're just playing, you won't get me out of my character but if it's something cheap or with my teammates then that's something different.

Q. Do you think that can almost frustrate the other guy?

ANDREW THOMAS: It definitely frustrates them.

Q. He's trying to get in your head and…

ANDREW THOMAS: Don't say anything back.

Q. How do you tell it frustrates them?

ANDREW THOMAS: He just gets pissed and start complaining to the ref about holding. That's really all it is.

Q. Talk about being in West Virginia and having the fans all flock here to the Greenbrier to see you guys today.

ANDREW THOMAS: I'm surprised to see so many people out here. That just speaks to the culture that we have. It's a historic franchise. Fans want to see us do well. They're out here. We're grinding to get ready for the season. We want to put a good product on the field for them.

Q. What do you think of it out here? The mountains, the air, the place, everything.

ANDREW THOMAS: It's amazing. I was talking to (offensive lineman) Jon (Runyan Jr.) and I was telling him that I don't think I've ever been a part of a training camp where it's this cold outside. I'm from the South. Even in Jersey, it gets humid, so I'm not complaining, I'm excited. It's nice out, just going to continue getting better.

Q. You're not complaining as a big offensive lineman?

ANDREW THOMAS: Not at all.

Q. This isn't exactly cold.

ANDREW THOMAS: Not cold, but down south, Georgia, it might be 95 right now. Getting an IV after practice.

Q. Is your workload going to be 100% in camp? Have you talked about that, maintenance time?

ANDREW THOMAS: Honestly, I'm not sure. They were kind of managing my reps today. Like, (offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren) Bloom just tells me when I'm in, when I'm out, and I just try to abide by that but I feel good. This is the best I've felt in a long time so I'm excited for this season.

Q. Just as a teammate, how nice is it to see (wide receiver) Malik Nabers running routes? I know he's not doing team stuff yet, but what does it mean as a team to see him out there prgoressing the way he has?

ANDREW THOMAS: I'm so excited to see him back out there. Obviously, he's a very talented player. Overcoming an injury is not easy. I think, if anything, it's just for his mental to be back out here with the guys and running around, catching the ball. I'm excited to see him play this year.

Q. I saw Sisi (offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa) started practice really fired up. What's it been like working with him? What growth have you seen early on from him?

ANDREW THOMAS: I would say, so far, just professional. To be a rookie, like he's in tune to his assignments. He has really good technique. Obviously, he has the physical traits. It's been exciting to see him put it together so far.

Q. What does it mean to have four of the five guys back? That's very rare for you seen you've been here.

ANDREW THOMAS: Continuity is everything. Plus up front, Every snap we get, just working through communication and each rep we just get tighter knit and we'll perform better in the game.

Q. Sisi seems to have a lot of personality. He was talking trash yesterday. How much does that surprise you or caught your attention the way that the personality and confidence that he has?

ANDREW THOMAS: He definitely has confidence. Our whole offensive line is just full of personality. He's done a great job. Like you said, the confidence that he has, you can see it on the field, just the energy he plays with and just going out there attacking, the effort that he plays with to be such a young guy. A lot of times you come out here, you're thinking a lot when you're a rookie just trying to understand the speed. But you can see him flying off the ball, he's excited to get after it.

Q. What was that lap he took about? Was that his idea?

ANDREW THOMAS: That was rookie duties. We made him go around and hype the crowd up. He did a good job. He probably made him some money too. That's probably about 10,000 twitter followers.

Q. He might have done a better job at that as a rookie than you would have.

ANDREW THOMAS: For sure.

Safety Jevón Holland

Q: The defense had a good day today?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, it was fun. Yeah, good day.

Q: It was a pretty active trash talking day?

JEVON HOLLAND: That's a day-to-day thing. We've got a close locker room, so a lot of guys like to trash-talk. It makes the day fun.

Q: There's only been two days. Is it the natural flow of training camp for the offense and defense to trade off having good days?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, I mean, the coaches do a great job of bringing in individuals that are pretty equal both sides. Obviously, you want offense and defense to have similar firepower on both sides. Of course, you're going to go back and forth. But every day changes because you install new plays and whatnot, the offense has an emphasis – a lot of the time, each side is trying to put themselves in a difficult situation so that you do get on the field it's a lot easier. Those stressful situations we are comfortable in. It will change day-by-day.

Q: When you see what (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) is capable of and see today what he's doing out there – how does that excite you watching him, as a DB?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, it excites me a lot.

Q: How so, what goes through your mind watching him be that disruptive force?

JEVON HOLLAND: I mean, usually when he's getting to the quarterback fast, the ball comes out fast, or disrupts the quarterback, so it gives us an opportunity to make a play. It kind of ruins the offense's timing, which is always great. That's kind of what I'm thinking, aside from my job. But, yeah I'm just excited for him. He's going into year two. He had a good last year, and I know he's just going to excel this year.

Q: What's it like seeing the fans for the first time this season?

JEVON HOLLAND: It was great. Yeah, everybody was cool. We just signed some jerseys and whatnot, kissing babies (laughter), it was cool. It was a good time. It was a good time.

Q: You and (safety Tyler) Nubin have been together, now you're the old couple on the backend. Communication wise comparatively from last year to this year, how would you describe the way you guys are able to work together on the field?

JEVON HOLLAND: Really it's just kind of a feel thing. This is the first time in my career I'm going into a second year with the same playmate next to me. Just us building rapport over the offseason, being close friends, communication, kind of understanding how we play, how I play, how he thinks, how I think. We're starting to like – I mean, we were last year, but obviously it's a new defense, so within the defense, starting to just pick up on our nuances and whatnot. Yeah, it feels good.

Q: Have there already been plays this year where things are unspoken?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, just kind of seeing him moving, his body language, communication-wise. It's happened a few times and we've been on the same page on all of those. So, I think just through communication, kind of telling him what I'm thinking, him telling me what he's thinking, we kind of gain more knowledge about how to play, spatially with each other.

Q: Is there growth in Nubin's game that you can see?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, absolutely.

Q: In what way?

JEVON HOLLAND: I would say just overall. As a player in the league, you want to advance every year in every aspect. Communication, disposition on the field, body awareness, kind of seeing the play before it happens, pre-snap, things like that. So, I think in every aspect, Nub has taken another step, just like he took a step last year from camp to the season, to late in the season. He's continually taking those steps. It's a new staff, new defense, but he's taking it within stride and I think he's doing a great job.

Q: What has (safety) Ar'Darius (Washington) brought to the defense?

JEVON HOLLAND: AD's great, bro. He's just like a real cool, low-key, just knows what to do, knows his game, plays fast, covers ground. He's fun to play with. He's fun to play with. Me, him, and Nub out there all together, it's fun to play with. (Safety) J-Pinn (Jason Pinnock), too. All the safeties. Everybody has their own personality, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and I think the coaches do a great job of pairing us together to complement each other's style, no matter who's on the field. So, yeah, it's fun playing with all of them.

Q: What's your take on training camp out here in the Allegheny Mountains?

JEVON HOLLAND: It's fun. I like being near trees and whatnot. I'm from the Northwest – I was from Canada, went to Oregon. Trees are my friend. I love it. So, I'm enjoying the atmosphere.

Q: I imagine there are enough trees over here for you?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's plenty. I'm just not out at night. I heard about the Appalachian Mountains, Skinwalkers – I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist, but I don't know. I asked the bus driver yesterday. I was like, 'You heard about Skinwalkers?' He was like, 'I just let it go in one ear and out the other.' So, that's all I needed to know – not to go out at night (laughter).

Q: Has anyone mentioned Mothman to you yet?

JEVON HOLLAND: I don't even (laughter). See, you're getting into a whole other area. I don't even want to get into that (laughter).

Q: Do the amount of live periods during practice create a sense of urgency? Do you think that can prepare a team differently or better for a season?

JEVON HOLLAND: I mean, it really depends on the formula of the head coach. Some teams, some coaches may say that doing walkthroughs, making sure that we're going through things in a slow manner can put you in mentally a clear space so when they the bullets are flying you don't have to think about it. You've already been through the steps. Other coaches say that you need to do live periods on a consistent manner so that when you are in those situations for the first time and you're stressed, when you get in the game, then it's easier to be reactive rather than thinking about it and trying to make a play, trying to force a play. It just depends on what coach you're going with. With (Head Coach John) Harbaugh we do a lot of live periods. We also do some walkthroughs and whatnot. You kind of just adapt to the head coach and the team takes the personality of the head coach.

Q: How do you think the team is receiving this pace of play so far?

JEVON HOLLAND: I think it's great, yeah.

Q: What's been your opinion on the rookies so far, specifically (linebacker) Arvell (Reese) and (cornerback) Colton (Hood)? Are there still some learning curves for them?

JEVON HOLLAND: Yeah, absolutely. They've shown a lot of growth. They're picking it up fast and they're making plays. As a rookie, for myself, I try to just find my area, find my space and grow in the space, gain the confidence of my teammates, and then from there, I can take on more of a responsibility. And I think they're doing just that. I think they're doing a great job of being rookies and knowing that they don't know and asking questions when they need to ask questions, but then also realizing, having confidence in themselves that they are here for a reason and they can make plays. I think they're doing a great job.

Q: What do you think this team's personality is going to be based on John Harbaugh? What have you thought of his coaching style so far?

JEVON HOLLAND: I think Harbs is an old-school head coach, but he's very self-aware and he's very clear with the players. I think he has a defined standard for what we want, what he wants, and he's explained that to us through OTAs and he's given us examples. I think the team has already kind of taken that mindset. Just the small things. If we don't want to do something, or people are complaining like – 'you get to,' or 'you've got to do it because you've got to do it.' That's just what it takes. It takes what it takes. Just got to do the work if you want to be good.

Q: Is there a specific part of your game you're looking to improve the most this year? Physically, mentally, being a leader?

JEVON HOLLAND: All of them. As a leader, physically, mentally, every aspect I'm looking to grow.