Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Okay, appreciate you guys being here. Beautiful day, good practice. On to the next day. What questions do you have?

Q: With (Wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) not practicing, was that planned today? How did that come about?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I'd say it's part of the process. Just got to go work through it. And every single day will be what it is, that given day. He's working real hard. Made a lot of progress and that's what we decided to do today.

Q: (Nabers) is feeling good though?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, he's fine.

Q: The last drill, the last two-minute drill, you had the first team offense go back the second time. Is that to give them another shot?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah.

Q: What happened on the last play of their first, was it an offensive penalty? It's kind of confusing to see what happened there.

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't remember. It's like after a game, you know what I mean? It's hard to tell what happened. It was going fast.

Q: There was a flag and then all of the sudden the first team offense went off the field.

JOHN HARBAUGH: I probably just wanted them off the field. It's practice, move onto the next one.

Q: The last play of practice, (defensive lineman) Darius Alexander, what did you like about this, his presence?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, probably a presence of mind kind of a play. Probably felt the ball had to get out. That's a heck of a catch, very athletic play, game winner. The thing I probably liked about it the most, now that you mention it, was the fact that he caught it and got down right away. That's a game winner. He didn't put the ball at risk and then the defense wins the game. That's what you kind of want to try to do in that situation.

Q: What have you made of how Jaxson's digested the offense in the first couple days of camp?

I think he's done a great job. It's just one day at a time. There's so much. You can't even imagine how much there is for a quarterback to operate with, especially in a new offense. He's done an outstanding job. There's so much on his plate. He's pushing the envelope. He's also competing at the same time.

He's a fiery guy. I'm impressed. I'm very impressed.

Q: How do you view your running back group, talent-wise?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I like it. They're working super hard. They're talented guys. I really like those guys a lot.

Q: You've had both, you've had the bell-cow guy and then you've had the backfield by committee where it's 50-50 share. How do you see these guys?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We'll see. It's the third day. We'll see how it plays out. We're learning about our team as we go. No judgments being made here on day three about anything. We're still trying to figure out exactly what direction we want to go in certain schemes, what plays we're good at. That's all part of this process. It really is for every team at this point.

Q: You've got two young kickers battling it out at this point. What do you think of what they've done so far?

JOHN HARBAUGH: They've done well. They've made a good number of kicks. I feel good about it.

Q: What have you seen from (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese) to start?

I think he looks really good. I thought he made a great play just off the top of my head today. The play, he was in zone coverage and he got that wingspan out there and batted that ball down. That was a great football play.

Q: I think he did one of those yesterday, too.

JOHN HARBAUGH: So he's back-to-back. He's doing well.

Q: John, I don't know of your punter history as far as what you do in training camp, but do you usually have no problem bringing in one guy and then just monitoring his workload?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, that's a great question. Jordan's (punter Jordan Stout) young. That's what we're doing now, just from a roster standpoint. We wouldn't mind having another guy. We had a lot of guys. We have three or four guys catching punts, too. We kind of bit the bullet on that a little bit.

Q: So that's something that could happen you think or you don't know?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't know.

Q: When you were hired here, it seemed like it was pretty easy to follow the breadcrumbs that Jordan might sign. What kind of peace of mind does a guy like that give you?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think he's the best in the business. I really do. I have a lot of confidence in him. He's been through a lot. I've seen him in every kind of circumstance, and I've also seen his development. He's going to be a weapon for us.

Q: So, do you have a number for him every day and then you just use the gun other times?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, that's a good question. It's all charted out. He's not going to over-kick. We're definitely not going to have him do that.

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Q: It looked like (tight end) Tanner Conner left early?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, we'll see. I'm not sure, I don't think it's a serious thing, but they're evaluating him now.

Q: Coach, there's a lot of opportunity in the receiver group right now. Has anybody stood out specifically?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think they're all doing fine. We're not really ranking them at this point in time.

Q: As a general question about (wide receiver) Odell (Beckham Jr.), you talked about how you had a conversation with him. He has to come in here and prove to you that he can earn a roster spot. What does he need to show you in that regard?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I don't have the list in front of me. He's going to have to catch passes. He's going to have to run routes well. He's going to have to block people really well. He's going to have to practice. He's going to have to endure and make plays. All the things that Odell is very capable of doing will be the things he's going to do. So, there's your obvious answer to your very broad question. He's got a shot. Odell's got a great shot.

Q: You mentioned (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) yesterday talking about how he wanted to have more consistency. How do you coach that into him to show, hey, you want to reach this level, this is how you can get to that level?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, I don't think I have to say much to him. You have a conversation and he's telling me that's what he wants to do. 'What does it take?' Come out here every day and do everything well all the time. That's what he's chasing. Chase perfection. That's what he's chasing. Can you achieve perfection? Maybe not all the time, but you can certainly do it some of the time. Perfect meal, perfect date, perfect day, beautiful day out here. It probably is a perfect day. You can have a perfect play. We can have perfect plays, that's what he's chasing.

Q: Three days in coach, what's been the biggest thing you've been pleased with your group?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Effort. The effort. The mindset, attitude, energy, determination to do things right. Kind of what we were talking about in terms of chasing perfection. I do believe they've done three days of that. They've stacked three days of that kind of mindset, which that's really where it starts. That's the process part of it. If we're willing to do that, then we have a chance. The biggest challenge now is to put a fourth day on top of that.

Q: The flip side of the play by Darius (Alexander) is that's an interception from Jaxson (Dart). Is that a play where you might not want him to take that risk and throw the ball? .

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, he's trying to get yards. I think we were in field goal range, so he's got to make that decision, probably not to do that. Maybe he didn't see the defensive lineman. There's a lot of nuances to that course. Obviously it's not a circumstance you want to throw an interception. We'll break that down in the meetings tonight and look at the details of it. I'll say this too, it goes back to what somebody asked me yesterday. You put the quarterback in a tough spot out here. Do you want him pushing the envelope? Or are you going to criticize him for throwing a pick in training camp? I mean, it's training camp. We're working through all these things and you do want him pushing the envelope, you want him competing out there. That's part of what this is all for.

Running Back Cam Skattebo

Q: Is your start of training camp what you envisioned it to be coming back from what you came back from?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean back day one ready to go. I felt great, we've had hiccups in the past, but I think we're getting over those now, so it's been feeling great.

Q: Is there anything physically you're still working through, or is it just like, 'hey, I feel kind of like I did before'?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean obviously with an injury like that to an extent you have things around your body that bother you throughout the rehab process. Or if it's your right ankle, your left leg might start bothering you because you're using it more, when you're getting back into shape and stuff. But I think we're starting to get to the point now where I'm feeling pretty even, pretty consistent in both legs, and things that were bothering me are starting to work their way out now.

Q: Because it almost seems like they don't have you on, like you're just out full go.

CAM SKATTEBO: Oh yeah, it's time to play football. I don't think that their mindset is that way right now. I'm coming up on what? I think it's ten months we're coming up on, or nine. Yeah, ten months on the 26th, so we're four months past the due date. It's been a great process, it's been awesome. It was a long, hard road that I've took, but I told them I would be ready day one, and look where we are.

Q: How have you seen your role change with this staff, this offense now compared to last year? Are you doing more, has the role expanded?

CAM SKATTEBO: I mean, obviously Harbs (Head Coach John Harbaugh) runs the ball a lot. And Coach Nagy (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) is going to, he always emphasizes to us that we're going to run the ball. And it seems that way in practice, we run the ball a lot. I think what they say is what they're going to do, and I believe that if we're going to run the ball a lot, there's got to be running backs to run the ball. I think that me and the guys in the room with me are going to have a really good year and enjoy playing the running back position.

Q: Cam, some coaches believe that the running game doesn't start until the pads go on, but you guys have really been practicing the run game. What can you guys gain without the big physical contact with the pads?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean, obviously with the o-line, it's big for them. Obviously with us, it's big in our keys and our reads. But the o-line it's being in the right position, knowing the flow of the game, the right techniques. If you don't have pads on, and teams don't work the run as much when they don't have pads on because they can't hit each other but if you're not working those techniques and those skills with those guys up front, when you get the pads on, those skills aren't going to come. The defensive line, it's a little different for them. They get to attack a shoulder and swim or do different things. O-line has to, they need pads to really dominate. I think throughout the process of not having pads, it's been really good to see those guys take full responsibility and making sure that their details and everything that they're doing in their room are very organized and done right.

Q: Nagy's had some physical guys in Kansas City, (Detroit Lions running back Isiah) Pacheco and whatnot. What's he said to you, not just running the ball, but running it physically and really imparting your will on the defense?

CAM SKATTEBO: Not only me. Trace (running back Tyrone Tracy), Motor (running back Devin Singletary), Turbo (running back Dante Miller), all of them, he comes into our room all the time and says we're going to run the ball, so be ready. He constantly reminds us that it's going to happen and as a running back group, I think as a total group, we have come together and that's how we're going to play as a group. We're going to be physical. We're going to run hard. Me and Trace have had a lot of talks in the past eight months of me being injured and coming back. I think you're going to see a little meaner side of him this year too. So, I'm super excited to get the ball on the ground and see the physicality come out of all the guys.

Q: John (Harbaugh) and (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) both said they talked to you about things like the back flip video at Fanatics Fest, what did you take from those conversations?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, I mean, obviously I do some dumb things here and there, but I learn from it. My coach talked to me, told me how he felt, and I learned from it. And will I go do that back flip again? Probably not. We live and we learn, and we move on.

Q: That's different when game time comes around?

CAM SKATTEBO: When game time comes around, we'll see what game time comes around. But right now, we're focused on training camp, and we'll keep the back flips off the field for now.

Q: You said emphasis on the run game in practice. How has (linebacker) Tremaine Edmunds and (linebacker) Arvell Reese made that more difficult for you guys to improve your install?

CAM SKATTEBO: That's a good question because I talked to the other guys, and having two guys that are 6'4" plus at linebacker, and I'm not saying I'm intimidated, but it does intimidate seeing those guys above them because when your linebackers are engaged with your guards and you can see your linebackers' head, it's a little like, 'Oh (shoot), he's there, you know? Seeing those guys and seeing how big they are, I think it will help understand that he's there. So, it helps me, honestly, more because I can see where he's at, and it helps them because they're able to see us. I think it's going to work hand-in-hand together because when we go against other guys, I think it's going to be a little easier.

Q: Was there a moment you felt 100%. Was it this camp? Was it a month ago? Was there a point you felt like, I'm fully healthy again?

CAM SKATTEBO: I've felt 99%. I think the 100% is when I put shoulder pads on and I'm able to hit someone. That's when I'll tell you I'm 100%. But for now, I'm 99.9% okay.

Q: What has (linebacker) Abdul Carter showed you in this camp?

CAM SKATTEBO: Abdul's a freak. He's a good player. He's the reason he was as high as he went, he's the reason he's going to be a really good player this year with a lot of sacks. Throughout the process of the offseason, obviously I had an injury, so I was doing different things than the team was but coming back to the locker room and hearing nothing bad about anybody, that just tells you that people are doing the right thing and working their butts off to get better. Seeing him on the field, you see him out there. He's working his tail off and trying to get better every day.

Q: What do you think you learned the most out of your rookie year?

CAM SKATTEBO: Don't live a play short. I mean, I got hurt. That was the end of the story. Do I wish that play I could have maybe stepped two steps harder and maybe got out of the way of that linebacker? Probably. But I can't take that back now. Just playing every play as hard as I can and making sure that I keep a positive mindset throughout everything.

Q: How much does it help having Harbaugh, having a relationship with him, where he can have those kinds of conversations with you and you feel comfortable saying, hey, take what he says and listen and keep it going, but how big is that for your growth to have that good relationship with him?

CAM SKATTEBO: Me and Harbs have had a couple talks. Good ones, bad ones. Not bad, but rough conversations, being honest with each other. You can tell he cares, man. You can tell he wants the best for this team. He wants what everybody wants. We all want to win. We all want to win the Super Bowl. We all want to win the championship, everything. He wants that for us. When guys aren't doing that, he's going to make sure that we know that we're not doing that. I think having conversations with him and being able to constantly take in what he says and feel that he cares, that's the biggest thing for me, man. Every day he comes out here and he cares about it, as soon as he wakes up in the morning.

Q: What has it been like for you taking in the fans from West Virginia? I know you didn't play West Virginia when you were at Arizona State, but what has it been like taking in these fans and seeing everybody flock from coast to coast and being able to come to this camp?

CAM SKATTEBO: Yeah, it's been awesome. People say I'm the people's guy, so I'm going to continue to be people's guy. Giving kids high fives, you never know when that kid's going to cry because he got a high five from me. I'm going to continue to be who I am and hopefully make everybody happy around me and continue to be positive. If a kid wants a backflip, he'll see the backflip when it's touchdown time.

Q: You said something at (Giants Townhall) about rushing for 300 times for 2,000 yards. Obviously, those are really high goals and you have a backfield with Tracy. Do you see those as realistic goals to chase? You set super high goals to chase. Is that kind of what the idea behind you is?

CAM SKATTEBO: If they're really high goals, then they're probably good goals to hit, right? So, if those are the goals that are really high and really hard to achieve, I'm going to try to achieve those. That's the goal.

Outside Linebacker Abdul Carter

Q. Where are you starting defensively?

ABDUL CARTER: We're just trying to stack days. The whole defense, our whole message is just keep being consistent. Be consistent, be consistent. Day in, day out, just keep getting better.

Q. How do you think you've come back for year two just after the year that you had as a rookie?

ABDUL CARTER: Obviously, I learned a lot, but I feel like everybody knows towards the end of the season, I started to really find my stride. I started to figure things out. I'm going to try to carry that out to year two.

Q. Are you in better shape than you were a year ago?

ABDUL CARTER: Oh yeah, for sure.

Q. The weight is down?

ABDUL CARTER: I'm pretty much running the same weight, 245, 250, but I feel good. I'm moving good.

Q. How do you carry that over? What do you do? Do you watch film from your stuff from last season? What do you remember that you actually can carry over?

ABDUL CARTER: I would say more just my process, my routine, leading up to the games, how I'm preparing, how I'm studying film, how I'm practicing. I feel like that really helps a lot.

Q. You rushed the passer really well in year one. How did you think you were as an edge setter, and how do you look at that part of your game going into year two?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, I think that's like – everybody knows who I can be as a pass rusher. I feel like for me to really take that next step and be who I want to be is me being consistent and applying everything. The run game, the pass rush, watching film, just doing everything at a consistent level.

Q. Last year, we saw you in camp specifically all over the place, whether it was in the middle, outside. Right now, you're pretty consistently going against (tackle) Andrew (Thomas). Does that help you to, just going in that one spot consistently? And what's the battle been like with him?

ABDUL CARTER: Andrew, he's the best of the best. Whenever we're going against each other, we get the most out of each other. If I beat him, I'm going to let him hear about it, but he's the best of the best. But then, I'm in one spot right now, but I'm still going to be moving around, be over the guards, be over the centers. It's going to be fun.

Q. He said when you let him hear about it, he's one of those guys who says, "I don't come back." And he doesn't listen to anything you say.

ABDUL CARTER: He's going to be quiet. He's going to let his game do the talking. But he's a great battle. I love playing against him.

Q. Does that get you going? Do you wish a guy would kind of answer you back a little bit?

ABDUL CARTER: Oh, yeah, for sure. I like to trash talk a little bit, but it's all fun. It's all love at the end of the day.

Q. When you said, coming off the field, "You can't F with me." You're talking about Andrew?

ABDUL CARTER: No, I'm just talking about – that's just me, I'm in the moment. It's not more personal with Andrew. It's just me being who I am.

Q. He did say yesterday that he can see differences in your game. The way you string pass-rush moves together, your knowledge. Do you feel that coming through this camp?

ABDUL CARTER: I'm trying to grow. I'm still growing. But it means a lot coming from him, especially with the guys he's been against, how long he's been doing it at a high level. So, that means a lot coming from him.

Q. Who can you be as a pass rusher?

ABDUL CARTER: We're going to find out.

Q. Goals?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, definitely. I want to be Defensive Player of the Year, for sure.

Q. Abdul, for a lot of people, this is their first time being in the state of West Virginia. You don't have to look too far for you. A couple of years ago, you were playing in Morgantown against WVU. What can you recount from that day? It was a Nittany Lion win for you guys. Was that a tough place to play in Morgantown? What can you recount from that day?

ABDUL CARTER: That was my first game actually playing as an edge rusher, so I was learning a lot, going along. But it was fun. It was a fun time. It's my second time being in West Virginia. It's a beautiful atmosphere, so I'm enjoying it.

Q. And you went against (Jaguars offensive lineman) Wyatt Milum, a guy who's also playing in the NFL with Jacksonville. What was it like going against him as your first start as an edge?

ABDUL CARTER: It was fun. I learned a lot during that game. Like actually how to rush against a pro kind of attack. I learned a lot during that game.

Q. Do you think you could be Defensive Player of the Year this year?

ABDUL CARTER: Absolutely.

Q. Why is that?

ABDUL CARTER: Just my process and knowing who I can be as a person and believing in myself. I know what I'm capable of, and I know if I put the work in and believe in myself, trusting myself, trust in my teammates, trust in my coaches, I can be whoever I want to be.

Q. Abdul, you know what it's supposed to look like the first couple days for a rookie in training camp. What have you seen from (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese), and especially that play in coverage where he dropped off and he used that long wingspan?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, I haven't been watching much of Arvell, but I asked his linebacker coach how he was doing and he said he was doing outstanding. Obviously, he's got all the physical traits, but he said more importantly, the mental side, he's been doing a really good job.

Q. Can you look back like one year ago today to the first week of camp and think about what you were then as a player and what you are now? Do you think it's dramatically different?

ABDUL CARTER: Not too dramatic. I'm still growing. I'm going into a year two, but obviously I learned a lot last year. So, I'm never going to repeat the same mistakes. I've got my feet wet now, so keep the ball rolling.

Q. Is there anything you would look back and say, "If I could tell myself one year ago what to expect or what to take out of the game." What would be your advice to yourself?

ABDUL CARTER: I don't really think like that. I feel like everything happened the way it was supposed to. I learned from it, moved on from it, so I'm ready to go into year two.

Q. What have you learned about (Head) Coach (John) Harbaugh?

ABDUL CARTER: I've learned a lot. Being with him ever since we started a couple months ago, seeing how he is as a person, how he comes in as the same person every day, so (inaudible).

Q. Going up against (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) every day now, what have you seen, like the steps that he's made in the years two? What have you seen in the few days since you've come here?

ABDUL CARTER: I talk to him every day before practice. We go out there with the mindset that we're going to compete and make each other better.

Q. Just what you're seeing in his game, more specifically. Any differences?

ABDUL CARTER: I don't really know how to really play quarterback, but he's talented. I remember yesterday doing a walkthrough. It's little stuff. It's not a walkthrough, but it's like mid-tempo. I had the back. He faked, no look pass. Little things like that. I know he can do special things.

Q. Anything in particular being here that you appreciate? The view, the facilities, anything that stands out to you so far

ABDUL CARTER: This is all good. It kind of reminds me of my college. There's a bunch of trees, mountains everywhere. Good football energy.