Head Coach John Harbaugh

Q: I wanted to know why it's important to run a meritocracy. So, where guys play and earn opportunities based on purely how they perform. No agendas, nothing else. Why does that matter for a team?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, that's a great question. We say football is the true meritocracy. Probably all sports are in our society. (Long time coach) Jerry Rosburg used to say, "No royalty." That's the way it works in sports. It is good. The best player is the player that plays the best. The best team is the team that plays the best. They prove it on the field. That's what merit is all about. There's really not too much – it doesn't really matter what family you were born into or how much money you have, you make it to National Football League, you just have to be a great football player. Every player is a great player. Then even among the best in the world, which is the National Football League, there's still levels, right? And they earn it. The guys earn it. Talent, but also application in terms of performance. So, yeah, that's what a meritocracy is, right? It's based on merit. It's the beauty of it. That's a great question. That's like an all-time great question right there.

Q: What happened at the end of practice with (wide receiver Xavier) Gipson and (cornerback) Nic Jones?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I really don't know. I really don't know. I cannot wait to find out. It seemed like much ado about nothing to me. The guys were really ready to get up and get in the circle, so they picked him up and carried him over there. I'm sure it'll be fine. But I am looking forward to hearing the story.

Q: You'd think that would happen when they were in pads.

JOHN HARBAUGH: You would think. You would think. Probably somebody got pulled or tugged at the end there, I guess.

Q: Event though it's a jog-through, is it meaningful for (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) to kind of take the step of being so involved with the team, 11-on-11?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I do think that. I mean, I want to think that. I know Malik is really into it. He is pouring himself into it with everything he's got. Learn the offense. Know what he's doing. Because he knows he's going to be back playing soon. How soon? That depends. We'll see. But he's preparing himself to have a great season, so I'm excited about that. And then the practice itself. You know, like, jog-through is a word and it's true, but all the things that go with that, that's post-snap. It's very controlled. But all the rest of it should be game-like. You know, all the operation, all the communication, the sense of urgency. Get to the line. Get out of the huddle. Make the checks. All those things need to be game speed. And we're learning that, how to do that. So, I thought as the practice went on, they got better at that. And I would expect us, the next time we do that, for it to be world-class.

Q: What is it you look for in a rookie offensive lineman? I know that – I'm not talking about today, obviously, John, it was a walkthrough. Through camp, what is it you look for in a rookie offensive lineman to know he's ready? Because even in our world, even (tackle) Andrew Thomas struggled as a rookie. (offensive lineman) Evan Neal was a high pick, struggled as a rookie. What do you look for from Sisi (offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa), and is he doing that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, I agree with you. I mean, it's hard. It's a tough position to play because there's so much that goes into it. So, you probably have to be a little bit understanding because everything is new to those guys, and there's so much nuance and detail to the position. So, the ability to function in a way that you can operate with, that's probably where it starts. I mean, they have to know where to go. The footwork's got to be – fundamentals have to be sound enough that they just don't get whipped right away, which can happen because it can ruin the play. So, they've got to have that certain level of competence out of the gates. That's a must. And really, very few guys – there's very few offensive linemen, really, no matter where they get drafted, that can actually pull that off their rookie year. So, hopefully Sisi's one of those guys. So far so good, but we'll see.

Q: Kind of an attendance thing, (cornerback) Dru Phillips, how did he come out yesterday?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, he has a mild knee sprain, I guess you might say. So, he came out of it pretty well. It's going to be a little bit. He won't be back tomorrow. But the good news is he's going to be okay.

Q: I didn't see (cornerback Jarrick) Bernard-Converse.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, Bernard's dealing with an ongoing knee issue that he's dealing with. I think he's been dealing with that here before. So, that flared up on him.

Q: It's a bit of – the ugly part of the game is injury, so I don't want to ever say it's an opportunity, but a bit of a luxury for you guys to have (safety) Ar'Darius (Washington) in that spot, right? Who can slide in for Dru, has played a lot of ball and also plays safety too.

JOHN HARBAUGH: True, true. You know, nickel. Nic Jones will be in there too, as well. And we have – we'll move our outside corners in there. We signed a couple of corners. We may sign another corner. We'll see, you know, perhaps. I think versatility in the backend is really important, so the more guys that we get in there playing nickel, we'll get a feel for who's got a great feel for it. (Cornerback) Greg Newsome's (II) been playing nickel. So, we'll have – you've got to have depth there, for sure. But Dru has been doing great.

Q: Don't know if it's too early for this, but what are your plans for how much to play starters in the preseason and how to handle those games?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It's a great question. Again, second great question. We haven't decided exactly yet. I think we'll probably lean toward – you know, we're a young team. So, young guys, we're going to want them out there playing and getting experience. So, that's kind of the way I would think would be the way we'd be leaning. How much, what degree, what games, we have to figure that out still.

Q: I know you said at the start of the week that you're not ranking guys after every practice. At what point does that evaluation process have to evolve and you do start – guys moving up, guys moving down? Or is that happening?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It is happening. I just don't bring the list out here with me to share. But it is happening, yeah. But it's still early. I mean, we're three days into pads. I would say by the time we get into the next week, toward the first game then – you know, let's see them play a game. Then we'll have a little clearer picture.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: How much progress do you think you guys have made? You're coming toward the end of your stretch here in West Virginia. How much progress do you think you've made as an offense?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I think that we're taking steps each day. Obviously, there's things that you go out there and maybe it's our first time running something or whatever, and you kind of have things you talk through. But a lot of times we have the opportunity the next day to have a chance to fix it and go at it again. So, I think the really good thing that I'm seeing right now with the offense is our communication after practices being able to fix adjustments for the next day, and that's really encouraging to see. And I think that if we just continue to do this process we'll be in a good spot.

Q: Harbs (Head Coach John Harbaugh) has basically said they are throwing as much as they can at you guys and the offense. Does it seem like a lot and does it get to a point where it seems less complicated the more you work through it?

JAXSON DART: Well, I think for me, I'm happy that we're able to see exotic looks from Dennard's (Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson) defense. I think that they do a really good job. While we're installing plays, a lot of times it's to exotic looks. And so, it's good for us to have that communication and it's good for us to make those adjustments and have those conversations so by the time we get into the season, we feel like we've seen a lot already, which I'm really happy about just as a communication standpoint. But I think there's just been really good battles back and forth between the offense and the defense and just the competitive energy is really good.

Q: Where are you in the installation process? Do you have everything that you're going to do and you're trying to pare it down? Is there more you're probably still going to add? Where do you think that that's at, that process right now?

JAXSON DART: I mean, I'm not the one who makes the installs, so there's still more things that we have to put in. There's still a lot more things that we have to do. But I think at the same time, there's a good amount that's in for us and it requires us to be really locked in each and every day because it's just NFL football. You're getting a big install each and every day. So, you just continue to learn, continue to get reps at things and have a lot of really valuable communication.

Q: And how is here limited your distractions? I mean, there's not much to do here. Walk me through the distractions and how that's been limited.

JAXSON DART: Well, I think that what's really good about being here is that football is the main thing, and that's how it should be in training camp. So, I really love being here. I know the guys have too because not only has it made us better on the field, but at the same time it's allowed us to make stronger connections off the field. So, just the more time we've been able to spend with one another I've loved, and I know all the other guys have felt the same way.

Q: Is this something you want to do prior, next season? Walk me through that.

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I mean, this is like a football paradise. I think that anytime that you watch any of the movies, the training camps where you're able to see, those guys go on little getaways, I think that this is kind of that feel and it's been a joy.

Q: What can you learn from that situation of scoring, kind of the ball flip at (cornerback) Greg (Newsome II)? He (Newsome) said you guys laughed about it afterwards, but John Harbaugh said, yeah, we don't want that in that situation. So, how do you play that out in your head? Obviously, it's been a long time since.

JAXSON DART: Yeah, G-New's my brother. I mean, brothers compete, brothers get into it, and that's just part of the competitiveness that we have out here. It's a battle each and every day. It's a battle every single play, and I think that when you're in those environments, it just gets competitive. So, that's just kind of football, but at the same time you got to respect the fact that you hold each other accountable and you have those conversations, but we're competing.

Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds

Q: How do you think the defense, I mean, obviously today is a walkthrough, but overall in camp, how do you think the defense has come together?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: It's an ongoing process. I think each day we're getting better and better with our communication, which is coming on, just getting on the same page with everything, but that's what training camp's for. We've got a long ways to go. I think it's off to a good start. Guys flying around, guys making plays out there and you feel the energy, you know what I mean? And guys having fun, but it's a long ways away. So, we're working one day at a time.

Q: In your experience, what's the key to having a good run defense?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: I mean, the key is to make sure, first of all, that we all know our assignment. Once we know our assignment, now you put yourself in position to make a play. And when you're being put in that position, when the play presents itself, go make it. You're not necessarily stressing, trying to get yourself out of position, but making sure you know what you're doing, making sure you know what your job is asking you to do for that play. And honestly, man, just being relentless and going to want to and make the play. You got to have 11 guys out there wanting to be that guy to make the play.

And you have everybody flying around, everybody doing their job, everybody doing their assignment, play's going to come.

Q: You're coming through holes a lot. I'm curious what you see on the other side of the ball from the rookie, (offensive lineman) Sisi (Francis) Mauigoa.

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: As far as what?

Q: Just as far as, I mean, as far as blocking, as far as what you see when you're coming through the hole, what you see from Sisi.

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Oh, what I see from him? Gotcha. But yeah, he's a good player, obviously he's strong with his hands, has good foot movement, good footwork. Just attention to detail. I think the guys that's on the o-line is making him better as well. He's learning from some of the older guys, but early impressions, he's strong. He understands like blocking schemes and where to be at. So, he's doing a good job right now. It's still early for him though, training camp is a long way. So, I think each day that we come out here, once he starts playing in the games, that would be another test for him and he'll continue to get better. But so far, I've definitely been liking what I've been seeing from him.

Q: Do you think we're going to see a lot of tip balls from two, 6-4 middle linebackers? Are there going to be a lot of balls floating in the air for the secondary to get their hands on?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Hopefully more interceptions than tipped balls, but we're going to get our hands on them though.

Q: Is that something, I mean, we were told that, that was one of the reasons they paired you guys together, was the space that you would take up. Is that something that you guys are conscious of, that you really want to impact in the middle of the field?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: I think our mindset is to get to the ball, whether that's getting interceptions, whether that's getting sacks, whether that's tackles, whatever, TFL's, whatever. We want to get to the ball. We want to be dominant. We want to put our athleticism on display and that's what's on our mind. All the other stuff is going to take care of itself, but our mindset is go out there and be those guys and we challenge each other every day and not just us two, but the whole linebacker group, man, the whole defense. We all challenge each other and that's what you want.

Q: Coach (Head Coach John Harbaugh) said one of the most impressive things about (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese) is the fact that he doesn't make assignment mistakes. The number of assignment mistakes you'd expect from a rookie. Has that impressed you? And what's been the most impressive thing for you?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah, I mean, I think anytime you come in and you're a young guy, you don't really know what training camp is about, but you could tell in the summertime, he was doing his work as far as studying, as far as training, everything that goes into it, just his attention to detail. I think the most impressive thing is that he wants to learn. I like to talk about off the field because he's somebody that wants to learn, somebody that wants to get better. Anybody come up, say something to him, 'I got you.' And he knows ball. So, at the end of the day the ceiling is high for him. And he's out here working every day and he's putting it on display. So, he's going to be a good player for a while.

Q: Tremaine, how much time have you two put together, like you said, off the field? I mean, going back to when you first paired up back in the spring. Is it as simple as two guys sitting there going over ball? I mean, what is that relationship like and how does it continue to grow?

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: I think relationships in football are far more than just on the field. You got to develop stuff off the field and then ultimately that's going to develop your relationship on the field, but it's been early on. When we first both got here, it's been all playbook, us trying to learn, know what each other's doing, know what, first of all, what ourselves are doing before we can lead each other, but know what our assignment is in the defense. And then after that, obviously we try to get together, try to just go out to eat, whatever it is as a group and develop a relationship like that. But it's an ongoing process, man. We've been here in training camp. We've been in West Virginia. So, it's been a lot of opportunity. We all can get together and kind of just sit down, have a meal, talk to each other, kind of find out about our life, how we came up and stuff like that, but it's an ongoing process. And I think right now, we're taking a step forward each and every day and that's everybody on the defense. It's a lot of our first time playing with one another. So, it's about learning a teammate, knowing who he is as a person so you can go out there and play for one another.

Q: How much has West Virginia helped you in that process? You're coming toward the end of your stay. In terms of developing this defense and getting to know each other.

TREMAINE EDMUNDS: Yeah, I think it's good. I mean, it forces us to be in a tight area just as far as not too much going on. Can't really leave to go nowhere. So, we just sitting down talking. I mean, something may come up at practice, and it may spark a simple conversation just like that. And just simple things. I mean, we're all in one space. So, anybody got a question, anybody want to watch tape, we're all in one area so it's easy to get together and it's easy to talk ball.