Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Okay, good seeing everybody here. Appreciate you being here. Got hot, it was cool earlier, then it got hot. We had a hot practice. It was a big practice. We had certain really, really good situations, very basic situations we were working on. Guys did a great job with all that. I thought the competition level was high. Execution level was high. It's heading in that direction. It's not there yet, but it's heading in that direction. So, we're happy with the day. We think we got a lot done and we'll finish strong here tomorrow. What questions do you have?

Q: Did it look like to the naked eye the best day the offense has had in 11 on 11?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That's a good question. We actually scored. I think you guys, (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) told you, Jaxson leaked that to you guys earlier. So, we'll see what the score looks like, but they did some good things. That last drive, that long drive period we did at the end, they executed a lot of plays there. One thing you learn in those kinds of periods is you get frustrated with a play you don't make, but on offense you get two more chances. You still have an opportunity. If you make a play, you keep a drive alive and kind of break out. So, that's kind of how that worked in that drive right there.

Q: What happened at the end? Did they lobby to do another play?

JOHN HARBAUGH: They lobbied. I wanted it to be done. That was supposed to be the last play before that, and they wanted the last play, so I cracked and gave them that last play.

Q: The touchdown? That was the touchdown play?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah.

Q: Do you have anything on, it looked like (running back Cam) Skattebo, (defensive end Brian) Burns and (offensive lineman) John Michael Schmitz (jr.) all left at some point.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, Skatt, I think it's natural. He's probably working through the football shape part of it. He's coming off of rehab, so that's what that was. It won't be a serious injury at all. John Michael, got his bell rung, so we'll see. We'll evaluate that. Burns is just working through his ankle, he's fine. He just mounted in his rush today.

Q: He rolled over when they did one-on-ones over here.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Oh, okay. I didn't see that. They didn't mention it in the post-practice, so it must not be much.

Q: So, back to them lobbying for that, and I would imagine it's natural for a coach to want, at a day like this, the heat, the dog days, you want the team to lobby to be back out there on the field one more rather than lobbying to come off.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I'd say you're right. I mean, I wasn't going to do it like I was going to stand firm because we're doing some goal line tomorrow and then I did kind of think what you thought. I said, wow, they want to do it. Let's do it.

Q: Was that (offensive lineman) Jermaine (Eluemunor), who?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I can't remember now. I feel like they were all there in my face, both sides of the ball.

Q: You pulled (cornerback) Colton Hood. What was the teaching point there?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That was for staying up off the ground. We had a receiver there. I think it was Isaiah (Likely). He's trying to make a play on the ball. They get tangled up a little bit. We'd rather not be tangled up in that situation, try to stay off the ground, take care of each other.

Q: We've seen that before a lot in 11 on 11 periods, you were kind of bringing the offensive, defense together. What was the interaction there?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, that was to talk about the situation. So, we had a certain type of first and second down that we did. We had a certain type of third down that we did. So, just to explain to them the focus, what each side's trying to accomplish.

Q: So, on the third down, it seemed like Jaxson was throwing a lot of short, fast on third and long. Was that by design? You didn't want to throw to the sticks necessarily?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Usually, those will end up being high-low type routes. So, you have opportunities to throw it down to the sticks. And if the defense is sitting back there, you drop it underneath a lot of times to see if you can run and get it. And it seemed like that's how it played out. I mean, we started with, (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard (Wilson) must have scripted the first play each time because it was third and 14 (laughter).

Q: Did you like Jaxson's poise against the Blitz? Dennard brought a lot of pressure today. It seemed like he got the ball out.

JOHN HARBAUGH: I would say so. He did. I mean, and he made some good throws. He got us in some good plays. All three quarterbacks got to some plays versus pressure, which was, that's great. It's good to see.

Q: The two positions where the competition's kind of wide open, receiver and corner, what have you seen from your rookies (wide receiver Malachi) Fields and (cornerback Colton) Hood?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Both guys are pushing. I'd say both those guys are pushing for playing time. Both have done well.

Q: Start of practice, the live kickoff. Can you talk about the accomplishments that you got out of that work and what you're trying to get done with that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, not live. I mean, it was still a kind of wrap and release type drill. But the idea is that, you have to learn to play the game and we try to not do it with 11 on 11. So, we were doing it with two on two or three on three so they can understand the angles, understand the techniques, compete, learn how it really is. I mean, it really is. You have to learn how to block people. You got to learn how to beat blocks in real time, but we don't want a bunch of bodies out there that can get tangled up with each other. So, that's how we've been doing that for quite a while.

Q: We saw Malik by your side during a lot of team periods, what are those conversations like you have with him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He's taking me through the routes. We get the play called, he'd be taking me through what everybody's doing. Malik's got a great mind for ball, and he knows on every single play, he knows what everybody's doing. That's kind of, I think, his way of getting his mental reps back there. So, that was the beneficiary of that. It was fun.

Q: What about the way he's running? I mean, it seems like he's sort of taking it to the next level. It was maybe at times jumping and landing on the leg, the cutting off that affected leg. What have you seen from him as this camp went along?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, I've noticed that too. And we've talked about that. I feel like (Coordinator of Rehabilitation and Return to Play) Allie (Boudreau), who is our coordinator for return to play in the training room, she's working with him. And she's been working on situations where you're off balance up, landing off balance and unpredictable type situations that you're going to get, rather than just doing normal rehab, and then going out there and all of a sudden being surprised by the awkwardness of football. Try to create as much as you can in a controlled setting. And I think she's doing a great job with that and Malik's working really hard on it.

Q: Do you have any idea about the next step in the progression for him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, he'll be working his way back into practice more and more, just as we go here, we'll see. We'll see what he's ready to do each day.

Q: It's a generic question, but you said at the beginning of the week that this was really the most important week for you guys. As we sort of come to the end of it here, do you feel like you've gotten out of it what you hoped to get out of it?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I do. I do. One more day. I want to finish strong, but I would say, I told the guys at the beginning of the week, that you're going to look back after Saturday's practice, and you're going to see how far you've come, how much better you are, how much different you are as a team. And I'm hopeful that they'll feel that way after tomorrow's practice and I think they will.

Linebacker Arvell Reese

Q. Is there a better sound than a pop when you make that proper run fit, right read and the back comes through the hole?

ARVELL REESE: You said is there a better sound?

Q. Is there a better sound than that pop?

ARVELL REESE: No, that's the best sound you can get.

Q. What's your takeaway from your first training camp? What stands out to you?

ARVELL REESE: I'd say camp really feels the same. Just from back in college, I feel like everything just – I think everything's a little bit faster here. I think everything's a little bit faster. Harbs (Head Coach John Harbaugh) does a good job of running camp though, so, I think he does a good job. Everything's kind of the same. Camp is camp. Camp is football.

Q. Do you feel like you're getting your hands in all the different pots, so to speak? I've seen you make pass breakups, obviously run fits. I've seen you pass rush on (tackle) Andrew Thomas. Do you feel like you're getting a little bit of everything?

ARVELL REESE: Yeah, I think so. I think so. I think that (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard's (Wilson) doing a good job of just moving me around, so I think so.

Q. (Head) Coach (John Harbaugh) said the other day that one of the impressive things about you is that, as they move you around and ask you to do different things, you're not missing assignments. How important is that to you, to sort of be on your p's and q's like that?

ARVELL REESE: That's very important. That's my job to do that. I get to do that, you feel me? So, it's very important. I take a lot of pride in that, in knowing my stuff and making sure I'm doing everything right. Mistakes happen but try to just limit those mistakes and not make the same mistake twice.

Q. Why do you think you and the defense are defending the run so well? It felt like today their offense didn't have many areas to run the ball.

ARVELL REESE: I think it's just because we want to. We've all got the ability to do it, it's just a want to do it. Getting downhill, you've got to want to do that.

Q. How much does a guy like (defensive lineman) DJ Reader help you guys? I'm talking about you and (inside linebacker) Tremaine (Edmunds). A guy like that playing in front of you, occupying a lot of space.

ARVELL REESE: He does a great job occupying a lot of space and making plays. He's a heavy guy in the middle. He holds his own, takes on them double-teams. He does a great job with that, so he frees us up a lot.

Q. What about playing next to Tremaine? How much of that is an asset to you? How much is that able to help you? Having a veteran like that, who's been through a lot of stuff before.

ARVELL REESE: I think having Maine helps a lot. Just what he has done in the league already. He's about nine years in. He's proven. Like you said, he's a vet. Just being able to learn from him and grow next to him. He's a great player, a great leader.

Q. What's that dynamic like between the two of you? Are you always asking him questions, or is he just constantly coming up and giving you tips? How does that work?

ARVELL REESE: Honestly, we kind of go back and forth. We go back and forth. When we're on the field, we talk a lot. We go back and forth with a lot of stuff. We're always reminding each other what we might got. So, it's a lot of bouncing it off each other. But definitely, when it comes to off-the-field stuff and just routine and stuff like that, I'm always asking him stuff.

Q. Arvell, when you guys leave here tomorrow night, I know you've still got something else tomorrow morning, but when you go back home and you start practicing again, do you have a list of things for yourself that you picked up over camp that you want to work on and continue to work on? Do you have like a priority list?

ARVELL REESE: Yeah, when we get back, camp's still going to be going, so it's always – every day I come out here, there's always something I'm looking to get better at. As you watch the film, there's always something to pick up on to get better at and correct the next day. So, yeah, that's a day-in, day-out thing. Every day I'm looking to get one percent better at something.

Q. Can you give us an example? Today, yesterday, what was one thing you're like, "I need to get better at this," and then that day you went out and did it?

ARVELL REESE: I think last practice, I wasn't really getting downhill in the run. Today, that's what I was looking forward to doing, so yeah.

Q. Have you ever been in a practice this long, this much hitting, this live period for an hour and a half straight?

ARVELL REESE: Yeah. Like I said, at O-State (Ohio State University), it's amped up just like this, if not a little bit more sometimes. So, yeah, O-State, we got out there too.

Q. Obviously, one of the things they said is you and Tremaine together, the length. A lot of these tip passes and stuff. How much do you guys talk about that, using your length and cutting off maybe the passing lanes, maybe the second level of getting your hands on something? How do you think you guys have done with that?

ARVELL REESE: We don't really too much talk about that. That's not really what we talk about. It's more so our jobs. We don't really talk about our length, but I think it helps. It's God-given ability. I think it helps for sure. Like I said, I think it's just the want to do it. Like I said, wanting to get down here, wanting to make plays, wanting to run sideline to sideline. I don't really think it's got too much to do with length. I think the length helps for sure.

Q. I know you're not really watching on the field because you're doing your job, but when you guys go back and start breaking own film, what do you think of what you've been seeing from (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter)?

ARVELL REESE: Abdul? Oh, man, yeah. I like Abdul, man. I like Abdul. Abdul's twitchy. Abdul's actually great in the run too. I don't really too much know that, but Abdul's great in a run. I feel like he sticks his face in there when it's time. I feel like he's got a motor. He's gritty. So, yeah, Abdul's a good dude, for sure.

Q. What do you get from the day you did the one-on-one reps against Andrew and I think also (offensive lineman) Jermaine (Eluemunor)? Just going against those guys in that setting?

ARVELL REESE: You said what do I get from it?

Q. Yeah.

ARVELL REESE: I think them dudes (are) a lot – I think it's a lot different from college dudes. It's a huge difference. Andrew, Jermaine, they're solid dudes. They're solid dudes. They're a lot stronger, a lot more disciplined. But, you know, just getting better with them.

Q. What's the key for you when you're in that spot, in that position? What do you try to accomplish? Is it getting low, keeping their hands off you?

ARVELL REESE: I try to just step on their toes and get to that point as quick as possible. Make sure I use my hands, keep my hands active. Don't just bull rush them and give them the fight that they want.

Q. Do you like that in this defense they give you those opportunities to play on the edge even though you're on the weak side a lot?

ARVELL REESE: Yeah, I love that. That's what I did back in the day, so I love that. I love that.

Offensive Lineman Francis 'Sisi' Mauigoa

Q: Sisi, are you a guy who, in a day like this, are you mad about practice and the heat and the humidity, do you love it? Do you want more? Or are you just kind of walking off here going, whew?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: This is not really as hot as Miami. Coming off of Miami, that Greentree, it's one of the hardest things to survive. Up here, it's pretty cool. I feel like nothing at all. So, yeah, Miami has done a great job for me.

Q: What do you think of the way the offense, it seemed like the offense had one of the better days in the camp, especially to drive the ball periods at the end. What do you think of the way you guys performed today?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Like you said, I mean, it got better at the end. We need to focus on starting off hot. Man, we just need to pick it up from the jump. I mean, we're earning our days. We're out there grinding, and we're learning our play calls as we go but we got to start off quick.

Q: Is (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard (Wilson) throwing a lot of exotic blitzes at you? Do you feel like you're getting, I mean, the whole line, not just you. Do you feel like you're getting different blitzes every day?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Oh, yeah. He's going crazy with his scheme. It's very unpredictable right now, because I'm looking out there. He showed me one look, but it might not be it.

Q: Is that good for you guys, though, to see all that?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Oh, yeah. I mean, if you go against one of the greatest defense, other teams will not faze us.

Q: Were you surprised that (Head Coach John) Harbaugh caved and gave you one more play on that last drive and distance?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: (Laughter) We wanted it. We wanted it, because Harbs was trying to save us.

He didn't want goal-line stuff, but we wanted it. That shows you how tough and what the mentality of the team is.

Q: And happy that he actually relented?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Oh, yeah.

Q: Who was lobbying for it? Was everybody lobbying for it, or was (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart)?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Yeah, I mean, it was everybody. We were right there by the goal line. We want to finish. Coach calling the twos in. We're like, 'What the (heck)?' (laughs).

Cornerback Colton Hood

Q. How do you think your camp has gone, individually?

COLTON HOOD: I think it's been good. I'm learning a lot from the veterans. Just getting up to speed with the playbook and everything. It's been a good camp. I've learned a lot and I'm going to continue to learn.

Q. You got robbed at that pick six that one day.

COLTON HOOD: Yeah, I mean, it is what it is. I'm going to finish the play regardless of penalties or not, because you never know when that play is going to come in the game.

Q. What is the talk with (Head Coach John) Harbaugh like on the sideline after you broke up that pass on (tight end Isaiah) Likely? Was that about standing over him?

COLTON HOOD: Nah, nah. It was more so just staying off the ground. I'm competitive. Likely is a competitor. Our lockers are next to each other. Us competing out there, he was mostly telling me Likely is going to be a big part of the team this season. So, I can keep competing, just stay off the ground.

Q. Colton, at the end of the spring, the defensive backs coaches said they liked what you did in the spring, but there were certain things that they really wanted to see you get better at. Do you feel like, throughout the summer, that you've gotten better?

COLTON HOOD: Yeah, I have. Like I said, it's just coming in and learning every day. Just getting used to different splits from the NFL field. Just those little things. The mental part of the game, because I have the physical tools. So, definitely that.

Q. What do you do better or see better now that you didn't maybe in the spring?

COLTON HOOD: Yeah, I'm definitely recognizing formations better. I have a better understanding of the playbook and what the guys are doing around me. I think those are the two biggest things that I had to work on.

Q. You look like you're the happiest person when the pads were on and you could make that first hit and let the guys know that you were going to be a physical player. How does that translate for you in practice on a day-to-day basis?

COLTON HOOD: Yeah, shoot, I'm a physical guy. I feel like, as a corner, that's a part of the job description. Tackling and being physical. So, I was excited to get the pads on for the first time in a really long time, and get out there and tackle somebody.

Q. Is that something a young corner has to prove to his front seven? Some corners don't love to tackle. Is that something you have to prove to your front seven like, "No, I'll get in there with you guys."

COLTON HOOD: I don't really think it's something you have to prove. It's more so just – like I said, it's a part of the job description. If you don't want to tackle, I feel like you don't want to compete. That's a part of the game, so yeah.

Q. When do you start – or do you ever start – looking at the depth chart? Okay, it's wide open. Everybody's rotating with the ones. Everybody's rotating with the twos. Here's my role. When do you start wondering like, "Hey, can I win a starting job?"

COLTON HOOD: I don't really wonder about it. I'm just going to take it day-by-day. Just keep going. And being the best version of myself. When it's time for me to go and be out there, I'm going to be out there and do what I need to do. I'm not really going to look at it, I'm just going to do what I'm told and do what I'm taught, and just do my job.

Q. On the other side, there's a rookie making some big plays too, (wide receiver) Malachi Fields. What do you think of the camp he's had?

COLTON HOOD: He's had a really good camp. Definitely really good in contested situations. I love going against him. Bigger, more physical receiver. So, yeah, he's doing a great job. It's definitely great going out there and being with him on the field.

Q. Coach D'Alesio (Defensive Pass Coordinator/Secondary Coach Donald D'Alesio) said back in the spring that he's going to love to watch you go against different types of receivers on this field. And especially the veterans, going against (wide receiver) Odell (Beckham Jr.), (wide receiver Braxton)  Berrios, and even (wide receiver) JuJu (Smith-Schuster), because he felt their savviness as experienced players can rub off on you and that's what you need to see. Has that happened? How much have you learned from going against those guys?

COLTON HOOD: Shoot, I've learned a lot. Me and Odell – like I said, Zay Likely's (tight end Isaiah Likely) locker is right next to mine, Odell's is on the other side, right next (to me) on the other side. So, every day, I go to him and I ask him questions. He asks me stuff too, like what I'm seeing about him. He's definitely been a big help. All those guys, JuJu. I haven't really gone against Braxton because he's more in the slot. Zay, all those guys are definitely helping me grow as a player. Teaching me different savviness and different things that I'm doing that they're trying to exploit, or they're seeing that I can be better at. They've definitely been a big help in my development, and I'm enjoying getting to know those guys and being out here. Especially being that 12-year-old kid, watching Odell on Monday night catch that one hand. Him having the locker right next to mine is surreal. It's definitely been really fun and incredible being next to that guy.

Q. He got you pretty good in the spring. Do you feel like there's a play when you've gotten him back yet?

COLTON HOOD: No, I'm not going to lie. That play, I just busted the coverage. I busted the coverage on that play. It wasn't like I was guarding him and he broke it off. I busted the coverage on that play.

Q. Still tough to watch him backpedal into the end zone.

COLTON HOOD: Yeah. Coach got on to me for that one. It won't happen again though.