• 2 years ago
Kevin Stefanski Press Conference November 8, 2023
Transcript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:05 >> Did, Chief showed me that.
00:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:13 >> Keep it a secret.
00:14 >> It's no longer a secret.
00:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:21 >> Okay, starting our work week here on a Wednesday.
00:25 Great, great challenge for our football team going on the road against Baltimore
00:30 division leaders playing really, really well on all three sides of the ball.
00:34 So it's a great challenge.
00:36 We're looking forward to it.
00:37 It's a great place to play, great atmosphere.
00:39 So we gotta have a great week of practice really is what we're focusing on.
00:43 You talk about their team offensively, Lamar doing a great job spreading
00:48 the ball around still always a threat to make off schedule plays.
00:52 He did that versus us in the first game.
00:54 So they really challenge you on the perimeter.
00:57 They challenge you certainly up front with a really good offensive line and
01:00 a good scheme, run scheme as well.
01:03 And good players throughout that perimeter,
01:06 obviously with Andrews a tight end is outstanding.
01:09 Defensively, great, great challenge.
01:11 I think Coach McDonald does a great job.
01:14 They can pressure you, they can play coverage, they have various fronts
01:18 that they can throw at you, coverages, you name it.
01:20 So really, really about having a good week of preparation to get ready for
01:25 that defense.
01:27 And then special teams have always done a great job under Coach Harbaugh,
01:30 as we all know.
01:31 So really the coverage phases, their return phases do a nice job both from
01:35 a technical standpoint, a scheme standpoint, and they play really physical.
01:39 So great challenge.
01:41 It's what you get in the NFL going on the road in this division.
01:45 So we're looking forward to it.
01:46 But with that, I'll take any questions.
01:47 >> Where's your left tackle Sunday?
01:49 >> We have options.
01:50 We're gonna work through all those options this week.
01:52 >> What are the options?
01:53 >> The tackles on our roster.
01:55 >> What's the short term plan?
01:57 I see Dewan is out today.
02:00 James said he was gonna go and work at right side.
02:02 >> Yeah, we're working through all of our options.
02:04 James certainly has played on both sides.
02:06 So we'll work through those both through walkthrough and practice today.
02:09 >> With Dewan, do you know if he's gonna be available Sunday?
02:14 >> Don't know, yeah, not gonna practice today.
02:17 >> How hard is it, I guess, the two backups on your roster are new.
02:21 So how hard, what kind of a challenge does that get those guys ready?
02:24 >> Yeah, that's coaches work around the clock to get new players ready.
02:28 I think of, you know, Prochet got here and was thrust in the game,
02:31 not just as a returner, as a receiver in this last game.
02:33 So that's what you have to do is coaches get some new guys ready to play.
02:37 That's what we'll do if need be.
02:39 >> What chance does Dusan have to play Sunday?
02:41 >> Yeah, I think we'll see how this week goes.
02:43 I know he's not practicing today.
02:45 We'll see what tomorrow brings.
02:46 >> Dewan misses another day of practice.
02:50 How difficult would that be then for him to move over to the left side after?
02:54 >> Yeah, again, we have options.
02:58 We'll work through each of them.
03:00 You as a coach, you always have contingency plans,
03:03 especially along the offensive line.
03:05 Going into every game, you talk about if you were to lose a guy here,
03:08 who would slide over, those type of things.
03:09 It's just part of the life that you lead with contingency plans, just getting ready.
03:15 >> But last Wednesday, you had a lengthy injury report, and
03:19 you said that you guys were adjusting practice to kinda handle that.
03:23 Is that the plan this week as well, or is it kinda back to a normal?
03:28 >> It's close to normal practice.
03:30 We'll have pads on.
03:30 I think it's important to get our work done today, so
03:34 we'll get a lot of full speed work today.
03:36 >> I can assume that you'd agree that the offense hasn't gone the way you guys
03:42 planned when you were in the lab with Watson, Hall Springs.
03:47 It seems more similar to last year with multiple tight ends and
03:51 heavy formations.
03:52 Are you okay with it?
03:54 Do you think you could ride that out that way to where you wanna go?
03:57 >> Yeah, I think we're always of the mindset, whatever it takes that week.
04:01 Obviously, like you mentioned, DeSean hadn't been in there for
04:04 a little bit there.
04:05 Now getting him back, of course, you start to alter things.
04:08 But it's really a week to week basis,
04:11 what you feel like gives you the best matchup in that week.
04:14 >> Is it less important who actually starts at left tackle versus right tackle,
04:19 because guys are coming from everywhere?
04:22 >> In some ways, yeah, I mean, you still have that technically blind side for
04:26 the cue, especially a righty.
04:28 But yeah, I think as you've seen with how we've operated,
04:32 we feel like both tackle positions are really important.
04:35 I don't know if it matters less than it has in the past, I'm not sure.
04:39 >> James hasn't played a ton for you this year, but
04:42 how does he play when he's been out to this year and then even going back?
04:45 >> Yeah, he's a trustworthy player when he's out there, knows what to do,
04:48 plays really hard, physical football player.
04:50 >> Having that tackle position, is Joel an option there or
04:55 are you just thinking- >> Like I said, we have options.
04:58 >> Important is like Bill Callahan and all of this to make sure the guys-
05:03 >> Very.
05:03 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah, coach does a great job with
05:07 the game plan, with developing players, all those things.
05:11 So I lean heavily on his expertise in really in all situations, but
05:16 particularly right now.
05:18 >> Running game has really taken off since the last time you saw them,
05:21 what's different about it?
05:22 >> I thought they ran the ball really effectively last time we played them.
05:27 You can get all certain types of runs,
05:29 you can always get gap schemes from them.
05:32 That's what they've done quite a bit in the past.
05:34 You add the quarterback run element to all of those runs and
05:36 it adds a layer of difficulty.
05:38 But they do a nice job, really I'd say in all their run types.
05:43 And really, again, with the threat of the quarterback running just
05:47 makes you have to do certain things on defense.
05:50 >> I know they use a lot of eye candy, it seemed like against you guys too.
05:53 And I know we talked about that with the 49ers since they like to do that.
05:55 But how do you think this defense is at adjusting to those type of things?
06:00 >> Yeah, I think if you see around the league, eye candy shifts,
06:03 motions are up and they'll continue to go up.
06:06 Teams do them for a reason and they're trying to distract sometimes or
06:10 trying to gain leverage, gain a gap if you will.
06:13 So those are things that we work very hard on in practice in the scheme.
06:17 There's various things that you can do to try to help your players and
06:21 we'll always continue to do that.
06:22 But shifts and motions and motions before the snap and fly motions,
06:26 those type of things are certainly here to stay in the NFL.
06:30 >> How much has Lamar elevated his game this season?
06:33 >> He's playing at a very high level.
06:35 I mean, former MVP can make every throw very difficult off schedule.
06:41 He's playing very well.
06:43 >> Look at the film from that first Baltimore game and
06:46 see the mistakes that you guys made in run defense.
06:49 Are they easy corrections to make?
06:51 >> I think going back to that one, there's always corrections.
06:56 Sometimes it's assignment, sometimes it can be simple alignment,
06:59 it can be technique.
07:01 You give them credit, they had some good run types and
07:05 we can do a better job second time around.
07:08 >> [INAUDIBLE]
07:15 >> Yeah, I mean,
07:16 every team wants to win the division.
07:18 We're focused on this game this week, really wanna win this game this week.
07:22 >> What's the new, they added a running back or
07:27 activated him off the injured list and he went for 138.
07:30 I can see, what dimension does he add to their running game?
07:34 >> Yeah, runs hard.
07:36 I know size wise maybe not the biggest but runs hard.
07:40 They have multiple guys that they can hand the ball to.
07:42 They have the receivers that they can hand the ball to and
07:44 then like we mentioned Lamar can keep the ball.
07:46 So they have a lot of options there in who they can spread the ball around to.
07:52 >> Biggest challenges for quarterback facing that Ravens team?
07:56 >> Multi faceted because they do so much.
08:00 I mean, they can sit in a four down front and just play simple zones like teams
08:05 will do around the league and then they can get in a variety of different fronts and
08:09 disguise and bring pressure from all areas.
08:12 So I'd say their versatility really makes the quarterback have to trust his eyes.
08:17 >> You said before about every completion is important with three to five.
08:23 Why do you think it's been so difficult for
08:25 Boston to keep the short passes?
08:27 >> I'd have to look at the numbers or are you going off of last week?
08:33 Yeah, I wouldn't.
08:38 I think we're early into his season, if you will.
08:42 So not a major concern.
08:44 >> [INAUDIBLE] They've got Rashad is back from the time you played them,
08:50 Odell is out there, now Keaton Mitchell, Ronnie Stanley.
08:55 Is it almost a different ball game than when you're playing for the first time?
09:00 >> I think that happens so often, Mary Kay, even though we only played them whatever
09:03 it was five weeks ago, I think injuries are part of this game,
09:06 both losing guys and gaining guys back.
09:09 So that's always part of the game.
09:14 There's some games you play a team back to back and
09:17 they may not have a guy that they had earlier.
09:19 But that's just again, part of our job doing making adjustments,
09:25 understanding who their players are that maybe we didn't see.
09:27 So the players have a good scouting report on them.
09:30 >> [INAUDIBLE]
09:38 >> Yeah, Joe Kay is a huge part of what we do.
09:42 You're right, he's played well versus this team.
09:45 And looking forward to having him out there Sunday.
09:47 >> [INAUDIBLE]
09:57 >> Yeah, it's hard for me to make halfway point assessment type things.
10:08 Right now I'm just so focused on this one.
10:11 But like we've talked about a bunch, that's the NFL with guys in and
10:15 out of your lineup and you have to make adjustments.
10:19 I think the guys have done that and we have to continue to do that.
10:21 >> [INAUDIBLE]
10:25 But you've been able to recreate your running game with three different guys.
10:29 Do you feel like those skill sets have complemented each other pretty well and
10:33 that each guy brings something to the table that really works?
10:37 >> Yeah, I do.
10:38 And I think we're learning, Pierre showed up late to campus.
10:41 So really getting an understanding of what he fits for us best.
10:46 Obviously, Kareem showed up late but was in great shape.
10:49 And we kind of know Kareem and know his skill set.
10:52 And then Jerome's still a young player.
10:53 So part of it is just getting to know your players and
10:56 fitting them in there when appropriate.
10:59 >> Do you have any update on Nick and the second surgery?
11:01 >> I don't, yeah, no update.
11:02 He's here today, but doing well.
11:05 >> You were confident that Deshaun would be able to protect himself.
11:08 Were you satisfied with the way he did?
11:09 He took a couple of big shots.
11:10 >> Yeah, took a couple big shots.
11:11 Again, as we know, that's the NFL.
11:14 And his goal, our offensive line's goal is always to keep him clean.
11:20 Sometimes that doesn't happen.
11:21 He has the ability to go get first downs with his feet.
11:24 He's shown that over the course of time.
11:26 He'll continue to do that.
11:28 And then it's about being smart towards the end of that run.
11:30 >> I was telling this question about the short passes.
11:33 Specifically from this past game against the Cardinals.
11:38 Do you have a concern at all about some of the short passes or
11:41 is it just a- >> I don't.
11:42 >> First half thing?
11:43 >> Yeah, I really don't.
11:44 >> Does Hamstring come during the game?
11:47 >> Yes.
11:48 >> Is Mike Ford the guy if Greg can't go?
11:50 >> We have options.
11:51 >> At the end of the season, there's a lot of excitement about just some
11:56 of the multi-dimensionality of last year, offensively.
12:02 When you just look at the numbers on the surface,
12:04 they don't really jump out as far from a production standpoint.
12:07 Are you happy with how that whole piece of the playbook has played out here?
12:12 And how maybe you get a little more explosiveness in the past game,
12:17 besides what Amare's been doing?
12:19 >> Yeah, I mean, our past game, we wanna lean on, like you mentioned, Amare, Dave,
12:24 Elijah, I think those things come in bunches.
12:27 He's doing a great job.
12:28 He's doing what he's asked to do.
12:30 I think he's a threat with the ball in his hands.
12:32 So those are all things that will continue to grow over the course of
12:35 the season.
12:36 >> Which better is this Ravens team than the front row earlier in the game when
12:39 you guys faced them?
12:40 >> Yeah, it's so hard to compare.
12:42 I mean, they're playing well.
12:43 Obviously, they've played well at home the last couple,
12:46 have gotten guys back off of injuries, good players.
12:50 But they do a nice job schematically, they play hard.
12:54 So we understand the challenge.
12:55 >> Okay.
12:56 >> Okay, thanks guys.
12:57 >> Thank you.
12:58 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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