1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: Welcome into the Ravens Press Past podcast. The date is Tuesday, 2 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: February twenty fourth, and we're coming to you from Indianapolis, Indiana. 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: We're here at the twenty twenty six NFL Scouting Combine 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: and today both general manager Eric DaCosta and new Ravens 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: head coach Jesse Mentor took questions from the media. We'll 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: get this podcast started with General Manager Eric DaCosta. 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 2: Yeah. 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 3: Well, as you guys know, Lamar and I have an 9 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 3: agreement we handle business kind of in house internally. As 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 3: you all know. That worked well for us the last time, 11 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 3: and we will continue to have that policy moving forward. 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 3: Have spoken to Lamar by a lot of different things 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 3: over the last month. He's been very engaged. As I said, 14 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 3: he was a big value to us in the coaching search. 15 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 3: But we'll continue those conversations moving forward. 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 4: Obviously spoke about, you know, forward, something that's an extension work. 17 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 3: I am, I am, I definitely am. Uh you know 18 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 3: what those are? Voluntary? 19 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 4: Uh. 20 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,479 Speaker 3: Lamar is a two time m v P. I think 21 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 3: he knows uh what it takes to get ready for 22 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 3: the grind of the NFL season. 23 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: Uh. 24 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 3: He's proven he can do at a very very high level, 25 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 3: and I have no preference smart, a great vision, a 26 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 3: good communicator. Had the chance to interview him over zoom 27 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 3: at the Senior Bowl and also in person in Baltimore. 28 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 3: Uh driven, I think, relentlessly committed to his vision for 29 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 3: what his offense is gonna look like. I think he's 30 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 3: gonna work well with the players. I think he's going 31 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: to be exciting. 32 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 4: Big Domino. 33 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 3: Not necessarily, I think, you know, we never have as 34 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 3: much cap room as we'd like to have, but we 35 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 3: feel like we can start at the beginning of the 36 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 3: new league here and conduct business well. We certainly didn't 37 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 3: know that Kyle was going to be as good as 38 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 3: he is. You know, he was the best guy at 39 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:34,399 Speaker 3: the time for us to make the pick. Kyle's a unicorn. 40 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 3: I think one of the things that I appreciate the 41 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 3: most about Kyle is his intelligence. He's very very smart 42 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 3: football player, kind of operates, you know, four dimensions, has 43 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 3: the ability to kind of see what's going on in 44 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 3: front of him as spatial awareness is second to none. 45 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 3: And he's just very talented, tremendous versatility in his game 46 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 3: and ball skills, and he's definitely a force multiplier games definitely. 47 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. 48 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 3: So, uh, first of all, Tyler is a guy I 49 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 3: have tremendous respect for. Uh. You know, obviously, he's proven 50 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 3: to be the in my opinion, the best center in 51 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 3: the league. We've been having conversations, We've had conversations since 52 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 3: the end of the season, and UH, at this point 53 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 3: in time, we've made him a market setting deal proposal offer, 54 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 3: and UH, hopefully we can get something done with him 55 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 3: between now and the start of the new league year. Years. Well, 56 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 3: I don't know that we've necessarily noticed any major changes. 57 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 3: I think the process that we've used to evaluate players 58 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 3: now is the process that we used ten years ago. 59 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 3: So it's all about, Uh, I think growth, mindset, passion, 60 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: love of the game, being a good teammate, being coachable, 61 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 3: playing like Raven being most one of the most competitive 62 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 3: players on the field in college, and making place. And 63 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: we believe in that kind of model, and we'll continue 64 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 3: to look for those type of guys. 65 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 4: Available. 66 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 3: Like see, Yeah, there's the nuance there, and it's probably 67 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 3: something that I could talk about for twenty five hours. 68 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 3: Try to line the board up of course, best best 69 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 3: available players. So we're gonna rank every single player using 70 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 3: analysis analytics scouts, uh, interviews, things like that, and then 71 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 3: we're gonna kind of fold in the idea of need. 72 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 3: So you know, a way that I could basically explain 73 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 3: it is, if we're picking in the first round and uh, 74 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 3: the best available players a quarterback, We're probably not gonna 75 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 3: draft him. We've got Lamar Jackson. We're gonna pop and 76 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 3: move to the next guy in our list with at 77 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 3: least an idea of what that need might be. But 78 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: the first step is really to get the players lined up. 79 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 3: So you're gonna go through every single player. You're gonna 80 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 3: spend probably half an hour in every meeting on the 81 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 3: top two hundred players in the draft, and you're gonna 82 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 3: really come up with a sequence list that you're gonna 83 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 3: use to select from. And then you know, in the 84 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 3: first two to three rounds, you're really gonna focus on 85 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 3: is this the best player at this pick with the 86 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 3: idea of need. As you get into the later rounds 87 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 3: of the draft, depending on the players that you've already selected, 88 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 3: that may change your sequence and that may change what 89 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 3: you do. I would say, no, I mean, I've seen them. 90 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:53,239 Speaker 3: We've got a proprietary version of something that we've built 91 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 3: that we think is helpful for us. I don't use 92 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 3: any of these like website type of things that you see. 93 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 3: I do think that assessing league value is important. Understanding 94 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 3: how other teams see these players can be useful in 95 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 3: terms of when you have to take a player or 96 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 3: when you don't have to take a player. That can 97 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: be useful. And sometimes there is a component of that 98 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 3: mock drafting that comes in to that. 99 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 4: Culture. 100 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, they love football. They're talented, but they 101 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 3: love the game. They play hard. Uh, it's important to 102 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 3: them and they know what it takes. When they get 103 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 3: to the NFL, the acclamation is is going to be 104 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 3: easier for them because they've essentially been in a program 105 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 3: that has a lot of demands on them and is 106 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 3: run like an NFL program. Not necessarily, I I do 107 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 3: expect them to be on the team. I love Marlin. 108 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 3: It's a good question. It's something that we've used, probably 109 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 3: a little bit more so in the last couple of years. 110 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 3: I do think that with players that potentially have some 111 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 3: durability questions or haven't necessarily been as healthy as you'd 112 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 3: like them to be, that can be a useful incentive 113 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 3: to get them on the field. Typically You're not talking 114 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 3: about a lot of money attached to those bonuses, but 115 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 3: it's something that we've seen and that's something that we've used. 116 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 3: I mean, he was definitely a part of it. There 117 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 3: were other players involved as well. Some guys participated via zoom, 118 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 3: some guys participated in person. It was their choice. They 119 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 3: sat in on all the final interviews, had a chance 120 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 3: to give their opinions and kind of ask questions individually. 121 00:07:59,040 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 5: Uh. 122 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 3: And then at the and we kind of decompressed with 123 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 3: those guys, got through feedback and UH, and they made 124 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 3: our decisions. Probably not. 125 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: Man. 126 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 3: We've always evaluated tackling. So that's an important part of 127 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 3: any defensive players, the ability to tackle, something that as 128 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,599 Speaker 3: a scout I've always you know, paid a lot of 129 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 3: attention to. 130 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:39,599 Speaker 2: UH. 131 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 3: And as far as uh tackling and practice, UH, we 132 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 3: tackle in practice, So I think it's teamed team. I 133 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 3: think to be a good defense, you've got to tackle 134 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 3: at different times in practice. Understanding that the CBA prevents 135 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 3: you from tackling all the time. You can only have 136 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 3: so many padded practices. But as far as evaluating players, 137 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 3: tackling is gonna always be an important part of looking 138 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 3: at a defensive player, especially if you're gonna play for 139 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 3: the Baltimore Ravens. 140 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 4: Keep your tea. 141 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 3: What was that? I do not? I love Namdi, but 142 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 3: I have no updates at this time. Yeah, it doesn't 143 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 3: affect me very much. I think if we have the 144 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 3: chance to draft a great defensive tackle, of course we 145 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 3: will one of the most important positions in football. Salary 146 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 3: cap wise, it doesn't have any major impact on us 147 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 3: at this time, So yeah, I think we'll just you know, 148 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 3: there's a lot of unknowns when you build a team, 149 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 3: and sometimes I learned from Ozzie sometimes the best thing 150 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 3: to do is just wait for more information. That's what 151 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 3: we'll continue to do. Can you say that one more 152 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 3: time please? Yeah? Mis challenging. I mean, I think we've 153 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 3: got one of the best analytics staffs in the NFL, 154 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 3: led by David McDonald. We try to blend the two 155 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 3: of the two models together. So we take the human element, 156 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 3: the scout sequence, and then we take the model the 157 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 3: algorithm that we use and essentially combine the two to 158 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 3: get the best output. We feel that that allows us 159 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 3: to get the best sense for the best pick at 160 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 3: any given slot. Evaluate well, they come in all different 161 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 3: shapes and sizes, right, So it depends on what you're 162 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 3: looking for or what you have available at that time. 163 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 3: You've got your big guys, you get your small guys, 164 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 3: you get your fast guys, you get possession catch guys. 165 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 3: They've got to be able to catch. But first and foremost, 166 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 3: I think rot running is very important as well, being 167 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 3: able to drop your weight and get open and separate 168 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 3: versus man versus zone. I think you've got to be intelligence, 169 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 3: you've got to be competitive, you've got to be tough. 170 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 3: I think blocking is definitely a component. If you play 171 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 3: for a team like the Ravens, that prize is running 172 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 3: the football. You've got to have a flare from making 173 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 3: the big player at the right time, being a competitive 174 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 3: player who can make a play I think that's a 175 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 3: really important part of the position as well. I do 176 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: not need that dynamic, uh. I think it's probably every 177 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 3: team has their own philosophy. So you could interview every 178 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 3: general manager here and they would have probably a different 179 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 3: belief and need versus you know, BP a best player available. 180 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 3: I learned under Ozzie Newsom, and we've always been best 181 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 3: player available team. That's important to me. That's in my 182 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 3: DNA something I believe in. So you know, like I said, 183 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 3: you have to do it within reason. You're not going 184 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 3: to be crazy and just draft best available player and 185 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 3: have end up with seventeen different outside linebackers. You're not 186 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 3: going to do that. So you've got to have that 187 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 3: the roster size, You've got to understand positional how many 188 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 3: players at each position. But all things being equal, I 189 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: think you dropped best available player. 190 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 4: Right now. 191 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 3: I feel like you guys, well, I think we started 192 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 3: that last year. We took a couple of guys we're 193 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 3: excited about last year on the offensive line, uh In 194 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 3: Cordell and uh and Emory. We're excited to see what 195 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 3: those guys bring to the table this year. No guarantees, 196 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 3: but we're excited to see where those guys are. And 197 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 3: we're not done yet. You know, I think it was 198 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 3: tough to see Namdi go down last year left us 199 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 3: probably a little vulnerable. We did see some guys step up. 200 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 3: It was great to see Travis emerge like he did, 201 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 3: especially in the second half of the season. We were 202 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 3: fortunate to be able to get a deal done with him. 203 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 3: But I think, you know, we've always been a team 204 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 3: that has valued the importance of quote unquote the trenches 205 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 3: and being upfront. Just one of the reasons why we 206 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: want to bring Tyler back if we can. Certainly a 207 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: focus for us is, you know, you look at your 208 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 3: roster and you see the ebbs and flows. You lose players. 209 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 3: We've lost some offensive lineman the last couple of years, 210 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 3: we've lost some defensive linemen. We've got eleven draft picks, 211 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 3: I think, and we should have a good opportunity to 212 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 3: add players coming to guy here. 213 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. 214 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 3: So you know, we were in a little bit of 215 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 3: a jam last year at that position where we had 216 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 3: nobody coming back, and we had conversations with Mark, we 217 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 3: had conversations with Isaiah, and uh we were able to 218 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 3: get a deal done with Mark at the end of 219 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 3: the season or near the end of the season that 220 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 3: we felt really good about. We expect him to get 221 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 3: back to hisself and be the player that he can be. 222 00:13:58,400 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 4: Uh. 223 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 3: He's been one of our great players over the last 224 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 3: whatever it's been how many years, eight years, I guess 225 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 3: seven years, and uh he's still not He's still got 226 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 3: a lot in the tank, and we think he's gonna 227 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 3: be a playmaker force this year and we're glad we 228 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 3: got the deal done. You expect, haven't had those conversations 229 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 3: with him yet. 230 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 4: Want to take. 231 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I don't know how other teams see it. Frankly, 232 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 3: we don't care how other teams see it. For us, 233 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 3: they were the best guys available and we made the picks. 234 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 3: And every year is different. You know. We didn't go 235 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 3: into that twenty twenty two draft thinking Kyle Hamilton is 236 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 3: gonna be the best player available when we picked, and 237 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 3: he happened to be the best player available, and I'm 238 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 3: thank god he was right. This year, I think we 239 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 3: did see a scenario where Malachi might have been that 240 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 3: guy for us. There were other players that we liked, 241 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 3: those guys got taken. Malachi was fortunately the last guy 242 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 3: standing for us before what we considered to be a 243 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 3: little bit of a drop off in the draft. So 244 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 3: blessed that those two guys were available. Certainly, don't expect 245 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 3: to take a safety this year, probably at fourteen. I 246 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 3: wouldn't expect that kind of what we talked about need 247 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 3: versus best available player. But I think in the case 248 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 3: of those two guys, I think we knock those two 249 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 3: picks out of the park. 250 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 4: To rest that. 251 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 3: You never know. I mean, I think it depends on 252 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 3: the player, It depends on the contract, it depends on 253 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 3: the player, depends on the fit right and so one 254 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 3: of the things we have to do Jamison now is 255 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 3: kind of get a sense for coach Ledford the kind 256 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 3: of players he's looking for. Is it gonna look different, 257 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 3: It's gonna be different scheme, it's gonna be valuing different things, 258 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 3: you know. So I think that's a factor in does 259 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 3: that change the pool of players that we're looking at? 260 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 3: In some cases, it may end up bringing some different 261 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 3: players into the mix that maybe in past years we 262 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 3: might not have been as interested in. On the flip 263 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 3: side of that, there may be some guys that may 264 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 3: be as scouts or as coaching staffs who might have 265 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 3: liked two years ago, and now we look at them 266 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 3: and go, you know what, they don't really fit what 267 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 3: we want to be on offense. 268 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 4: So I'm agree to see you great particular ability to have. 269 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 3: Again, I think it depends on a lot of factors. 270 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 3: Who's available, what's that contract going to look like. Certainly 271 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 3: know that we have to augment the pass rush and 272 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 3: improve there, and we look at the best defense as 273 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 3: we see a ferocious pass rush, and that was lacking 274 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 3: this year for different reasons. Something that we feel strongly 275 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 3: that we can attack this year in the offseason, whether 276 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 3: it's free agency or the draft. We like the In fact, 277 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 3: I was just in my room at the hotel looking 278 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 3: at a pass rusher. We like this draft class in 279 00:16:57,680 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: terms of pass rush and edge ability and ability to 280 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 3: get up the field impact the passing game. So I'm 281 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 3: excited about that is something that we feel good about, 282 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 3: and I feel certain that we'll have a chance to 283 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:08,199 Speaker 3: add a couple draft picks this year who can help 284 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 3: us on third downs. 285 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 4: Thanks. That's it, that's it. That's it. 286 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 3: Thanks guys. 287 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 5: Ball fans know that traditions matter. They're what inspire us 288 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 5: to make our massa and tostitos the traditional way, starting 289 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 5: with whole corn kernels, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, 290 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 5: all to give you that perfect crunch. Discover your next 291 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 5: tradition this football season. Head to the store, grab your 292 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 5: Tostito's team bag and scan the code for a chance 293 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 5: to score an epic experience with the Baltimore Ravens. Tostitos. 294 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 5: Tradition matters. 295 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Ravens Press Pass podcast. That was 296 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: Eric DeCosta addressing the media at the twenty twenty six 297 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 1: NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Ravens head coach Jesse Mentor 298 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: also had a press conference today, So without further ado, 299 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 1: here's what coach Mentor had to say. 300 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 4: What's that. 301 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 2: Man? That thing took a life of its own. 302 00:17:55,200 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 6: So yeah, yeah, I think you know, I heard Eric's 303 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:14,160 Speaker 6: answer earlier. I think he's the best center in the league. 304 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 6: I think he's one of the best interior alignment in 305 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 6: the league, major part of the team here, somebody would 306 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 6: love to have back. Uh, he's obviously in a you know, 307 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 6: I feel like guys players, you know, there's there's h 308 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 6: The rules are what they are as far as like 309 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 6: your contract and earning free agency. So I respect all that. 310 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 6: I think he knows how we feel about him and 311 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 6: that we'd love to have him back. I think he's 312 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 6: major piece of our offense. I think he fits really 313 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 6: well into the direction our offense is headed. So a 314 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 6: guy that we'd love to have back, but certainly respect 315 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 6: the h. 316 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 2: The idea of free agency as well. 317 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 6: Season where they had a motifly pass rush, generate pressure 318 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 6: and now had plage rushers. 319 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 4: How do you expect. 320 00:18:57,960 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 2: Really feel that what I believe is the biggest hole. 321 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 6: Yeah, pass rushes. Uh, there's a lot of factors I 322 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,719 Speaker 6: would say that go into rushing the passer. Well, sometimes 323 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 6: it's playing with the lead, sometimes it's it's blitzing. More So, 324 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 6: I think there's a lot of variety of ways to 325 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 6: affect the pass rush. I feel like we have some 326 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 6: guys that can do that, some youngest sending players in 327 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 6: that regard that can help us there. And then I 328 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 6: think it's always a position that you're looking, you know, 329 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 6: for for more. And so I know Eric and the 330 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 6: guys will do a great job attacking free agency in 331 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,119 Speaker 6: the draft, building a team that in September that we 332 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 6: feel has the ability to rusht the passer. Yeah, great 333 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 6: question Number one. Production and I think there's a size, speed, 334 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 6: length element. We're kind of a requirement. There may be 335 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 6: guys that maybe are answered to shorter, but then they 336 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 6: bring something else really above the level. And so there's 337 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 6: a there's a really wide variety of guys this year 338 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 6: that have been really active, some that are third and 339 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 6: fourth year, some that are fifth and sixth year. The 340 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 6: way the way college works now, so I feel like 341 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 6: there'll be a lot of guys in the draft that 342 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 6: could potentially help in that regard. Yeah, you know, every 343 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 6: interview is different, every team, every situation. I think you 344 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 6: look at as its own thing. The rules I think 345 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 6: of how they do it, I think are beneficial to 346 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 6: guys in the playoffs. So we played in the first 347 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 6: round and wasn't able to even talk to anybody until 348 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,160 Speaker 6: after that, and obviously wish we would have kept playing, 349 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 6: But so for me, it allowed me to really focus 350 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 6: on my job and then flip gears to the interview 351 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 6: process and then the timing of it. Like oftentimes you 352 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 6: feel like it's gonna be something where it's a rush 353 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 6: to a decision, but in reality, with the rules, you 354 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 6: get to go through the process. 355 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,840 Speaker 2: There's rules of zooms, there's rules of in person. 356 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 6: Nothing really felt like it had to be rushed, and 357 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 6: so you really just respect the process, respect all the 358 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,719 Speaker 6: different teams that you're able to visit with and ultimately 359 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 6: landed where I wanted to land. They're all different, especially 360 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 6: the first ones. You know, just the roughly between a 361 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 6: ninety minute and three hour zoom. It's hard to really 362 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 6: get a gauge. I think if you're confident and you 363 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 6: feel good about your plan, you're like, Okay, I think 364 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 6: I did well in that interview. But you know, at 365 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 6: the end of the day, everybody's looking for what they're 366 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 6: looking for. You're looking for a good fit and certainly 367 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 6: blessed to end up here. Very similar, I would say, 368 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 6: you know, I know Eric's the best in the business 369 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 6: at his position and building a team and running the draft, 370 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 6: which he's done there for years. I think I'm able 371 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 6: to help support, help evaluate players. Our coaching staff really 372 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 6: dive in position wise to evaluate players. We probably followed 373 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 6: a very similar process in LA and so it's been 374 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 6: exciting and fun for me to look at offensive players, 375 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 6: look at the other side of the ball from what 376 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 6: I've done, and so excited about that, excited about any 377 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 6: any help. But know that we have a great a 378 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 6: great group in place to run that part. You know, 379 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 6: I think for how we play scheme wise, they're they're 380 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 6: important and they can be highlighted. 381 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 2: They can be moved around to impact the game. 382 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 6: When you do a variety of coverages and different pressures, 383 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,239 Speaker 6: you can move that guy where you want to move them. 384 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 6: And I think those type of players, they're weapons. 385 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:54,360 Speaker 2: They don't. 386 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 6: They're not necessarily a nickel or a safety or a 387 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,119 Speaker 6: linebacker or a corner. They're kind of a weapon and 388 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 6: when they have that ability to impact the game, the 389 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 6: more you can put them in position to do that, 390 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 6: the better off. You know, when you're evaluating those guys, 391 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 6: it's they come in all different all different forms. Right now, 392 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 6: there's that big safety guy with length, guy that can 393 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 6: cover ground that can also play man. I think that's 394 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 6: kind of showing up throughout the league. But man couldn't 395 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 6: be more happy to have Kyle Hamilton. Yeah, I think 396 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 6: there's a lot of capable players in the secondary. I 397 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 6: think it's an area it's it's really an area for 398 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 6: myself that I spend a lot of time with and 399 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 6: I think from a leverage standpoint, from a knowing where 400 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 6: your help is, how you're playing different coverages. I hope 401 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 6: to be able to get the best out of the 402 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 6: guys that we have and then obviously potentially add people 403 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 6: like you do every year, you know, in the draft, 404 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,679 Speaker 6: free agency, undrafted free agents. 405 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 2: But I like the room and I like the ability 406 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 2: in there. 407 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 6: They've all played well at times, They've all done different 408 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 6: things really well. 409 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 2: So looking forward to working with that group. 410 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,719 Speaker 6: Yeah, I'll keep that between Nate and you know, myself 411 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 6: and the organization. But he's a guy that I loved 412 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,719 Speaker 6: coming out from Clemson in the draft process. Very excited 413 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,199 Speaker 6: to work with him, and uh, I think he can 414 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 6: you know, I think there's still a lot of room 415 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 6: in his game, and I know he knows that, and 416 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 6: I know he's excited to work with us, and so 417 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 6: look forward to him having a big year. Yeah, I 418 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 6: think you know, Lamar and I is relationship. I'll probably 419 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 6: try to keep pretty private, but it is. It is 420 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 6: always ongoing and always you know, trying to be in 421 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 6: communication and so just look, like I said at the 422 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,879 Speaker 6: very beginning, it takes time to build the trust and 423 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 6: the communication and the openness that you really want to 424 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 6: create with all the players, and so always working towards that. 425 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 6: But I'd love to see, love to see him put 426 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 6: in the work. Yeah, number one had gone against them, 427 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 6: you know, really four times over the last two seasons, 428 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 6: and so heard a lot of great things about those guys. 429 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 6: Had had a real, real previous relationship with Kerrie probably 430 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:53,479 Speaker 6: more so than any of them. And then when when 431 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 6: Declan and I started to build out the offensive staff 432 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 6: certainly a place where he felt familiar with a lot 433 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,919 Speaker 6: of those guys and so just love like the different 434 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 6: levels of expertise, levels of experience that they all bring 435 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 6: to really help put Decklan in the best position to 436 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 6: be an elite play caller for US. Yeah, the AFC 437 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 6: Norris always been an unbelievable division. I think it's a 438 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 6: little bit in transition this year, you know, for the 439 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 6: first time in a while, when you've had John and 440 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 6: Mike for so many years. Zach's obviously now like the 441 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 6: guy that's been there the longest, elite quarterback, elite skill players, 442 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 6: I think in improving defense, so you know, you know 443 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 6: you're gonna have your hands full every time you play them. Pittsburgh, 444 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,919 Speaker 6: same thing now bringing in Mike McCarthy. Tons of respect 445 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 6: for him, you know, so going from a kind of 446 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 6: a defensive background with Mike to now more of an 447 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 6: offensive coach. And then same thing with Monk in Cleveland, 448 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 6: guy that obviously everybody in our building is familiar with. Noah, 449 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 6: he'll do a great job and really just look forward 450 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 6: to compete with all those guys. Yeah, you know, definitely 451 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 6: have kept up with Mike over the years as he's 452 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 6: gone on his own zone journey of coaching, done an 453 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 6: unbelievable job at Notre Dame. They probably, arguably the last 454 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 6: four or five years, maybe the most consistent secondary rankings 455 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 6: in the in the college level. And so he's just 456 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 6: gotten better and better. He's a really good communicator. I 457 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,560 Speaker 6: think he's a really good evaluator, and I think he's 458 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 6: a technician and in his mindset from playing corner at 459 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 6: a really high level, I think we'll translate well to 460 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 6: our guys to you know, be really competitive, have that 461 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 6: down after down mentality, the next play mentality that we're 462 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 6: looking for. 463 00:27:43,640 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 2: And couldn't be more excited. Ad Mike absolutely, Yeah, Yeah. 464 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:02,160 Speaker 6: I think you know it's a O line D line 465 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 6: driven league when you look at the last few just 466 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,360 Speaker 6: look at the Super Bowl winners of the last couple 467 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 6: of years. I think that's really where you start, is like, 468 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 6: how have these teams won that final game? And two 469 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 6: years ago it was the Eagles, Like O line, D 470 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 6: line driven. This year Seattle, same deal. So I think 471 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 6: that's an area you're always looking to get better. I 472 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 6: think there are some good pieces there and so's it'd 473 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 6: be about coaching them up, developing them more and then 474 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 6: adding some pieces to to help us get to that level. 475 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 2: Great question. 476 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 6: Tackling is a core fundamental of football, and so I 477 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 6: think you have to find really creative ways to practice 478 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 6: it without necessarily tackling your own offensive players all the time. 479 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,000 Speaker 6: I think the approach to making a tackle is maybe 480 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 6: the most important thing. So your angle to the ball 481 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,239 Speaker 6: and your body can when you're coming down to make 482 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 6: a tackle. So those are things that we really really 483 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 6: harp on every day, whether we're in pads or just 484 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 6: helmets or whatever. 485 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 2: So look forward to working with the guys on that. 486 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 6: It's a major piece of the game, you know, I 487 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 6: think for for us as a coaching staff, it's a 488 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 6: touch point with the players, and it's the ability to 489 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 6: you know, the scouts have put in a ton of work, 490 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 6: the personnel side has already done a lot of a 491 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 6: lot of their work, and we're now jumping into the 492 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 6: fray I guess and starting our own process of evaluation. 493 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 6: And so any chance you have to get around them, 494 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 6: whether it's a twenty minute, fifteen minute an informal interview, 495 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 6: see how they operate. 496 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 2: Uh, it's just a data point. 497 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 6: It's not the be all, end all but for us, 498 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,040 Speaker 6: it feels like it's an important part of the evaluation 499 00:29:55,160 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 6: process for what that Yeah, Uh, they're they're just a weapon. 500 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 6: And you know, not really going to talk about what 501 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 6: we label the guys in our defense, but I think 502 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 6: they're just weapons and they can play so many different positions, 503 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 6: they can thrive in so many different positions, and it's 504 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 6: about finding ways for them to most. 505 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 2: Impact the game. 506 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 3: You want to. 507 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think I think everything is personnel driven. What 508 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 6: the guys do well driven. 509 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 2: Uh. 510 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 6: Dwayne's of one of the best O line coaches in 511 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 6: the league, was super excited to get him on the staff, 512 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 6: and so I think, you know, the coach's job on 513 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 6: both sides of the ball is to see what we have, 514 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 6: see what we could possibly be best at, uh, see 515 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 6: what see what you know fits into our style of 516 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 6: play with our with our guys, and so we'll do that. 517 00:30:58,160 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 6: And I think it could be a wide variety of 518 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 6: of run schemes. 519 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 4: That we use. How much how much. 520 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 2: You know, I don't put a ton of stock into that. 521 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,320 Speaker 6: I feel confident in our in our coaching staff to 522 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 6: teach our system and what we need to teach. So 523 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 6: I think that's uh, that can be helpful, particularly maybe 524 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:31,960 Speaker 6: like a mid season move can be helpful. But I 525 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 6: think if you get a guy now, you've got plenty 526 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,239 Speaker 6: of time to teach him what they need to do. Uh, 527 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 6: we're still in the We're still in the middle of 528 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 6: kind of formulating our system for the twenty twenty six Ravens. 529 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 6: It's not the Chargers defense or the old Ravens defense. 530 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 6: It's it's you know, we're kind of figuring that out 531 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 6: right now. So we're looking for the best players that 532 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 6: sort of fit structurally how we want those certain positions 533 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 6: to be able to play the jobs we need them 534 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 6: to be able to do, and kind of piecing it 535 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 6: together that way. 536 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 4: You have as a weapons. 537 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 2: Particular, Yeah, that's a great question. 538 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:18,000 Speaker 6: I mean receivers similar, you know, like their weapons on offense, 539 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 6: and so they come in all different shapes and sizes. 540 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 6: I would say, Uh, so guys that can be impactful 541 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 6: with the ball in their hands that can make I 542 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:27,880 Speaker 6: think as I've started watching them, it's like, can can 543 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 6: they get open? Can they separate at the top of routes? 544 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 6: Can they make contested catches? Which just about every catch 545 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 6: in the NFL is probably gonna be contested in some way. 546 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 6: And then when they like how do they play without 547 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 6: the ball as well, like what type of teammate are they? 548 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 6: How do they play without the ball? You're only going 549 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 6: to get the ball in a great game, you know, 550 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 6: eight or nine times, in a normal game four or 551 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 6: five times, So can they impact the game in other ways? 552 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 6: And so that's a great group of whiteouts this year, 553 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 6: and certainly certainly look forward to continue in the evaluation 554 00:32:56,800 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 6: process with all those guys. The importance of the center position, yeah, 555 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 6: I mean it's a guy that certainly could control a 556 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 6: lot of the communication with the offensive line, see fronts, 557 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 6: help the quarterback. Those guys can work in tandem sometimes 558 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 6: seeing Blitz's protections, run schemes, and so, yeah, it's an 559 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:22,720 Speaker 6: indie offense. 560 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 2: I would say that's a major position. Thank you. 561 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:35,959 Speaker 6: Yeah, I've spoken with him. I'll keep those conversations private. 562 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 6: I think that'll be up to him, you know, when 563 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 6: the times right. I know he's in great spirits and 564 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 6: it was great to see him in the building last 565 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 6: week or the week prior. 566 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 2: So we'll keep the rest of that private. Jesse, thank you. 567 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: That was Raven's head coach, Jesse Mentor answering questions from 568 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,719 Speaker 1: the media at the twenty twenty six NFL Combine here 569 00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis. That's it for this edition of Ravens Press 570 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 1: Past Podcast, but we have a ton of content coming 571 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 1: out of Indy for coverage from the combine, so keep 572 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: it locked in to Baltimore Ravens dot com, our app 573 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:11,359 Speaker 1: or YouTube page for interviews, behind the scenes look at 574 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: what goes on this week in Indy, and of course 575 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 1: make sure you check out the Lounge podcast feed where 576 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: Garrett Downing and Cliff Brown are breaking down everything that's 577 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 1: happening this week and also sitting down with NFL insiders 578 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:24,440 Speaker 1: to get their thoughts on the Ravens. That's it for 579 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: today on Ravens Press Past Podcast. Thanks for listening and 580 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 1: we'll talk to you again soon