COURTESY OF BALTIMORE RAVENS MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Just wanted you to talk a little bit about DE Calais Campbell and DE Derek Wolfe [and] how they’re adjusting to the team? What are your expectations for them this year? (Todd Karpovich) “I’ll tell you; those are two guys who have played well in this league for a long time. They’ve been doing a good job adjusting here. They’re two leaders; they’ve played well. Calais [Campbell] has been a perennial Pro Bowl player, and Derek [Wolfe] had a really good run [in] Denver, and we’re really excited to have both of them here and they’ll play a prominent role for us.”
With the additions of the many rookies you have on the defensive line, as well as your free agents, will this allow FB/DL Patrick Ricard to concentrate more on the offense? Or will he be a two-way player again? (Kevin Richardson) “Pat [Ricard] has done a great job for us on both sides of the ball. He made the Pro Bowl last year as a fullback/tight end, and we’re, kind of, keeping him there. Obviously, he’s always hovering around, wanting to play both sides. But with the additions that we have, we feel like he’ll be able to stay on that side of the ball.”
Can you talk about the two rookies – DT Justin Madubuike and DT Broderick Washington – just what you’ve seen from them and how they fit in the defensive scheme? (Daniel Oyefusi) “Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington have done an outstanding job. They’re really learning the system. They’ve done a great job since they’ve been here [at] picking things up. They’re competing every day to get better, and we expect them to continue to get better. And we also have Aaron Crawford, an undrafted free agent, who’s really doing a nice job. But we expect big things from both of those guys and they’re both doing a good job.”
How would you describe the chemistry between your players so far? (Ximena Lugo-Latorre) “I think it’s been really good. We’ve had a remake in the room, and the chemistry has been outstanding. Brandon Williams, he plays a big role in that. Calais [Campbell] has a great personality. Derek Wolfe and Justin Ellis and the guys that we’ve brought in – the chemistry has really been great. They’re working hard together. It’s been the way I want it.”
I’m sure you knew quite a bit about DE Calais Campbell before he got here, but is there anything that has surprised you in having him in person? Having him in your meeting room? (Aditi Kinkhabwala) “One of the things that he’s done a great job of – and so has Derek [Wolfe] – is that Calais [Campbell] is really … I knew he was a really good player, and obviously through the years in the league … But he’s really a leader in terms of helping the young rookies out. Brandon [Williams] has done the same over the years, but that’s really sticking out – is really how he’s taking the time to not only coach the rookies up on the football field, but obviously, about the game of life as well. [He’s] doing a great job of that.”
As you look to Week One right now, there’s no tape, and the [Cleveland] Browns have a completely rebuilt offensive line. So, what do you do? How do you prep? How do you prepare? (Aditi Kinkhabwala) “The guys that they do have back, we watch tape on that. And then, it’s a new staff, a new scheme, so it’s uncharted waters for them as well. Obviously, we have a lot of our people back, but it’s one of those years where you’re not going to see any preseason tape, you’re not going to see some of the guys. You’re going to have to go back to previous teams that they were with, and also previous schemes that coaches have been involved with. And really, we just kind of – as [defensive coordinator] coach ‘Wink’ [Don Martindale] says and coach ‘Harbs’ [John Harbaugh] says – really, it’s about us and worrying about what we do.”
