ATLANTA --Quotes from Ravens players and coaches after the final preseason game.
Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh
Opening Statement:A: "I just talked to the guys about camp and it officially ends today. Our goal today was to have whoever played today, play like Ravens. That's what they did. We had 75 guys play like the Ravens. That's what we are proud of most of all. We really got the most out of this training camp that we could have. That was our goal, to be the best Ravens."
Q: Where do you think you are as a team right now?A: "I think we are the best Ravens we could be at this point. What that means, how good we are, we don't know at this point. But that's a good place to be right now and that's where we want to be."
Q: How hard is it going to be to cut the roster down from 75 to 53?A: "It's going to be extremely hard. We have more than 53 good players on this team. We have a lot more than 53 good players on this team. If we're talking about the practice squad, it's going to be hard to get down to 61 for the practice squad. I think that's a tribute to the players themselves and a tribute to our coaches and personnel staff. It's going to be an interesting two days of conversations."
Q: What did you think about that first drive of backups against their ones and marching down the field?A: "That was very encouraging and exciting. It was more than encouraging. Our guys went out there and played. It's like we told them, that group that went out there could play anybody in this League and whip them. That's how they looked at it. The defense got the stop and then got the next stop."
Q: How did Steven Hauschka do? Did he come out and prove himself?A: "He came out there and made that last kick which was good. He also made a play with a bad snap in a situation that was not his fault. I thought it was a very encouraging day for Steven."
Q: How do you feel John Beck played today?A: "John Beck played really well. John controlled the ball. I think we have three good quarterbacks."
Q: Can you talk about Demetrius Williams a little bit?A: "Demetrius made some good plays. The catch on the slant coming down on that long drive kept the drive alive. Those are difficult plays to make."
QB John Beck
Q: On playing the entire.A: "It felt good to play the whole game. It's been a while since I have been able to play a whole game. I wanted to make the most of it. We did some things that we liked and some things that we can improve on. When we go back and look at the sheets and slides the coaches will be able to show me some things I can improve on when I get back to practice."
Q: Did you have fun out there?A: "I had a lot of fun out there. I was able to go down and throw a touchdown pass on the first drive to a (Jason Cook) who is from here. I was proud to see him make a big catch in his home stadium."
Q: Talk about playing against the first-team Falcons defense.A: Coach (Jim) Harbaugh asked the offense to come out and have the mindset that we were going to go down the field and score on that defense and put the ball in the end zone. I think that our unit as a whole thought that we were going to go down the field and score."
Q: Was there any rust?A: "Yeah there was definitely a lot of things out there that I felt that as the game went along I could be more comfortable with. It was good for me because now I have some things on film that I can look at and learn from. That's the big thing. I got to play four quarters and learn from it."
Q: Talk about the play of Demetrius Williams.A: "Demetrius played great. He started out the game on fire. He is a solid player and played well. He made some big plays out there early that sparked us."
RB Cedric Peerman
Q: On his play tonightA: "I tell you, God has been so good. He has been so sovereign. Just to give me an opportunity first off and then to make it to training camp. I got to come back home and play in front of a lot of friends and family. Then I got a chance to score and be a part of this Ravens team. It's mind blowing. It's amazing."
Q: On how many family and friends were here tonight.A: "I got ten (tickets) and there were a lot more people that came to see me play."
Q: You went to high school here (Atlanta area) right?A: "I went to North Gwinnett High School which is about 35 miles up the road in Suwanee."
Q: On his touchdown reception?A: "When they called the play I knew that I was the first read. As soon as I got out and saw that nobody was on me and the nearest guy was a corner who was seven or eight yards off of the ball I knew right then that I had a chance. As soon as I got it there was nobody there. And John (Beck) made a good pass. Beck and I have stayed after practice a lot working on that play. It just goes to show that if you stay after and work hard that it pays off."
OLB Terrell Suggs
Q: Some say there's not much to accomplish from a fourth preseason game. What are your thoughts?A: "Well, we've been trying to get better as a team. You know, we've been fine-tuning and getting a little more prepared. I think we did that."
Q: Was there anything noteworthy from this evening's contest. Are you looking ahead to Kansas City?A: "Tonight was all about evaluating where we were. These four preseason games are the same for us as they are for them. Now we can look at the Kansas City film. We've got this behind us. We're somewhat healthy and now the real stuff starts."
