The following are excerpts from Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh’s conference call with the Atlanta media Wednesday in advance of Sunday’s game:
Q. When you look at the Falcons are there two or three keys for you to be successful?
A. We lay keys out for a team and we lay things out for each phase. There are probably more than two or three, it just kind of depends how you break it up. Obviously, you have to slow them down on offense. They have talent everywhere. It starts with the quarterback and runs through the running backs and wide receivers. They do a great job at being explosive. Haven't played them in a while but we've seen that first hand in the past. Then there defense is always aggressive, very fast, hard hitting, they get after you up front. So it will be a challenge for us.
Q. Can you talk about your running back committee?
A. Yeah, we've got a little committee there. They meet every Sunday and get together and try to get some yards. They are doing a good job. They are all a little different. They are all hard working guys. They are smart. They all pass protect. They all have good hands. It reminds me a little bit of that one in Atlanta. They have the four-headed monster. They all look really good
Q. Has it been a seamless transition with (new offensive coordinator) Gary Kubiak coming in with his offense?
A. I'd say yes. It's been seamless because he's such a good coach. … Gary has been a head coach. He understands what it means to build a team. He's done a tremendous job of tying what he wants to do offensively with our personality. He's just a great coach. We are very blessed to have him.
Q. How was the transition for Steve Smith?
A. I think it was great football-wise. It was seamless. He knows football. He had to learn routes. There is a new way we teach running routes that's different from what he's done. So that's been a transition for him and probably not as simple as you might think. But the tougher thing was the personal family life. He established himself down there (in Charlotte) and his family is down there and they have deep roots in the community. Now, he's up here on his own. The kids are in school down there. Like anybody who moves, that has been the toughest thing.
Q. Can you talk about (rookie linebacker C.J.) Mosley and how he has played for you?
A. He has done a great job. I kid with him all the time, it's not what you've done for me lately, it's what you've done for me next. That's what matters. He laughs. He is a humble, hard-working guy. He's very talented and has done a great job.
Q. You are always trying to create mismatches and advantages, but you only get a few days to prepare for an opponent. Have you found it's more important to do what you do well as opposed to jump on what you might see as a weakness from the other guy?
A. I would say that is the most important thing, you can't stray from what you do, but you sure better find a way to attack your opponent too because people get on to what you do pretty well too.
Q. What about (linebacker) Daryl Smith? He's a guy with local ties here (Georgia Tech)?
A. Daryl is great. He is a consummate pro. He works incredibly hard. I try to give him rest and breaks and he doesn't take him. He is very special. I would say he's a career underrated guy. He's a really good player, maybe the best linebacker in football that nobody really knows about. We love him here.
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