On the running back situation: "Both Darren [McFadden] and Goodie (Mike Goodson) did not practice today. I am not going to make any decision on whether they are playing or not until Friday after practice. We will see how the rest of the week plays out. Obviously we have got a plan in place if either or both of those guys are not able to play."
On the fact that no running backs were signed this week: "I think it is a reflection that we have got some guys in house that we feel like could step in if need be and that's the way it is anywhere in the NFL. It is really a next man up philosophy and we are going to have to count on some guys to step up potentially and fill a bigger roll but we will know more at the end of the week exactly what we need to do."
On being more comfortable with using the guys that are on the roster: "I think at the end of the day the biggest key is developing a game plan that you think gives you the best chance to have success. I have said that before, whether it is running it 50 times or throwing it 50 times, we have got to do what we feel like that gives us the best opportunity to have success. Then once you get into the game sometimes you have got to make adjustments. We will have a game plan that we feel like gives us a chance to be successful against Baltimore."
On whether the running backs need the situation explained to them: "I think we are all well aware of what their situation is. I don't think they need me to explain it to them. They have got ankle injuries. They have got to rehab and get better and be aggressive with it and get better as soon as possible and that's what they are doing."
On if Goodson's MRI was negative: "Yeah, both of them are negative."
On if there is a degree assigned to level of ankle sprains: "No, it's a sprained ankle."
On if they're out for the season: "No, I don't anticipate that at all."
On if one is closer than the other: "I think they're both in about the same boat."
On the Baltimore Ravens: "They are an exceptional football team. They have been very successful under this head coach. John Harbaugh has done an outstanding job with the team. They are another one of those teams that has the formula for success. They know how to win and they are extremely tough to play in that building. Obviously we have got our work cut out for us."
On what makes Baltimore so good at home: "Obviously the environment to play in is a tough environment for a road team to go and play in but the biggest thing is they have got good players and they are well coached. That is what really makes for home field advantage."
On Carson Palmer's success against the Ravens while in Cincinnati: "He knows this team. He played against the Ravens a lot of times. I think he fully understands what type of game it's going to be. We talk to him and get thoughts and ideas as we do every week from a game plan standpoint and what he's comfortable with and what we feel like can be effective against him."
On if he thinks Ray Rice is a similar back to Doug Martin: "Yeah, I believe so. Last week, [Buccaneers Head Coach Greg] Schiano compared the two and he coached both of them so he would know best, but they look very similar on tape."
On what the Raiders need to do to stop the run: "Well, we've got to fit it better and we've got to tackle better. At the end of the day, that was the theme the other day and that's going to be the theme of the week. We've got to do a great job of tackling and swarming this running back because I think they probably take a little bit of the same philosophy as Tampa and I believe they will try to run the ball some against us."
On not dwelling on the last game, fixing the run defense and moving on: "Yeah, when you look at the big picture, when we've really struggled, it's been a big struggle. There's been a lot of times when we've played the run exceptionally well. We know we are capable of playing the run well, but at the end of the day, you've got to go out there and execute it on game day and that's what we've got to do."
On what Aaron Curry brings to the team and where he fits in the scheme: "We've got him active; I anticipate him playing. I anticipate him filling a role as a linebacker and playing a little bit of linebacker and also playing on special teams."
On the Ravens passing game and Joe Flacco: "I think the quarterback is really good. I think they've got Anquan Boldin, [who] is an experienced receiver; I think they've got some good tight ends that they can throw the ball to. Torrey Smith is an outstanding weapon down the field. Ray Rice is another talent that they have that they can use in the passing game, so I think when you've got a really good quarterback like they do and you've got some weapons it makes for a formidable challenge."
On second-half struggles in games: "Really, if I had the answer to that I'd have it fixed. That's something that, as we've gone through the year, we're attempting to try to figure that out, but we have been good in the last two minutes of the first half and been able to move the ball and score points. We've got to find a way to transfer that into other parts of the game."
On how Khalif Barnes looked in practice: "Rusty, but improved. I'm optimistic, but I'll know more at the end of the week, whether or not he will have a chance to be active for this game or not."
On if Barnes will be active for this game: "I'm going to consider it. I don't know what the decision is going to be made yet, but the good thing is we don't have to make that decision today. We get a chance to watch him all week in practice and then we can make a decision."
On how Shawntae Spencer looked yesterday: "He moved around a little bit better. He's still not ready yet but we're making progress, so hopefully the progress will speed up in the next few days."
On Desmond Bryant in practice: "He went through some regimented tests I believe it was on Tuesday, and the doctors, all the doctors involved, have cleared him for full participation. So, that being the case, we decided he ought to be out here practicing."
On Richard Seymour's hamstring injury: "Yeah, he got a hamstring; didn't really know the extent of it after the game, but after getting some treatment Monday and Tuesday, we felt like holding him out of practice today. He'll be another guy that we'll have to see where he's able to be at the end of the week, but he does have a hamstring."
On what swayed him to activate Curry: "I think at the end of the day it had a lot to do with getting another veteran, experienced linebacker that can get out there and help us and potentially even spell some guys so everybody doesn't have to play quite so many plays all the time. I think as many good players as you can have, as many experienced players as you can have, the better off you're going to be."
On Ron Bartell's progress: "I feel good about where Ron Bartell is."
On making a move on Bartell: "We can't make any type of move on him until Saturday but, again, we'll evaluate him throughout the week. That's the great thing about this is you don't have to make any decisions until the end of the week."
On RB Taiwan Jones: "Well he's been a little up and down, he's been a little injury prone or injury plagued, however you want to say it; so it's been kind of tough to evaluate because he's missed some time. But we've got confidence in Taiwan and if he's called on to step in there and play then we fully anticipate him stepping in and being able to perform and do his job."
On if Jones can be an every-down back: "I think that remains to be seen, but if he's called on to do that then that's when we'll know."
