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Nik Needham – November 16, 2020 Download PDF version

Monday, November 16, 2020

CB Nik Needham

(Can you talk about the process for you in terms of the development that you’ve made at nickel? How is it different from the boundary and what has been involved in that transition?) – “It’s definitely a different realm, I guess you can say. You can’t really get as many hands on – you’re matched up against a lot quicker, faster receivers. Just transitioning into that, it involves a lot more tackling and fitting in the box. ‘Coach G.A.’ (Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander) has helped me a lot with that, showing me a couple of safety fits and showing me film of some good nickel, some good nickel slot corners in the league, and just breaking down their film showing me how they play on certain situations. So just taking all of that in and trying to grow week by week. That’s what’s been helping me.”

(WR Keenan Allen comes into this game second in the league in catches and then finishes the day with only three. I’m curious to ask how were you guys able to naturalize one of the game’s best receivers and did you view that as a personal challenge given how often you and he lines up inside?) – “Watching film every week, you could see that (Justin) Herbert was throwing to Keenan Allen on the go-to situations. We were just trying to make sure in the game plan that we would limit him as much as possible and make him throw to some of the other guys. I think we did a pretty good job with that. That’s what helped us execute and limit him out there.”

(The Dolphins just tweeted they locked up DT Zach Sieler through 2023 so Sieler gets a three-year contract extension. When you see a guy with his story – gets cut, seventh rounder, Ferris State, small school – what do you think about what has happened here for him?) – “That’s for sure inspiring, because Sieler grinds hard every day. You can just see it out there on the field. He’s a monster out there. For him to get that, I’m super proud of him and happy for him. That’s just motivation, for sure. Congrats to Sieler.”

(You mention motivation, when you saw what transpired this offseason – the Dolphins make CB Byron Jones the highest paid cornerback in the NFL, they use a first-rounder in a corner on CB Noah Igbinoghene, did you think in the moment, ‘Where is my spot going to be?’) – “No, I’m always trying to put as much work in as possible. Just seeing that, I’m like ok, we’ve got some more guys on the team. I’m just going to fit in wherever they need me. I’m going to come in and put my hard hat on and just put the work in every day. Wherever they need me to play, I’m willing to do it. I just want to help the team win, for sure.”

(In terms of who you study, who are some of the nickel guys that you’ve studied when you were reviewing some film?) – “Kenny Moore from the Colts. I think he’s played a little bit in the slot in the past couple of years. And then (Baltimore’s) Marlon Humphrey. I know he does a great job of punching the ball out. I think he has like four forced fumbles this year. Just seeing how they transverse into the slot and how their game has progressed, just watching all of that stuff has just helped me a little bit learn some different techniques that I can use versus different receivers and stuff like that.”

(I want to go back to the sack you had yesterday to open up the game. One of my favorite things to watch about with this team is it seems like there is always pressure coming where the quarterback tries to escape and that seemed like what happened on that play. I’m curious if that’s the case, and also how much does it help to blitz behind a guy like DE Emmanuel Ogbah?) – “As you can see, he gets a sack every week. I think even on that play, they were probably more worried about him, and checked the running back to block him or something. I’m not sure but when I came off the edge, the running back had his eyes locked on Ogbah. That freed me up off the edge, and (Justin) Herbert ran right up to me. I just had to secure that (tackle). He’s a dominant force out there for sure.”

(You played a lot of outside corner last year and now you’re doing a lot in the slot. How did you work on your transition so that – was there a point where you knew that ‘this is probably where I need to do more of my work?’ And how did you get there?) – “Like I said, corner you can get a lot of hands on them at the beginning of the routes and stuff. In the slot, you can do that as well, but they have a lot more access to the field. They can go outside, inside, they can run across the whole field. You’ve got to be ready to get on your horse. Like I said, I just try to transition and work on my footwork, work on staying lateral when I’m off at like three yards or so, and just shuffling down instead of opening my hips, so I don’t get caught in a bad position.” 

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