Nik Needham – December 3, 2020
Download PDF version
Thursday, December 3, 2020
CB Nik Needham
(I was wondering on the plane ride home from New York, did you get any nice text messages from family about the interception, for you guys to continue that NFL long streak you guys have with the takeaways?) – “Yeah, my mom, my dad and some of my good friends texted me and said they saw the interception, so that was cool. That was definitely a big play in the game for me.”
(In the past two seasons, you’ve transformed yourself into being a reliable piece in that nickel cornerback role. What can you say, if you can recap the past two seasons for yourself, how they’ve gone for you and how happy you are with the success you are having?) – “Definitely my first year, I started off a little shaky and I had to adjust. I think throughout the first year, just growing, learning and adapting to the NFL season coaching-wise, I think that helped a little bit. Then them just letting me know what I needed to do in the offseason to really make that big jump in the second year, I think that helped a lot. Then Coach ‘GA’ (Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander) has done a really good job of coaching me the tiny fundamentals in the slot. I didn’t know it was that detailed, so he has been a big help in helping me continue to improve my game week by week.”
(I’m writing a story about DT Raekwon Davis. We talked a while ago and obviously he’s just a rookie. What’s your impression of what he does well?) – “The first impression when I first saw him, I was definitely like ‘this is the biggest dude I have ever seen.’ It’s crazy because he’s just a rookie and you think he’s going to have a deep voice, but he kind of has the light voice, all happy and funny. (laughter) When he stepped out there on the first day of pads in training camp, you could tell why they brought him here. He’s a beast. He dominates the middle of the field. We’re all still learning, but he’s definitely improving every week. He’s definitely up for the challenge and I respect that for sure. He’s taking the coaching.”
(Now that you are a little bit more comfortable playing that nickel role, I’m doing something on the slot position or space or area of the field, which is how Head Coach Brian Flores views it. What’s the challenge of when you’re playing that inside between the hash area, and all of these little scat-back receivers are running option routes on you?) – “That’s a great example right there, they have option routes. Definitely in the slot too they have a two-way go open on both sides. Just knowing where your help is and how you can play to your leverage. Really, it comes down to film study too, knowing what routes they like to run in the slot because it’s a real different route tree than the outside. I’ve been trying to learn all of that stuff and study some guys that have been successful in the slot.”
(I wanted to ask you about Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer. What is his coaching style like when he deals with you guys, and how do you describe his coaching style in terms of the way he calls the game on game days?) – “I would say they are both the same. He’s aggressive. He’s very attentive to details, just how he wants our defense. All of our checks, we’ve got to make sure everybody knows them, that everybody is on point. He’s big on details. He stays on your ass. He pushes you to be the best player you can be, which I like. Always, every day, he’s just never letting up. I think that’s what translates into the game and creating that relentless effort that we all try to play with.”
(It’s the second year in the row that you guys are facing the Bengals. At this time last year, it was a battle to see who might get the first overall pick. A year later, the Bengals are still struggling and you guys are in the thick of a playoff race. What goes into your mind when you contemplate how far you guys have come since that time last year?) – “Just the work that we put in during last year and the offseason, it’s all coming to light. ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores) just says come in every week, grind and try to get one percent better every day. We’ve just really been doing that and the success is showing. We still have a lot more work to do and this is a big game this week. We have to come out and execute.”
(I had a chance to catch up with LB Sam Eguavoen earlier and he was telling me about the Last Air Bender and Street Fighter that he’s going to have on as cleats this week’s game for My Cause My Cleats. I asked him if DT Christian Wilkins is going to come in and try to get his hands on those. I was curious what are you wearing, what’s going to be on the cleats, what your cause is and if anybody is knocking down your door to get their hands on your shoes this week?) – “Mine is Allen Hurns – I did his last year too, the 88 Blessings (Foundation for) single mothers. Mine is red and pink for love, I guess. Then it has some hearts on there and then my mom’s name. I’m just going to be out there representing her.”
(I know this isn’t your position, but since you studied these guys, what makes a good slot receiver?) – “Playing to my leverage, the receivers knowing the DB, knowing how to attack different leverages. Quickness helps a lot. Speed kills. Just knowing where they are on the field, how they move around, having good ball security. That’s really what makes it real tough to guard.”
(I’m a momma’s boy too. Can you tell us a little bit more about your mom and what she means to you?) – “Well, my mom and dad too. I just lived with my mom a little longer. She means the world to me. She grinds every day. She’s very protective of me. (laughter) It’s funny. I love her. She pushes me every day so I go out there and play for her. My dad too. Just grinding. Whenever I make a play or see the smile on their face, that makes me happy and makes mewant to keep going for sure.”
