Vance Joseph – August 15, 2016
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Monday, August 15, 2016
Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph
(On how the secondary is shaping up) – “It’s a work in progress. It’s obviously a young group but I was really impressed with Bobby (McCain) and (Tony) Lippett on Friday night. They competed. It was not perfect but they did compete and they got better. Bobby (McCain) makes a great play in the slot on the vertical seam ball. That was a great play. That helps. When they’re making plays, they gain confidence when they do it right, and they watch it on film being done right, it helps the process.”
(On CB Brandon Harris) — “Brandon Harris is a seasoned veteran who’s played a bunch of ball. He’s played more ball than most of our guys in the back end, besides ‘20’ (Reshad Jones). So I’m not surprised he’s very solid in the slot.”
(On if he’s going to unleash the dogs on Friday) – “You mean the front four? Probably. We’re not sure yet but I would think they’re going to play probably a series or two. It’s time.”
(On his philosophy on blitzing) – “We don’t want to be just a blitz-happy team. We want to blitz with a purpose and it’s with a purpose. Our philosophy is to – when the snap count basically – first-and-10, we want to knock you back for a loss and put you behind a count so we can rush the passer. That’s our philosophy. But we can’t just do it recklessly. It’s got to be calculated. It is for the most part right now.”
(On if he blitzed the first day of training camp) – “First day? Absolutely. There’s different forms of blitzes. You can fire zone. You can bring five, you can bring six, you can bring seven. You can be a pressure team and not be a risk-taker. That’s our goal. We want to be an attack defense but not be reckless.”
(On if he is going to have a tough roster decision at defensive end) – “I hope so. I hope it’s tough at defensive tackle also. Right now, we’ve got three or four guys that we think that we’ve got penciled in. That fifth spot is going to be up for grabs. Guys are working so hard. It’s going to be a tough decision. Even inside, for the fourth inside player, it’s going to be a tough decision. That’s the way camp should be. Even at corner with bringing in Brandon Harris and bringing in (Chimdi) Chekwa and those guys – those guys have been really solid players. So it’s going to go down to the wire. That’s the way camp should be, in my opinion.”
(On what he’s seen from LB Kiko Alonso aside from a missed tackle on Friday night) – “He’s done fine. Obviously the missed tackle, I didn’t like. We had a bunch of missed tackles in that game Friday. That’s expected; it’s preseason. That should get rectified pretty soon but he’s done fine. He’s a really bright, young inside ‘backer that’s played well for us.”
(On what impresses him the most about this defense so far) – “Well, the effort. Everyone’s playing really hard and that’s what I’ve been impressed with. It’s not the calls. Calls give you a chance, but the effort wins. And everyone’s playing with great effort.”
(On what he’s seen from DE Chris McCain and what McCain has to do to work his way up the depth chart) – “I’ve seen a natural NFL pass rusher. That’s a long, athletic, fast defensive end who can definitely rush the passer. He’s got to play the run better, as far as setting the edge; but, as far as what we want from our rushers, he’s got that part.”
(On what DE Chris McCain needs to do to set the edge) – “He needs to separate from the block and make the play. Friday, he had a couple of plays where he knocked the guy back and the running back still circled us. That guy can’t circle him. He’s the outside edge of the defense, so he’s got to knock it back and make the play. And he’s capable of doing that. I’ve seen him do it four or five times in camp so I’m not down on him, but he’s got to play run defense better. His pass rush has been excellent.”
(On if he advocated in the decision to bring in CB Chris Culliver) – “Yes, I’m for anyone that can help us. Obviously he is a six-foot corner that has played well in the past. He has got some injuries we have to work through; but healthy, he is a guy who can help us.”
(On if the signing of four cornerbacks at the beginning of camp is an evaluation issue or injury issue) – “It was an injury issue with ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) being out. You always want more legs at corner and receiver because they run so much. But we are trying to find guys who can help us and, so far, everyone we’ve signed (have) been solid players. I’m excited about the group; it’s a bunch of guys that are competing. They are all big guys that can run, outside of Bobby (McCain) and Brandon Harris. It’s what we are looking for as far as corners.”
(On what he has seen out of CB Lafayette Pitts) – “He can run, I mean you guys saw it Friday. He was tested vertically twice and he stayed on top of both routes, causing one interception. Even at practice as a gunner for (Assistant Head) Coach (and Special Teams Coordinator Darren) Rizzi, he can really run. That’s a trait that we like in corners – guys that can really run. And he’s a bigger guy.”
(On what’s he looking for out of the nickel positon from S Michael Thomas and CB Bobby McCain) – “I’m looking for consistency, I’m looking for a guy who’s going to communicate every down, who’s going to tackle well. At that spot, that’s a mixture of a DB, a linebacker and a safety at times. So I’m looking for a guy that’s going to communicate, not make errors and going to tackle.”
(On his evaluation of CB Tony Lippett during the game and how he has progressed this offseason) – “I thought (Tony) Lippett played well in the game. He had one play where it was a plus-plus split and he gave up a slant route inside, which he can’t do. It was a plus-five split. I get it, he didn’t see the split. That’s stuff we can fix and coach. I’m excited about Lippett. He’s obviously improved since the first day. You watch him today, he had three or four PBUs (pass breakups), so he’s getting better every day.”
(On if he’s pleased with the defensive players’ on-field awareness and using the sideline to their advantage) – “Absolutely. Our coverage package is really based on leverage, it’s not based on you. It’s beating your man every down. If they can play within the package and play their leverage, they will be fine.”
(On what he sees from the linebackers outside of the starting three) – “I’ll tell you what, Mike Hull’s played well. He’s had a hell of a camp. He played well Friday night and I think he will play well (this) Friday night. We’ve got two or three young ‘backers who are capable backups.”
(On if he would keep more defensive backs on the final 53-man roster if the decision was up to him) – “I’m not sure. That’s not my call totally. But you want to keep all the players that can help you win. I’m not sure about numbers, because it could be off one or two at each spot. We are going to keep guys who can help us win.”
(On if he has seen DE Dion Jordan make any progress) – “He’s been totally engaged in meetings and with his rehab. He needs time to get healthy. Once he gets healthy, we’ll get him out there.”
(On his thoughts on DE Dion Jordan playing linebacker or does he think he is a defensive end) – “He’s most likely going to be a defensive end. Our defensive ends are built much like 3-4 defensive ends, outside linebackers I should say. He’s more in that mold for us.”
