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Nik Needham – August 14, 2021 (Postgame) Download PDF version

Saturday, August 14, 2021
Postgame – at Chicago

CB Nik Needham

(I thought you had a forced fumble but somebody said they gave it to LB Shaquem Griffin.) – “Aw, that’s crazy. (laughter)”

(Who actually forced the fumble?) – “I have no clue. All I know is I spun around and the ball came out, so I was like, ‘Oh ok, maybe I’ll get a half forced fumble.’ I don’t know. (laughter) But yeah I’m not sure who did it. I just knew the ball was on the ground.”

(What did you think of the defense in that first half? I think you gave up 79 yards.) – “I think we were executing pretty well, just trying to get that level of communication and chemistry going. I think as far as the first half, we were really connecting as a group. Just trying to build on that next week and the week after and into the regular season.”

(What was it like in the secondary? You were missing a couple of rather important cornerbacks.) – “Oh, yeah. Just step up to the plate. Whatever they need you to do, just go out there and compete. When those guys get back in there, I’ll play my role and whatever needs to be done, I’ll do it.”

(It seemed like you had a lot of hands on the ball, especially on the deep ball too.) – “Yeah, that’s what we preach every day as a point of emphasis. No deep balls and get your hands on the ball. Every time the ball is in the air, turn around and look. You want to come down with the interception but if you can’t, just don’t let the receiver catch it. I think we did a pretty good job of that.”

(How important is it for you to have your teammates and coaches know that you can be a reliable guy for them and they can count on you?) – “It feels good but at the end of the day, it’s up to me. I’ve got to keep going out there executing and doing what I need to do to be available and reliable. It feels good if the coaches feel that way and my teammates feel that way; but at the end of the day, it comes down to me and I’ve got to execute.”

(After you make your first play, does the confidence just ooze?) – “This is what, my third year? I just feel a little more comfortable out there. It felt good with the fans out there. It just felt like yeah, it’s football time. I wasn’t really too anxious as before the past couple of years. But yeah, to get the first target and get a PBU (pass broken up), I felt good. It was in the first series too; so yeah, I felt good to get that rolling.”

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