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Nik Needham – November 9, 2021 Download PDF version

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

CB Nik Needham

(You all these last two weeks have really looked like the 2020 defense that was really good. Is there anything that happened off field before these two games, whether it was Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer saying something or whether it was one of your teammates standing up and saying something that might have coincided with this turnaround defensively?) – “I think it was just with all that was going on, just coming back and just going back to work, and being consistent and listening to what the coaches were preaching. We had a lot of games where just the little things were going wrong, and I think we’re just doing a better job at just executing the gameplan.”

(What was going through your mind when you realized you had a free run on QB Tyrod Taylor?) – “Watching it now, I’m kind of sick because the ball was right there. I should have just hit the ball out of his hand. But I just saw a free edge. (Emmanuel) Ogbah did a good job of holding the tackle off of the edge, so I just ran in there free and hit him. It was kind of like a blur and then you heard the crowd (scream).”

(Was that the best play of your pro career?) – “I guess you can say that. It’s similar to the Sam Darnold one. That’s the same thing, I should’ve got the ball out at the end of the day. It could’ve been better.”

(You’re still a young guy yourself, obviously third year. But playing with two really young safeties, what kind of adjustment is that for the corners? No one can know as much as S Bobby McCain can yet, because of S Jevon Holland’s age and experience. But is he close to it? Just the experience of playing with two young safeties?) – “I think I’ve said this before. Jevon has been doing a good job. He’s making some rookie stuff and making some good plays out there. Brandon (Jones) is also doing well, a second-year guy. We trust both of them back out there. That’s why they are out there. Whatever calls they make, that’s what we’re going to go out there and execute. It’s good to have them both out there.”

(When you look at the Ravens offense on the film, have you seen that maybe they move more guys around and put more guys in the slot than most other teams that just keep one guy in the slot?) – “I’m not sure if it’s more than usual, but you see Hollywood (Brown). He moves in and out. They’ve got (Devin) Duvernay and put him in the slot as well. (James) Proche is also in there. They put a couple of guys in there. It’s the same as any other team really.”

(Do you have to have your eyes in the backfield any more than usual playing against a guy like QB Lamar Jackson?) – “For sure, it’s definitely going to be an eye discipline game. That’s what they’ve been preaching all week. We’ve got to be on our P’s and Q’s and make sure that we’re all focused and locked in on our jobs. That’s what (Defensive Coordinator Josh) Boyer has been preaching. Make sure you do your job on each and every play. We’ve got to be locked in. There is a lot of stuff going on back there.”

(You mentioned WR Marquise Brown. What do you see in his game and maybe some of the difficulties he provides as a challenge?) – “Definitely speed. You can see that. He definitely has a lot of shots deep, even the deep field. Explosive athlete. We’ve got to do a good job of keep coverage over the top.”

(Assuming you watch other NFL games when you get the chance, are there certain players that you enjoy watching as if you were a fan and would QB Lamar Jackson be one of those guys?) – “I wouldn’t say a fan, but you have a level of respect for everybody’s game. I would say that’s a very good player. I wouldn’t say as far as a fan, but you definitely have respect for everybody’s game.”

(Is he particularly fun to watch because of his style?) – “I guess you could say that, yeah.”

(It seems to me that game after game, opposing offenses say that we’re going to stay away from CB Xavien Howard and probably stay away from CB Byron Jones, and we’re going to go after CB Nik Needham. But then game after game, you get pass breakups. It seems to me like you’re gaining confidence. Where is your level of confidence as a professional athlete at this moment, in comparison to your first NFL game?) – “Obviously it’s definitely higher than that. It’s been three years. It’s my third year. I just try to continue to make plays every week. That’s all I’m trying to do. Just try to stay consistent. That’s all you can do in the NFL. I think if I just keep doing that and keep doing a good job with that, I’ll be fine. That’s my main focus. Try to be consistent.”    

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