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Nik Needham – October 6, 2021 Download PDF version

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

CB Nik Needham

(We didn’t see CB Byron Jones, which is why I asked DB Jason McCourty about corner. For you, on days when Byron is not there like today, do you spend more time on the boundary in addition to playing in slot?) – “Nah, it just depends on what the gameplan is for the week. Sometimes I’ll play more in the slot, sometimes I’ll play more on the outside. It doesn’t really have to do with who’s out or who’s in when it comes to where I’m playing at.”

(So your workflow today was as it would be even if CB Byron were here? Some at slot, some outside?) – “Correct.”

(Do you feel equally good at both? You’ve done both well, right?) – “Yes sir, yup.”

(Last Sunday, you were playing well in the slot position and then when CB Byron Jones got hurt, I didn’t know if they were going to slide you outside or go with CB Justin Coleman outside. Did you know or did you have to find out that you were staying in the slot?) – “Nah, we just found out in the game. It’s just a quick adjustment. We don’t want people going back and forth. That was just the decision made and we just played through it.”

(What are some of the nuances of playing nickel as opposed to on the boundary? If you’re in the slot, what are some of the things that you are looking out for more?) – “That’s different? In the slot, they have the whole field to work. They can go all the way inside or they can go all the way outside or they can go all the way inside and then break back outside. On outside, you really only have the sideline. Just from the numbers to the sideline, that’s where most of the routes are going down, or in-breaking routes. In the slot, there’s just so much more space you have to work. You have to know where your help is coming from. Just knowing that part of the game is a little tougher and it’s a lot more speedier guys and quick guys in the slot rather than the big, taller-type receivers like DeVante’s (Parker) type on the outside.”

(Are there any former cornerbacks that play in the slot that you look at that do that job really well?) – “Nah, I have not watched anything like that. The only corner I really studied a lot is Darrelle Revis. That was my favorite cornerback.”

(You were on this team last year that started 1-3. Do you find similarity in the situations from the way you guys were able to win that game in San Francisco last year and then this coming game?) – “I think that was a coming together game. I think the games last year when we lost were just like this year, beating ourselves. It’s not like the team just outplayed us. We have too many little, minor mistakes that end up having a big impact on the game. Just focusing on deleting those this week and going out there and competing and see who’s the better team. I think that will help us out.”

(There are so many talented quarterbacks in the NFL, but if you had to say one thing that seems to be especially unique, and I know he’s good at everything, about QB Tom Brady, what might be the one thing?) – “I think the one quality that I see, that everybody sees, is that he wins. He went from the Patriots then went right to Tampa Bay and went right to the Super Bowl. To me, I don’t think that’s a coincidence. I have a lot of respect for his game. I always have. I don’t understand why people don’t like him as a player. He’s one of the greatest of all time. I think that’s just what it is. Like J-Mac (Jason McCourty) was saying, his winning mentality. I think that’s what separates him and let him play for 22 years.”

(Have you noticed anything about QB Tom Brady’s willingness to throw into tight windows this season?) – “Not as far as tight windows but I see that he trusts his arm. He’s going to throw it on time, maybe that’s what you’re talking about. He throws it on time and believes his receiver is going to make the play and that he can get in there quick enough. I think we will have to be right on our breaks. We have to be on key – no miss-fall steps or anything like that in order to make a play on the ball.”

(With that said, what is it like facing a passer like that?) – “Just like I said, you can’t have any mistakes on your end. No false-steps, no slipping down or anything like that because you never know. He’s going to make a lot of mistakes also, like J-Mac (Jason McCourty) was saying. You can’t afford to make any mistakes versus him.”

(What are your thoughts on Tampa’s Receiving group? Good group, WR Antonio Brown, etc. What problems do they pose?) – “They all bring a different skillset. Mike Evans is a real big-bodied receiver. (Chris) Godwin has big size but is also fast. Antonio Brown, an 11-year vet. He’s been playing well for 11 years. They all bring a little different stuff. Antonio is a little quicker and Mike Evans is obviously a jump ball-type guy. You just got to have a different gameplan for each receiver and how you approach them when you line up against them in a game.”

(I was going to ask you about your comment that some people don’t like QB Tom Brady as a player. Do you think it’s just because he wins so much or does he need better PR?) – “Maybe, I guess. Ain’t nothing wrong with winning too much.”

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