Vic Fangio – December 14, 2023
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Thursday, December 14, 2023
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio
(I know obviously this year you’ve had a lot of success with four-man rushes and you were playing two backup safeties late in the game. I’m just wondering if that contributed to you not blitzing at all on Tennessee’s last two series. Was that something you regretted not doing at all in those final two touchdown drives?) – “No, they were kind of unusual drives in that they got some early big plays that turned into a red zone two-minute (drill) on both of them. Yeah, you always wish something different had happened. But no.”
(Can you explain what happened on the long WR DeAndre Hopkins pass on the first play of the game-winning drive that they had? It seemed like there was maybe a bust in coverage. But from your perspective, what happened there?) – “Yeah, I mean we just didn’t pick it up the way we usually do and had a problem with that.”
(How do you assess those last two drives? What went wrong for you guys in general?) – “Yeah, we gave up some early plays that got big yardage for them. That really kick started the drives for them.”
(How different is it calling defensive plays when you have S Brandon Jones and DB Elijah Campbell? I’m not asking you to throw anybody under the bus, but I know Elijah hadn’t played from scrimmage in a while?) – “Yeah, this is the time of year for every team in the league where more backups have to be ready and go in there and play. We have confidence in those guys, but obviously when you’re missing your two starters, it sets you back a little bit. But I have confidence in Elijah and Brandon.”
(When the team has a two-touchdown lead with about four minutes to go, how unlikely do you feel it is, what confluence of events would have to occur for the opponent to come away with a win?) – “Well, we saw it there. They got some big plays, which allowed them to score fairly quickly. On the first one, we weren’t able to execute the four-minute offensively and they got it back around the 36 or 37-yard line or whatever it was, and they scored on us. There was still time left for us to have a legitimate chance. So a lot of it happened very quickly.”
(I believe you previously called S Jevon Holland the quarterback of the secondary. How much was his absence specifically maybe attributed to some of the miscommunication that occurred?) – “There wasn’t a lot of miscommunication. That wasn’t an issue. But Jevon has been the quarterback, as I’ve said before, and it’s pretty obvious. Then DeShon (Elliott) has taken that role when Jevon has been out.”
(So just to follow up, you’re saying especially on the late two drives, it was more so about the execution rather than maybe the communication?) – “Yeah, I don’t think communication was the issue. I needed to call it better and we needed to play it better. We’re teammates in this operation, players and coaches, and we all just needed to be a little bit better.”
(On the TV broadcast, they mentioned that you guys could’ve done a better job of protecting the sideline. What goes into teaching those moments and what went wrong?) – “Yeah, we do teach that. On the one time, you alluded to the play that he (DeAndre Hopkins) caught coming across the middle. We didn’t have anybody there to keep him in bounds because of the pickup. But we do emphasize that.”
(If CB Xavien Howard is unable to play Sunday – I know he wasn’t able to go yesterday – would CB Eli Apple be the next option or is CB Cam Smith in your thinking? And CB Kader Kohou will obviously be out there.) – “Yeah, all three are possibilities.”
(Your play that you have been getting at inside linebacker since LB Jerome Baker left – LB Duke Riley was very active against Washington. How’d he play Monday night?) – “I thought he played well. I thought Duke played a good game. He handled being the signal-caller in the huddle and on the line signal-caller. I thought he played good. And I thought David (Long) played good too.”
(Did you get a glimpse of LB Melvin Ingram in his workout, and what did you see?) – “No, I didn’t. And today we’re not really moving around much, so I don’t have anything for you there.”
(What did you think of the pass rush last game? I think you had one sack and eight quarterback hits. Was it a good pass rush and you just didn’t get him to the ground? What did you think?) – “We had some opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on getting him to the ground. But I thought overall, the pass rush was pretty solid.”
(How tough will this game-plan become if you don’t know if you’ll have either safety?) – “It’s like I said. Those guys have been here all year, S Brandon (Jones) and DB Elijah (Campbell). We have other guys that are capable, and it’s time for them to step up.”
(Who else is an option at safety? You said you have other guys. Is CB Nik Needham an option?) – “Yeah. Nik knows it some.”
(Do you see maybe a bigger role for CB Nik Needham? Obviously the Achilles was a big rehab for him, but he’s 14 months removed now. Is that still a limitation for him?) – “No. He doesn’t have any limitations because of that.”
(What is your thinking of not playing CB Nik Needham more?) – “Well right now, we’ve had, for most of the season, Jevon (Holland) and DeShon (Elliott) at safety, and Kader (Kohou) at nickel, and Jalen (Ramsey) and Xavien (Howard) at corner. He’s been the sixth DB to come in when we go to six. But now with some of those guys out, there is definitely a possibility he could be playing more.”
(Is it different getting ready for an opponent you saw four weeks ago as opposed to having not seen a team all year long?) – “Not really because teams change during the course of the season. You have to go by what you see. They played a hell of a game last week against Houston. They have a different quarterback from the last time we played, and he played well. He got (AFC Offensive) Player of the Week in the league. I don’t see it as a big, big difference.”
(What was the change from the first half of that game where they got shut out and punted the ball five time, versus scoring 30 in the second half?) – “They just started really moving the ball, completing some passes. The quarterback played well. Things just clicked for them in the second half. They did a nice job.”
(As far as their passing game, I think RB Breece Hall had 86 yards in receptions, maybe eight receptions, and WR Garrett Wilson had 108 yards receiving. How much of that do you think the Jets will try to translate into this game?) – “I think they will try and do that in any game. Those are two of their best players, and they are going to try to get them the ball. That’s what most teams do, try to get their best players the ball. Certainly Wilson and Hall are great at their positions.”
(When you have a tough loss like this team just suffered, how do you get the team to flush that and move forward, especially on a short week?) – “You just have to do it. That’s part of playing in the NFL. I think the best thing to get it going is just to get out there and practice and prepare for the next opponent, and not sit around and just think about the last game.”
(For you personally? Are all losses the same at this point, or does what happened last week take a little longer to digest or process for you personally?) – “I’m pretty good at moving on to the next one. But I’m just disappointed in the way that it ended. We had been pretty good all year in two-minute situations, if you remember. We were out there with games on the line, and we just didn’t get it done this time.”
