Vic Fangio – December 28, 2023
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Thursday, December 28, 2023
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio
(Your guys had two plays that were among the biggest plays of the game with S Deshon Elliott and S Brandon Jones. Tell me about Brandon Jones and the season that he’s had and kind of what you saw in his play?) – “I think the season, in a weird way, has worked out very well for Brandon. As you guys know, he missed all of the offseason, missed all of training camp. He got to play in the fourth game of the year, got thrust in the action. He wasn’t really ready for it. He and I talked about that. Then he got to play a few weeks later in a game, one of the starters was out. And then has now had this long stretch here – I don’t know, three or four in a row – where he’s had to play full time. In a different way, it’s worked out great for him. And he’s playing much, much better now.”
(Your defense has faced their fair share of mobile quarterbacks, but with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, what kind of differentiates him?) – “Yeah, fair share mobile quarterbacks? Yes. Then there’s Lamar Jackson. (laughter) He’s unlike anybody else. The only other player that’s been like him in the last 50 years is Michael Vick. He’s a tremendous player. Kudos to Ozzie (Newsome) and Eric (DeCosta) for picking him. Thirty-one other teams that passed him by are kicking themselves. He’s really improved over the years. Dynamic with the ball. Good passer. He makes their offense go.”
(This team has set a franchise record for sacks. What’s working so well in the pass-rushing department? And has the sack production exceeded your expectations?) – “I just think we do a good job of rushing as a unit and playing good team defense. Changing up coverages buys the guys another second or two to get there. I think it’s all 11 guys playing together. And the guys rushing as a unit, not as individuals. To think we set a record for this franchise after 15 games, I really didn’t expect that, but I really don’t think along those lines either with records.”
(With QB Lamar Jackson, what’s your willingness to put a spy on him and give him different looks?) – “Yeah, I mean the pure definition of a great quarterback is there’s no one way to play him. Because if there was, everybody would do it. So you just have to mix up what you’re doing. Along the way, they have a hell of a run game. Both from the players ability – o-line, tight ends, runners – and the scheme of it with Lamar at the helm makes it a difficult task. There’s a lot to prepare for, a lot to defend in this offense.”
(What ways has LB David Long Jr. improved from Week 1 to Week 17?) – “Yeah, I think he has. Just incrementally he’s gotten a little bit better each week in the small details.”
(A lot was made about the shadow or not shadow decision in the Cowboys game. You guys did not shadow WR CeeDee Lamb and he got off to a hot start but then kind of cooled down. What stood out to you or what changed in the final three quarters of the game?) – “Yeah, we kind of changed the way we were playing him. But he primarily in that game was in the slot. He’s a hard guy to match with one guy.”
(Any feelings remain towards John Harbaugh and the Ravens in the way of the last meeting between you and him?) – “No. I mean what happened there was they ran a play at the end of the game instead of taking a knee to get an extra four or five yards rushing. Our players were all upset about it. The way the timing worked Mondays after our games, I would meet with the media before any player would, then I’d have a team meeting. So I took the hit. I said something publicly and I told the players that so they would let it go to bed and they never said anything. It was one that just finished the story without our players getting involved. I could care less if they run another play.”
(Can you tell me what you’ve seen from your backups this season? Guys such as LB Andrew Van Ginkel and LB Duke Riley and CB Eli Apple and S Elijah Campbell and S Brandon Jones when they’ve been called upon.) – “Yeah, I think they all, to various degrees have played well when called upon. Especially after they’ve had chances to prepare for their playing time instead of just getting thrown in there in the middle of the game or at the end of the game with not much work not only for that week, but the previous week. I think they all have done great. I never looked at Van Ginkel as a backup anyway. We talked about Brandon already. Duke, I’m not surprised that Duke has played well.”
(How did LB Melvin Ingram look filling in for DE Emmanuel Ogbah this week?) – “Yeah, not bad considering the circumstances. He’s only been here a little bit, hadn’t played any ball since last season. I think Melvin is an instinctive player. Football comes natural to him. But he hadn’t played. I think the more he gets in the football shape, the better he can play.”
(The Ravens have added a bunch of eligibles in the last few years to help QB Lamar Jackson and the offense. How have you seen the offense evolve with getting guys like WR Zay Flowers, TE Isaiah Likely, WR Odell Beckham Jr.?) – “The offense has changed a little bit from last year. They’ve had change in the coordinator. They kept the same running game basically and they’re throwing the ball a little differently now. They’ve got the best group of receivers that they’ve had there in a long time.”
(Out of curiosity, do you get to know players names or numbers? I was going to ask about Zay Flowers but I didn’t know if I should say number four or Zay Flowers.) – “Both. There are some weeks it’s just the number and some weeks I know the guys name totally. That’s why I always come in here with a flip card. (laughter)”
