Vic Fangio – December 8, 2023
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Friday, December 8, 2023
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio
(Some guys who maybe haven’t played as much for a team can react different ways. With DE Emmanuel Ogbah, LB Duke Riley and S Brandon Jones, who are playing now because of injuries, how do they handle this year playing less than they have in the past? And how have they done with their on-field opportunities?) – “In Brandon’s case, it was different then the other two because he didn’t partake in the offseason and didn’t really partake in training camp. So his situation is different. But I think he’s done well. He’s played three games now and each game has been better than the one before. Duke’s handled it great. Duke is the consummate team player. Always ready to go when called upon and a great guy to have on the team. (Ogbah) has handled it ok. He’s disappointed he doesn’t get more reps. But his reps should go up here now with Jaelan (Phillips) out.”
(You guys signed DT Justin Ellis to the practice squad. I’m curious what was behind that decision?) – “Chris (Grier) just wanted another defensive lineman in here to help with practice and also to have somebody on board in case we needed them.”
(LB Duke Riley also handled the green dot duties. How did he do in that regard?) – “Good. Duke did a good job with that. He’s good at that.”
(When LB Jerome Baker goes out, what’s the decision to give the green dot to LB Duke Riley as opposed to LB David Long Jr. who is also on the field?) – “Well, the position that ‘Bake’ played, which now Duke is playing, stays in there all the time so there’s not new learning. The position David (Long) plays in base and in nickel is replaced by a DB when we go dime.”
(Who would wear it if then the situation arose where you need a backup for LB Duke Riley? Is there another player that can handle it?) – “Yeah. It would be one of the ILBs.”
(In terms of the green dot, LB Duke Riley was saying it’s his position coach that talks to him and not you. I just wanted the thought process of why is it that you’re not the one, even though you’re calling the plays, speaking the instructions?) – “It’s kind of teaching an old dog new tricks. I got so used to – that was the way it is, especially being in the box. Then when they made it available that you could do it from the box, I was just too engrained to my system of doing it. I didn’t want to have to mess with the controls and all that.”
(How has CB Xavien Howard’s skillset meshed with what you ask of your corners in this system?) – “Pretty good. I think ‘X’ has had a hell of a year. He made a tremendous play this past game on the deep ball. I think he’s been solid and playing good for us.”
(When you guys talked about how you want to run your scout team this year, what was the conversation on the defensive side about understanding at some point you were going to be installing things that you guys had already done because teams like to borrow from each other? Then also, the effect of all that movement pre-snap that you’re going to be seeing with how you wanted to structure and rep your scout team? Just giving looks to the offense during the season.) – “Well they’re doing it off cards. They’re doing what the cards tell them to do. And at that point, they’re playing for that week’s opponent. They’re really not playing for us. So they have to be a player. For instance, this week, that scout teamer is a Tennessee Titan player and doing what Tennessee Titan defenses do. There’s not a lot of carry over.”
(In talking with QB Mike White a little bit, with some of the things that you guys are accustomed to in training camp, repping against some of the pre-snap movement, some of the speed that is coming up in the league more and more. Other teams are installing those types of concepts. Are you seeing more of those things come up on the cards, maybe on a higher frequency then in previous years, because more and more teams are trying to experiment with more of this pre-snap movement?) – “Yeah. We’re seeing more of those plays from other teams in the league, yes. When we do see them, we prepare for them. But I don’t see the carryover to the scout team part.”
(LB Andrew Van Ginkel mentioned a tell he saw in the Washington right tackle that let him know the screen was coming. Is that something that he picks up on in his individual film studies? Is that a coach’s studies and communicating it to the players?) – “A combination of both. Combination of both.”
(You’ve gotten a lot of pressure on four-man rush without having to blitz a ton. Have you been happy with that aspect of what you’ve gotten without blitzing?) – “Pretty much, yeah. I haven’t had too many games or extended periods of games where I felt that we had no rush. That’s what you’re trying to avoid. Yeah, I think the guys rushing the passer have done a good job.”
(Titans QB Will Levis to WR DeAndre Hopkins, what do you see, what makes that unique or challenging?) – “Well, Hopkins is a unique wide receiver. He’s been a really good wide receiver for a long time in the league. Great hands, great body control. Has a big catch radius. Savvy with his routes. The quarterback knows that, and he’s trying to throw it to him. The quarterback’s got a really good arm. He has a really quick release. I’ve been impressed with what they’ve been able to do.”
(The key or keys to slowing down Titans RB Derrick Henry?) – “You have to do a good job up front, first and foremost. You can’t get pushed back. You can’t be blocked out of your assignment and let him get rolling because once he gets rolling, he’s a load. That’s why he’s probably headed to the Hall of Fame as a running back.”
