Vic Fangio – November 2, 2023
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio
(First your thoughts on finally potentially having CB Jalen Ramsey and CB Xavien Howard opposite each other?) – “If we can get that done that would be good. That’s what we’ve been shooting for. We knew it was going to take a while with Jalen’s injury, but through Jalen’s fast recovery and beating the odds, it’s happening earlier.”
(You’ve had your share of matchups against the Chiefs, being in the division with them with the Broncos. How do you stop a tight end like Travis Kelce and could CB Jalen Ramsey potentially factor into that matchup?) – “He lines up all over the place so occasionally that could happen with him and Jalen. He’s tough, he’s a great tight end. He runs really good routes. Him and the quarterback have great karma together, especially as plays extend. He’s tough to stop totally there. He’s caught over 100 balls, how many years in a row? So really nobody’s figured that out.”
(I know you practice against the No. 1 offense on a day in and day out basis, but what does it mean facing the number four offense this week, especially in this historic game here in Germany?) – “Yeah, and we had the No. 2 in Philly a couple of weeks ago. Two vastly different offenses comparing ours to Kansas City so there’s not a lot of carryover in there. They’re obviously a very tough assignment. They’ve been great on offense the last five, six years, whenever (Patrick) Mahomes took over. It’s a tough assignment, but we’ve got some good players and hopefully we’ll be able to slow them down some.”
(How have you been able to keep the unit focused? I know this is an international game so I guess it’s a lot different from a normal game in the States, but how have you been able to keep the unit focused?) – “It really hasn’t been a problem. There’s not a whole lot to do over here otherwise so the guys are here focused to play a game and really nothing else.”
(I wanted to ask about defending Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. He’s one of those guys that kind of similar to like Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, you said doesn’t have a weakness. So what is the key to limiting Patrick Mahomes?) – “Just trying to keep him from having an unbelievable game. He’s always played well. And try and hopefully limit the improvised plays, where he starts scrambling around, making great throws on the run, guys getting open. Him pulling the ball down and running it himself for critical first downs. He’s really tough. You’ve got to defend the play they call in the huddle, which is hard enough, and then you have to defend the play that he creates after the first one breaks down a little bit.”
(What were your impressions of CB Jalen Ramsey’s debut? I mean, he said that he played more than what was the expectation, but could you even imagine the impact that he made in game one?) – “I thought he played good, obviously. He’s not back to where he wants to be or where he will be. But for that, for him to play in the game and luckily the game worked out in that there was a bunch of short series, three plays, four plays, five plays, which allowed him to play most of the game. He never totally got taxed with a long drive or having to cover a bunch of deep routes so that’s why we were able to leave him in there as long as we did.”
(I want to go back to defending Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Especially when those plays start to break down, how much control does a defense have in that situation? It almost feels like the longer he runs, the more likely it is he finds somebody.) – “True. We’ve got to try and keep him from running and hopefully we have a good pass rush and keep him hemmed in and not let him get out. That’s where he hurts you. Their line does a good job of pass protecting. He does a good job of finding seams in the rush to step up through or step up around, or to retreat and get around. He has the total package when it comes to scrambling and it’s tough.”
(Obviously Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes didn’t have the best game of his career last week against the Broncos. Watching that film back, did they do anything in particular to help contain him or is it just the rare occasion where he doesn’t play well?) – “It was a little bit of everything. They turned the ball over four times, a fifth time by fumbling a punt. So you’re never going to win many games turning it over five times. They had a couple dropped passes, he missed a throw. Denver ran the ball 40 times, before you know it, you’re in to the fourth quarter, you haven’t had it much.”
(To follow up on CB Jalen Ramsey, could you envision yourself moving him around or just having him stay on his side and whoever lines up in front of him is who he’s covering?) – “Yeah, I think at some point, possibly this game, but at some point we’ll start moving him around. I think it’s important that he gets his legs underneath him and feels comfortable out there.”
(And sticking in the secondary, what’s the impact of having S Jevon Holland back?) – “Big. Jevon is the quarterback of the secondary, besides being a great player himself, so it’s big to have him back.”
(What do you think about playing in Germany and think about playing in Frankfurt?) – “It’s just another game for us. We flew in here, got on a bus, went to the hotel and I’ve been at the hotel or here practicing. So it’s just a normal week for us.”
(You mentioned that it’s hard to sack Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. The Dolphins are among the league leaders in hurries, pressures, hits, sacks. So what are some things that you would like LB Jaelan Phillips and LB Bradley Chubb and the other pressure guys to keep in mind, specifically on Sunday?) – “It’s important when you play a quarterback like this that you rush as a unit and not as individuals. Whether you’re rushing four or rushing five or rushing three, you all have to fit together and not create big seams.”
(Last week you mentioned that LB David Long Jr. has been playing a lot better on the defense, inside linebacker. What are some of the specific things he’s doing?) – “I think he’s just doing a better job of being where he’s supposed to be more consistently, and that’s allowing him, as you’ve noticed, to make more plays. He’s done a good job of improving incrementally week by week and hopefully that will continue.”
