Vic Fangio – November 21, 2023
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Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio
(Do you go back and watch anything of QB Tim Boyle beyond the 14 throws from last Sunday? Do you look at the Detroit days to see how he responds to blitzes and other looks? Is there time for that?) – “Yeah. You have to make time. He played in the preseason for the Jets this year. He played in Chicago some, which was the same system that he’s in now. He was in Green Bay with Coach (Nathaniel) Hackett, the offensive coordinator, in Chicago, and was in Green Bay when he was there. He was with Chicago now he’s back with Coach Hackett. So he knows the system and there is some video out there.”
(A lot of teammates of CB Jalen Ramsey have spoken about how involved and engaged he was while he was coming back from his injury. From your perspective, what role has that played in him coming in and hitting the ground running?) – “His rehab process was pretty amazing. He said right from the start that he was going to make it back way ahead of what that injury usually requires. It wasn’t just the first day or two talk. He backed it up all the way through. He did a tremendous job rehabbing that injury, and getting well, and getting ready to play. He deserves 90 percent of that credit. I think (Head Athletic Trainer) Kyle (Johnston) in the training room and his people that helped him, (Assistant Athletic Trainer) Jasmin (Grimes), (Associate Head Athletic Trainer) Troy (Maurer), they did a tremendous job with him. (Cornerbacks/Pass Game Specialist) Sam Madison went above and beyond and worked with him on the field while he was rehabbing. He just did a great job and it was one of the better things I’ve seen.”
(In the film room and meetings, is it usual to see an injured guy as engaged as some of the players recounted?) – “Yeah, at times. And at times, no.”
(Aside from the rehab, what has amazed you the most about CB Jalen Ramsey as a player?) – “He’s a student of the game. which is something that you don’t know until you get around a guy. He’s a smart player. He’s a team player. He likes to help people and he’s been a great addition.”
(What stood out to about CB Jalen Ramsey’s two interceptions last week?) – “Both of them were great plays. A lot of interceptions are tips, as overthrow, a really bad throw by the quarterback or something along those lines. These were just two really, really great plays.”
(You mentioned observing past tape of Jets QB Tim Boyle. What if anything changes as far as how you approach him as opposed to Zach Wilson?) – “That’s the unknown. Always when you have a new quarterback in there or a lot of times when you have a new quarterback, the plan of attack and the way the game is called may change. And I think it’s different in this case because he is very well-versed in the offense they’re running because of where he’s been the last few years. So I think they’ll run their offense, which he’s very capable of doing.”
(We saw, I think, LB David Long Jr. had his fewest snaps this past Sunday since Week 1. Was that matchup or…?) – “It was just kind of the way the game, the personality that the game took on there. We had a good bit of short series there and then when we had two-minute drives at the end of the game, we were either going to be in dime or place ‘Gink’ (Andrew Van Ginkel) in there some.”
(When you have an inexperienced quarterback like Jets QB Tim Boyle, is there a general rule or is it case-by-case like do you want to pressure him early and get to him or do you want to kind of read and react and then do what you…?) – “Yeah, I think it’s case-by-case. In Boyle’s case, he knows this offense. He’s comfortable in it. I don’t think it’s your normal young backup coming into a game.”
(You’ve had obviously a lot of success in your career against quarterbacks without a lot of experience. Some coordinators would blitz a ton. Obviously you’ve always been measured with that. We saw a blitz got a sack on third down last week, then you rushed four on the last drive. Is it ever self-control not to blitz or are you so used to being measured with blitzes that you’re not tempted to blitz an inexperienced guy more?) – “Again, it’s just the situation and the flow of the game and you call what you think needs to be called at any given moment that is best for your team versus the opponent. It’s not that we’re adverse to calling pressure. Sometimes the way the teams are playing dictates that it may not be as advantageous because of the way they’re playing, whether they’re keeping a lot of guys in to block or throwing it real quick. So you just have to get a feel for it.”
(Have there been any moments along the way that stood out to you of your defense, your guys, picking up your defense better? Or has it just kind of been a steady progression?) – “I just think it’s been steady improvement along the line, which you would expect and being able to game plan opponents and meet specifically on certain teams helps and I just think it’s the natural maturation as you go along.”
(Is there a stunning effect on quarterbacks when they see CB Jalen Ramsey and CB Xavien Howard out there? I mean in general. I know it hasn’t been that many games for you guys.) – “I don’t know. They’re two good players and the more good players you have, the better off you are. I feel fortunate that we have those two guys outside.”
(Was there a point early in the year where you thought the defenders should learn the system more quickly or you were frustrated at all about your defensive players were doing in that regard?) – “Maybe on a play-by-play basis. I wouldn’t say on an overall basis.”
(Have they absorbed it though? I know it’s a big playbook. Have they absorbed it as well as you’d like by the end here?) – “Yeah, we’ve done a good job here of late and I think they’re gaining confidence in it.”
(The quandary of DE Emmanuel Ogbah this year. Obviously he’s a guy who’s done a lot in this league, but obviously you’re deep at edge and outside linebacker. How tough a call is that then with you to not play a lot a guy who’s used to playing a lot?) – “It’s not easy or not enjoyable. He’s a hell of a guy. He’s been a very productive player in this league. It’s just hard sometimes to get four guys reps at the edge position when it’s mainly been (Bradley) Chubb, (Jaelan) Phillips and ‘Ginkel’ (Andrew Van Ginkel).”
(Would you ever go to QB Mike White or WR Braxton Berrios, former Jets, and kind of pick their brain or would you welcome them coming to you with tips?) – “Yeah, but it’s a new offensive system than when Mike (White) was there, so a little less validity to it.”
(You were with LB Bradley Chubb in Denver and it seems like he’s really come into his own and in being teed up with LB Jaelan Phillips on the other side. Has he just grown as a player defensively throughout his career or is it now that he’s less injured? It just seems like he’s really grown. Have you seen that growth in him?) – “Yeah, I think it’s everything you said. He really struggled the three years I was in Denver with him, except the second year he had a good stretch from about Game 5 through 14, and I think he actually made the Pro Bowl that year. But his first year obviously he was injured, I think in Game 4, and missed the rest of the year. And the third year, he had two different ankle injuries that really affected him the whole year. When you look it up, it says he played seven or eight games, but he wasn’t himself because of the injuries. I’m really happy for him on a personal level and it’s really nice to see and I think he’s going to continue to grow.”
