Vic Fangio

Q. After that loss to the Giants, in the last four games, you’ve held all four of your opponents to under four yards per carry on the ground. What’s been the difference in the last four games, and then how much has LB Nakobe Dean factored into that? (Jimmy Kempski)

Vic Fangio: I think as a unit we’re just playing it better. Obviously, Nakobe helps. Last two weeks, [OLB Jaelan] Phillips helps. I think [DT] Jalen Carter has really kicked up his game here lately, so it’s a combination of a bunch of things.

Q. How much of that has to do with his conditioning, from what you’ve seen with DT Jalen Carter? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: It has something to do with it. Plus, I think he was nursing his shoulder and then the thing that kept him out of the Giants game. I think it’s conditioning, improving and health improving.

Q. Head Coach Nick Sirianni talked yesterday about how former Colts Running Backs Coach Tom Rathman was the guy in protecting the football for him that really changed. How important are takeaways to you and is there anybody who really influenced you in that regard, teaching it and preaching it? (Bob Brookover)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, I worked with Tom, too. Coached against Tom.

Q. But as far as taking the ball away? (Bob Brookover)

Vic Fangio: I mean, you get it from everybody. Everywhere I’ve been the last 20 years, a coach would lead that charge defensively and [Inside Linebackers Coach] Bobby [King] does that here. It’s important. Any little tidbit you can get from anybody– tape study, a person, anything helps.

Q. What goes into those fourth down stops as far as your calls and the execution? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: First off, it was just overall good play by the guys. They executed the calls correctly with good energy, and [the] physicalness that you need to stop the couple runs that were run there. They can get tight in coverage. I think it’s just good execution, and our guys believe that they can stop a short-yardage play.

Q. A couple of the defensive linemen said that you had implemented a tip drill last week leading into that game. What were you seeing on film? What’d you pick up on? Why was that implemented? (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, I didn’t implement it. [Senior Defensive Assistant/Defensive Line] Clint [Hurtt] did. He just had some bat at balls, and we thought we could get some.

Q. Is that a more pronounced tidbit that works out in a game? How many of those do you typically carry into a week? Scouting points that end up becoming factors in a game like that. (Brooks Kubena)

Vic Fangio: Well, you always try and identify things you can do that may help you win that may not be so apparent to everybody, and that was one.

Q. With LB Nakobe Dean coming back from the injury, were there certain things you were looking for to know that he was back to being himself? (Dave Zangaro)

Vic Fangio: No, just overall. I mean, we know, I know what he looks like when he is right. I think we did the right thing. He could have played that Giants game, but I didn’t feel comfortable doing that. He’s progressed nicely both in practice and in the games, and you guys have seen it.

Q. Why are you keeping the rotation at inside linebacker? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: Just because. Keep [LB] Jihaad [Campbell] in there ready to roll because he’s the next guy up as an ILB. But he’s been getting time, too, at OLB, so it’ll probably stay similar.

Q. In back-to-back seasons, you’ve come out of the bye and haven’t allowed more than one touchdown in two games. Is there something to that time you have to regroup or is that a coincidence? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Coincidence.

Q. So, there was nothing that occurred during the bye this year– (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: We held no meetings with the players and no practices with the players.

Q. But I imagine you watched the team? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Oh yeah. I mean, we do our due diligence.

Q. But that’s not the reason? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: No, the players are the reason.

Q. One more on LB Nakobe Dean. Has he surprised you? I mean, he missed almost nine months. Has it surprised you how quickly he’s gotten back to himself? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: I know he worked really hard in his rehab. He was bugging those guys in the training room to come back earlier than they allowed him to. So, from that regard, no. Nakobe’s got good instincts, good football acumen. I don’t want to say it comes easy, but it comes natural to him, so that speeds it up, too.

Q. He had a couple of those pass reps where he carried Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs down the field and was stuck with Lions WR Jameson Williams. What goes into that? I mean, in terms of recognition and ability. (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, recognition is important, and hopefully that doesn’t happen too many more times.

Q. You called CB Adoree’ Jackson a survivor last week. What did you make of his play? (Brooks Kubena)

Vic Fangio: I thought he played good. He got beat early for a couple but hung in there. Made the big third downs stop in the second half. Another play that was critical was when we held them in the red zone, that tackle he made on either first or second down to keep it a short game was a big play. So, I thought he played well.

Q. In terms of OLB Nolan Smith getting back and the amount of snaps he’s playing, is it just to get him back in terms of conditioning or are you guys still kind of going soft with the triceps? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: You’d have to speak to [Vice President, Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer] Tom [Hunkele] about that. I don’t know.

Q. The snaps though? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: What about it?

Q. I mean, he’s not playing as much as he was before the injury. (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: Correct. They have put a snap limitation on him.

Q. So with LB Nakobe Dean, he wasn’t responsible in those and he just kind of picked them up? (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: No, no. That was his job.

Q. With S Andrew Mukuba, we talked about his uneven season earlier. Is he finding more consistency? (Dave Zangaro)

Vic Fangio: Yes. That’s a part of us playing better, too. Early in the year, he had some bad plays that led to big plays for the opponent, and we haven’t had that lately.

Q. As a coach with young player like that, do you just kind of have to live with that early in a rookie’s career? (Dave Zangaro)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, I think I told you guys a story, [former NFL Head Coach] Bud Grant always used to say, ‘For every rookie you play, add a loss to your loss column.’ I heard another guy say, ‘You’ve got to pay taxes on when you play rookies.’ But now it’s game eleven coming up, he’s not a rookie anymore.

Q. So it’s been a few months since you played the Cowboys. Obviously, going into that game, new coordinator, new scheme, although you’ve probably seen Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer before. But are they much different? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: I mean, they’re one of the best offenses in the league. They’re like [No. 2] in yards, [No. 2] in points, first in passing, yet 12th in rushing, which they’ve got balance. They’re really a good offense. With those dynamic receivers, the tight end, [Cowboys RB] Javonte [Williams] at running back. [Cowboys QB Dak] Prescott makes it go; he’s having a hell of a year.

Q. I was reading the comments you made about OLB Jaelan Phillips when he played for you in Miami and it seemed you really felt like he was coming on when that injury happened on the Black Friday game. Is there another level to his game now that you’re back with him that you kind of pick up at the point you left off? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: When he got hurt in ’23?

Q. Yes. (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, I think he’s close to being back to that spot. I really do.

Q. Beyond that? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, he’s a young player still. He can still get better.

Q. The decision to leave the defense out for, I guess the fake punt the other night, how do you guys handle that on the sideline? Is it a Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay decision? Is it Head Coach Nick Sirianni? Is it you? I guess, who makes the call in that situation? (EJ Smith)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, Michael makes the call. But it’s common. If we have any inkling that a fake could be coming, [we’ll let the] defense [stay].

Q. The package with CB Michael Carter on the field. What’s behind that for those fourth downs? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Nothing. We just wanted to play six DBs in those two situations.

Q. Is he deep enough now into the playbook that if you need to be in those situations more, you feel good with him out there? (Dave Zangaro)

Vic Fangio: I do.