Vic Fangio

Q. It’s a good problem to have, they say. LB Nakobe Dean and LB Jihaad Campbell. Jihaad was playing well and Nakobe’s back. How do you look at that position right now? (John McMullen)

Vic Fangio: Part of what happened last week, too, was we were down to three OLBs. We got Jihaad– he’s been playing OLB in base, but then we wanted to teach him the nickel [end] stuff, too, in case we needed him there. His week last week was choppy from a mental standpoint in learning a new position and learning new assignments that he hadn’t been exposed to before because of our lack of guys at that position. That played a part in him not playing as much, but overall, it’s a good problem.

Q. At corner, how did you feel CB Kelee Ringo played on Sunday and what’s the plan moving forward once you get everybody back? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, yeah, he did play better. Plan moving forward, we’ve got to see what [CB] JB [Jakorian Bennett] looks like here in practice, what [CB] Adoree’ [Jackson] looks like coming off his injury, and figure it out.

Q. Do you like what you have with everyone healthy? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, we find a way to get it done.

Q. Getting back to LB Jihaad Campbell, you said he was doing some nickel? (Martin Frank)

Vic Fangio: End. Nickel end.

Q. What made you decide to see if he can handle that? (Martin Frank)

Vic Fangio: We were down bodies.

Q. It’s a different story with Giants QB Jaxson Dart this time around, but what was the key? (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: Well, he still gave us a lot of problems. He did only scramble, I think, for positive yards twice. But, as you saw, he extended a lot of plays and caused problems that way. He’s tough, but I think we did a little better job rushing overall. Even though we did have five sacks, I think our rush could have been better.

Q. Your run numbers have been better the last two games. Is LB Nakobe Dean being in there a correlation? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: Maybe a little bit, but I wouldn’t go too far on that.

Q. What do you think has been the difference as far as run defense? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: Minnesota didn’t really try and run it a whole lot. We just played a little better. Run defense is an eleven-man operation including corners, and I think we just played a little bit better.

Q. Is your opinion or outlook of the edge rusher core right now different than it was two weeks ago the day former OLB Za’Darius Smith retired, with DE Brandon Graham coming back, with OLB Jalyx Hunt kind of emerging and OLB Nolan Smith on his way? (Jeff Neiburg)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, BG’s working his way back into football shape, playing shape. Hopefully, we will get Nolan back here soon. So, that’s two guys that we haven’t had since whenever Nolan went out. So yeah, it’s looking to be better, and we’re working [LB] Jihaad [Campbell] there some. Jalyx has played [well] all year, I think. Obviously, he’s had his plays he’d like to have back, but he is a young guy who’s progressing, so we’re in good shape there.

Q. Is the makeup of the room right now capable of doing what you want it to do? (Jeff Neiburg)

Vic Fangio: It has to be.

Q. Your interior linemen have eight sacks, and three different guys had a sack Sunday. What do you like about that group as far as getting to the quarterback? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: I think they’re overall doing a good job, and I think we can be even better. Maybe get some of those pressures, and ultimately sacks, which everybody likes. To me it’s just, are you affecting the quarterback or not quicker in the down? Kind of like [DT] Jalen [Carter] did on the Jalyx interception in Minnesota.

Q. I don’t know how much you’ve started preparing for Green Bay, but obviously, you faced them twice last year. What kind of problems do they pose offensively? (Jimmy Kempski)

Vic Fangio: They’re really good on offense. They’re really balanced. They run it well. They’ve got one of the best backs in the league. They have a good scheme that they’re committed to, and they do well. [Packers Head Coach Matt] LaFleur [calls it.] He has good command of his offense. The quarterback has good command of it now. It’s the only system he has ever been in, and you could see it. They do a lot of motion, a lot of movement, good tight ends, good receivers, good back. Obviously, they’re a tough matchup.

Q. Is there a benefit to having played the Rams already and having them running a similar offense? (Jimmy Kempski)

Vic Fangio: Maybe, but not as much as you’re trying to paint.

Q. You spoke last year about a misconception about you playing younger players. In OLB Jalyx Hunt’s case, you’ve got him on the field earlier than I think a lot of people expected. Now, he has this prominent role this year. Was there something off the field that you saw, whether it was in the draft process, when you first had exposure to him, to make you think he could handle this even though he didn’t have that type of background at the position? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: Yeah, we liked him in the draft, obviously. We took him in the third round I believe, but we did like him in the draft and did like his potential. In spite of his lack of background, what we saw in the draft process has proven to be true. He’s just going to get better and better the more he plays.

Q. How have you assessed S Reed Blankenship’s play so far this year? (John McMullen)

Vic Fangio: It’s been good. He’s been kind of a rock back there. He’s got a rookie safety next to him. His importance to the defense is more than just what you see from the playing part of it. He’s the signal caller back there and keeps everybody calm.

Q. The timing of the bye week relative to the trade deadline, is that advantageous for you in the fact that maybe you get to watch more tape of perspective trade prospects? (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: No.

Q. What is your role in that with Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman when it comes to- (Tim McManus)

Vic Fangio: Miniscule.

Q. One more on CB Kelee Ringo. I know you like Kelee, and you’ve spoken highly of him. The inconsistency, how do you get through that? He obviously has ability, he can run, he’s got size. How do you get that to be consistent? (Reuben Frank)

Vic Fangio: He just needs to play and practice. Become a more instinctual football player and understand what’s happening quicker, faster, and not be surprised by things.

Q. Has OLB Joshua Uche exceeded your expectations at all? (Bob Brookover)

Vic Fangio: I wouldn’t say that. I would say neutral.

Q. When you look at the defense overall, how would you assess the way you guys have played through the first eight games? Did you see it at the beginning of the year as a work in progress, something that would take time to kind of develop? (Martin Frank)

Vic Fangio: Kind of. Outside the first Giants game where we didn’t play well at all, I think we’ve given ourselves a chance to win in every game, and six of those eight we did. So, 75 percent, we were good. I think people, we all do, get hung up on league stats and stuff. But, you really just need to be the best defense on the field you’re on and not worry about what 30 other teams are doing.

Q. DB Cooper DeJean is obviously a pretty unique player in terms of where he plays and how you utilize him. What you saw in the evaluation process versus what you see now. Does he remind you of someone now that you’ve had him in terms of where he plays? (Jeff McLane)

Vic Fangio: No, we got very lucky that he lasted till the middle of the second round. I think the reason he did is because he only played corner in college, at least his last year. I don’t think everybody was sure [if he] was he a first-round corner, second-round corner, third-round corner. I don’t think the league as a whole had a feel for his versatility because he didn’t play it in college. He’s really a damn good nickel. Probably one of the best nickels in the league, and we’re playing him at corner in the base. He could play safety if we needed him to. He’s a defensive back, but really, he’s just a good football player.

Q. How did DE Brandon Graham look to you in practice his first week back? (Andrew DiCecco)

Vic Fangio: He did okay. He did okay. I thought he did better than I thought he would, just from the looks of it. I’m thinking here eventually he’ll be able to contribute to us.

Q. If I can follow up on DB Cooper DeJean, if he has the skillset to be one of the top two corners, what makes you want to keep him in the slot? Is it because he’s so exceptional in that role? Did you consider having him full-time on the outside? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: We considered it. But when you have one of the better players at a certain position, and it’s an important position where you get involved more, you hate to take a really good player at one position to maybe not be as good of a player or impactful of a player at another position. But it’s definitely something that we’ve talked about.

Q. Is the school of thought that it’s easier to find a slot than an outside or is that incorrect? (Zach Berman)

Vic Fangio: No. That might be correct, but we haven’t solved that here yet.