Vic Fangio

Q. Team tackling numbers have been good in the last three weeks coming out of the bye. What do you attribute that to? (Eliot Shorr-Parks)

VIC FANGIO: Just better play overall by the whole defense. In some of those earlier games, we had running backs getting through the second and third level too easily and those are hard tackles.

I think we played better overall.

Q. I know you guys have changed up the practice elements of tackling. Has that helped at all? (Dave Zangaro)

VIC FANGIO: I think any time you emphasize something in practice it’s going to get better.

Q. On that fourth down play where DB Cooper DeJean got scraped over the top, it looked like they were trying to out-leverage him. How rare is it for a rookie to be able to diagnose that type of thing? (John McMullen)

VIC FANGIO: He did a good job keeping his eyes on it. He’s had that play in practice in the last few weeks with guys trying to mess with you with the motion and get your eyes off him.

He did a good job keeping his eyes on him the entire time. That’s really what allowed him to make the play.

Q. Two takeaways; I know you’ve been close in a couple of previous games. How much of a difference does that make? Can that snowball, do you think? (Martin Frank)

VIC FANGIO: Makes a huge difference. I mean, those last three drives– not counting the last, last one– but the fourth down stop is like a takeaway. The interception and then the quick fumble. Three series got stopped right away.

It has a huge effect on everything. Both defense’s confidence to make a play like that and field position for the offense. I believe it was just a seven-point game on the fourth down stop, and all of a sudden we have the ball already in field goal range.

So, huge plays.

Q. As a coach, what part of the interception did you most appreciate? (Zach Berman)

VIC FANGIO: It was a great play by [CB] Isaiah [Rodgers] against a really good receiver and a really good quarterback. He got his hand on the ball. He didn’t panic. A lot of times guys panic when the ball is up in the air like that on a deep ball. He didn’t panic. Got his hand on it. Luckily Chauncey [S C.J. Gardner-Johnson] was there to get the lollipop.

Q. Is that something you drill, that type of play? (Zach Berman)

VIC FANGIO: Yeah, that’s something that corners have to be able to master, playing those deep balls.

Q. LB Zack Baun and LB Nakobe Dean — you mentioned how little experience they both have at that position. What have you seen from their growth from the start of the camp or OTAs to now individually and as a unit? (Reuben Frank)

VIC FANGIO: I think they’re both getting better and better each and every week. In Zack’s case, he’s never played inside linebacker, so this whole season is new to him. Nakobe played it in college, but didn’t play much his first two years [in the league].

As far as being an ILB, Nakobe actually has more experience. But, they’ve both done a good job growing in the position. I think [Inside Linebackers Coach] Bobby [King] has done a really good job coaching them. They’re getting better and better.

Q. Were you worried at all about the team’s defensive depth at the start of the season? Have some of those concerns been allayed through what you’ve seen? (Bob Brookover)

VIC FANGIO: Every team has its depth issues. It’s hard to have quality, quality backups everywhere. You hope you have them at some places. But, when we have had to call on guys, they’ve come in and done a nice job.

Q. When it comes to in-game adjustments, how much of that narrative is true and how much is it really more just a product of you switching to whatever defenses you have at your disposal based on what you’re seeing offensively? (Jeff McLane)

VIC FANGIO: When you say in-game adjustments, I think they don’t have to be drastic stuff to where you draw something up on the sideline and put something totally new in. It’s just shifting gears as to how you’re playing a certain team, whether it be because you’re having trouble or whether it’s just to give them different looks.

So, the adjustments are ongoing. Some of them are through the normal flow of the game; some of them are because you’re having trouble; some of them are because you don’t want to get too tendencied in what you’re doing yourself.

Q. What have you seen lately from CB Kelee Ringo and CB Eli Ricks? (Brooks Kubena)

VIC FANGIO: Kelee came in one of the games recently and did well in his few plays. He’s been practicing well, so I feel very confident about him.

Eli hasn’t had any action I don’t believe in the regular season so far. In training camp, he had a nice camp. If he has to suit up and be ready to go, he’ll be ready to go.

Q. When it comes to the younger players in general and their growing and getting better, how much of that is them being more comfortable with the scheme versus you figuring out what they do best? (John McMullen)

VIC FANGIO: Yeah, probably more of the first part than the second. But that is part of it, too. So, I would say 75/25.

Q. With the trade deadline coming up, is there any position you’re advocating for or want to see a move at? (Tim McManus)

VIC FANGIO: No.

Q. So, you feel good about the kind of state of the roster defensively then? (Tim McManus)

VIC FANGIO: Yeah. I mean, it’s hard to improve your team drastically this time of year. I think if you look at some of those trades over the years, they really haven’t had the effect that some teams were hoping for.

Unless it’s a trade where you’re getting a guy that you’re going to have for a few years, where it’s more of a bigger trade than swapping guys, trading a 6 for a 7, those type of things.

Q. Opponents have been in a lot of empty sets this year. What’s the key in combatting this? (Zach Berman)

VIC FANGIO: Yeah, it’s hard. They spread you out. It makes the game more one-on-one-ish. The ball usually comes out quicker. It tests your ability. It really does.

Q. It seems like you’ve kind of settled into a nice rotation at edge rusher. What kind of impresses you about like that group as a whole? Do you see OLB Jalyx Hunt mixing his way in there as the season goes on? (Martin Frank)

VIC FANGIO: Yeah, it’s possible that he could mix his way in there. I think the group plays well overall. They take pride in their performance both as individuals and as the unit.

I think [Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers Coach Jeremiah] Wash [Washburn] does a good job with them, and especially rotating them during the game. I think overall the unit is playing well.

Q. When it comes to the guy with the green dot that you’re calling plays into, is it as simple as him relaying what you said? Is there a skillset that’s involved with that? Does LB Nakobe Dean have anything this sets him apart from other guys that you’ve had that relationship with? (Jeff McLane)

VIC FANGIO: Yeah, some guys are more comfortable with it. There have been some players in the league that don’t want it. They just want somebody else to handle it and get the call. They don’t want the added burden of it.

Nakobe likes doing it. When we do go to six DBs and Baun stays in the game, he does it. Now, when he does it, it has to be more through signals because you can’t have two of them. But if we know Nakobe is not going to — like at the two-minute drive at the half the other day, which only turned out to be two plays, we put it in Zack’s helmet because we went to dime.

Q. When signs are being sent in, who does it from the sideline? (Jeff McLane)

VIC FANGIO: Bobby [King].

Q. How important do you think Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Christian Parker is to the level you’re getting from the two rookies? (Bo Wulf)

VIC FANGIO: Very important. He does a good job with them. Does a good job in the meetings. Spends individual time with them in his office, which helps a lot of the guys. He’s doing an excellent job with them for sure.

Q. You mentioned the trade deadline with players maybe not matching up to what teams want or need out of them. Sounds like you studied that a little bit. Why don’t you think that performance comes that quickly? (Brooks Kubena)

VIC FANGIO: Each and every case is different obviously. Sometimes the guys come in with no prior relationship with the coaches and everything is totally new. I think if the guy had been with you somewhere along the line and has system knowledge and comfortability, that helps.

Every scenario is a little different. Every position is a little different, too.

Q. You made the point that you’re a young defense since the beginning. Any of those young guys surprised you beyond what you expected? (Bob Brookover)

VIC FANGIO: Not really. Q [CB Quinyon Mitchell] has done well since we got him here. We thought he was going to be a good player when we drafted him, and he’s been that since we got him.

Really didn’t know much about Cooper because he missed all of training camp. I didn’t know what it would look like when he got out there. He’s done well the last couple weeks.

Jalyx hadn’t got much playing time. [OLB] Nolan [Smith] has done well and keeps improving. Who else are we talking about there?

Q. LB Nakobe Dean is kind of still… (Bob Brookover)

VIC FANGIO: Just more playing time and these guys will naturally improve.

Q. You mentioned the positions are different when you’re bringing guys in. What positions do you think defensively are a little easier and which ones are harder for guys to come in and be able to contribute right way? (Jimmy Kempski)

VIC FANGIO: ILB is probably a little harder. Safety is a little harder. You know, maybe corner is a little easier, depending on how you’re playing. Maybe D-line is a little easier. Again, depending on how you’re playing.

Q. In the first press conference back in camp, you said you had no problem playing rookies if they were capable of playing. What indicators did you look for early on that shows they’re worthy? (Zach Berman)

VIC FANGIO: Just their play, how they’re performing in practice, and hopefully taking it to the preseason games and showing it.

Just their play overall.

Q. You saw Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence very early into his career, and he struggled in that game. What do you see now three years later that makes him different? (Jeff McLane)

VIC FANGIO: He’s highly talented. He’s got a big arm. Really good scrambler. He’s fast when he pulls it down and runs. He can make every throw. I think he does a good job running their offense. You could feel that.

It’s his third year there now with that coaching staff. So, there is familiarity. They do some audibling. He has a going to command of that. I think he’s a really good player from a talent standpoint and quarterback intangibles.