Q. When you have some competitions at certain positions, how do you go about structuring those competitions and how much is pre-planned?
VIC FANGIO: Well, you got to give them all fairly equal opportunities, and you don't want guys that right now might be listed at second or third team not get reps with the first team against our good offense.
So you're constantly manipulating their practice reps from a numbers standpoint and also who they're going against.
Basically that's it.
Q. In the spring you had mentioned you like to throw a lot at players early and then scale back from there.
VIC FANGIO: Yep.
Q. I assume that continues in the training camp. Do you have a feel for when you start scaling it back or is that a feel thing?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, it's a feel. We're not there yet obviously one day in, but basically we told the players that whatever was installed in the spring is already in, but we're having a focus each and every day so they kind of know what is going to be called on that day.
But what was put in the spring is -- back in the day, when you had 40 some practices in training camp you could go very slowly and install very slowly. You can't do that anymore. You got to go. I think I answered your question.
Q. (Regarding Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter) Are they ready for maybe an increased workload?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, I don't have a reference to compare it to not being here before, but I do think based on yesterday's practice, which yesterday was the first time the 2024 Eagles had any team reps, so really the first time they have done anything outside of individual drills, I think they looked good.
I thought Jordan showed some good movement ability. Was able to bend his body that I don't think I've seen him do before. So it was -- it's encouraging right now.
Q. (Indiscernible.) You guys have him starting here. Why do you think he'll be able to be a guy that can play on base downs?
VIC FANGIO: Well, I think everybody thought he could, and knowing that the floor was just rush downs, but he's taken the challenge on very well, and I do think he has the talent to do what we want him to do.
It's just he's got get familiar with doing it. So it will be a work in progress. Does he look like he can do it today? No. I do think eventually he will.
Q. (Regarding Nakobe Dean.) How has he come back into camp? What are your impressions early?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, he didn't do much in the spring. I think he was only able to the last one or two days. But he had a good day yesterday. Was pleased with what he did show yesterday.
Q. What constitutes a good day?
VIC FANGIO: He just looked good. You know, movement and reactions. Same thing when you're evaluating players, draft or free agency. He looked good. Looked like an NFL player.
Q. You said Bryce isn't ready to be that guy yet. What does he need to do to become that guy?
VIC FANGIO: Constantly show improvement. It's more of a feel. He has the talent to do it, but he's never been asked to do it I don't think in college and nor with the Jets.
So it's new and he has it become more proficient at it.
Q. ...got a couple of reps if the slot. How have you seen him adjust to that position?
VIC FANGIO: Good. He's a talented guy. He's smart. Has good football feel. All of that really is more than I thought he had just from watching the college tape, so that's been a plus.
And I think he's a guy we can move around anywhere in the coverage part.
Q. How could you tell that he was maybe able to move inside?
VIC FANGIO: We just tried it. We just put him in there and tried it and looked fine.
Q. Corner back, what are you looking for? What's going to separate guys?
VIC FANGIO: Just play. You know, usually when you have battles going on and it's time to make a decision, the players make the decision for you, and everybody sees it.
It's rare that it's so tight that everybody is waiting for who the coaches pick. It becomes obvious. Hopefully it become obvious here -- for somebody's really good play and not somebody's bad play.
So it will define itself out.
Q. Along those lines, as you're seeing what the defense can do, what's unique about this secondary?
VIC FANGIO: Well, they're new. That's unique in that we have a lot of new guys there. That weren't here last year.
And you got a new system. And you got a new coaching staff on defense.
So there is just a lot of newness, and they got to learn to play together, know the nuances of what we're doing schematically, and how to play to the guy next to them.
So just a lot of newness.
Q. What's your philosophy on players rotating early in the season? (Indiscernible) ...who gives us the best chance of winning that day, do you try to get involved...
VIC FANGIO: I'm all for playing the best guys. I think if you looked at my history when we've had rookies, we've played them. Provided they're good enough. We ain't playing somebody just because they're young.
If we were an expansion team like I was in two places, we might just throw them out there to see what we got. We got more serious business here. If they're worthy of playing they will play.
Q. On the other side of the off-season, Howie Roseman said he wanted to bring some swagger back to the defense in the acquisitions that he brought in. Obviously you weren't here last year. When you look at your personnel, who are the guys that bring swagger?
VIC FANGIO: I don't know. I don't know what swagger is to a degree. We just need guys that can play good football, winning football, and when you do that, you have swagger.
Q. Other the other side of that, when you have a veteran player like James Bradberry making the shift from long time corner to safety, you've seen guys over years do that. Is there something about him that...
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, you say you seen that a lot over the years. The truth is, no you haven't. The list of guys successfully transitioning from corner to safety is very small. With success.
There is guys that have done it, but really wasn't what you want. We'll see if he can do that. James has a good feel for football. Very knowledgeable. So that will help him in that transition.
He's still going to play some corner for us, too.
Q. You've been around a lot of quarterbacks and head coaches in your career.
VIC FANGIO: A lot of quarterbacks...
Q. And head coaches in your career. Being around Jalen and Nick as long as you have, what have you learned about them as leaders?
VIC FANGIO: You know, it's really too early to tell. What I do know is from a player standpoint, you can't be a leader unless you're playing up to your abilities.
If you're playing up to your abilities, then you can be a leader. If you're working hard enough and guys see it. If a guy that's not playing up to his abilities, kind of lazy, nobody is going to listen to him.
You know, so as far as Nick goes, he's a proven winning coach in the league, and I think he does a great job with the team.
Q. In terms of Bradberry, how has he handled it behind the scenes going from long time starter, second team to the role he's in right now?
VIC FANGIO: He's been great. You know, he's eager to learn. He's embraced the possibilities of it. He's been great.
Q. Has Nick been much of a presence in the defensive meeting rooms, if so what's been the benefit?
VIC FANGIO: I missed the first part.
Q. Has Nick been much of a presence in the defensive meeting rooms, and if so, what has been the benefit it?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, he comes into our staff meetings some and we review practice with him. He was in some of our team defensive meetings in OTAs. You know, we've only been here one day; he hadn't been there yet.
But it's been great.
Q. Jalen Hurts talked about how he was talking to Jonathan Gannon when he was the defensive coordinator here, how to help him better prepare. Have you built a relationship with Jalen?
VIC FANGIO: A little bit. Not along those lines yet, but we have developed a relationship to where I think he would feel very comfortable in doing that.
Q. Is there a position or position group where you think you have the most, stiffest competition?
VIC FANGIO: You know, corner obviously, and inside linebacker obviously. Those are the main ones. Even up front at the edge players we may be able to roll guys some.
Q. If I could ask you about Lane being in the crossroads of his career, do you say that to him after what he went through last year?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, you know, to a degree, yeah. He's a guy that had a really good career going. It wasn't that way last year for whatever reason. So, yeah, he's somewhat at crossroads, yeah.
Q. If I could ask a question about the competition at inside linebacker. What are you seeing in Nakobe...
VIC FANGIO: Can we do something about the noise here or what?
Q. The competition at inside linebacker, what do you see from that competition so far?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, well, again, yesterday was our first day where we did any 11 on 11 work, which is really the true teller when you're evaluating defensive players.
Because the most fundamental thing you have to do on defense is figure out if it's a run or a pass. You know, everything was a pass in the spring, so yesterday was one day of that.
But I like Zach. He's a guy that's played very little inside linebacker in his career. We think he can do it. Obviously Devin has had a career where he has done it; Nakobe, you know, has shown that he can do it in college. Really hadn't had the opportunity to do it here because his first year was behind two good players and last year he was injured.
Same thing with Trotter, Ben, they're all in the mix really.
Q. How have you embraced analytics?
VIC FANGIO: I love analytics.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
VIC FANGIO: No, it hasn't changed at all. I love analytics. Give me anything you want and I'll sort through it and use it as I see fit.
But I've been doing analytics myself my own way for years and I don't share my process with anybody. Even fellow coaches.
I believe in analytics. I think analytics people missed the boat a little bit on what's important, but I'm not going to tell them what's important. I do it myself.
Q. When you say you do the analytics yourself...
VIC FANGIO: Along with what they give me.
Q. So they give you the information then you process it the way you want to process it yourself?
VIC FANGIO: No. I have a way of -- I have a system outside of that I use, and I'll use whatever they give me and decide what's relevant and what isn't relevant.
Q. None of your proteges have ever never known your system?
VIC FANGIO: No.
Q. Josh sweat, what indicators are you looking for that would show that he's the player that he was two years ago?
VIC FANGIO: Just what your eyes are showing you. You know, movement, movement number one, probably movement number one, two, and three.
And how he's picking up what we're doing and how long can he go. You know, his conditioning.
But I will be easy to tell because you know what the guy was doing and can he still do it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports