Q. What do you think clicked this week versus last week? Why such an improvement?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, I thought our players played really well from start to finish. You know, that offense in those first few games was pretty prolific, both running and throwing.
I thought our guys had a good mindset to go in there and play good. Knew that they had a good defense, too, and you know, if we were going to win it probably would be a low-scoring game. All the credit to our guys.
Q. Is playing on the end sustainable?
VIC FANGIO: Milton?
Q. Milton Williams?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah.
Q. What went into that thinking, that movement?
VIC FANGIO: To get another bigger body, present a different front.
Q. How much were you kind of leveraging performance from Jaylen Carter, Jordan Davis, I don't know if you call it an up front -- or where did that inspiration come are from?
VIC FANGIO: The front? We've played that in the past. Not per se this year up to this point but there are places. It's a front that we'll mix in some when we feel we need it.
Q. I don't know how 36-year-olds are supposed to play but what have you seen from him, but that snap count, being that high for his age, is that sustainable?
VIC FANGIO: I think so. It's not just the snap count. When you're in the 30s and if they are spread out, you know, a couple at a time rather than not 12 in a row, so I think the snap count is one thing but how are they coming is more important. And he's playing good. I don't see him being tired. So I mean just that he's playing at that age is good. It's rare. So I don't know why we can't expect more.
Q. Has anything about the way he's played surprised you considering? I mean, we kind of felt he was going on a little retirement tour, waving good-bye.
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, I mean, personally, I didn't have expectations one way or the other. But as training camp wore on, I started telling him that you're not on the tour and you're going to play. And he's played good.
Q. What's the plan going forward with Bryce?
VIC FANGIO: It's the same as it has been. He'll be mixed in there along with the rest of the guys. I've got four, five guys dressed and we'll mix in four of them and pretty much be the same I think.
Q. When Slate went out, Steele went in. Is that just because he's more familiar with that side of the field versus Isaiah?
VIC FANGIO: No, just Kelee was up and ready to go for the game because if we had played any six DBs, he would have been in there. We just thought the guys on the side, he was more into it and ready to go, in a spur of the moment thing, than if this had happened earlier in the game, there's still a lot of football to play, probably would have seen Isaiah out there.
Q. The safeties flip-flopped in these past two games, Reid playing the boundary side and C.J. playing the field side, it was different in Week 1, what went into that?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, we've kind of played boundary and field at times with other plays. We've played right and left. You know, you kind of adjust to what you think your guys do best and with what you're doing on defense. There's a lot of things that go into it and there's no perfect formula but that's what we've settled into for these last two games. Doesn't mean that's what it will be going forward.
Q. How would you describe what C.J. brings to this team?
VIC FANGIO: You know, C.J., he's got his rare personality, as we know. I think he's got to be careful that he doesn't let it go to where he gets a penalty but he brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to his play.
Q. Have you had any talks to him about being careful, don't go over? Because there are times he's really close.
VIC FANGIO: Yeah. Yeah, we have.
Q. Against the run, particularly, seemed like containing the edge was a priority for you guys. I don't know if on the third play, he was supposed to be pushing so far in, and the bounce outside, learning that, what's gone into that for him and is that part of the reason why he wasn't in positions like that the rest of the game?
VIC FANGIO: He needed to hold the force on that play, you know, to answer your question.
Q. Getting to Baker Mayfield seven times --
VIC FANGIO: You know, they rush good. They got out to a lead, pretty substantial lead in the first half. They kind of got them into a little bit more of a throwing mode and things kind of snowballed.
Q. First two weeks, tackling was an issue and I believe you guys missed three tackles the other day. What, if anything, did you clean up during the week in order to have a performance like that?
VIC FANGIO: Better front play. You know, backs weren't returning through holes and getting into the secondary where it becomes harder to tackle.
Q. What changed with Jalen, the performance in the first two weeks versus what he did against the Saints?
VIC FANGIO: Obviously this past game was his best game, by far, and hopefully that will set the trend moving forward. I don't know what actually triggered it other than he and we as a D-Line unit didn't play good in the previous game. So I'm sure that had something to do with it.
Q. With a player like that who is so talented, what's the key to making sure he's consistent with it?
VIC FANGIO: Keeping him on point on a day-in, day-out basis, not just game day, but practice, also. The way you practice is usually the way you'll play.
Q. What goes into Reid's -- I think he's got six interceptions in 24 starts in his career. What goes into that ability to be a ball hawk?
VIC FANGIO: He's got good hands. Both of his picks this year are carbon copies, very tough catches that a lot of guys couldn't make.
So his ability to catch the ball is one thing.
Two, he does have a good feel for the game, and when he has a chance to be in position to make a play, he usually can.
But the ability to catch the ball No. 1.
Q. May be early to talk about tendencies through three games, but the Falcons and Saints used 11 personnel more than they had previously. When you go in, do you react to that? Seemed like you were using base more against the Saints or do you dictate it more on your end?
VIC FANGIO: Well, the Saints were playing 11. So we were able to play more base. I'm sure we'll see a good bit of 11 this week. That is their primary group through three games.
Q. Does that change anything for you in terms of how you want to use that four-man front?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, we've got to be able to use it. You can't recreate the wheel every week. But we're going to have to mix it for them. It comes down to fundamentals. We're going to have to play better than we played two weeks ago against a very similar run game.
Q. You spoke about Jaylen Carter, but what do you appreciate --
VIC FANGIO: I think he just played with better technique and better fundamentals which came through with better focus and then that led to good effort and you saw, got some balls, pressured the quarterback. When you do the little things right, a bunch of times, you know, things start to add up and you get the plays that everybody wants to see, and I just think he was playing with a better mindset and better fundamentals.
Q. When it comes to Zack Baun, he had a really good first game, a little bit of a dip, comes back. How important is that to adjust and how do you get consistency of a guy who is still learning that position?
VIC FANGIO: Well, I think in his case, he will. I mean, he's a quick learner. He doesn't usually make the same mistake twice. He's got good football instinct and IQ which is critical for any defensive position but especially IOB. We'll continue to be able to use his versatility.
But I really thought he played a really good game this past Sunday and I'm sure going against his old team had him referred up a little bit more.
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