Q. Vic, Tristan McCollum, what have you seen behind the scenes that we might not know about him that helped him to get in position to make a play?
VIC FANGIO: Tristan is a guy that has good talent, good ability to play the position. He's young. Inexperienced. I believe as he gets more and more reps, he'll be better and better, which is not rocket science. The more you practice, the more you play, the better you get.
I like his movement. I think he can be a good safety.
Q. You mentioned that youth and inexperience, he's not the only one in the secondary. When you talk about the communication back there, what do you think the keys are getting those guys up to speed to be able to function?
VIC FANGIO: Well, the preparation you put in during the week. I think our secondary coaches, all three of them, do a good job of that. Bobby is part of that, too, the IOBs communication. I think they all to a good job of preparing the players during the week.
The more you get to play with one another, the better it gets. It's just repetitions, practice, meeting, repetitions.
Q. In terms of your group being physical, was Sunday probably the peak for that this year?
VIC FANGIO: I don't know. We try and play that way each and every week. Baltimore is really good on offense. We had to be physical to hang in there with them.
That's our goal every week.
Q. You mentioned last week Isaiah Rodgers was close with Kelee Ringo being the backup behind his play. What is it about his game that you like?
VIC FANGIO: I think he has good cover ability when he does it right. On occasion he can get sloppy with his technique. He pays for it. But I do think he has good talent and good cover ability. For a guy that's on the small side weight-wise, he tackles pretty good.
Q. Seems like Jalen has been getting held quite a bit. Anything you can do to help him get some calls?
VIC FANGIO: I don't know. You got any ideas (smiling)?
There was one play in particular where he was grossly held and pulled to the ground. There was no call, so...
Yes, and I don't know what we can do about it.
Q. Jordan Davis seems to be playing well against the run. He hasn't been playing much since earlier in the season. How do you balance what he can do to giving him more as a pass-rusher?
VIC FANGIO: We just try and rotate those guys at that position opposite Jalen. I think Clint does a good job for the most part of doing that.
Jordan is a better run defender than he is a pass-rusher at this moment in time. Do think he's getting better. But we just try and rotate those guys.
Q. What do you do to become a better pass-rusher?
VIC FANGIO: Just convert quicker, get into his rush quicker. Tends to get high sometimes.
Q. Who do you think has benefited most from the way Jalen has played the past how many weeks?
VIC FANGIO: Our team.
Q. How about player-wise?
VIC FANGIO: Milt has benefited some. We all have. I mean, he's caused some sacks for other people by applying the early pressure that makes the quarterback move and buys time for somebody else to get there.
Really our team and our defense has prospered because of his play.
Q. What's the process for in-game adjustments? Teams drive down early, then they're slow thereafter.
VIC FANGIO: A lot of it's we just play better. Are there some adjustments? Yeah. Not adjustments to where we change something schematically. Adjustments in what we call.
Q. The defense has really taken off since the bye. What's the biggest discovery or adjustment that was made during that time that translates to what we're seeing now?
VIC FANGIO: I don't think I can put a finger on one thing to answer that question. We've just played better.
Q. From what you've seen on tape, where has Bryce Young improved?
VIC FANGIO: Just in the full operation of their offense. I think they've done a good job of coaching him. They have a really good running back in Hubbard. They feature him. They're running play-action and boots off of that run game.
I think they've done a good job in their entire offense of finding out who they are within his quarterback abilities.
Q. Going back to Jalen, are there still moments when you watch him on tape that he does something that surprises you?
VIC FANGIO: He has very good balance. He can be losing early, get his body in a bad position, but he can recover.
Q. Cooper, what does it take to make a play like he did? How has he been doing?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, it was good technique. Good job of wrapping up. Good job of targeting where to hit him. It all came together for a really good play.
Q. How do you feel about a three-man rotation at the edge? Is that sustainable?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, that's sustainable. Played a whole year in San Francisco with three guys for 16 games. It's sustainable.
Q. When I asked you about Jalyx Hunt, if he was ready for those extra reps, you said we'll see. What did you see?
VIC FANGIO: Some good. Some not so good. Now he's at the point where he's got to improve and build on that. It's a process. The more you practice, the more you play, you get better, in spite of what Allen Iverson ever said (smiling).
Some guys, personnel guys around the league, they think this guy can do it, just throw him in. They expect the finished product. You never have the finished product with a young player until they get enough practice time and playing time.
So the key will be how does he improve.
Q. Reed came in, turned into a long game there. Is there a hesitation for rules? What would you teach in that moment?
VIC FANGIO: He needs to make that play one way or another. He needs to either pick it off or break it up.
Q. You just made a Philly reference. Any special satisfaction about having success here this year because you've always had a special affinity for this place?
VIC FANGIO: Yeah, I mean, I think you guys knew, I grew up a Philadelphia big-time sports fan. That was a big part of my motivation to come back here. We tried to do it a couple other times throughout the years, but it never timed out right.
Yeah, it brings back a little satisfaction.
Q. Is that why you favor Kelly green?
VIC FANGIO: Kelly green? No, it was hanging in my locker, so I put it on.
Q. Jalen Carter making the reference to a lot of people that have been around him, a Jerome Brown reference, is that fair?
VIC FANGIO: I don't ever like to compare people because at the end of the day somebody ends up feeling slighted.
He's a damn good player, and he's improving. Just like I said Jalyx has to improve, Jalen is still a young player that needs to improve. He's been very coachable, playing good football.
Q. In the open press conference, you had that line asking limited explosive plays, rushing the quarterback, all priorities. As you look at the stat sheet after the game, what's the biggest indication of how your team performed?
VIC FANGIO: It could look different every game. Clumps of statistics over a 17-game schedule cannot really tell you a whole lot other than the high goods and the bad lows.
You don't give up explosives, you hang in there. You have a good day on third down when you finally get them to third down, even though you're playing a little so-so. When you get them to third down, you get off. You have a good day in the red zone, even though they're moving it on you.
I just think every game has its own personality. I can look at a game sheet and give you that answer, but season-long stats kind of can be skewed.
Q. In this Ravens game, what was the number you're most proud of?
VIC FANGIO: We had a good day going on third down, which was key. We didn't even get them to third down, only once on the first two drives, I believe.
We didn't give up the huge explosive play till that last drive, which was disappointing, that long run by the quarterback. That was part of it.
We hung in there.
Q. You mentioned Jalen being coachable. How does that show up?
VIC FANGIO: In his technique and his play.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports