DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO
OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, here we go – another challenge. I keep waiting for a game when I put the film on and it’s not a top offense we’re playing or – these guys are good. I’m really impressed with the three (running) backs. The quarterback’s playing really good. I know – listen, I know all about the injuries at wideout, but I think all of a sudden what happened is they have a lot more speed out there with some of these young guys so this will be a challenge – with that, I’ll open it up.”
Q: How do you feel about the cornerback position right now?
SPAGNUOLO: “Well, we had – so Josh (Williams) and Nazeeh (Johnson) both went in there. We’re finding out where we are with Nazeeh as the week goes on. I thought there were some really good downs. I though Nazeeh tackled well a couple times and then Josh had to go in there – we had the one penalty so we’d like to get rid of that, but I think both those guys could probably play better and I think they’d tell you that.”
Q: What role do you see Joshua Uche playing in this defense on Monday night and going forward?
SPAGNUOLO: “I’m not sure what will happen this Monday – I mean, it’s quick, but (Defensive Line Coach) Joe’s (Cullen) doing – Joe and (Assistant Defensive Line Coach) Terry (Bradden) are doing the best they can to get him (Joshua Uche) up to date on the things we’re doing. We just went through a walk through there and he got involved in it so that’s good. We’ll see where we’re at. Hopefully, we get some edge rush out of him. I know he’s a good football player – a lot of good things about him – all the research we did. Mike Danna played with him. I remember talking to Mike about him as a teammate and everything came back positive so (we’ll) keep our fingers crossed and be hopeful.”
Q: How much do you feel like your defensive edges have factored into your successful run defense?
SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, guys on the edge like the d-(defensive) ends we’re talking about, Leo (Chenal) – You know, our linebackers have done a really good job at triggering real quick in the run game. It begins up front with our guys, but when your linebackers can trigger like that, you can get a double-team off a d-lineman quicker and then they become more effective. I think our secondary – (Defensive Backs Coach) Dave (Merritt) and (Safeties Coach) Donald (D’Alesio) do a great job with those guys. I think we have a secondary that’s willing to tackle in the run game and get involved and we’re preaching it all the time and they’ve bought in. I was just talking to the production team there before I came in and they asked about that same thing with how our DB’s play and I think some of that was established – I go back to (Saints S) Tyrann Mathieu when he first got here – (Titans CB) LJ (L’Jarius Sneed), and the way LJ played physically, and I think all the guys that come in and you see that – sometimes players in this league don’t listen to coaches as much as they would just observe what the guys in front of them are doing. I think having guys like that here prior has helped us become that way on the back end.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGY
Q: How has DeAndre Hopkins impressed you in this short amount of time?
NAGY: “Probably the biggest thing for me – I’m impressed with just his (DeAndre Hopkins) ability to pick up the offense. He’s done a great job. (He) came in last week and wanted to do as much as he possibly could. We knew we had to keep a little bit of an eye on how much we can give him on somewhat of a short week, but he’s been great. (I) love his attitude, (he’s) super smart, really football (smart). (He) understands – you know, obviously, the football part on the field within the plays is easy for him because he's played so much (but) just taking what we do and implementing it into that is where I think he’s excelled.”
Q: What challenges do you feel like you have with Buccaneers NT Vita Vea in the run game?
NAGY: “Well, he’s (Buccaneers NT Vita Vea) a heck of a football player, man. (He) just can play the a-gap and b-gap at the same time, (he’s) physically strong. (In the) pass game when he’s there and he gets his hands on you, it’s going to be tough to get away. You just have a lot of – he put puts stress on you as an offensive line – we have a lot of faith in our guys but he’s a hell of a player.”
Q: What stood out to you about your execution on third downs against the Raiders?