DENVER BRONCOS



centertopDENVER BRONCOS COMBINE QUOTES (2/27/19)ADDITIONAL QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH VIC FANGIOOn if RB Royce Freeman needs to take on a bigger role in the running game"I think it's always good to have a couple backs that can share the load back there. Over 16 games, there are a lot of carries to be had for everybody. We've got to have a good third-down back that's able to have the ball thrown to him. They've got a lot of blocking responsibility. There's more than enough work for a couple guys."On how his impressions of the team have changed after having the chance to watch last year's film"It hasn't changed a whole lot, really. I think the Broncos are a team that's been in transition from when they won the Super Bowl in '15, to the stage where they're at now. We just need to get it back, the tradition of playing much better."On his impressions of Ravens QB Joe Flacco from coaching against him"I'm going to take a delay on answering any of those questions. Worth a shot, I like it and I respect it. Good try."On if he can talk to QB Case Keenum about reports regarding the Broncos trading for Flacco"[President of Football Ops/GM] John [Elway] has talked to Case, as you guys know. I haven't, not since."On if he's allowed to talk to Keenum about the reports from a league perspective"I'm sure I could."On if he'd like to add a young quarterback to the team"We'd like to add good, young players at all of our position groups. That's the engine that drives the league, adding good, young players. I don't feel any different about any other position."On what he looks for when evaluating cornerbacks, and if his approach to that has changed over the years"No. First off, you can never have enough of them. The biggest difference in the NFL in the last several seasons, compared to before, is teams are playing three wide receivers or more a lot. this past year in Chicago, we were in the low 80-something percent of facing three wide receivers or more on the field. So, we've got to have three corners on the field. To me, that's a big, big difference and you never have enough of them. Corners come in all shapes and sizes. I think if you only want to draft or acquire certain types of players, there just aren't enough of them. You'd better just take any corner you can get that can play the game and cover, regardless of size, speed, etc. You can't pigeonhole yourself."On how his impressions of a good inside linebacker are shaped by former players he's coached like Sam Mills"Sam Mills, that's right, all the way back to Sam—who's getting close and closer to getting to the Hall of Fame. I think he deserves to. The inside linebacker position has changed because of what I just talked about. There're three wide receivers on the field more than there used to be. The game's played out in space much more than it used to be and the outside linebacker position has become a position with a lot more physical demands on it. You need to find guys that can run and play athletically in the open field, cover some backs and tight ends and cover ground. The ILB position has become a much more demanding position where the talent level has gone up."On if Sam Mills changed his perspective as to how big a football player needed to be"You can't go around looking for the next Sam Mills, because you won't find them very often, but one comes around, you can't be closed-minded and not take a look at him. Sam was a highly, highly talented player who just happened to be short. But he had over-achiever qualities and was very talented. Yes, never look down. Sam had five or six plays a year where his height was a detriment. Over 16 games, we can live with that."On if that mindset is different in regards to the quarterback position"I don't think so. I don't think it's different. I think it's been proven over time, going all the way back to Fran Tarkenton, who when I first went up against [Seahawks QB] Russell Wilson his rookie year, Fran Tarkenton was one of the first guys I thought of as I was watching the tape. I did not coach against Fran Tarkenton, by the way (laughs). I thought Russell Wilson from the first time I saw him was going to be a hell of a quarterback, and he is. [Saints QB] Drew Brees, you can go on and on and on. Joe Montana, he's not 5'9 but he was slim and 6'2 maybe. I think they come in all shapes and forms. If you pigeonhole yourself to certain stereotypes or certain qualifications, a lot of good players will pass you by."On balancing a team in transition with a fanbase that's always in win-now mode"We are too, but we just don't want to do anything to jeopardize the immediate future of the team also. You can be in a win-now mode without giving up future assets that are going to tie you up in two, three or four years from now."On what defensive scheme he'll run"We'll be 3-4."On if he envisions S Su'a Cravens having a role on the defense"He can still have a role on this team, and I'm looking forward to seeing him on the practice when we get started and seeing where he's at."On the importance of WR Emmanuel Sanders being able to help the young wide receivers"It's everything. No. 1, he can still play good football. No. 1, you've got to be able to play your position well. The leadership, the example and the experience, those are all icing on the cake as long as you're playing well. We're looking for him to come back to the way he was playing and picking up right from there. If he can do that, then he brings other things to the table."On if he's expecting Sanders to be ready for the season opener"I am."On if he takes not wanting to face certain offensive players into consideration when drafting for his team"You definitely look at things through that lens, no matter what position they're playing. That's kind of the way I look at it, would this guy make me nervous having to go against him or not."On if changing teams can help struggling young players take a step forward"Sure. To me, sometimes it's just that guys need a fresh start. They may mature and be more mature than they were at the first stop. Maybe the systems fit them better than where they were previously. As a coach, you learn what a guy does well and try and highlight that."On where the team stands at the tight end position and if they could add players there"We could. I don't think there's a position on our team where we don't need that."On how he's evaluated the inside linebacker room"We need to add to that group, but I like some of the players we do have available there in Todd Davis, Josey Jewell and other players that have played in backup roles. But I'd like to see us add a player or two there to be competitive."On if adding players that he's coached before via free agency would help him carry over his culture"I can't comment on those guys, as you know, that would get me in trouble. I think anytime you can have players that you've coached in the past, I think that can be overrated. After OTAs when we're done in June, I'm now going to have a bunch of players that I've coached for a couple months in Denver. You quickly build those working relationships. They understand what you're looking for and we better understand who they are. But obviously if you have some history with a guy, it can help."On what jumped out about Jewell when watching film"Very instinctive player. You can tell he loves football. It's very important to him and he's a tough guy. I think those are the highlights."On if he'd be open to playing in the Hall of Fame Game and how that'd change the offseason schedule"It wouldn't matter if I was open or not, I'm not part of that decision (laughs). But I do think it's probably a safe bet that we will be in it. I think every time an owner has gone in, that team has played in it. We'd be honored to do that, and to be honest with you, I look forward to it. It gives us an extra week of camp and it gives us more chance to prepare for the season and we'll use it to our advantage."On CB Brendan Langley telling people he may be switching to the offensive side of the ball"That's news to me."On how much Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and the success of the Chiefs shapes the way the Broncos build for the future"We're going to have to figure out a way to slow them down, obviously. That's going to be a hard task because of the multi-talented guy that he is. You always have got to try to be able to win your division, that's the quickest and best way to get into the playoffs, get you in and get you a home game, at least one. We've got our work to catch up to those guys. They're doing a great job on offense. They've got great talent and [Head Coach] Andy [Reid] does a great job with them."On how much of a difference Offensive Line Coach Mike Munchak can make for T Garett Bolles"Mike can make a big difference for him. Again, with the o-line, the biggest thing is getting all five guys working together as one, and having the trust and confidence in the guy next to you that you guys are working together as one seamlessly. Mike has a way of getting that done, and I'm very confident that Mike will help Garett a lot."On if today's offenses has made the need for inside pass rush even more valuable"Absolutely. You need to have a good, even rush. You can't have two guys applying pressure here and two guys stuck here. You want, 'Boom, Boom,' right there, four guys at the quarterback he can feel caving in on him. That's critical at the pass rush and that's an area we need to improve in." ................
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