Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell
December 11, 2014
Q: Devon Kennard was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week… What do you see from him and his development?
A: He is becoming smarter as a football player with the experience that he is getting. We knew he was a big, strong, powerful man. I think he is displaying that in his play, being a strong, powerful player. I think [Linebacker’s] Coach [Jim] Herrmann has done a great job of bringing him along and developing him and we are trying to take advantage of his talents and trying to use him in the right ways.
Q: How has Johnathan Hankins grown as a player this year?
A: I think Johnathan has been steady for us. Johnathan is deceiving when you watch him because you just think he is a big man that can’t rush the passer. I think he does have pass rush ability. I think he can push the pocket for us very well. Then in the run game, I think Johnathan does a good job with the center as well as the three-technique pressing the guards. Last year he was a spot player for us. Then when we started to use him and use him a lot more when we had an injury, we found out that he can play any position on that defensive line, which he showed us in college.
Q: The opportunity to see the younger guys out there… There was a time when [Jay] Bromley and [Kerry] Wynn were on the field at the same time… What are you guys looking for from them at this stage of the season with their development?
A: I think with Jay, he came to us as a guy that could push the pocket and we were trying to help him develop his run-game skills. I think he has developed some of his run game skills. We still like him as a guy who can push the pocket, especially in the pass rush. We are looking for him to develop more of his run game skills. Kerry Wynn had a solid preseason for us. He just had to continue to practice and what we are looking for from him is that experience factor. He is pretty disciplined in what he does in the run game as well as the pass game. He shows some power and strength in there. We are looking to see if he can continue to display that power and strength and how much stronger does he need to get over the offseason in order to be an every down player.
Q: When you talked about Kennard, you said he was a smarter player… Is he seeing the field better or understanding the offenses more or what?
A: I think when I say that, he is taking what he is learning in the classroom and applying it on the field. In the classroom, when you ask him a question, he is pretty sharp. A lot of times when they are out there on the field and it happens fast, as a ball coach, you can see them thinking, like, ‘okay, I know what I am supposed to do, but I really didn’t use my athleticism to do it.’ He is starting to use his athleticism and executing those moves that we have talked about in the classroom. That is why I say he has become a smarter player.
Q: Is that what you needed to see from him to start blitzing him more?
A: We have always wanted to do that with him. Some of the opportunities have not presented themselves, but we always wanted to do that with him. Again, he is a big, strong, powerful man. Over the last two weeks, he has played a lot more and we have just tried to take advantage of those opportunities. We saw that early on in the season, and he got the hamstring in the Detroit game. We weren’t able to develop that part of his game until he could get back, and get back into the flow, and then to develop his on-the-field presence and his classroom presence and put both of those things together in order for him to go out and play fast for us.
Q: What have you liked from Chykie Brown?
A: He is a young man that is very conscientious. He takes very good notes, and when I say takes good notes, he is a good film study guy. He doesn’t have all of our techniques down pat, but he has the long arms. We like that, for jams, he has really good speed, so we like the speed that he can possess when he runs down the field. He is a pretty tough guy as a corner. Most corners are not physically tough guys, I think he is a pretty tough guy. I think he is a really nice addition to come in and help play in our secondary. We just like the speed factor, and some of the intangibles of what I just mentioned in his play.
Q: Was it the speed factor the reason why you went with him over Zack Bowman?
A: Yes, definitely.
Q: How hard is it to get ready for what could be any of three quarterbacks?
A: It is pretty difficult. You have to have two game plans, so to speak, you have to divide your practice time in two different types of styles of quarterbacks. Even though they may run the same plays, they run them in a different manner within a different speed. That is a juggling act that we are continuing throughout the week.
Q: Do you see a different Stevie Brown right now than maybe a month ago?
A: From his play? Yes.
Q: What is different?
A: I think he had made a conscious effort to be more assignment-oriented and play the techniques that we are asking him to play. We have tried to do more with him than just standing in the middle of the field, and be a post player. We have asked him to get down in the box a little bit, we asked him to have various roles. I think he has accepted that instead of just being a middle of the field player. We think he is a very good middle of the field player, don’t get me wrong there, but we asked him to contribute and do more.
Say what you want but it doesn't look like anyone has quit. These guys are all still playing hard and spirited ball. I know people were angry about the over the top celebrating with DRC/Rolle, etc.. and even if it was a little excessive, I liked it. I like to see these guys still playing with some emotion.
Before the Cowboy game, second one, he said we will have to play good red zone defense. That comment summed up to me what I have believed to be a very conservative soft approach to defense.
Also the inability to incorporate younger more athletic guys into the line up has frustrated..
Last 2 games, albeit against poorer teams, there was a more aggressive approach and a more athletic team on the field.
Sometimes I think coaches value their system, and a player's knowledge of that system, more that they do the athletic value younger stronger faster players bring to the table.
Besides, it's not like the older guys were playing well. I read, Bromley didn't play earlier because they couldn't trust him to play the run.
Could he have been any worst against the run then the guys that were in there.
I'm just ready for a change of guard at Fewell's position. Not because I know what is best to do, but just because his defense has been difficult to watch the past 4 seasons.
"Sometimes I think coaches value their system, and a player's knowledge of that system, more that they do the athletic value younger stronger faster players bring to the table." is on the money.
Wish they asked him about Hosley
Does anyone believe him when he says Bowman was benched because Chykie Brown is faster? My nickname for Bowman is "Ole" because he doesn't tackle but just waves at opposing ballcarriers as they run buy. IMO Fewell alluded to this when he stated that Chykie is very tough physically and that there aren't that many DBs who are physically tough.
A: From his play? Yes.
Are we to give PF credit for speaking well? I'm sorry, but I don't read anything particularly insightful in his comments here. Seems like pretty standard coach speak to me. Fewell is supossed to make his living on Sundays by shutting down the likes of Chip Kelly. Anyone here ever read a Bill Belichick interview? Belichick is a media disaster but he's the best football coach I've ever seen. Show me a Pats fan that gives a rats ass what Belichick says to the media. Hoodie & company speak on the field.
Fewells defense give up big play after big play while Perry laughs from the sideline. This guy has reduced our defense to a league worst. And don't give me the "we don't have any talent argument" because there's at least enough talent for this defense to be ranked in the middle of the league.
Maybe Fewell can get a job with one of the networks or in an NFL PR department. I doubt he ever works again as an NFL defensive coordinator after this season.