Vitt and Spagnuolo Discuss Hicks
 

Vitt Opening Statement:

Vitt: “We’re really excited about our pick, Akiem Hicks. It’s a guy that we really studied. As late as Friday, I would say we spent an hour and a half to two hours on this player. We felt that it was a guy that would be there for us. Height, weight and speed, he’s the kind of guy we’re looking at for our defensive system. We love his tenacity. We know he’s raw. He has to be coached, but that’s the fun part. He fits the character of our football team. He has good work habits. We love his resiliency. I think everybody kind of knows about his story. He was a junior college transfer that couldn’t qualify at LSU. He stayed out of school for a year, worked at DIRECTV and then went to Canada, played and then qualified for the NFL Draft. We’re excited about having this kid. It’s a big body player. Coach Spagnuolo and I are happy Sean (Payton) isn’t here because we’d probably have an offensive player. We ganged up on everybody and got a defensive player so we’re excited.”

Q to Vitt: How long before you expect him to have an impact on your defense?

Vitt: “I don’t have a crystal ball. He passes the eyeball test. He passes the commitment test. He passes the resiliency test. He wants to be a good football player, so we’re going to integrate him in (our system) and see how long it takes.”

Q to Vitt: Have you seen him in person?

Vitt: “Absolutely, at the NFL Combine.”

Q to Spagnuolo: Were there any other players that stood out that you were thinking about drafting?

Spagnuolo: “There’s always a couple there. Mickey (Loomis) and Rick (Reiprish) tossed around a couple of things, but when it was all said and done, Akiem stuck out. We’re pretty glad we got him.”

Q to Spagnuolo and Vitt: Were you focused on defense for this pick?

Spagnuolo: “I wouldn’t necessarily say that. We were, but it could have gone either way. I’m glad that it went this way.”

Vitt: “We tried to get a group of players that we thought would be there at this time in the draft. I know you’re going to think that I’m making this up, but he was at the top of the list of our board when it was our pick. If he wasn’t there, Mickey was entertaining some phone calls to move down. But this is the player we covered and the one that we wanted and the one we studied the most on Friday. It worked out well.”

Spagnuolo: “Mickey mentioned the other day that a lot of the guys that we thought would be there, there were a lot of defensive names.”

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Vitt and Spagnuolo Discuss Hicks

Thanks for posting. I feel better about the pick already.

Lets hope he can have a immediate impact, we need it

Most likely he'll be brought in slowly while he learns the ropes. Remember, he is most likely a project player that will need time to learn proper technique. I expect to see him on the field from the beginning for a couple of plays that Spags will make for him.

I know but does hurt to wish big does it??

depending on what happens to Ellis with the bounty thing, he may see a bigger role than we all think...

Spags...The new lb'ers...Bunkley...now this guy...Im starting to get giddy about this defense

I'm taking a wait and see... I thought our defense would be one of the best in the league last preseason when we added Abrayo and Rogers...

Spagnoulo announcing we will be a press team automatically makes the defense better. No more playing ten yards off of receivers afraid of giving up the big play...

I remember the feeling the same way. I thought GW was all over it too. Not the first dumbassed thing I've ever done. I am going remain cautiously optimistic however now that Spags is here.

I can second that, but it seems that no matter how much I try to take the "wait and see" attitude, I just catch myself getting very excited about this defense - mostly because of Spags and what he brings to the table.

It's hard not to get excited, just look what Steve has done so far. Lofton, Chamberlain, Hawthorne, Bunkley and potentially Hicks...

Unless of course you have bad CBs who can't cover, nobody to rush the passer so the opposing WRs are running free all over the field, and end up having the worst pass defense in the league. I like Greer but...

I also think Loomis is more deserving of the praise for signing Lofton, Hawthorne, Bunkley, etc. than Spags is.

we don't have bad cbs, Robinson and Greer held their own with the piss poor D-Line we had last year. Any improvement in the line will help the cbs. And I'm thinking that Spags had some say in bringing in the LBs, Loomis gets the credit for making the contracts work though

I don't see any improvement in the DL... and Robinson is a decent cover corner who is a terrible tackler.

Bunkley? and Spagnoulo has a way with linemen. and everyone was a terrible tackler under G.W's scheme. It was all about the big hit and not wrapping up. Let's see what Steve and Flajole bring to the table, they did alright with the Rams defense...

I like Hicks, but I think it will take him longer to get acclimated to the level of competition in the NFL, so I wouldn't expect great things until next year or year after next.

Also Is any one else reassured by the authority and confidence Vitt has had since taking over? He hasn't been overselling the team, and seems like the pressure hasn't gotten to him at all.

They know what their doing. If they like him i like him.

Not much in the pass rush which is what I was implying... Definitely excited about his ability to stop the run, but not get to the QB.

But he does pressure the QB well. QB's often see the DT pressure, and step right or left to avoid it, or throw early. That pressure often gives a good DE the sack. He collapses the pocket well.