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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

Danno

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

Ashley

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

Rugby Saint II

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.

Ashley

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

|Mitch|

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

mikesaintfan

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

TheDeuce

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...

|Mitch|

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...

Seer1

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.