PHILADELPHIA – It’s no secret that some Miami Dolphins defenders had mixed feelings about Vic Fangio’s coaching style last season.
Third-year Eagles’ nose tackle Jordan Davis summed up Fangio’s coaching as direct and to the point after Thursday’s OTA practice.
“No nonsense,” the 350-pound Davis said. “There’s no bull@#$% and I hope y’all can replace that. But it’s straight ball with him.”
Davis and second-year standout Jalen Carter, teammates since their days at the University of Georgia, are key pieces in Fangio’s defensive scheme in Philadelphia. Despite their youth – Davis is 24 and Carter is 23 – they appear to thrive under Fangio’s tough coaching.
Both players seem comfortable with the 65-year-old Fangio’s no-nonsense approach.
“I love Vic. He’s old-school,” Carter said. “He’s fun to talk to. A good coach.”
Carter also mentioned that not everyone on the Dolphins had an issue with Fangio’s coaching style.
“I heard good things about him when I was in Miami working out,” Carter added. “I spoke to some Miami players who had positive things to say.”
Meanwhile, Davis confirmed the old-school approach and doesn’t shy away from it.
“He’s old school, and he’s unapologetic about it,” Davis explained. “…I’ve played under different coaches, from high school to college. [Georgia coach] Kirby Smart is tough, but Fangio is in a league of his own. He expects you to do your job.”
Davis emphasized the importance of detail and precision in working with Fangio and his staff.
“Even Coach Clint [Hurtt] stresses attention to detail,” Davis said. “If we make a mistake, we repeat the drill. It’s not just for the sake of repetition, but for improvement.”
“You correct it to ensure you get it right,” he continued. “If it’s right, you go easy; if it’s wrong, you go hard. There’s only one way – the right way.”
The notion that Fangio, an older coach, may not connect with modern players is debunked by Davis and Carter, two of the Eagles’ youngest defensive stars.
“He demands our best effort,” Davis said. “…We know he wants us on the field as much as possible, and we strive to be out there and contribute.”
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