Jets assistant coaches were made available to reporters who requested them following Wednesday's training camp practice. Here are excerpts from many of those interviews:
ST COORDINATOR MIKE WESTHOFF
On designing schemes based off of personnel …
Absolutely. Normally, Justin [Miller] and Leon [Washington] are back together. Leon's the lead blocker for him, but Leon can also carry the ball when we ask him. I build things based around what we have. We have a pretty good repertoire. We just reach in the bag and I'll pick out different things. Leon is certainly a good guy that we want to give a chance. He and Justin back together are ideally what I like.
On Miller catching kickoffs above his head …
He does it once in a while, not all the time. You can catch it that way. You always try to get him to move forward as he catches to have a certain momentum, and sometimes that helps him do that better. He doesn't do that all the time, but he does it once in a while. It's not my favorite thing. It's all right that he does it because he works at it; he sees it pretty well. It's a habit that he got into. There are a lot of people who do it. It's not an uncommon thing.
On Brad Smith as a special teamer …
Brad's such a multitalented guy. We just want to put him in a number of different positions to take advantage of his athleticism. What is he, college football's all-time all-purpose yardage holder? That speaks pretty well for him. We've worked him returning punts. I had him in that punt formation where we ran that little fake thing. It wasn't exactly how we choreographed it. We want to use him in a lot of ways and there can be numerous roles for Brad.
On having Smith on the field to keep defenses off guard …
He is a flyer on our punt team, he covers kickoffs. He's actually on our double on punt returns. It's a possibility to use him in other spots. We have him in a lot of spots, so it's just not a red flag. He's an integral part of just about everything that I do.
On the top receivers playing special teams …
Sometimes it's a natural progression. Not necessarily, but it can be. Jerricho [Cotchery] came here and he played on all of our special teams. He did a great job and just kind of matured and developed. That's very normal in our business. I like to see that. I'm happy to see that happen. I don't always want to lose them. But when I lose them to something like that, I'm their biggest fan.
RBs COACH JIMMY RAYE
On his feelings on acquiring Thomas Jones …
I was happy because he's a proven core player, a veteran player that has been very productive in the league. He runs with a kind of physical style that I like and that we have been wanting. I thought it was a good acquisition and I'm very happy about it.
On Jones' play during camp …
Since he's been here, he's been very exemplary. He is a high-quality, character individual. He loves the grunt stuff — he loves to work out and lift weights and stretch and is flexible. You don't have to be on him to ask him to do the kind of stuff you need to do to sustain yourself over a 16-game season. That part of him that he's shown since he's been here has been very good.
On the power style that Jones brings …
It's more attitudinal than the physical application of the people we had. He brings a different element, a physical style to us. It's the attitude about pounding the ball and being tough and physical in pass protection.
On the absence of Curtis Martin during the season …
This group [of running backs] didn't really know Curtis. He wasn't really a part of this from the beginning. He came around and gave his due diligence and paid his respects while he was rehabbing. In terms of them feeling any down spiral because of him, they never really played with him and don't really know him. They know of his reputation and the kind of player he was. I think that will still be an effect because he still comes around periodically to lift weights and work out. When he does come, I think he will infuse a little energy into us.
On greater expectations on Leon Washington this year …
Leon is continuing to work hard. He's an exciting space player. When you have that kind of ability, he'll get better because he's a hard worker. He gives himself a chance to continually grow and become a better player.
On Jones and Washington being ideal complementary backs …
I don't think of it that way. Leon just happens to be short — he's not a little man, he's just short. He plays very reckless. They're very similar in their skill sets, but Thomas is a bigger guy. I think they ham-and-egg it very well. I don't think you have any dropoffs with one in or one out. I would anticipate that Leon will continue to develop and grow and be a great asset for us.
OL COACH TONY WISE
On if he is influencing D'Brickashaw Ferguson …
We don't have that much influence on a guy at this time in his life. I think that comes from the other guys. He sees Anthony [Clement], Brandon [Moore] and how they are extremely physical. He takes pride in getting better and that's a big part of it.
On Ferguson's ability to play left tackle …
His biggest thing is athletic ability. He has reach, height and ability to change direction at that position. When you can do those kinds of things, you can be more successful than a lot of guys.
On what he likes about Brandon Moore …
He just loves to play. He comes out every single day and loves to hit people, and in our line of work you have to like to hit people. The minute he comes through the gate, he just loves being out here. There's not really any motivation with him. We get going and he gets going. He is a leader by example for our guys.
On what Moore is like in the classroom …
He takes everything very seriously. He talks about this step and that step. I think he and Anthony have a really good thing going on there playing together. He takes pride in what he's doing and when you correct him he's very serious about it. He's the same in the room.
On Adrien Clarke as a guard …
He knows what he's doing. He has experience. You have to put things in terms of where he came from. He's got good height for a guard, arm length and movement.
On coaching Pete Kendall …
Pete has been very good. We go in there, Mike [Devlin] and I and meet with him. He's done very good. He's sharp as heck, knows theory and offensive line play. He's been fine, he really has.
On Kendall taking backup reps and not starting …
It hasn't been an issue.
DL COACH DAN QUINN
On Sione Pouha …
He had a really good spring. He trained hard not only in the weightroom but he really changed his body. Also with classroom work, special projects and through the film, he has all the physical characteristics to do it. I'm pleased with his progress, where he's at and am looking forward to watching him play in the next couple weeks.
On Pouha and Dewayne Robertson playing in multiple spots …
We go back to that that position flexibility when you can play two spots. Sione is a little squattier and built a little different. We can train guys to play a couple of different roles for us. That's what gets me fired up is having guys that can play in multiple roles.
On the defensive line …
When I talk about the line, hands are the first thing that comes to my mind. Whether you're playing the run or rushing the passer, I think that's where it starts. We have focused a lot of time in the off-season and here in training camp. We're pleased with where we're headed. That to me is what I think of first. We're steady-handed and then from there we get into our footwork and that's where the technique begins.
On his time coaching at Hofstra …
I can remember coming to training camp here when I was coaching at Hofstra. I would come almost every day. I remember asking the coaches if they could put me on the list again. I'd watch and got to see some of the good coaches that have come through here. It was an awesome experience.
DBs COACH MIKE MacINTYRE
On making up for lost time with Darrelle Revis …
I don't know that there is an accelerated course. Hopefully he has retained some [information] from the OTAs and minicamps and then we will just go from there. We'll have extra time with him, but there is only so much playing time to take care of that. He was picking up everything great during OTAs, but we will see when he gets here. We'll just throw him in and let him work at it and see how it goes. We will give him everything we have done so far and hopefully he will have retention from what he learned before, keep pushing along and see where it ends up. We will put long hours in and he will, too, and we will work at it.
On what Revis brings to the defense …
He's a good athlete, a good young man, and to be honest with you, it is too early to tell yet what elements he brings. We have to get him out there and keep working with him and see how he does.
On whether he expects Revis to start in the regular-season opener vs. New England …
I don't know that. I can't tell the future of how he will retain everything or how he will compare with the guys that are out here playing right now.
On the secondary's performance in camp …
When you play in the secondary, there are always a couple of hiccups here and there and you have to learn how to bounce back. I have been very pleased with the effort and the attitude of all the guys; how they have been working and pushing themselves. There is a good effort and a good attitude going on right now. There is good competition all over the place and we will just have to see where it all falls.
On joining the Jets after coaching with the Dallas Cowboys …
There is always a difference anywhere you go. They're both great organizations. With Eric [Mangini] coming out of the "Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick tree," there are some similarities in things that go on and you would expect that. That's been comforting to me. Change is always good and it's been exciting for me.
