Transcripts of Eric Mangini's and Colt McCoy's conference calls with Jets reporters on Wednesday morning:
BROWNS HEAD COACH ERIC MANGINI
On Cleveland's season thus far…
It's been a lot more fun the last three weeks with that bye in between. It's been good. Even the early part of the season, we're in all those games. I thought that if we could control the interceptions and get the penalties down, they would be different. We've done a good job with that here recently and we're going to need to continue to do that. That's changed for us.
On playing against the Jets…
It's going to be special and last week was special, too. It's a little different. I spent a lot of time in New England and that was a really important part of my growth and I understood how things work and the philosophies have stayed the same. The approach has stayed the same in New England, so you can really appreciate that component of it in playing against them.
With New York, I had my first opportunity to be a head coach. It was a great time for us professionally and personally to have that, but in Rex [Ryan] coming there, things are obviously different, the approach is different, so you don't have that same first-hand knowledge. Both are special because they were obviously big parts of what I've done and they're a little different, too.
On his relationship with Rex Ryan…
I've gone back with Rex since 2000 because that's when Rob [Ryan] came to New England, so I got to know Rex through Rob. We've always hung out at the combine or any of the different sort of football-related things where we'd both be there. He's a great guy. I love Rex. Even in talking to Mike [Tannenbaum] after I got let go, I thought Rex would be a great choice because you didn't have to blow up the defense. You could still use those 3-4 based guys for what he did. It made a lot of sense and I thought Rex would do a good job and he has done a good job. He's done a great job. He's like his brother. They're both funny. They're both good people and they're both outstanding football coaches.
On if he was bitter at how his job ended with the Jets…
No, not at all, because I've sat across that desk enough times and told guys that they couldn't be part of the team anymore. You know in this business, at some point, someone is going to sit across the desk and tell you the same thing. Even though you may not agree with the decision, you respect it.
They gave me my first chance at a very young age to be a head coach. Mike and Woody [Johnson] were always really supportive when I was there and tried to do everything they could to help me be successful. I got a chance to grow tremendously as a professional, as a person, and it's made this experience that much better. I think I'm a better person for it and a better coach for it.
On how he's changed since leaving the Jets…
I think what happens is, and I've found this with my kids, is that when Jake was born, my oldest, I would talk to him and parent him oftentimes in my father's voice because that's all I knew. Now I've got two more and I'm really comfortable being a dad. I try to take the best things from my parents and apply it to my kids in my own way.
It's the same thing with any new experience. There's no playbook for it, there's no class you go to. You tend to rely on what you know. There's so many new things. You try to do it the right way and the best way. When you come from a system that's worked so well for so long, you try to mimic that. I think the thing that I've learned is to take the best things from the people that I've been with who are outstanding but do it in my way. It's more effective. It's more authentic and it's important to do that.
On working with Mike Holmgren…
I really like Mike and I was glad when he was brought in to be the president because I knew that he would understand the challenge of going someplace new. Anytime you transition, everybody loves progress, but people don't like change very much. It's uncomfortable. There's a lot of things that have to be done that make a situation difficult initially. Mike did it in Green Bay, he did it in Seattle. He understood it and we could sit down and I didn't have to convert anything into a different language. We could just talk as coaches.
He'd say, "Oh, yeah, I remembered when that happened to me" or "I remember when that happened to me." He's been really supportive throughout this whole time. He's a good mentor to have. I can walk down the hall when I don't know something or have an experience with it and say, "What do you think?" That's unique and it's really good.
The other thing that he's been good with is family. He's raised great kids. I don't want to be a good football coach and a bad dad. We talk about that sometimes. I'll say, "How did you do it? How did you keep them maintaining perspective?" All of the challenges of the profession that he's been through. He's got a great family.
On what he does at Cleveland that is different than what he did at New York…
I know this may sound crazy, but some people actually think I have a good personality and I'm a little funny. It's just letting more of that out. It's just being who I am. I wish I could give you one example, but it's less scripted for me. It's more I know what I want to say. I know the points I want to get across. Not reading it as much as just feeling it and getting the same point across, but from the heart.
On if he tried too much to be like Bill Belichick…
No, I don't think it's trying to be like one person, like Belichick or [Bill] Parcells. Those are my football fathers. That's who I watched in that role for multiple, multiple years, six years in New England, three years in New York, two more years in Cleveland. That's what I saw, the one year with Ted Marchibroda.
It's won a lot of Super Bowls. It's been very successful, so as a 34-year-old young guy going into a new environment, it's hard to look at this extreme body of work that's produced results after results and say, "Yes, I'm going to do it totally differently." What you realize is you can take a lot their good stuff and do it just in your style. That's important. I think that's one of the things that Rex does really well. He is who he is and it's great. I'm happy for him.
On if he finds it interesting that he had a 9-7 record with the Jets and was let go and Ryan went 9-7 and received a contract extension…
Sometimes that's just the way it works. I still have a house in New Jersey if you know any good people interested in real estate [laughing].
On Holmgren not being sure if he wants to coach again and if that's difficult to have hanging over his head…
No, not at all because I get that. We've talked over the years. Coaches always talk. What would you be if you weren't a football coach? Oftentimes, you can't come up with something that you would be as passionate about or love as much. Coaching is a lot more fun than dealing with all the different issues that come up organizationally. That's not a knock on any other issue that comes up, but there's something special about it.
Luke Steckel is my assistant here and his dad is Les Steckel. Les has been out of the league for eight years and he came in last weekend and he and I were talking. He was passionate about it and I could feel his energy and his enthusiasm. It just doesn't leave you. It's part of who you are. Mike's going through a transition and learning new things and I totally get that.
On if his house has been on the market since he left New York…
I think we took it off for a little while, but it's back up if you're interested [laughter]. We can talk after the conference call. It's a great location. I thought Rex, after his extension, might buy it, but I don't know what he's waiting for.
On when he bought his house in New Jersey…
It was right when we moved to New Jersey, we bought it. We were going all in. You can't stick your toe in the water and we didn't. We stuck the whole body in.
On trading Braylon Edwards…
At that point, I thought it was best for everybody to move forward. I sat down with Braylon when we made the trade. The thing I wanted to convey to him is he was going to have a new start and a new situation, a great situation. I wanted him to go and take advantage of it and make the best of it.
It was a good situation for us too. Chansi [Stuckey] has done a lot of good things for us. Jason [Trusnik] has as well. We picked up Shawn Lauvao in the trade who I think is going to be a good guard in the league for a long time and Larry Asante who is a young safety. Everybody benefited from it, which is what you try to do in a trade. You want the players to be ideally in a good situation. I think Braylon is. I think Chansi and Jason are, so it's been positive for both sides.
On if he thought Edwards would benefit from being in a different place and environment…
Yes, I did think so. Sometimes with a fresh start, it really rejuvenates a guy.
On Colt McCoy…
He's played really well. It's interesting dealing with different young quarterbacks over time. Colt, I think, had a harder transition from going to not being the man and getting the third- and fourth-type reps. He had always gotten all the reps at Texas and he had always started. When he transitioned back into that role, it was very natural for him.
He broke down the huddle the Wednesday before the Pittsburgh game and everybody kind of chuckled because he looks like he's a teenager. He's a pretty young looking guy, but he spoke with authority. Guys appreciated him assuming that leadership role. The same thing the night before the game. He said, "Guys, you can count on me. I'm going to play well." It wasn't bravado. He believed it and he did. Guys laughed a little bit there, too, but they appreciated his confidence. Each week we've given him a little bit more and each week he's played a little bit better.
Seneca [Wallace] is coming back today. He'll be back in a very limited basis. Maybe we'll get Jake [Delhomme] back a little later this week on a limited basis. Once everyone is healthy, I think I'll sit down with Brian [Daboll] and talk some to Mike and just see where we are. Once we figure out where we are and how we want to move forward with everybody healthy, that's when we'll make a decision that's a little bit longer-term.
On if being in Cleveland has helped with his personality changes…
I think it's like any transition. I remember my first year at Wesleyan, how difficult that transition was going from high school to college or my first year going from defensive assistant to position coach or position coach to defensive coordinator. You don't know what all the challenges are. You don't know what the best ways to operate are. We've all been through that in our life where we take a new job and you're trying to figure things out. You're trying to do it right and give the guys the best chance to be successful. With time and experience and growth, that comes. I think whether it was here or there, that would have come. I felt like I was making some strides in New York from that perspective and I would like to think that it would have continued along that path. I know it would have because it's part of life.
On if his transition was self-motivated…
It was. I'd say self-motivated because I'm always asking the players to evaluate themselves and be honest with themselves and really work on things that are weakness. Then there is a lot of feedback from friends and family that say, "Hey, we know who you are, we watch your press conferences, and you look like a different guy. Just be who you are, let them see your personality." You hear that and you know they're saying that for the right reasons, not for anything but to help you. That's part of the evaluation. Sometimes when you have spinach in your teeth, you're friends will tell you you've got spinach in your teeth. Your friends don't just kind of laugh at you and point it out to the guy next to him [laughter].
On how old his kids are…
Jake is 6. He's going to be 7 on Feb. 26. Luke is 4. He's going to be 5 on Feb. 26. Zack just turned 2. So I've got a young crew.
On favorite Rob Ryan story…
Rob and I were dieting one time in New England and things were going well. We were both rolling and then suddenly he stopped losing weight and I was like, "What is the problem?" We were working out every day. He was like, "I don't know, I don't know, I just hit a plateau." One night, it was late, it was probably 11:30. I hear crinkle-crinkle-crinkle. His office was right next to mine. I'm thinking, "What is that noise?" So I sneak over and jump into his office and he's got this giant bag of Doritos in his top drawer that he's just killing and he's trying to hide that. Then I caught him, in the same diet, he was sneaking Snickers in his shoes from the plane on gameday. Guys were throwing them in his sneakers, smuggling them in [laughter]. Then one time, he and I got caught wrestling — I don't know why we were wrestling — by Bill [Belichick] during Super Bowl week. It's one of those moments where we're both like, "Oh, ." [laughter]
On if he watched "Hard Knocks" and if his team would ever do that…
I lived Hard Knocks last season. It was just no sound track, just boos. I watched a little bit of it. I saw Tannenbaum's feat of athleticism catching the punt. That was enough for me after that [laughing]. I watched it sporadically, but I wouldn't say it was TiVO'd every week. In terms of us doing it, I don't think I would do it. It's way more entertaining with Rex [Ryan]. They should just do it with him every season.
On if Ryan has gone to his football camps…
Yes. Last year, they had the lupus walk, but he had been the longest tenured assistant coach at my football camp. He's made every single one and I'm sure he'll be back next season. We just conflicted with the lupus walk, but he'd been there every single year. One year we didn't have enough bags and he drove the bags up from Baltimore.
BROWNS QB COLT McCOY
On how much more confident he is now compared to his first start…
I think naturally as you play, you get a little more confident in what you're doing and what your team is doing. I think your teammates start to get a little more confident in you and the coaches. That's naturally the way it should be. You ought to get better every time you step on the field. Every time I'm out there I just try to be prepared and be able to do what's best to help our team win.
On being thrown into the fire with his first three starts coming against playoff caliber teams…
I wouldn't have it any other way. Every quarterback has to go through something like this. All of the quarterbacks I've played against so far are all Pro Bowl quarterback. They've all won Super Bowls. Now, going up against the Jets, they'll be the toughest defense we've seen so far. Their scheme is incredible. Before you even turn the tape on, you can name half the guys on their defense. We understand how big a challenge this is for us. I completely understand that they're probably going to come after us. They're probably going to do a lot of stuff and mix it up. They have a lot of really good corners and safeties. It's going to be a huge challenge. Just really working hard and just trying to make sure we're prepared going into this game to be able to have a chance to be successful.
On what is unique about the Jets defense…
Not to take anything from the defenses I've played so far, but when you look at the Jets, their scheme is just really good. They know how to put pressure on quarterbacks and there really aren't any quarterbacks that have played well against them so far. They hurry them. Their percentages are down. They're third in the league in points allowed and they're basically in the top 10 in every other defensive category. They're just really good. We understand that and are just really trying to get our game plan down to a tee and be ready to go out there and try to execute.
On if the experience of being a four-year starter in college has helped him as a rookie…
I think it helped a lot being able to play for four years. The NFL is still football, but there are a lot of different things. It's faster. Guys are bigger. There are more schemes. It's more complex. The windows to fit balls in are tighter. It's a new game. Knowing this week you have [Darrelle] Revis on one side and [Antonio] Cromartie on the other and safeties that disguise in the middle. They rush. They bring different things. They combo. There are just so many things that they can do defensively that can cause problems for us. We just have to really work hard and be prepared for it all.
On if his teammates have more confidence in him after the two wins…
There's always room for improvement from me. There are so many things I can get better at. This will be my fourth game to start. I've got a long way to go before I can say that I've done anything in this league. That's what I'm trying to do. I think my teammates see how hard I work, but at the same time, winning two games helps a lot. We went on a two game winning streak. We needed that bad. It's kind of reenergized us. It's fun to be in the locker room. It's fun to go to work. We just have to continue to play at a high level like I have been.
On if expected to play this season after training camp…
I think Coach [Mike] Holmgren said from the very beginning that I wasn't going to play. The reps were limited and preseason was basically my practice. Through all that, I just kept a level head and really dedicated myself to working whether I was getting reps or not, staying late, watching film and doing the little things extra that I could so I could keep up. Certain situations came up where guys got hurt and I had to go play. I think because I did all that, I was able to step in and at least give us a chance to win. By no means have I arrived. By no means have I done anything, like I said. I just have to continue to work and get better and improve each week.
On if Coach Mangini has told him that he will be starting on Sunday…
I'm just continuing to prepare like I would if I was the starter. Seneca [Wallace] was back today in practice and I think Jake [Delhomme] will be back here pretty soon. I'm continuing to work and I'm continuing to progress and I had a good practice today.
On if he has talked to Coach Mangini about being the long-term starter…
That's Coach's call and that's Coach's decision. Right now, I'm just really focused on our team and what I can do to help us win.
On what has made Peyton Hillis so effective…
I think as a whole offense, we've worked really hard and practiced hard and understood who we are offensively and what we're trying to do. We've got a guy like Peyton Hillis back there who is just a machine and our offensive line is blocking really well. We're being coached well and we're prepared when we go into the game. That's key for us. We just have to continue to do that. I know the Jets are very good against the run. They're not giving up hardly any yardage. They throw a lot of fronts out there and a lot of things that are different than what we've seen so far. We'll see if we'll be able to handle that. I think that'll be a huge part to the game, whether we can run the ball early.
On having the freedom to pass if defenses are focused on stopping the running game…
If you look at last week against the Patriots, I think play-action did work. They were putting a couple of extra guys in the box. They were playing some zone, but we ended up getting a lot of man too and were able to take advantage of it. That's the game of football. If you start executing and your running game is working well, it opens up the passing game a little bit and you're able to get into a rhythm. That's what we're trying to do every time we get out there. Find what works and let's stick with it.
