Transcript of head coach Eric Mangini's news conference with the New York Jets media after Wednesday's morning training camp practice:
One piece of housekeeping: [DE] Michael Haynes used his pass to get out of practice this morning, so that was the situation there. I thought the conditions today were great. Being able to play on the muddy field, dealing with the muckiness in addition to that, I thought both of those things were good distractions that we had to work through. We had to deal with muddy fields last year, and being able to operate is very important for the defensive backs and receivers to understand how that changes their breaks, the things they have to adjust in terms of their coverage, the type of cleats they need to wear and right on down the line. It's just another thing I think is a good learning experience in terms of the external factors that we have to be able to push through and focus on what's important, which is the execution of the plays.
Obviously we are very excited as a group to get a chance to play a new opponent and be back at the stadium with our fans. We always try to simulate the crowd noise, but it really doesn't do ... the "J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets" on the loudspeaker, it really isn't the same. You try to tell that to the rookies and other guys, and it's just something you just need to experience to appreciate.
In terms of the Falcons, big challenge, too. Totally different staff, different approach. There's not a huge body of work where you can say this is necessarily what you're going to get. So we'll just have to adjust and see how the game unfolds, and that's always good, too. Because a lot of times you go into a game with a certain game plan and that's not necessarily what you had anticipated, and you have to make those adjustments.
On how long he expects the starters to play in the preseason opener ...
It really depends how the game goes early on. Sometimes you think you want to get them X number of plays, and then your offense goes on a long drive, and it could be heavy running plays or a lot of completions inbounds, and then the defense really isn't at the number you wanted because the quarter has been shortened. So a little bit of that is how the game goes and the quality of reps that you're getting.
On whether the starters will play past the first quarter …
I'm not opposed to doing it, going into the second quarter. It just depends on the number of plays that take place in the first quarter.
On the quarterback rotation for Friday …
Chad [Pennington] will start, that I can tell you. And then those other guys will all work in. Just working through a couple different ideas in terms of combinations and reps and stuff like that.
On who will be the second quarterback to take the field …
Kellen [Clemens] will be in there, but Brad [Smith] could be or Tui [Marques Tuiasosopo] could be in there. You want to be able to look at them with the different types of receivers and the different combination of players.
On safety Eric Smith …
Eric has had a very good training camp and off-season. He was one of our off-season award winners. Brad was the overall winner, but Eric was really at Brad's heels throughout the program, which I liked. He did a lot of things that were really positive. He's shown some excellent range in the deep part of the field and the ability to play the football, which you like to see. He's a good-sized safety, so you have the ability to bring him down in the box. Combine that with his ball skills and range and that's a nice combination. He's improved a lot on his communication. He's a very smart person. Now he's getting more and more vocal as he gets more comfortable being in with that group.
On Smith being limited in practice …
He's gotten quite a few reps in camp, and he'll continue to get reps whenever that is. Just like everybody else, he's been banged up before. Not really sure on the timetable, but he's a pretty diligent worker and he'll be back as quickly as he can.
On what Darrelle Revis is missing by holding out …
All the rookies right now are trying to find a role to help us win, just like last year when they were trying to find a role to help us win. It's hard to find a role if you're not here. We've got a lot of guys here doing great work. They are really committed to helping the team move forward, and that's what we're focused on. The guys that are here are taking advantage of the opportunities that are created and that can be created in a lot of different ways. It could be through injury or whatever the case may be.
On Revis having to make up for lost time when he signs …
Camp is an extremely tough time for rookies, but it's an extremely important time for rookies. There's a lot of learning going on. There's a lot of learning going on for everybody, and that's why we have the two-a-day practices and longer practices. It's so important for laying the groundwork moving forward. I'm really happy with the way the guys here are working. They're working extremely hard, and that's what we're looking for, consistently plugging away at it and consistently making progress and improvement.
On using preseason games to further evaluate players …
It's seeing the progress of all the guys, because you want to see your first-year players, the guys who were rookies last year, where they are. What kind of improvement have they made? What kind of strides have they made? Some of your veteran guys that have a year in the system, what does their improvement look like? That's the great thing about training camp and the preseason games. You get to look at a body of work, and there are a lot of different areas of improvement that you're looking for.
On linebacker Andre Wadsworth playing in his first game since 2000 …
I'm sure it's another step for him. Just like putting on the pads was a step, or being back with the team was a step. He's got a great approach to everything, and he's just enthusiastic about learning and trying to do everything we ask him to do.
On Bryan Thomas being asked to switch to linebacker before last season …
I wasn't really asking. I mean, that was what was going to happen. That's really what it was.
On Thomas' adjustment to outside linebacker …
Anytime you're trying something new there's an adjustment period. When you start to understand that you have the ability to rush, the ability to cover and be even more involved with the whole concept of the defense, I think that's exciting to anybody where they get to do something that's a little bit out of their comfort level. It's also great and challenging, stimulating, all those things.
On Thomas Jones' interactions with his teammates …
He fits right in. We were talking here the other day, just the range of people that he hangs out with and interacts with. He's not just an offensive guy. He spends time with everybody and gets to know everybody. He's got a very good personality and I think he's fit in really well.
On how many quarterbacks he expects to keep …
Right now, it's more an evaluation of where they are going into the first game. And with another three games to go, there's going to be a lot more information you can base it off of. At the end of the day, we just have to look at what's the best combination moving into the season. At this point, there's so much more information to gather, there's really not a chance to make a determination.
On Thomas …
Bryan is very willing to play whatever role that we ask him to play. It's the same with most guys. They want to do something that will help them be successful and help the team be successful. Whenever you have a chance to try new things and be even more involved with the total scheme of the defense or the offense, I think guys really enjoy that.
On Chad Pennington's second year in the system …
His approach is consistent. He's a very consistent guy. When it was competition, when he was learning the system, whatever the case may be, it's the same for him each day. He's got a really impressive approach to it all. With a year under his belt and not having to learn the basic part of the system, he's able to draw on that knowledge and build on that knowledge and expand it, and he's done some really good things in camp.
On fullback Stacy Tutt …
He's got good size, good hands, and he runs pretty good routes. That's a nice combination where you can go ahead and lead him up through the hole on linebackers if you want to run the two-back running game, and you can do some other things with him outside of the backfield. Last year we worked with him some at safety, so he's got some flexibility.
On Tutt's growth as a player …
Transitioning to a whole new place and all those elements in just being a rookie, he's now more comfortable in this environment, he has the off-season program underneath his belt, has the knowledge of the offense that he can now draw on. He's making similar strides with a lot of the second-year guys.
On why the Jets traded for Thomas Jones …
Our research always starts with who the person is, what type of guy he is, and that just kept coming back the same way: good leadership, good character, toughness, and a guy you really want in your locker room. Having coached against him, I appreciated the different things he could do on the field. That was really the basis of all of our evaluation as opposed to him in relationship to Leon [Washington].
On how he envisions Washington being used in the offense …
That will evolve because there will be some weeks where Leon will get more carries and that will fluctuate week in and week out and there will be different packages that the guys will be in. What you want to be able to do is have the flexibility to adjust to whatever you anticipate seeing.
On when the organization last spoke to Revis …
Mike [Tannenbaum] is very involved every day in the negotiations and he handles that.
On whether he is bothered by Revis' absence …
There's so much going on right here and there are so many guys who are working each day to get better and for us to get better. That's really my focus. There's so much that we have to do daily to continue to make progress. That's completely my focus.
On Revis' chances to start once he signs …
When he arrives, he'll be put in the mix and he'll be in the competition with everybody else. It's going to be a long way to go, a lot of information and practices missed, which creates a lot of opportunities for other players.
