Transcript of Jets head coach Eric Mangini's news conference before Friday's midday practice:
On if T Damien Woody will return to practice today...
Yes. He got back last night and he'll be practicing today. He spent some time with Bill Callahan last night. He was able to take the information with him. With the system that we have in place, you can watch practice from any location. He was able to watch practice from where he was.
On LB David Harris' injury update…
His status is unchanged. We are a lot better than we were on Monday. He's still working away, like Bubba [Franks] is and all those guys.
On how to prepare for RB Marshawn Lynch…
We've faced some really good backs so far this season. It seems like every week there is a host of really good backs. He is no different. He has a nice combination of power, where he can go up and press the hole and get some tough yards. He also has the ability to cut back or bounce out and get the edge and make a bunch of yards there.
That makes it difficult. Usually a guy is either a power back or an edge guy and he shows elements of both of those things. He has been very effective in the red zone. He has been very effective in a lot of different areas. I like the way he has progressed over the years in terms of becoming more of a complete back.
On if the Bills will target CB Dwight Lowery this week…
It's a difficult situation with Darrelle [Revis] playing well. They have to make a decision as to who they want to throw on, so that usually is going to bring more balls Dwight's way or David Barrett's or whoever's in there. That's just the way it is. Darrelle got quite a few balls his rookie season. You know it. It's no surprise. Dwight continues to work and get a lot of practice at it.
On Lowery's development…
There have been pluses and minuses. It's varied a little bit from each game. The tough thing for a rookie cornerback to get used to in the NFL is how deep most teams are at receiver. There may be a frontline guy that's really, really talented, but that No. 2 guy is usually no slouch either. It doesn't let up.
It's like D'Brickashaw [Ferguson] his rookie year. Every week he was facing a great pass rusher, great pass rusher, great pass rusher. There are no bye weeks in terms of who you're playing against. You can't schedule the homecoming game and get an easy player. It's hard.
On the Bills' WR corps…
They definitely have dangerous receivers. They have multiple guys that can create problems and they're different problems. Each one is different. One is size. One is short-area quickness and speed. One is catch-and-run.
That's another thing you have to get used to as well is what is this guy's style that you're playing against? If it's a matchup game, that takes a little bit of the pressure off because you know you're playing against that style the whole game. When you're left and right, not matching up, you get multiple guys. Getting the tendencies, understanding the differences, the subtleties of how you have to play the coverages, that's really important.
On Revis' play this season…
He's been consistent. He's committed to improving each week. He has the ability to play man-to-man very effectively and to play in the zones. I like his awareness in zones. That's improved over the course of the last year. He's a physical guy who is a good tackler as well. Sometimes you get guys that can cover but really don't want to get involved in the mix in terms of run support or getting up there and really jamming a receiver. Darrelle can do both of those. There's balance there in his approach and game.
On if he thinks Revis has a swagger…
I don't think it's a function of swagger. It's a function of inherit competitiveness. He doesn't want to get beat. He doesn't want to get beat in games, he doesn't want to get beat in practice. Sometimes swagger disguises other things, where competitiveness is competitiveness. That's what Darrelle has. That's even a better characteristic.
On RB Leon Washington's consistent contributions…
It's consistency but it's also versatility. He does consistently contribute, but the areas are different each week. Last week it was a running play, 60 yards. Then he caught the ball out of the backfield for a touchdown. He had the punt return. Some weeks it's big kickoff returns.
There are a lot of different areas. He blocks guys that are significantly bigger than him because he plays with good technique. He's got toughness. He knows how to place his hands. You want him to have the ball. He wants to have the ball. There are never any ups and downs in terms of his approach to the game.
On the importance for Washington to always have an impact on special teams…
That's an area where he starts. He knows that he'll be the punt returner each week and the kickoff returner each week. That's a starting point for him. Then he knows that at any point he can go from 30 percent of the reps last week offensively to 80 percent of the reps if something were to happen in terms of our depth or whatever the case may be.
On S James Ihedigbo's development…
James, during the time where he was injured, like with Chansi [Stuckey], he was very much a part of the team, he was very much a part of everything that we did. He was asked questions. He was studying each day, not just during the meetings but postpractice. That type of diligent work allowed him to put himself in the position he's in right now.
As we moved into the course of the season, where he was on the practice squad, those guys have to show up each day. You're not necessarily going and watching the practice squad guys, but as you're watching the offense, if that guy keeps showing up, making plays, then you can't help but notice him.
Some guys, when they get on the practice squad, they fade into the background. They're a number. They're showing up, but that's just what they are. Other guys keep showing up each day and they don't give you a chance to forget about them. That's what James did.
On if Ihedigbo stood out at practice…
He had some good opportunities in the preseason, which overall he did a pretty good job with. He has an excellent motor, like Marques Murrell has a very good motor. His tempo all the time is consistent. He's determined. You feel that determination each day in practice.
