*Transcript of head coach Eric Mangini's news conference with the New York Jets media Monday afternoon: * * *
Talking to the team today, the one thing you take away from the game is that areas where we identified leading into the week, we made a lot of improvement in. We made a lot of improvements in the running game. Offensively we were able to do some really positive things. Defensively, we made a lot of strides in the red zone, holding them 0-for-4, and matched our sack total for the season. Those things were all positive things. We actually decreased the amount of missed tackles in the game.
In terms of special teams, I thought we continued to do some nice things on kickoff returns. With punting the football, we downed it on the 4-yard line, then had the 28-yard punt and also had the play right before the half where we missed a tackle pretty much in the punt returner's face and then they get a much longer return than they should have. Snapping has been a strength of ours. We had a couple of snaps that weren't where we wanted them to be. I think we actually looked a lot better in our field goal protection and got some good pressure on them in terms of field goal block.
In making those strides, we can't lose the things that we've been good at. We've been very good at red zone offense, third down efficiency on offense and on special teams. Taking a step back in those areas or being inconsistent, it can't work. It's got to be progress in the areas that we target while maintaining the good things we've done in those other areas. That's probably the main issue we need to continue to address as we move forward and do good things. You can't take two steps back in a different area.
On Chad Pennington's performance …
There were some things I liked. I thought his play-action fakes were very good this week, especially with being able to run the football effectively. We had some really nice openings down the field, the one to Jerricho [Cotchery] and the one to Laveranues [Coles]. I thought he got us in and out of some good checks in terms of the run game and things we were looking for there. There were some plays he wasn't happy with, he'd like to have back and we'd all like to have back.
He's the starting quarterback. Like with any Monday, we're going to go through the corrections — that's what they're doing right now — as a team first, then as a unit, offense, defense, then individual positions. That was my meeting this morning. I'll continue to assess the whole situation, not just with that position, but with every position.
On if he was happy with the results of the calls on third- and fourth-and-1 …
With all those situations, those "got to have it" situations, the critical situations in the game, we practice those throughout the course of the week and identify those different areas. It's something that's very important to me that we do. So if you are in a critical situation, you're not just pulling a play from the sheet that you haven't really practiced but you have a gut feeling on. We look at all those situations, choose the plays we think are going to be most successful, and practice them during the course of the week against looks we anticipate getting. Then when we get down to that point in the game, you're making a decision based off of all those elements, not just an emotional reaction to what you think might work there. It's actually planned out.
On whether the Eagles may have scouted and anticipated the QB sneak on third-and-1 …
I agree that they do scout. We do as well. We've had success with that play since I've been here. Chad's had success with that play prior to me being here. The track record on that play in the last however many times we've run it is pretty impressive.
On if he wanted Pennington to use a timeout or reconsider when he saw nine players on the line of scrimmage on third-and-1 …
There weren't nine guys there. We were spread out. We were in an empty set. We were unbalanced. Even with the look we got, we had a good opportunity there.
On if he agrees or disagrees the Jets cannot make the playoffs …
I never really have taken that approach. The approach we take, regardless of wins or losses, is the next opponent. That's consistent. That was consistent last year and it's consistent this year. You can't really do anything in terms of something that's going to happen months from now. You have to do what's under your control, and that's the next game. That's the best way to make progress and move forward is to deal with what's on the horizon, not what's in the past or the distant future.
On if he needs to weigh the possibility of reaching the playoffs before determining whether or not to make a QB change ...
All those decisions are based on what gives you the best chance to win the next game.
On if he wishes he would have run the ball instead on the fourth-down play …
That's always the situation. We made the play on the reverse there on third down. It's one of those plays that was successful. It was a good call. We liked it in that situation. We liked the call we made there on fourth-and-1 as well. We feel very good about Laveranues Coles isolated in man-to-man coverage and Chad Pennington throwing to Laveranues Coles. That's another play we've looked at over the course of time and we've run multiple times. Its success rate is extremely high. It's Laveranues Coles isolated one-on-one in man-to-man coverage with Chad Pennington throwing to him.
On if a different play should have been called since only a yard was needed for a first down …
You're always looking at it as the play you think is going to be successful. It wasn't a function of 1 yard or not 1 yard. That was a play that we had in a critical situation, in a got-to-have-it situation. It was something we practiced. I can tell you the success rate of that play over time has been extremely high. It's arguably one of the best receivers in the league being thrown to by a guy he has great chemistry with in an isolated man-to-man situation.
On if he is concerned about players question play-calling …
After the game is an emotional time and people are going to have emotional reactions. The one thing I feel very good about is where my office is located. Any of those players are more than welcome to come in and talk to me, and I'd welcome that because their input would be very important. I'd love to hear from them personally. I feel very good about the level of preparation that we do as a coaching staff, the amount of work we do as a team and the way this group has worked together. The important thing is to continue to work that way.
On whether running Thomas Jones was a consideration on third- or fourth-and-1 …
We go through that ahead of time. We have the plays that we like. We choose the plays we like based on those situations.
On what he is learning as a head coach in dealing with adversity …
Any season's going to have challenges. Any season's going to have adversity. I've been exposed to adversity in the past and that's something we're going to be exposed to in the future. It's not important in terms of when adversity strikes, it's important how you deal with adversity. As a group, we're going to deal with adversity by continuing to correct the things we need to correct and continue to work on the things we need to work at.
On if he is going to do anything differently …
In a situation where you're winning or not winning, you face different challenges but you face challenges. When you're winning, you have the tendency to not look at the mistakes as critically as you should look at them. You have a tendency to let some things slide that you really can't let slide if you want to consistently improve. It's the same thing losing — you can't go the other way. You have to have an approach that works and an approach you believe in. This is an approach I believe in.
On if he enjoys the challenges of coaching …
Every day is a different challenge. Since I've been here, there's been different challenges every single day. It was true last year and it's true this year. You're going to face a lot of different ones over the course of any given year. It's always exciting to be faced with the challenge, be able to work through that challenge and that's important to do.
On what he does to keep the players motivated …
We all feel exactly the same way. You're disappointed with the results, you're angry with the results because when you work hard at anything, you want to see that hard work translate into success. Cus D'Amato's quote that I shared with you the other day is the one I shared with the players today. That is what you should be feeling, and that's what we have been feeling. Anger and emotion are fire. It can be a tool — it can cook your food and heat your house — or it can burn your house down.
Anger and emotion need to be channeled to improvement personally and collectively. That's the positive use of those emotions. That was a message he used to share with his fighters all the time is how to direct that. Michael Jordan is another big believer of channeling that emotion into a positive force. I think he's a great example of what that can result in.
On if he feels the team's frustration level rising …
It's like anything else. You want to see return on investment. Everybody does. We've invested a lot but it's a process. When you work at things, good things happen. You see it in every walk of life and in every industry. It's something I've experienced personally and on a team level. It's something I believe in.
On why he thinks Pennington is his best option and if he thinks Kellen Clemens is ready to step up …
I think that the issues we have are collective issues, and they're issues we need to address across the board. Tackling on a slant pass that goes for a 75-yard gain, or last week where it goes for a 53-yard gain, needs to get better.
On whether the number of interceptions thrown needs to improve …
I agree with you 100 percent. There are a lot of different areas that need to get better: interceptions, tackling, run fits, coaching and strategy. All those things need to improve, and we're all in this together. It's not a one-person issue, it's a collective issue that collectively we need to solve.
On if the decision to start Pennington is because the team lacks confidence in Kellen Clemens …
It's definitely not that.
On if he has considered the possibility that changing the QB will spark the team …
I've seen changes in the roster go both ways. It can do positive things and it can do things that aren't as positive. You are always looking for answers that are positive and based on an honest, critical assessment of where you are.
On if he fears the atmosphere in the locker room will change …
It's a locker room of high character. It's why we draft character. It's why I believe in character, because it's easy to put in effort when things are going great, it's easy when you're in first place to make sacrifices. What's difficult is when you're faced with hard times, responding the same way, pulling together and pulling out of it. That's why to me character is so important, because I've been in different locker rooms with different configurations of character and seen it go both ways. I fundamentally believe in that.
On LB Matt Chatham …
He'll be able to start practicing this week. Then we'll look at it through the course of the week and his practice level. If we bring him up to the active roster, we would have to release somebody.
On how he would describe the dynamic between Pennington and Clemens …
I'd say it's the same as it had been. Chad, Kellen, [Marques] Tuiasosopo and Brad [Smith] are all good guys. Even though they're competitive by nature, by virtue of what position they play, they're also very supportive of each other when the other person is playing. I saw that during the competition last summer. Kellen and Chad were both here and it was the same exact approach in the meeting rooms and on the field. They're inherently competitive people, just like everybody is who is in the building, but yet they're supportive of each other and good teammates.
On if any of the players have come to his office to suggest changes …
No. I have captains' meetings every Thursday where I have an opportunity to speak with that group. We'll go through and talk about ideas there. That's another forum for people to express their opinion, how they feel or give ideas. I think that is important that if you have something you'd like to add or share, you should do that.
On if he thinks the team needs a spark …
I see a team that does a lot of really good things punctuated by a handful of plays that aren't very good and sound. They can be really good early and not as good late, or really good late and not as good early. It needs to be the same. It needs to be complete football and it needs to be for four quarters.
On if he is surprised the Jets have not reached a level of consistency …
I don't think it's a question of consistent effort at all. I think it's a question of consistent results. I think it's a collective effort. I cited different examples from different phases of the game where snapping has been a real plus and it wasn't this week, our punt team hit them on the 4[-yard line], then allowed them to get the big return before the half. We didn't really have early success with the kickoff return game, now our kickoff coverage has become an extremely positive part of what we do. We gave up the big kickoff return early in the year, weren't doing a very good job there, and now it's become a strength as well. That's really what you're looking for. As you fix a problem, maintain the things that you've done well and continue to improve.
On how he would compare Pennington from last year to this year …
Last year was a complete body of work over 17 games. We're not at that point right now. It would be an unfair comparison.
On if it is ludicrous to think Pennington is in danger of being traded …
Yes, that's ludicrous.
On if he thinks it is unfair that Pennington is getting blamed for the losses …
I don't know how blame's been distributed. I think there's plenty of it to go around. We're all a part of it and we all need to do a better job. I'm not sure exactly what the distribution of blame's been so far.
On if he thinks Pennington has made poor throwing decisions…
I can only go by the two years that I've been here and I think he's made a ton of good decisions.
On his interceptions the last three games…
I'm pretty sure he's either the most accurate passer in NFL history or second, so he's made a lot of good decisions over time. There are definitely plays he would like to have back, I'd like him to have back, and things we can do better as a coaching staff to clear up some of those things not just with the design of the plays but the coaching of the plays. There's been some routes that could be run at more precise depths. With any interception, the receiver can bail you out a lot of times by doing whatever he has to do to make sure the ball isn't caught by the defensive back. There's plenty of chances there as a group.
On Bill Parcells once saying a QB is judged by getting his team in the end zone …
I didn't know we were going to quote him tonight. I'm going to give him a call later. I need to get a Parcells quote [laughs].
On there being a common denominator in getting the ball in the end zone …
I actually do know a Parcells quote. The other day I think he was asked about making a quarterback change and he said, "It's not like just going to Aamco. You can't just take out the sparkplug." So I'd say it's not like going to Aamco. You can't just take out the sparkplug.
