Transcripts of selected interviews with Jets players during Monday's locker room media availability:
LB DAVID HARRIS
On adjusting to the 3-4 system …
It's a lot different. There are a lot more checks and adjustments. We are in a two-gap system now, so you have to be able to go down and punch the guard, be thick on him and be able to fall back into any of the gaps.
On his adjustment to the pros …
Little lumps are expected when you are a rookie, coming in and learning the system. My linebackers coach [Jim Herrmann] and the veterans at my position, they've been helping me out a lot and have been giving me advice on everything you can think of.
On Herrmann coaching him at both the University of Michigan and here …
He knows a lot about the game of football and it makes it that much easier when you have a previous relationship with a guy who has been in the system. He has been helping me out, as have [Jonathan] Vilma, [Brad] Kassell and [Eric] Barton to try and help me learn things as fast as possible.
On playing special teams …
That is part of being a rookie. You have to go down on special teams and bust your tail. You have to do a lot of running and a lot of blocking and I'm trying to get it all down.
On cut day …
It's always hard to see the guys you come in with start thinning out, but it is a business and you have to be able to approach it that way. It's just the nature of the game.
QB CHAD PENNINGTON
On if there's a part of him itching to get on the field Thursday …
No. My whole focus is just to use these practices to our advantage and make sure we come out focused and intent on what we need to get accomplished. I think it's very important in the next two weeks that we do what we need to do to clean some things up and tighten up our offense and tighten up as a team to make sure we're fundamentally sound and detailed in our execution in order to be successful.
On if he feels that the offense isn't coming together as well as he expected …
To be honest with you, we've had a really good camp. Just because the preseason games haven't gone as well as we would have liked, I don't think we need to push the panic button. We've had a really successful camp. We had a great spring and OTAs and we just have to start putting some things together and make sure we're more consistent. That's the word we believe is going to make us better, where we're all executing at the same time and not making mistakes — that's the biggest thing — to where we're on the same page. We're excited about it.
It's important that we have the right mental attitude to go out there and approach these practices very judicially to make us feel that we're getting everything out of practice and we don't let one slip by. We've been relatively good at that throughout training camp, making sure we're taking advantage of each practice and each rep. We've got to make sure we keep continuing that.
On if last year was similar with the practices being better than the games …
I don't really know how to explain it. What you try to do is build each week and build upon each practice. When you go into preseason games, when mistakes are made, you have to make sure to take a critical look at the film and learn from those things, because it's a game situation. That's the benefit of having preseason games, to get out there under the lights, to get out there in a game situation and take a look at some things so that you're ready to go on opening day. Every time we step out it's important that we perform well, and when we don't, it's important that we look at it, correct it and move forward.
On how much discretion he uses in the preseason to avoid injury …
Unfortunately, I've been injured in the preseason, so I know what injuries in the preseason are all about. It's hard as a competitor to hold yourself back. I think what you do is take the preseason games and approach them with the right attitude. You go in and try to perform and execute the best you can and understand that when the situation doesn't look very good, you may need to take the sack or throw it away and not hang in there for the extra second. You learn that as you get older and become more of a professional and realize what the ultimate goal is.
On whether the offense isn't showing everything yet …
The bottom line is that no matter what play is called — and Coach [Mangini] says this a lot — a lot of the time playcalling is overrated. It matters what the players do with the play to make it work. That's what our focus is as an offense no matter what's called or what we're using to be effective with it, to be able to make adjustments on the run and to be successful with it. Everybody across the league only uses certain things in the preseason, but that's no excuse not to be able to go out there and have a good performance.
On Leon Washington …
I think, No. 1, people overlook Leon's toughness. They think because he's little he's more of a scatback or a guy you want to get out in space, but this guy is one of the toughest guys we have on this team. He runs in there and blocks linebackers and defenders that are twice his size. He's not scared to stick his face in there and stand up. The same thing goes with him running the football. It's pretty amazing, his mentality and what he's been able to do and the progress he's made since he came in here as a rookie last year. He's really stepped up to the plate and done a great job.
On how to gauge success during practice …
You look at the technique, you look at the timing of the play, you look at the angles. We know when we look at film if that would have been a sack or not. We understand that and we try to fix those things. You look at the tempo, you look at the crispness of each individual as well as your offensive unit and see how things are running and how well you're doing those things.
On if he feels more confident in Jacob Bender after viewing the tape from Saturday …
I don't have a concern because I know what type of guys we have in that unit and within our offense. I know what type of player he is. I know how physical he is and I know he has the eagerness to learn and get better. You can't teach a guy to get off the football and this guy knows how to get off the football. He knows how to strike his opponent, he understands that, you can't teach that, it's just God-given. He's been able to do that. Like all of us, the mistakes we make and have made, we can fix, we can correct those. That's always been our focus and always will be.
On Andre Wadsworth's determination …
It shows what type of person he is, how driven he is and how much passion he has for the game. I thought my situation was bad, but to listen to his situation and what he's been through, I can't really comprehend it. It's just unfathomable. To be able to come back and have the desire and passion after what he's been through is remarkable. It's a credit to him to want to come back and be a part of this game that he's always loved and always known.
On if he feels everyone reveled in Wadsworth's late strip vs. the Giants …
I can't speak for everyone, but I'm pretty sure especially the guys out there with him were excited. I know we were all excited for him to be able to be out there and make some plays and get back to what he's known for. I remember growing up — it's funny to say growing up — but when he came out, that's what he was known for, terrorizing quarterbacks and being out there in the backfield all the time. That was nice to see.
On if he feels the need to play Thursday …
I don't know what to think. I'm just excited to get out here and practice and work through all these things. Whatever happens on Thursday happens. I definitely feel good about having the opportunity to move forward and look at these mistakes and correct them and work as a unit.
What's most important for us is to have a good attitude. As long as we have a good attitude and come to work every day with that right mental frame, we'll be fine. When you don't have that is when you start to worry. I don't think our guys have a bad attitude. We have a good attitude about where we're going and where we want to go and that's most important.
LB ANDRE WADSWORTH
On cut day …
It's the nature of the business. It's not really emotional. It happens. It's not the end of the world. If they were going to death row, it would be a different thing. People have been cut and a lot of good things have happened to them. You learn things in life. It's unfortunate, but it is part of it.
On surviving the first cuts …
It gives me another opportunity to go out there and show them whether I'm worthy enough to be on the team or not and go out there and play the best I can.
On his forced fumble against the Giants …
It was just a play. The play was presented to me to go out there and do it and football instincts took over. I went for the ball and made the strip. He ran to my side, I did what I was supposed to do and made the play.
On his comeback …
To me the battle is already won. To come back from the type of injuries that I have had and the surgeries that I have had and to make it through camp and not miss one practice, that is huge to me. To me, the battle is won and I have learned a lot about myself. I have to continue toward my goals: stay healthy, get stronger, get quicker, get my movement back, learn the defense, continue to move and go in that direction.
