*Interviews in the Jets locker room after their 16-9 loss to the Eagles at the Meadowlands on Sunday: *
HEAD COACH ERIC MANGINI
Obviously we are very disappointed with the result. The locker room is disappointed. I told the players we all feel the same way because we know how hard we work, we know how much time we spend working on the game plan, on trying to execute the game plan and doing things the right way. Then to not get the results you are looking for — it makes you angry. It makes you frustrated. That's how people feel. I understand that and it is collective because of the amount of hard work we put in day in and day out, because of the amount of preparation, the way these guys have worked together as a group. It's a natural feeling. It's disappointing where we are because of how much we have put in week in and week out.
I thought there were a lot of good things in the game, just like there have been good things in every single game. Defensively, being able to generate some pressure, being able to get a turnover in the red area. But then those are punctuated by a missed tackle that turns a 5-yard route into a long touchdown. Offensively, two areas where we are historically very good at, the red area and the third down, we weren't very good at today. Defensively, we were good in the red area today.
We need to play the complete game. To be consistent, to be good in the areas you are good at and to improve the areas where you are not so good at, is important. This isn't going to change. There is no game that we play that is worth four or five games. The only game that we play is the next game. That is why the next game is so important. We are going to keep working the same way we have been working. I've said that several times, how I like their work ethic, but that is what we are going to do. We are going to keep working at it until we get the results we want.
On calling for a QB sneak on third-and-1 at the Eagles 4 in the fourth quarter ...
We had a couple things that we use there. The quarterback sneak had been very effective throughout the course of the game. We executed first downs on it. You always have that option. You look at what has been working percentage-wise and you go with it.
On the fourth-and-1 pass to Laveranues Coles …
I thought we had a real chance on the fade to Laveranues. We had him isolated with the blitz in man coverage. The defensive back made a nice play, getting his hand in there late in the [receiver's] pocket.
On whose play call that fourth-down play was …
That was our call. That was our coaching decision, a play we liked going into the game, and that's what we went with. We have it both ways. We have some where it's Chad's decision and some where it is called.
On whether play action was an option on fourth down …
Each game it is different. Sometimes the play action can be effective there and sometimes you like the matchup. A lot of times when you get into critical situations, you think players, not plays. Laveranues is a guy we all feel great about. Chad [Pennington] throwing to Laveranues has been effective and we liked the matchup.
On the running game …
I thought we made a lot of progress. This is a good rushing defense. We work on our running game and we will continue to work on it. There are some things I really liked in that area against a good defensive group. Again, we are looking for consistency in the running game throughout the whole game and being able to complement that with efficient passing.
On whether there should be a change at quarterback …
No. It's a situation, again, where it comes down to the full group. That had nothing to do with the [75-yard] touchdown on a missed tackle on a slant by two defensive backs. There are things we have to do as a group to improve and it doesn't come down to one player. There is plenty of improvement for all of us.
On the defensive execution …
You continue to work on it. Sometimes that continues to happen. It's something you are going to keep working on. It's just like the running game. You've got to keep working on it. It's critical. You have to be able to tackle in the secondary and on those critical plays. If you miss a tackle as a linebacker, you miss a tackle as a defensive lineman, it's the same thing as if you miss as a defensive back. It's going to go a long way.
On his responsibility …
What I owe them as a coach is to put them in the best possible position to be successful. That's what we work at every single week, to put them in the best environment to be successful, to give them the best plan to be successful. This is a group effort of players and coaches working together to make progress and move forward. That's what I look to do as head coach. Collectively, everybody can do a better job. That's something we continue to do. That's not going to change. I don't think it is one isolated issue. If it was one isolated issue, then a change would be made.
On if sunlight was in Brad Smith's eyes on Sheldon Brown's interception …
I have not talked to Brad specifically about that element of it. It was a nice play by Sheldon.
On assessing Pennington's performance …
I'll have to look at the tape. There were some times where we had some opportunities that we were able to capitalize on, but there were some times where he didn't have the time he needed to get the ball off, there was pressure in his face. So I am going to have to look at all of that.
On the Jets' performance in the red zone …
Like I said, we have been one of the best teams in the NFL in red-zone offense. I thought Philadelphia did a nice job this week, but we have been like second or third in the league. We have been pretty productive in that area.
QB CHAD PENNINGTON
On his frustration level …
Right now I'm just a bit numb, not a lot of answers. I have to go back and look at the film, where we could have made some plays. You know we still had a chance to tie it up at the end and didn't get it done. It's frustrating when you work so hard and prepare so hard and do all the things that help you win a game and then you don't win. It's tough to handle.
On how he feels about the season …
To be honest with you, I don't know how I feel. You know everyone wants answers and sometimes there are not a lot of answers. It's just that you need to keep working through it and realize that the things that you believe in the most, the core values you believe in push you through these times and eventually get you back on the winning edge. This time last year we were 3-3. We are 1-5 now. Really the only difference is a handful of plays from being 3-3. That's the NFL. That's how it is every year. Every year you can take the same team and a couple of those plays don't go your way and your record is totally different and that's where we are right now.
On his options on the third-and-1 sneak in the fourth quarter …
That's a quarterback sneak and they did a good job of cramming us and keeping us from getting it. The only other thing you can do is flip it out to one of your receivers. You're down there close in the red zone and the two defenders are right there, even though they are off of Jerricho [Cotchery] and Laveranues [Coles], they are right there to make a play. You know you are in four-down territory so you don't want to do something crazy on third down and try to create something that may not be there and then not have a chance on fourth down.
On giving the ball to Thomas Jones on that third-and-1 play ...
It would just have to play itself out. You never know. They were up in there pretty good so I'm not so sure the running game would have helped. But you can always second-guess and take a look at it and say we should have done this, we should have done that. If you get it, great, if you don't, hey, you have one more down to do something with it.
On his thinking on the next play, fourth-and-1 ...
It's a 3-by-1 formation with Laveranues singled on the backside and I had a lot of people over on the frontside with the three receivers. I felt like I could give Laveranues a chance and Sheldon Brown made a really good play, a really good play. I tried to back-shoulder Laveranues because Sheldon was playing off and, like the way the season is going — six inches — he knocks it down instead of us catching it.
On the placement of the fourth-and-1 pass …
It felt pretty good because he was looking right at me and [Brown] was off so I didn't feel like a fade ball would be an appropriate ball. So I threw it back shoulder to the outside where we could get it and have the best chance to make the play. That's part of football. You make some of those plays. You don't make some of those plays.
On what happened on his interception …
Brad Smith is one-on-one and I felt like I could put that ball up and let him jump up and make a play and Sheldon Brown really got up and went and got that one. It was a nice play by him.
On playing more within himself …
I certainly tried to just let the game come to us and not try to force anything. I felt pretty good about that. It was a weird game, and because we were running the ball so well, our passing game took a bit of a back seat until the end. We did make some plays down the field because our running game was working so well. It was a weird game. We couldn't quite get things going. In the previous games we'd get drives going both running and passing and this week it was all or nothing.
On starting next week …
I'm not concerned. Whatever happens, happens. That's why Coach Mangini is the coach and I'm the player. I prepare myself every week to play and play well and that is totally out of my control.
On whether he throws too many "jumpball" passes …
I threw three. I don't think it's going to the well that often. I'd have to disagree with you on that one. After the Buffalo game it was all about how we just check down and now it's about how we do that. I would disagree. I think against one-on-one coverage you have to take a couple of shots like that just to get them off of you. They aren't going to respect you if you don't. I think that's why you saw some downfield throws that we completed on the over routes and things like that. It may seem that way but it was really two, and then the one in the end zone this week. Last week, we took a handful, probably four or five, and hit a handful. It's a hit-or-miss thing, a 50-50 thing, and when it's going great, man, it's going great, and when it's not, it's not.
On where the fourth-and-1 play was designed to go …
It's always up to me. It's always up to the quarterback on where the football goes. You're in a 3-by-1 formation and you have to evaluate the defense and see what they're doing. You've got reads on the right side and reads on the left side, and I felt that basically the whole defense was on the right side with our three receivers in the bunch formation. I felt like that was our best chance, and normally we connect on those things. Like I said, it was six inches away from being the tying touchdown and going into overtime with maybe a different result.
On if it hurts when people suggest a QB change …
Number one, it hurts when you lose, and number two, as the quarterback you understand that when you lose it comes on your shoulders, right, wrong or indifferent. Whether it's your fault or not, it's on you as the quarterback. That is part of the game and that is part of being the quarterback and I can handle that. It hurts because we are losing. That's why it hurts. Those guys, they work extremely hard, we've all worked extremely hard, and when it doesn't go your way, it's frustrating.
RB THOMAS JONES
On not receiving the ball on third and fourth down of the final series ...
I don't call the plays. I'm not the offensive coordinator, I'm not the offensive coaches. I do what I'm asked to do. When my number is called, then I try to do my best.
On the success of the running game …
We did some pretty good things in practice this week. The offensive line did a really good job today, coming of the ball, being aggressive. The tight ends did a great job coming off the ball. Coach Schottenheimer and the offensive coaches did a great job calling the right runs at the right time. I think we all just worked really well together today.
On the offense not putting together a complete game …
I don't know. We work hard in practice every week on everything, on every situation. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to put it together in the game.
On the team being 1-5 …
It's extremely frustrating to be 1-5, but that's the NFL. You never know what's going to happen on any Sunday. Anybody can get beat. If you don't come out and execute and play good football for four quarters, you don't give yourself a good chance to win.
On changes to improve the team …
On Sundays, we have to be able to execute for four quarters and take advantage of opportunities. We've obviously got to score points. We can't let the other team score points. Those are the basics of football, but all we can do right now at this point is go back to practice, see what we did in the game, try to correct them and try to pull it together.
On getting the running game going …
Honestly, I'll watch the film and see how we're doing, but right now I'm not even thinking about my performance. Ultimately we didn't win the game and that's what matters at the end of the day. Regardless of how well I do or how well the passing game does, if you don't win, it's pretty much for nothing.
On the mood of the team …
It's frustrating. We work really hard during the week and we're very prepared going into games. Coaches do a great job making sure we are prepared with what we are going to see. The word I would use is frustrated.
On whether he is the spark needed for the team …
Right now, we're just going to go back to work this week. We're 1-5, we're not where we'd like to be. We have 10 games left. We're going to go back to work, we're going to work hard and do our best to turn this around.
On what he can offer …
My approach each week is the same. I go out and try to prepare the best I can and try to be ready if I am called upon. That's the role of the backup quarterback and I'm just trying to improve each week.
On the frustration while watching from the sidelines …
It's always frustrating to lose. That's what is frustrating. We're not winning games that are very close and that are winnable. The frustration is spread across the team right now. We're going to use that frustration to work harder this week and try to improve.
On whether he expects a QB change …
The decision that Coach makes, I know the whole team supports. We're behind him. Every player in this locker room has each other's back. It's a simple thought of getting back to work and trying to get ready for next week.
On whether Chad Pennington is taking too much of the blame …
Chad Pennington is a competitor. He wants to win as much as anybody. He prepares hard, he works hard, he stays late and he's an awesome teammate, he really is. How he takes a loss is his business. I know that myself and the rest of this team have a lot of respect for him.
On being in an uncomfortable position answering questions about replacing Pennington …
It's a careful situation. The team and I support Chad. He works hard and is a very good quarterback. Right now it is very important for this team to remain a team. One-and-five is not where anybody wants to be, but that is where we are and we have to make the most of it.
On whether it is a careful situation in his relationship with Pennington as well …
There's some anger and there's some frustration. None of us planned on being 1-5. It's just very important that we all support each other. Nobody wants to jump off the bandwagon.
On not jumping off the team's or Pennington's bandwagon …
We don't want to jump off each other's bandwagon, everybody who is inside this locker room. It is very important to support one another when things aren't as easy as we'd like.
On if he's prepared to run the offense …
Each week we try to do some different things. Each week I study as hard as I can to be as prepared as I can be. We as a quarterback position work very hard and we're proud of that. We prepare each week to be ready as a position to help our team and put us in the best possible position to win the game.
WR LAVERANUES COLES
On the anger in the locker room …
We're not happy about the situation that we're in. I'm not going to say I'm angry.
On the emotions in the locker room …
Anytime you're 1-5, you're not very happy. You don't want to go into the tank, that's for sure. If you allow yourself to do that, it can get worse, trust me. You want to stay competitive and keep a competitive edge and just try to find out what the problem is and fix it. Right now we're just ending up on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
On the fourth-down pass play …
He just made a good play on the ball. It's a play I should have made. As for the ball, I don't know if he got a hand on it or not, but he was there. I just didn't make the play.
On the importance of stretching the field …
That's at the coach's discretion, it's their decision. I don't get to call the plays, I just run them. If we're not going downfield, then we're not going downfield. Whatever it is, we have to take advantage of it and try to make it work.
On if he thinks the offense should take more chances downfield …
My opinion doesn't really matter. I can think what I want to think, but it's not going to change anything.
On Thomas Jones' performance …
I think it's great. We put a lot of emphasis on trying to get the running game going. For him to have an excellent game shows the work we put in running the ball this week really paid off.
On if he was surprised Jones didn't get the ball on the last two plays …
We run whatever play is called. We have no control over that. We take the play and run what is called.
On whether a change can provide a spark …
That's not a decision of mine. I don't think what we need now is a spark. We just need to go out and play better football.
WR BRAD SMITH
On the efficiency of the running game …
I'm not on the field playing quarterback, so I can't see that. From the sideline, throughout the whole game, the guys upfront did a great job. Thomas ran great, Darian Barnes blocked great for him. Those guys can make plays.
DE SHAUN ELLIS
On if he is surprised at the way the season has started …
I'm very surprised. I felt like we had a good camp. Preseason is preseason. We're doing a good job game-planning. We're just not being consistent all the way around.
On whether the players can identify the areas to improve upon …
Everybody just needs to raise their game up to another level. We just have to play better as the whole Jets football team. We have to make plays. We have to execute. We have to tackle. When it's crunch time, we have to step up and make plays.
On the Jets not being a 1-5 team on paper …
You're right. We have so much talent on this team and it hurts even more when we're playing like we've been playing. We just have to continue to go to practice and continue with the same approach. We're practicing hard and we're doing everything we need to do in practice. We know what we're going to see in the game. It's just being in the right place and executing.
On the mental state of the team …
At this particular time, it's very frustrating. We're very upset. Tomorrow, I hope once we watch film, everybody can put it behind themselves and get ready for the next game. We have another tough opponent. They have a lot of weapons on offense. They're going to be another challenge for us.
On the difficulty of working hard and not getting results …
It's very tough. You start to feel like "Why are we doing this?" We can't fall into that trap. We have to continue to go out and practice. We have to take the coaching and the criticisms. It's very disappointing. The fans expect a lot out of us and we're not giving it to them right now. It's tough. I can feel their pain.
S KERRY RHODES
On being disappointed …
It's another tough one to swallow. We were able to make a few stops and get the ball back down the stretch. The Eagles did a good job stopping us down there [in the red zone]. It's tough.
On the mood of the team …
The mood is not good. We can't keep lying and saying that we're in a good mood when we're not. We're 1-5 and it's not looking good. We can't seem to get it together. We play good for a little while or in spurts but just can't put the whole game together. Even though we did play pretty well on defense today, we were able to get the stop when we needed it. But overall it's always a couple of big plays here and there in the game that hurts us. We can't win doing that.
On what's missing …
At this point we're not where we should be. Like I said, we play in spurts, but spurts aren't good enough in this league. There are too many good players in this league and too many good teams in this league to play well for half of the game or portions of the game and expect to win. We can say what we want. We can say we have a good team. We can say we have good players, which we do. Our record is 1-5 and that's not good.
On the missed tackles …
That's individual play. Like I said, that is a situation we can control. It's not happening the way we want. Missed tackles aren't a result of the scheme, the coaches, anything. It's the result of an individual player or players in certain situations. This is something that can be fixed but hasn't been so far.
On looking at the big picture …
We just have to take it one game at a time. We're 1-5 but we have to focus on each game. We can't look ahead of anything. Especially with the situation we are in, we can't look ahead of anyone. We just have to try and crawl our way out.
LB JONATHAN VILMA
On the feeling in the locker room …
Disappointed that we lost a game that we could have won but we didn't.
On why they lost …
I don't know. If I knew why, we would have won.
On whether the question of why gets old …
It doesn't get old because we have to figure out the why and we haven't figured that out yet, which is why we keep losing.
On if it is frustrating for the defense when the offense is having trouble in the red zone …
No. It's frustrating when we get two, three plays into the game and we give up a [75-yard] touchdown. Sixteen points. You take away that score, we win the game. That's what's frustrating.
