2008 Preseason Week 2 - Jets vs Redskins Photos
Transcripts of Jets head coach Eric Mangini's postgame news conference and selected interviews in the locker room following Saturday night's preseason game vs. Washington:
ERIC MANGINI
I just talked to the team and I liked the offensive drive at the end. It put us in a position to at least tie the game and get a couple of shots there at the end. [Brett] Ratliff had a nice day. He did some positive things. A couple of things could have been a little bit better. Defensively, we did a nice job in the red zone. They had a couple of big-play runs, four or five.
On QB Brett Favre…
He did a good job for seven practices. He moved the ball effectively. Another thing he does really well is play-fake, which opened up the reverse. We did a very nice job selling the run on that. His presence put a lot of pressure on the defense because he can always throw the deep ball.
On how many core plays Favre has in his arsenal…
Somewhere around 30 to 40. He is associating a lot of things with plays that he has done in Green Bay for a long time. It's important to give him a comfort level coming into the game. He had a lot of input into the game plan and the plays we were running. They were all in our system and things he was familiar with, things he had gotten a lot of reps on throughout the course of practices.
On Favre's first start…
It was an excellent start. He moved the team down the field and put us in a position to score. The touchdown to Dustin [Keller] was a nice experience for Dustin to catch Brett's first. You're going to have to talk to Brett to confirm this, but I think he's going to give the ball to Dustin instead of keeping it himself. That's the nicest thing I've seen from Brett so far. He really wanted to give it to Dustin.
On Redskins LB Marcus Washington sacking Favre…
It was a screen. He lost Leon [Washington] in there and they brought pressure over Leon's side. So Leon, not being a tall guy, got lost in the mix. Brett was waiting for him to come out and wasn't able to buy enough time.
On if it will be difficult to evaluate QB Kellen Clemens in this game…
The drops are something we talked about at halftime. We had a bunch of opportunities in the first half. Three drops would have been first downs. We didn't have a very good third-down conversion rate offensively. We were 5-for-15. We could have easily had eight or nine third-down conversions had we held on to the ball. That is a tough evaluation. The ball was there and it was definitely catchable. When [Clemens] fell down, that was more a function of the center stepping on his foot than the turf getting him.
On QB Brett Ratliff…
I like his progress. There were a couple of plays early that he had that he didn't make the decisions that I was looking for, but he was able to come back, regroup and move the ball down the field in a pressure situation. There was 1:09 left, we had the three timeouts, but to get us where he got us and give us a shot to win the game with throws in the end zone, that's really positive.
On Clemens…
If the center steps on his foot twice, it's not going to look very good. I'll have to look at the decision-making, where he went with the ball, things like that. It's just a pretty unique set of circumstances there. It makes it harder to evaluate that part.
On why the team did not go for the win…
With five seconds left, plays in the NFL take six seconds even on a fade. If you get any type of bobbled snap or an indecision by the quarterback, if you don't just get the ball and chuck it, you have an issue. It also depends on who's running the clock, if he dozed off or not. He has to have a razor-sharp finger for five seconds.
On if K Mike Nugent was struggling against the Redskins…
Those field goals [from 20-29 yards] are pretty high-percentage field goals, in the 90s league-wide. Those you have to make. It's a chip shot.
On the 43-yard missed field goal…
Forty-three is a lot tougher. I'm not sure what the exact yardage is on the deeper one he did hit [also 43]. Forty-three is a tough one to make, but when you're that close [23 yards], those have to be like gimmes.
On the significance of the missed field goal…
It was a missed field goal from the 5-yard line to win the game. You have to make it. We have to be able to execute that play. That's pretty standard operating procedure. I thought we would go into overtime and [Erik] Ainge would get some plays. It's disappointing.
QB BRETT FAVRE
On if he felt comfortable on the field…
Uh ... no [laughs]. But it worked out better than I thought it would. Not that I thought it would go badly. It's like starting all over again. I had some feelings that I haven't felt in 17 years. That's a good thing.
[Bill] Callahan and I talked right before the game and he said, "You know, the bottom line is having fun." I did. I had a lot of fun. I like the group of guys I'm playing with, enjoy the coaching staff. I'll say it again, there are no guarantees but it went well today.
On how weird it was to be wearing a Jets uniform…
It was a little weird. For the most part I felt comfortable in this uniform. I feel comfortable in this locker room. I had numerous people on the Redskins team say , "It almost don't look right." It's got to start looking right. I'm having a good time and I know we're gauged on wins and losses. It's just my first preseason game but I'm pleased the way it worked out. We still have a long way to go. It was a little awkward. I knew we had to get that out of the way in order to get where we wanted to be.
On how old he felt tonight…
Once I came out and stood around, I felt 38. That's just part of being an old player once you come out of the game. I don't know too many older players that enjoy preseason unless you're playing. I thought I threw the ball well and moved around OK. Ten days ago I was doing yardwork. I don't know what else to tell you [laughs]. I ran and threw a little bit with kids at the high school but there's no substitute for what we did tonight. I'd be lying if I said I felt perfect out there, but I'm pleased.
On if there was one pass that he liked the best…
All the completions I like best. I don't know if there's one particular one. You would think the deeper pass obviously to Jerricho [Cotchery]. My arm feels great. I've been throwing the ball well. Once I get the timing down with these guys I'll be OK. I'm more concerned about terminology and getting the plays out and protection changes and things like that.
I felt the passes that I threw I should complete. I know the players that we have out there can make some plays. You throw Laveranues [Coles] in the mix and we've got some talent. It really comes down to me getting the ball to them.
Overall, most of those passes were passes you should complete anyway, so I don't want to make it sound like there were some passes that were midseason-form-type of passes. Once again, considering what I was doing 10 days ago, I'm pretty pleased that we got the ball in the end zone.
On if he was nervous…
I wasn't that nervous. I thought it was more butterflies. Considering it was a preseason game and I had a little built-up anxiety, I wanted to get this game over with. I wanted to play in it, but I wanted to get it over with and just go on. Hopefully, it'll be less and less in this room as we go on. That remains to be seen. I think it was positive anxiety, positive nervousness, if that makes sense. It's better than just not having any feeling at all. I was excited about it.
On giving the ball from the TD pass to Dustin Keller…
I signed it and gave it to him. At first he asked me if I wanted it. I said I did, but I think it's probably more important that he keeps the ball. He's got tremendous talent. I hope he has a lot more of those.
On if it was a relief to play tonight after the last few weeks…
Absolutely. I think it's a big relief for these guys, too. First day I came out to practice there was a big crowd and everyone was cheering and stuff. We're a team. I'm just one piece of this puzzle. At some point we have to go on and focus on what we're trying to do as a team and not on one person. I hope that's what happens, but I'm glad that we let the dust settle a little bit.
On if he said to himself today "What the heck am I doing?" like he has at practice…
I knew I was out there for the right reasons. Obviously a lot of things have gone on the last few months. I'm not going to sit here and say I haven't second-guessed decisions, not only this year but along the way. One thing I know for sure, when I step on the field as I did tonight I knew I made the right decision.
I've said this all along: There's not too much fun in training camp, off-season workouts and things like that. I know that they're very important, but to me the most important thing is playing. I've got to get myself ready, obviously. I knew I made the right decision when I was on the field tonight.
On if he now feels like he is a Jet…
I've felt like I'm a Jet, I do. Does that sound a little awkward or funny? Maybe a little bit. Believe me, I feel very comfortable here. The guys have been great. They've welcomed me. After the first day it's "Hey, we have practice today." It's back to work as usual. It's still a little bit awkward. I don't know how else to tell you. I feel like I'm here for a reason. As I've told the guys, "I'm here for one reason, to help you win." I'll do whatever that takes and I hope it works out.
On if he'll sign the ball for someone else on the first regular-season TD he throws...
I might. I've thrown a lot of touchdowns, I can remember nearly every one of them. I hope we have a lot more wins than anything else. Touchdowns are obviously a big part of that and I hope I'm the one throwing them. It's obviously exciting right now. We have a long way to go. I think we have a great cast of guys.
To me, the most important ingredient in all of this is chemistry and we have a short amount of time to get that chemistry. Having those talented players doesn't guarantee wins. Having the best chemistry gives you a much better chance. I think we have the guys that can win football games. We just have to put it together. I hope I have a lot of touchdowns to pick from.
On if he feels he's developing chemistry with the wide receivers…
I do. Obviously, Laveranues [Coles] has been injured and it's hard to get timing and stuff down. But I've been watching a lot of film on these guys from last year and practice, just to see how they run routes.
First pass of the game I threw to Jerricho [Cotchery] was a second-window slant, which to the average person means nothing. A lot of guys will not throw that ball in the second window or the receiver will give up when he runs into a defender. Little things like that that are easily overlooked by the average fan. I told Jerricho, '"Don't give up second window, could be third window," because that's the way I've always played. That's what I'm trying to get across to those guys.
The only things that I've tried to get across to them are things that have worked for me in the past. You don't have to be the fastest, biggest or strongest. Be on the same page with me and vice versa. I think that was a start tonight.
On the fans tonight…
They showed their appreciation. I know it can easily turn the other way. I've been booed in Lambeau Field before, too. I don't want that to happen here. I just want people to know that I'm here for one reason and that's to help this team win. I'll do what I can. It was nice to see the acknowledgement from the fans.
On if was happy with playing two series…
I wanted to play a little bit more. Eric [Mangini] asked me how I felt. I said, "I'd love to play some more." I understand where he's coming from. He said "Let me think about it." As he turned away, he turned back and said, "I thought about it" [laughs].
It was good to go out that way. I've played in preseason games where you play two series and you go three-and-out, three-and-out. I feel like you get nothing accomplished that way. This is one of those times where everything seemed to be clicking. We'd like to have scored on the first drive. All in all, it was good. I was OK with it.
On if he likes his relationship with Mangini …
I've always been that way. This is the first time my quarterback coach [Brian Daboll], offensive coordinator [Brian Schottenheimer] and head coach are younger than me. I have a great deal of respect not only for these guys but every coach I've ever played under. I think that's part of being a professional. I think that's one of the reasons I'm still here 18 years later is that I'm coachable. I'm not going to step on anyone's toes.
I think Eric, in the little bit of time he spent with me, knows what type of player I am. It's all about the team. If he asks my opinion on certain things, I'll give it to him. That doesn't mean he has to go with it. I think that's part of a successful working relationship. You have to be able to listen, have this give-and-take. Ultimately, he makes the final decisions and I think that's the way it should be.
The only thing I'm trying to bring to this team is leadership and some experience that I've gained along the way. Maybe a little magic.
On if he feels like he's ready for the next preseason game, where starters usually play more…
I think it's now or never. The clock is obviously against me a little bit and to a certain degree maybe the team, too, just because we haven't worked together that long. I understand, maybe from a coach's standpoint, you have to be smart. But in my opinion, the bottom line is winning and how ever we get to that point remains to be seen.
I don't know what Eric wants to do. If he says, "Hey, Brett, I'll let you play as long as you want," I'm all for it. You have to get your feet wet somehow. There are certain situations that you don't get in the first two series of the game. You'd like to get a two-minute drill, you'd like to get maybe some more red-zone, some more third downs. That's where practice comes in. There's no substitute for game-type situations. I'm sure we'll talk about it this week, but believe me from my end, ready or not I need to be in there.
On if he was confused on some of the plays…
No, not really. There were only 14 plays. He threw a couple of protections at me that I kind of gave him a double-take on. It was stuff that we had talked about but I hadn't run the protection. It was simple protection, the words.
For example, he gave me "rip". "Rip" last year meant something totally different. I had a little flashback. That's kind of what I'm fighting right now. They are throwing a lot more at me than what we ran tonight, obviously. It's how quickly I can digest it in 40 seconds. Can I get it out, read it and run it correctly? That's going to be the secret to this whole thing.
TE DUSTIN KELLER
On talking about the football Brett Favre gave him…
It was really special during the game after I got the touchdown, I wasn't even thinking about it. I flipped the ball to the ref and came to the sideline. He said, "Hey, what are you doing? Why didn't you keep that ball?" I went to our equipment guys and asked, "Can you get that ball? Favre is probably going to want it."
Favre came to me later in the game and said, "I was going to let you have the ball but I think I'm going to keep that one." I said, "OK, that's cool, I'll keep the next one." Then as soon as we get into the locker room, I got a ball that says "Congrats Dustin on your first touchdown" and he signed it for me. It's really cool. It's something that I can keep forever.
On how Favre has energized the whole organization…
I think it's been really cool, especially since he was coming in and learning the offense and learning it with me. When I first got here in the summer, I was learning fresh, going over things. When he got here we went back to the basics, which was really good for me, just going back to the ins and outs of things and learning it with him. I think it's been a really good transition.
On his first touchdown…
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it. The first one as a Jet is a really good feeling. I really wish we could have come out with a win. We just go back to the drawing board and get ready for next week.
On catching passes from Favre…
It's crazy. I mean, catching a touchdown pass from a living legend, a guy that is definitely a Hall of Famer. It's overwhelming, to be honest.
On how the offense has changed…
The ball can be coming to you at any time, it doesn't matter what route you're running. You could normally be the last read for the quarterback and he could be looking at you first. You never know so you always have to be ready.
On if Favre is confident in the huddle…
Yes, definitely. He is real calm and collected in the huddle even though he is new with the offense. Every single time he comes in, it's like he has been with this offense for his whole career. We are more calm and collected. We just really feel good about it.
On if he thought Favre was picking things up quickly…
Yes, he is definitely much more relaxed than you would think he was. He has been in this offense for what, a week? As fast as he has been getting everything, it is ridiculous.
