Transcripts of news conferences and interviews in the Jets' MetLife Stadium locker room following their 48-28 opening-day win over the Bills on Sunday afternoon:
HEAD COACH REX RYAN
This was a tremendous performance by our football team, especially on offense. We know the records that we set in preseason that everyone pointed out, but the record that we set today was most points in team history in a season opener. I couldn't be happier for our football team. It's a tremendous performance, in particular by our offense. Jeremy Kerley was the first player in team history to have a punt return for a touchdown and a touchdown catch in the same game. ... Those are some impressive stats.
I thought the offensive line did a tremendous job protecting the quarterback. Buffalo has some serious pass rushers, especially with Mario Williams. Austin Howard played a tremendous game. Maybe he made a name for himself today. Again, I'm very excited about it. Playing in front of your home crowd gives you a huge boost, and that was obvious today. I would have loved to have finished better on defense. The tackling was suspect at best, especially in the second half. We got a big lead and kind of rested a little bit, and this opponent has a lot more weapons than that. The young man [C.J.] Spiller stepped in there. I've always joked about Cookie Gilchrist, but that's what he looked like with a lot more speed. He had a huge day and I want to tip my hat to him.
That team is tough and kept fighting. That's what you try to tell your team. They made plays against us on offense. Clearly, we thought we had the game in control, but they made it interesting. I'm very excited for our players and our coaches. They did a tremendous job all week long, the focus was terrific. It's a credit to those guys.
On the play of QB Mark Sanchez…
The one interception was unfortunate because he knows we have to protect the football better against a good opponent like Buffalo. We wish he had that one back because he had one heck of a day. Santonio [Holmes] almost had an unbelievable catch in the end zone, but he had his hand down. It was a tremendous day for Mark.
On Sanchez's interception…
I was thinking we should bench him [laughs]. I had to take that shot. It's just one of those things where you say, "Mark, we really don't need it. Just protect the football." That's been the emphasis in training camp and in the offseason. Tony [Sparano] preaches it all the time. I wish we had that play back because with the kind of day he had, we're still going to talk about that. It's unfortunate. It's part of the game, but it's unfortunate it happened.
On if he could have foreseen this output from the offense…
I had a pretty good feeling that we were going to play well. I told the guys before the game that I had that kind of confidence. They know I might not always be right, but they know I don't tell them something I don't believe. I really felt we were going to have a big game. It was really just the work I saw during the week and everything leading up to this point. I felt very confident. When Mark has time to throw the football, he can throw it with anybody. We have plenty of weapons. I was happy to see my draft pick [joking], Stephen Hill, get two touchdowns. That was tremendous. Hopefully, [Mike] Tannenbaum will lean on me more we are drafting receivers.
On injuries…
Darrelle [Revis] went out with a head injury, so I don't know how severe it is. I saw him after the game and he looked good. Hopefully, he is OK, but we'll find out. We had a couple of hamstrings – Bryan Thomas and Patrick Turner.
On the Wildcat offense…
They did a nice job against the Wildcat, but it's something that you have to prepare for. Whether it's one snap or 20 or 50, we had that flexibility in our system where we could use it. Sometimes it's about that preparation. As much time as that team spent on the Wildcat, maybe it took away from some other preparation. We have that ability and certainly we can do a lot more out of it as well.
On if the team proved themselves…
Proved that we were ready to play this opener? I'll say without question, our guys were looking forward to it. Again, I'm excited about it, we expected a win. We knew that Buffalo was a tough opponent, but we expected a win and to defend our home field. Next week obviously brings up a totally different challenge. We have to go on the road and play in one of the toughest places to play in football, in Pittsburgh. Again, as excited and happy as I am about this win, it's only one win. Obviously, we need a lot more to get to where we want to get to, which are the playoffs.
On if the offense felt "vindicated" with the win…
Again, vindication and all that type of stuff, it's way too strong of a word. We were confident going into the season that we think we're going to have an outstanding offense. We think we'll have an outstanding defense, and we think we'll be outstanding on special teams. I know I think I have a great football team here, we've all said that anyway, and really nothing has changed. I kind of expected us to play well. Now, do I expect the score to be what it was? Who's to say?
On if the team played with a chip on their shoulder…
I certainly do, absolutely. I feel like we had a chip on our shoulder, but that's each week, you have to play with urgency. Maybe not a chip, but urgency is a better word. You only get 16 regular-season games, and we're excited to play, especially in front of our fans, against a divisional opponent. We were up for it, there's no question about it. I think vindication, or chip on the shoulder, maybe that's not the right thing. We were just excited to play. We feel good. We think we did a lot of good things at training camp. This week with preparation, I thought was tremendous. It came down to the way our players executed and our assistant coaches. I thought they did a tremendous job this week.
On Jeremy Kerley's progress...
I was down on him because I expect huge things from him. I thought at first in minicamps, it was mentally, that he wasn't picking it up as fast as I had hoped, so that was where I challenged him. Obviously, he had the hamstring injury, that was unfortunate, but Jeremy is a guy who I know has tremendous ability. For whatever reason, in minicamps, we weren't seeing it the way we are now. Let's face it, he showed this all last week, and leading up to that week as well, so we were expecting Jeremy to have a huge game. Now, I don't know if I would have expected two touchdowns from him, but I really thought he was going to have a big game.
QB MARK SANCHEZ
On if he thought the offense could be this explosive…
I knew we were just capable of scoring points. I knew we had a great plan coming into the game. I had a good feeling about it all week, and I knew our shortcomings in the preseason were shortcomings in the red zone. There were penalties. I hit Stephen [Hill] on almost the exact same route I threw to PT [Patrick Turner] for a pick-six against the Giants. You throw it right, you throw it accurately and you score. I knew we were really close in the preseason. Did I know it was 48 points? No, I didn't necessarily know that, but that's just a great day of execution. We still left some plays out there so it wasn't perfect. We've still got a lot of work to do but I'm really proud of our effort and the way we moved the ball today.
On the reaction on the sideline following his interception in the first quarter…
I just forced the play there and tried to do a little too much. I should've just tucked it and ran, but I kept my head up and it kind of goes as the quarterback goes. If you hang your head a little too low, then guys will start to have questions. If you keep your head up and stay focused and stay calm and stay into it, we'll come back and get them the next drive. Our defense bailed us out there. It's nice to have a good defense.
On Hill's first NFL game…
He's still got a long way to go, but he sure did a heck of a job today, going up and catching the ball—and then the run after the catch to score. A great day for him, but he couldn't do it without JK [Jeremy Kerley] running hard, without Chaz [Schilens] getting the crucial catch there in the two-minute, Jeff Cumberland getting in the mix, Bilal Powell catching the ball, and then Santonio on some big third-down conversions – one late in the game to keep us on the field and then one early in the game to set up a touchdown later on. It was that entire receiving group, Coach Lal did a great job.
On his first touchdown pass to Kerley…
Well, there's a couple of different options on the play. We don't want to give away too much, but JK made a heck of a play. Those ones down in the end zone, down there tight, you've got to give your receiver a chance and JK made the most of it. It was a heck of a play.
On the play of Austin Howard and the offensive line…
Austin had a monster challenge today and he really did answer the call there. That was special for him. It was a big day for him and he was thrilled. He did a great job in the run game and great job in pass protection – and it was across the board. Brick [D'Brickashaw Ferguson], Slaw [Matt Slauson], B-Moore [Brandon Moore], all of them, just a heck of a job. And then Jeff Cumberland and Konrad [Reuland] really had to pick up a lot of slack there in the run game with Dustin [Keller] down, so that was big for all of them up front. They kept me upright and that helps.
On if he learned anything about his team today…
I know we're a special group. I've known that from the jump, but I think we're starting to realize it. It's important to keep this whole thing in perspective. It's a great way to start, it's exactly what you want in your home opener, but we'll celebrate this one for a couple more hours, then we've got to get ready for Pittsburgh, because that's going to be another tough challenge, on the road, never an easy place to play. So we've got a lot to go here.
On why he embraced the Wildcat offense…
I bought in. Just like everybody on the team. Not just to the Wildcat, but to the feeling of us as a team and a unit. Transcending football, we're a family. We're a tight-knit group. I knew Tim [Tebow] could come in and help us. That's just the tip of the iceberg. We've barely seen anything yet, so we've got plenty more in our grab bag of Wildcat. Tim's an explosive guy, so he can help this offense. He did a great job today.
On sustaining a drive with the Wildcat formation…
Well, it's something that we rep in practice. It's something that you can never get complacent with. We've got to keep on repping that stuff. I'm proud of those guys, especially a new guy like Konrad. We've had him for a week. I grew up with the guy, I knew he was a sharp kid, but he had a lot of work this week. So he was running in and out, learning new packages, learning a whole new language, and he did it basically on a Sunday afternoon [laughing]. He did a great job, but Coach [Tony] Sparano, he's not shy about using different personnel, and it's our job to be ready when he calls our number and our guys were today.
On if there is a sense of vindication for the team today after the preseason criticism…
I don't think so. One game isn't the season. It's not to prove anything to anybody else other than our team. Regardless of what the opinions are outside of our building, they don't affect us. That's the most important thing moving forward is worrying about each other, caring about each other, keep practicing harder and remember this feeling today. I told the guys in the locker room, "Remember this because it took a lot of work to get here, so just don't throw it out the window. It doesn't just happen on Sunday. It takes six days to get here and a great day of execution to have this feeling." So no vindication at all.
On scoring the most points in a season opener in team history…
It's great. Just winning the game is the most important thing. We happened to get the ball in the end zone quite a few times. Looks like we were making up for lost time there, but it was nice. It was a great feeling, a great start, but we still have a lot of improvements to make and we'll keep working.
On what he likes the most about the way he's throwing the ball…
Just having time to throw is the most important thing. We're putting a lot of pressure on those guys up front to give me time and they did a great job doing that. Then the wideouts made great plays. They're not all perfect. The balls aren't all perfect, but our guys found a way to catch them and get some yards after the catch, which is nice.
On if the Wildcat plays have any impact on the offense when he's in the game…
No, it doesn't change much. I thought Coach Sparano did a great job just feeling out the game, putting it in at the right time and understanding when we needed specific plays, tried to get everybody involved. He tried to get everybody the football at some point and that's what happens when you go through your reads and make the right [decisions]. You have time to throw like we had today, different guys touch the ball, so it was great.
On if bouncing back from the interception today is a sign of his maturity…
One, it just can't happen. That was just a poor play, poor decision. I'd like to think so, I'd like to think I can shake that one off. You just can't do anything about it after the fact. You have to keep playing. The only frustrating thing is we had really started to move the ball and on a third down like that, you can't give it up. I felt good about the game plan and nothing was going to change my focus today.
On having big plays following Wildcat plays…
I think that's just the way that worked out today. Those Wildcat plays could be our explosive plays at some point. We still have a lot.
On Tebow getting booed after being stopped for no gain…
I don't pay attention to that stuff. I don't pay attention.
On if anything felt different this week leading up to the game…
It just felt good hearing the plan the night before in meetings, going over plays with the offense, watching our last-minute bits of film with the offensive line last night. We went through the right steps. We went through the right progression all week. We had a great practice on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, knocked out the base game plan, third-down and red-zone. It just felt good.
On if he feels anything different personally…
I'm just confident in this team. I'm confident in the coaching staff. I told everybody early in OTA's, there's a good vibe going around the building. I don't know what it is. You can't quite put your finger on it. Rex made a great comment to us. At some point this season, everybody in our locker room is going to see that we're all bleeding green. We're really playing for each other. That's the most important thing.
On if he thinks this was one of his best performances…
I don't know, not with the pick. You can't put it up there with the pick. That was stupid.
On if he likes to say something to the team after the game…
No, that was just more as a reminder to individuals as we were going through, walking back in. There's a fine line between really celebrating a win and enjoying it. I remember [Mark] Brunell used to tell me that all the time because I'd be quick to get in the shower, even after a big win and comeback wins and stuff. He said, "Just take a couple of minutes in your locker, man. Sit there and enjoy it." There's a difference between that and saying, "Hey, yeah, we told you so. We're the best," and this and that. That's not our deal. That's not what we want here. It was a great win. There's no doubt about it, but we have a lot of work to do.
WR SANTONIO HOLMES
On the offensive performance…
It was a great performance by us. The game plan went really smooth this week. Guys were paying attention to details. Everything just felt great today and we put on a show.
On the team's outlook entering the game.…
Today, we just wanted to go out and have as much fun as we could. We put up points. The defense was outstanding, forced turnovers, gave us great field position, and we capitalized.
On the amount of players who contributed on offense…
I think the guys just played full-speed and with a great intensity. The offensive line did their job. The receivers caught the ball. The tight ends blocked as well and the running backs ran the ball well.
CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE
On being prepared for Buffalo's offensive plays…
Some of the things they ran, they kept it true. When you're studying film, everyone gets a beat on it and you know the things you need each other to do. It makes things a lot easier once you step on the field in the first couple of minutes. We just wanted to come out and capitalize on everything, and we did.
On scoring his first touchdown as a Jet.…
It felt great, but you had Kyle Wilson contribute as well, [Darrelle] Revis had that first pick and it just trickled down. Next week, if we can capitalize on plays we know we can get, then that's something we have to do. That's where we came up short last year. We didn't capitalize on many plays.
On the offensive performance…
It felt great. The offense is putting up points, throwing the ball down the field. Mark [Sanchez] is making great decisions, receivers are catching the ball. That's all you can ask for as a defense. They just did a hell of a job today.
T AUSTIN HOWARD
On winning the season opener…
We are going to keep on bringing it every week. This was the first game. We have 16 more weeks to go. We have a lot more goals than just this first game.
On if he had a lot of one-on-ones.…
I felt like I did have a lot of 1-on-1's today. We had a lot of different things with chip-blocking, help from the backs throughout the game. We are going to go watch the film and make sure that we build on it.
On not giving up any sacks…
We're a very proud offensive line. We pride ourselves in keeping the quarterback clean.
QB TIM TEBOW
On his first game as a Jet….
It was fun. To be a part of a win like this is exciting. Opening for us, it's a big game. I'm proud of my teammates for their effort and the fans coming out and supporting us. It was a fun day.
On if he was surprised that the offense performed so well after their preseason struggles…
The whole time we believed in ourselves and the offense and Coach [Tony] Sparano and everything. The whole time we were game-planning and preparing. I feel like we were confident coming in. Guys just stepped up and executed as a unit. I'm proud of everyone.
On what it's like for the offense when the defensive causes turnovers…
It's exciting. I think momentum is huge in this game. When you're able to get the momentum and capitalize on big plays, which we did, and continue to get big plays on defense, you kind of get that "big mo" going and it makes things a little bit easier.
On the Wildcat…
After a little bit, we didn't show too much. We were able to get in there and have some efficient plays. Obviously, we would have liked to break one open, but I think it'll continue to develop.
On if the numerous substitutions caught the Bills off guard…
It's hard to say. I think we were showing them a lot of different looks, a lot of different personnel. I think that's definitely tough to deal with. Are you going to play press? Are you going to back off? Early on they were backing off and Mark was making great completions underneath. We got a few good plays over the top.
On if it was calm on the Jets sidelines when the team made substitutions…
It was pretty calm. I think there was good communication. I think that was the key, it's something we've been practicing a lot. I think that was the start of why we were able to execute.
