Transcripts of conference calls by Oakland's Hue Jackson and Jason Campbell with Jets reporters on Wednesday afternoon:
HEAD COACH HUE JACKSON
On what he is telling the team to keep their spirits up after the loss to Buffalo last week…
Keep their spirits up? We have a long season ahead of us. We're not worried about keeping our spirits up. Our spirits are fine. We just need to go finish a game and win a game.
On what he has seen from the Jets on film…
Very good football team, very well-coached, extremely physical, tough. Exactly what I expected them to be and we're looking forward to the challenge.
On anything he thinks they can exploit with C Nick
gold possibly being out for the game…
No, that's a good football team. We need to go play Raider football. Obviously, Nick is one of the best players on their team and one of the best at his position and he's going to be out, but if I know Rex [Ryan], it will be next
up and they'll come to play. We have to play, too. It's not something to exploit. We have to get the run stopped. We need to make sure we tackle the ballcarrier and we have to shut them down in the passing game. They are a good offensive football team and we need to play football the way we know how to play ball.
On how much it helps his offense when both Michael Bush and Darren McFadden are playing well…
Well, I think any time that you have an opportunity to use your skill players, running backs, receivers, tight ends, anybody, it gives your offense more versatility. We're a team that likes to try to spread the ball around and give guys opportunities to make plays. Obviously, this past week that was kind of a little bit on display, but we need to continue to get better and keep working.
On how healthy the team is at wide receiver…
I'll know more about that as we get through today's practice. I think we're going to get some people back. Hopefully we will and we'll go from there.
On how pleased he was with the receivers who stepped in…
I was very pleased. That's why they're on our team. It's no different than what you guys are facing with the center. The next guy up's got to play and you hope he plays well. It's no different than our guys that played this past week. In they go, they need to play well, and they did.
On if he was surprised the Jets would not let him interview DBs coach Dennis Thurman…
I was a little surprised. I've known Dennis for a long time. We go way back, worked together at USC; have a personal relationship, but I understand the situation. You hate to lose good coaches, and Dennis is a very good coach for that football team. If the organization has the opportunity to not let a coach move forward in his career, they can do so. So I do understand the rule, but I do understand that everybody does have aspirations and goals that they want to attain, and I know that's something that Dennis wants to do, but obviously it didn't work out this time.
QB JASON CAMPBELL
On what he has seen from the Jets defense on video so far…
Just like you always see on TV, a bunch of guys out there fighting. They're violent, they run around, they play great defense. They defend the run really well, they defend the pass really well. They have two exceptional corners. So they're definitely a challenge. Rex Ryan teaches those guys it's all about confidence and fighting. We understand we're playing a really good football team that's been to the AFC Championship Game the last two years in a row. So it's a great challenge.
On the Jets cornerbacks…
Both of them are very athletic. The other thing is they don't shy away from hits. Especially Revis, they stay in there, just like any of the great corners. They put their head down and run and they help stop the run also. They're guys that like to compete, so you respect guys like that.
On the tough last-minute loss to the Bills on Sunday...
It was definitely a tough loss against Buffalo. You're up, 21-3, and you find a way to not come out at the end and not to pull the game out. It's definitely tough to play on Monday night and travel cross-country. It would have been definitely a big factor for us to be 2-0 and to get that win at Buffalo.
Now it's in hindsight, now we can't worry about that anymore. We have to move forward and we have to put our focus on the Jets. It's our home opener and it's supposed to be a sold-out crowd, so we understand that happens in the NFL. When it happens, you can't let it fall over into the next week. You have to find a way to pick yourself back up emotionally, physically, and move on.
On the offense's confidence after being successful last week…
We understand that we're a talented offense. We had four starters out last week and put up 35 points and moved the ball really well up and down the field. We understand there are a lot of areas we have to improve on still. We still have to focus and continue to get better and better and continue to work on that chemistry. We'll get guys back in the huddle and keep moving forward. It's not something that we're settled on. Ever since last year, the offense has been improving and improving each year. We just want to keep working. We want to fight our way to be one of the best we can be.
On what clicked for the offense last week against Buffalo despite missing several wideouts…
It was just guys stepping up. Guys stepping up and making plays. Guys are just hungry. When their opportunity was called upon, guys just take advantage of it. They go out there and showcase their abilities, their talents, show that they can go out and compete on Sundays. When a guy is out, we always say, "Next man up." In reality, it's an opportunity for the next guy to showcase the reason why he should be on the field. I think those guys with a good approach are 17 [Denarius Moore] and then [Derek] Hagan, number 80. I thought those guys came out and played very well for us.
On why Moore has been able to make an impact so quickly…
It's just his athletic ability, the way he can go after a ball, his speed, the way he can catch, and just moving around. He doesn't talk a lot. He's a guy that pretty much goes about his business and tries to fight for every rep he can in practice. You just respect a guy like that. He's just a guy that likes to affect the football.
On if he expects to get any of his receivers back this weekend against the Jets…
We're not sure yet. Hopefully, we can, but if not, we just have to continue to do what we have to do to move forward.
On how helpful the rushing attack's fast start has been to the offense…
It's always helpful. I think the thing that is a quarterback's best friend in the National Football League, it's a running game. It definitely helps that we have two exceptional backs and two different-type guys that bring a lot to the table in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. They help strengthen our passing game.
Each week is different, like we say. Like the first week, it was mostly the running game and we didn't throw for a lot of yards, but the next week, we threw for a lot of yards and returned to the passing game. It's about us just taking each play one play at a time and whatever the defense gives you, that's what you take. It's not about how many yards you rushed or how many yards you threw for. It's all about using that talent to get a win.
On coach Hue Jackson…
I like him. He's so competitive. He's a competitive guy. He lights a fire under your butt. If he sees anybody dragging, he's going to stop the practice and tell you, "Start it over" and all of those type of things. He's been on winning teams before that won a lot. He understands we have the talent, but talent don't win. Hard work and dedication.
On what he expects from Raider fans this week…
Raider Nation, it's a fun atmosphere. Especially when it's a sold-out crowd, you know they're going to be loud. They always dress up in the costumes and everything, in their silver and black, and they wear it proudly. The home opener, just like every team's home opener, is always a packed house. There's always a bunch of people there. We expect it to be a big atmosphere, especially with a good team like the Jets coming in. We've got a good football team that's coming in. It's going to help draw a crowd also. People want to come out and see good football played and be excited.
