Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Friday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
The injury report: Guys that are questionable for the game are Drew Coleman [knee] — he was limited at practice, as was James Ihedigbo [knee and ankle]. He is also questionable. Brad Smith [groin] is questionable. All of those guys were limited. Shaun Ellis [knee] did not practice. He's questionable. The guys that are listed as probable are [Antonio] Cromartie [groin], [Mike] DeVito [neck], Santonio Holmes [quad], Nick Mangold [shoulder], Sione [Pouha, back], [Darrelle] Revis [hamstring], [Mark] Sanchez [right shoulder] and Jason Taylor [concussion]. All of those guys were full participants today in practice. Shaun Ellis is the only one that didn't practice, but he's going to play. They're all going to play. They're questionable. They're playing. That's pretty much it.
Today's practice was outstanding. The focus was great, as you would assume it would be with this kind of a magnitude of the game. The guys were really working out there. They're dialed in. It's almost like the hay's in the barn, but guys are still studying and taking films home. We'll ratchet-it-up tomorrow, get on the plane and be ready to roll.
On if the team feels ready for the game…
We've had some outstanding practices. I feel good about where we are. The preparation's been great. It's now a matter of going down there and letting it rip.
On if game performance can be predicted at practice…
Most of the time. You have a sense that your guys are really dialed in. Then there are some times when you don't feel that it's been perfect and then you go out and play a great game, or vice versa.
When we got smoked by New England, I thought we had some great practices. Obviously, we lost Jim Leonard late in the week which put a huge damper on us. I thought our practices up until that point were great. Sometimes it's not always just up to you. Sometimes your opponent has a lot to do with how you play. Our guys are going into there and we're a confident group. We know what our mission is this week and we're going out there to try to win it and to win it.
On if the guys can't wait to play…
They're excited. They want to get this game here. We've played this team a few weeks ago, so we're familiar with this group. You're this close, you really get excited to play and you just want to get the game here.
On how important the offensive line matchup is…
It's always important. The lines basically are the most important part of the games. I know all of the skill positions are the one that's get all of the press and all the notoriety. It always comes down to blocking and tackling. That's where most games are won.
On how important is Mike DeVito is…
He's been huge for us this year, really stepped his game up. He was a backup kind of rotational guy. This year he knew he was coming in to be the starter and he's been outstanding for us. He's the guy that does the dirty work. We don't play him a whole lot on the sub team even though he's improving as a pass rusher. He's probably the hardest-working guy on our football team and it's paid off for him.
On how did Brad Smith looked this week…
Brad looks great. No excuses. We're ready to roll.
On how Nick Mangold handles Casey Hampton…
The good thing is Nick Mangold faces those 3-4 teams in our division anyway. You've got New England with big Vince Willfork and Miami plays a 3-4. He's played against some excellent players and he has played against Casey Hampton before. So clearly there is a reason why he's a Pro Bowl nose tackle, but there is also a reason why Nick Mangold is the Pro Bowl center.
On if there is reason why he has chosen not to start a word battle against Pittsburgh…
No, it's just how I felt at the time. This week and every week is different.
On Jets fans worried that without a word battle the team will not play well…
I can assure you we're going to play well and I can assure you that they're going to get everything we have. We know what's at stake here. We want the T-shirt, we want the hat and we want the trophy. I don't know what else I need to say. That is the truth. They've had six Super Bowl trophies. If they want to put them on the field, we'll play them, too.
On what goes on around Hines Ward…
The guy's a great football player, there is no question about it. We've always had to battle him. He'll look for you and if he can hit you, he will. I've seen him knock out a ton of guys before. They changed the rule for Hines Ward peeling back and hitting a defenseless player. But quite honestly, he's just finishing plays and there was no rule, so he went out. He plays hard, and he plays to the whistle. That is the kind of guy he is. I respect the heck out of Hines Ward.
On how he feels going into this year's championship compared to last year's…
I feel great. I think we're bringing in a better football team. I think we're bringing in a team that can run the ball and throw the ball. I think last year we were more one dimensional and both of those teams played excellent defense and special teams. I feel confident with this group. Having the experience of last year and the games on top of it, also gives me a sense that we're really prepared for this game.
On the history and football philosophy shared between him and coach Mike Tomlin…
We always used to say it's like, "Hey, we'd see each other and we'd both be smiling before the game. He thought he was going to win, I thought I was going to win, but we knew it was going to be a physical game and the team that was the most physical would win. As far as being similar, I think we are. He's a lot better looking than I am, but I think we're similar.
On how losing last year's championship impacts the veteran's focus and preparation…
I think the focus has been great this week. Not that it wasn't last week, but I think the fact that we had confetti dropped on our head with another team's color on it is a motivator for us as well. I mentioned it early in the week that we want it to be green and white and we're doing everything in our power to see that that happens. Pittsburgh's going to have a lot to say about it, but I can tell you this, we're showing up.
On the role Dennis Byrd played in the last week…
Dennis, when I saw the videos and all of that, and I've talked about it before, but he made a statement that he'll always be a Jet and that's true. He'll always be a Jet, just like all these former players here. I believe in the history and guys that went out there and laid it on the line for this organization, it means something to me. Also, having my dad here for eight years, that history of guys that have been here, coached and played here, I wanted to make sure that we recognized that. Mr. Johnson was great about it.
That's why we have all the team pictures down there of every team that the Jets have ever had. Those team pictures are down there right before you go into the cafeteria. I've also done the jersey numbers outside the locker room. It's almost a little college thing, but I want people to know who wore that jersey number that they're in right now. Hopefully when the guys come in, they bring their families in, they'll be like, "Oh, 67, Dave Herman." They can see that and they can see our new players in the jersey numbers and say, "Hey, that's Damien Woody now."
I wanted to bring that here. Might be a little college-y or whatever, but who cares? That's who I am. This is what we wanted to bring in and it's something I wanted to embrace. I wanted our former players and former coaches to be a part of our team's success. Dennis Byrd, when he sent me that jersey, it just blew me away. That note, I was like, "Wow, this is incredible." It's such an honor that he thought I was worthy enough to have that jersey, which I'm not even close to being. He took me up on the invitation to come speak to our team and I thought it was very powerful and the guys really appreciated it, that's for sure.
On the mixed emotions of losing the 2008 AFC Championship game and being on the verge of interviewing for the Jets' head-coaching position…
You go from being about as low as you can be to, generally, being excited and understanding that you're going to get that opportunity that you wanted your whole life and the thing that you really thought you were ready for. With all the great coaches out there, that you were actually chosen by an owner, by Mr. Johnson, obviously, that was amazing to me.
Then to be on that team, we gave unbelievable effort. that year with Baltimore. We went 18 straight weeks of playing a game. We were so beat up, it was unbelievable. We had a tight end playing defensive end. We had all these type of things that had happened to our team. We had to walk through all the playoff games. We couldn't even practice we were so beat up. We had half our defensive players in the training room and yet we would just have walk through practices. That's what I remember. We fell short, but not this time.
On any superstitions he has going this year like the pizza stain during last year's playoffs…
I don't even know what you're talking about [joking].
On what he might do regarding a guest speaker to address the team tomorrow…
Whatever I think is appropriate, but I don't believe so this week.
On the impact his calling out of the offensive line has had on the unit…
I don't know about that. I think that gets overplayed. I don't think my words have a whole lot of effect. I just spoke from the heart. Quite honestly, the challenge was to be that group that I knew they could be. I think that was the biggest challenge that I brought up.
On what he said to the offensive line at halftime of the game against Indianapolis…
I don't even recall.
On how the offensive line has played since the Pittsburgh game…
I think you've seen a prideful unit, a group that has a lot of ability. You look at that line and there are three Pro Bowlers in that group, or should be with D'Brickashaw [Ferguson], Nick [Mangold] and Brandon Moore. Then you have Damien Woody, Wayne Hunter, and then [Matt] Slauson. By the way, Slauson has done a great job, but he'll never be considered a Pro Bowl guard just because of the fact he was a sixth round pick. It doesn't matter how he plays, but I know one thing. He's done a tremendous job for us.
On being back where they were last season…
It's great. We expected to be here. I don't know if we expected to travel the road we did. That was pretty tough, but we're just the men for the job. We have a locker room of mighty men and we knew what the goal was. We never lost sight of the goal. We always focused on the goal, and here it is. The great thing is there have been a ton of doubters, which you know going along the way, that there are going to be doubters. I keep going back to that Ray Robinson quote about when everybody else doubts you, you have to believe in yourself. That is what this team has. This is what this team does. We've always believed in ourselves. We've always believed we would get to this point and beyond. We're going to find out Sunday.
On why he thinks all the big-name additions this season fit in so well…
Because they're real. They're real competitors. They're great teammates and they had a passion to be a champion. I think that's all we ask of our players. That is the mindset of all the people that we bring in here. We just want your best. That is all we want. If you're willing to give the best, then you're going to fit right in here because the guy next to you is giving his best for you and you've have to give your best for him. I think that's the kind of people we brought in the locker room.
On how valuable it is to have Shonn Greene against this tough Pittsburgh defense…
Shonn Greene? I'm sitting back thinking we never traded Shaun Ellis [laughing]. Obviously, he's a huge part of what we do. He's the ground-and-pound-type guy. Turn and give it to the big back, that's what we do. You combine his talents with LaDainian Tomlinson, it gives you a great 1-2 punch. One of these days we're going to have a great 1-2-3 punch with Joe McKnight.
On if he will go to Santonio Holmes early to get him involved against his former team…
If they're going to double him, we may go to Braylon [Edwards]. To me, everybody is motivated. Everybody we have is motivated. Is it special and all of that? Maybe after the game, it may be more special to Santonio. I don't see how that's possible. I think everybody in our locker room is equally as motivated. We can't wait to get it done. Certainly, what they do defensively may dictate who gets the ball and who doesn't. Last time we played them, they matched on Santonio. They did all of those type of things, rolled their coverage to them and things. If they want to play us that way, we can beat you with other guys.
On if the Jets and Steelers are mirror images in terms of their ground-and-pound philosophy and if stopping their running game is the most important thing to do…
It's always important. I think you're right. Both teams are built, number one, the defense first, and then that running game of ground-and-pound mentality. You look at their offensive line, I don't know if I've ever seen a bigger offensive line than that, especially, their right tackle [Flozell Adams]. That is the biggest dude ever, Flozell Adams.
Then you have [Chris] Kemoeatu. I coached his brother. He was a nose tackle. I was going to draft Chris to be a backup nose tackle to his brother. It ends up, I'm on the phone with him. I'm like, "This kid hasn't been drafted. I'd love to have him. I'll make him a backup nose tackle." Ozzie Newsome: "You know, Rex, you can have him." We're picking three picks later. I'm on the phone with him. The whole family is excited. Pittsburgh calls him. "Well, I guess we're playing you." He's been an outstanding player for them, obviously.
