Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference Monday afternoon at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
First off, man, am I glad we won that game. You look at it defensively, you've got to give Miami credit. They did a great job. They made a lot of plays against us, but we made a lot of mistakes in the secondary, in particular. It's something that starts with communication. We have to do a much better job of communicating back there. I think I've got to realize, too, that there's basically three new starters in the secondary. When you look at Brodney Pool, you look at Kyle [Wilson] and [Antonio] Cromartie, their communication is not where I want it to be right now. The fact that you're playing against a good football team with some good players, it kind of just snowballed on us. I think it sent a message to us that we've got to do a better job in the classroom. I've got all the confidence in the world that we'll get it done, but I'm going to challenge our guys to spend more time with Dennis [Thurman]. I think we'll get this done.
On how he knows the problems revolve around communication…
I know it's a communication problem. I never recognized some of those coverages out there [laughter]. That's one thing that would tell you it's a communication problem. There's little things you do. We had a pretty good idea what they were going to do, but we've got to execute. They did a much better job of executing than we did on defense. That's normally not our M.O. It's just some little things like "I thought I saw this." Listen, what does the defense say to do? Do what the defense says to do first, then react, not the other way around. Don't make an assumption. We need you to be where you're supposed to be.
With all that being said, Brodney Pool is a guy, we need him to spend a lot of time with Dennis, but, at the end of the day, he made two huge plays for us, and he made another one on a kickoff when he knocked the heck out of somebody. The tackle he made on the 11-yard line, clearly that's going to be a touchdown if he doesn't make it — a game-saving tackle right there. Then the play that he made, it's close to the same play that Atlanta ran to Tony Gonzales when we had the guy triangled. He made a great play on the football, Drew [Coleman] does a great job of coming down with it. He made two huge plays in that last drive. Sometimes when the game is on the line like that, you look for people to step up, and Brodney did.
On how much the problems in the secondary can be attributed to Darrelle Revis not being on the field…
That would help having Darrelle in there. It would be his second year in the system and Darrelle certainly knows the in and outs, has great communication. He and Jim Leonhard always seem like they're on the same page. Sometimes when you're on your heels a little bit, which we were, that's where you've got to go back to your technique, your communication and doing your job. I think we got a little bit on our heels. Instead of tightening up, we kind of loosened up a little and I think that hurt us. Fortunately, we were able to get the win. The offense and our special teams bailed this football team out.
On Wilson not being able to read the receivers…
Normally you want teams to protect the way they protect against us, keep everybody in and protect. You're able to match up. But, they had some good receivers out there. Sometimes what's usually an advantage to us wasn't the advantage this time. We can't wait until Darrelle gets back. We can't do that. Hopefully, he'll be back this week. We've got to be good enough. Kyle is a rookie and it's kind of baptism by fire a little bit right now.
On if Revis will play this week…
I can't say. I haven't really seen him. I know he's done everything we've asked. I think he's moving around better. He feels better. You almost have to be 100 percent or right at a 100 percent to play corner or you'll be facing this all season. Hopefully, we can have him this week. If not, we've got to find a way to get it done.
On if the game versus Buffalo is a "trap game"…
That's what everybody says about it being a trap game. You've got to watch this team play. They're in every game. We know what this game's all about. Last year, we rush for 320 yards, lose the game. I don't think that's probably ever happened in this league. But we also threw six interceptions that game. The second time we played them, it went right down to the fourth quarter. That's the way this team is. They are a tough, determined team. Forget about looking forward to Monday night [vs. the Vikings]. If we do that, we'll get beat. Like I say, this game, we know it's a game and a half in my math. Another divisional game, three in a row. We'll be in first place if we can get a victory. If we don't win, we know we won't be in first place. It doesn't get any bigger than this. When you look at it in the grand scheme of things, Baltimore and Minnesota, those games mean less than playing against Buffalo.
On why the offense has been clicking the past two weeks…
I just think it starts with Mark [Sanchez]. I think without question he's got a great grasp of our offense, his offense. He's got much more confidence in himself and his receivers. The other thing we have to realize is Braylon [Edwards]. We picked him up in a mid-season trade last year and he never went through a training camp. I think Braylon has a great grasp of the system as well. He's able to play X, Z, and that helps us. I just think we're all on the same page right now. The guys are doing a great job. Of course, the offensive line, we were challenged. That's a good group to rush the passer in Miami. I think the protection was outstanding, absolutely outstanding.
On reports that he only wanted to bench Edwards for one play…
[Laughing] I don't know where that came from. That's not the case at all.
On if it was his idea to bench Edwards for the first quarter…
Absolutely. I'm not sure if I'm the guy that brought it up at first or not, but I think I was.
On being 2-1 despite all the off-the-field distractions…
This is a resilient team. We all know that. Last year, we were the only team in the history of the NFL to make the playoffs with two three-game losing streaks. That right there shows you how resilient the team is. We're focused. They believe in each other. They believe what we do is the right way to do things. It's just a tough, tough group. If you look at it and the way we responded, they go up, offense comes right back, takes the lead again, block a punt. We do all kinds of things, had great contributions from a lot of guys. And then you played poorly the whole game yet you still have a chance to win the game on defense. For us to make that play, really four shots at us inside the 10-yard line, that really speaks volumes about our team.
On Shonn Greene's injury…
I think Shonn is fine. I know he was hobbled a little bit, but I believe he's fine. I'm basing that on the way he danced after the game. I don't know if that is real technical, but he looked okay to me moving.
On Matt Slauson's play…
He got beat on one that was clearly a good call on the holding. The touchdown [negated by penalty], I think I had a disagreement with the official on that one. I think he's handled himself pretty well. The thing that a lot of teams are doing is they're trying to move their best pass-rusher in that position to challenge him like he's a second-year guy. I think he's holding his own right now.
On Slauson's first holding call where Sanchez almost got hit in the knee…
The official has to protect the quarterback. Clearly you never want a guy at the knees of your quarterback, that's for sure. He's got to go out, take his guy from the line of scrimmage, keep him out of there, keep that pocket clean.
On if Greene is running more cautiously…
People are definitely keying on him. When he's in the game, they're expecting downhill, inside runs. Last night, we got him on the outside one time. That was when he got hurt. The kid came up and made a nice tackle on him. I think it's just a matter of time because he just has to keep hitting it in there. He is just a bull. Be smart, protect the football, but still be yourself and try to run people over. That's his game.
On Calvin Pace's progress…
He's doing great. I hope he gets on the practice field. We'll see what he can do. Will he start? I don't know. Hopefully, he'll be good enough where we might be able to even use him this week.
On being one of the first games the Jets defense has allowed as many as 436 yards…
Ever maybe [smiling]. I'll admit, it doesn't feel like a victory [laughter]. No, it does, it really does, because it was a great team effort. My pride's hurt a little bit. No question about that.
On if the game has slowed down for Sanchez…
I think so. Again, I attribute that to the work he did in the offseason. Anybody that was here knows that if you guys were here, he was here. If there was an offensive meeting, he was at the offensive meeting. He deserves all the credit. He did it himself. He challenged himself that he wanted to grasp this offense and make it his offense, and he's done that. That's what you see. He's a leader. He's a natural leader. You see how he is on the field. That old saying, like a general out there, he really is. Then you have a general back there with LaDainian [Tomlinson] who we picked up. I tip my hat to Nick Mangold. He is the guy that had the shoulder. We really challenged him the night before the game to step up and help lead us, to be that anchor in there, and he was. Wow, you know, to play that way, I've had shoulder injuries in the past, of course I don't pretend to be a professional player, but he's way tougher than I am.
On if he expressed to the team that his pride was hurt by the way the defense played…
No, they know me enough to know. I don't like to give up anything. Then to give up all those things, especially to Miami, it's nothing personal, but, yeah, it's personal [laughter].
On if he's ever dumped Gatorade on a player before…
Not on a player before. I've got an issue here. I was trying to go for the dump. I think somebody else was going for the pour. We ended up about knocking out Jason [Taylor] [laughter]. I just wanted to do it because I think that was just a tribute to him. Jason never wanted to leave Miami. The truth of the matter is they got rid of Jason. The way he's come here into our building, been around his teammates here and living in the community, I mean, wow. We're so fortunate to have him. He came in with an unbelievable attitude, humble, and just wanted to be one of the guys. He's way more than just one of the guys. What a tremendous pickup that was for us.
On his conversation with Tony Dungy…
It was good. I think I have a greater appreciation for Tony. I met the man. You hear things, but it was good. We had a great conversation. I'm proud of this football team, as everybody knows. I was happy that he came and took advantage. I wanted him to come in and be around our players and be around our coaches. I know he was impressed.
On if he was upset that Dungy criticized him on the pregame show…
No, I don't care. How many shots do I take? [smiling] Please, that was a jab.
On if it upsets him that he is sometimes portrayed as running an animal house…
Yes, that does. That embarrasses me a little bit. I think part of it is just because my personality's a little different. Maybe from afar people can judge it that way. We picked up some guys that maybe had something happen previously. When we get them in here, we welcome everybody with open arms. We've all done things in the past that maybe we're not so proud of. I know I have. Here we accept you and you come in and you're part of us. It was embarrassing to me that we had an arrest. There's no question. I'm not picking on Braylon. The other thing is, the guys know that I support them. We're not going to turn our back on players. I'm proud of the guys that we have in that locker room. We know we're not perfect, but we try to be. It's interesting that that stat came out. That's good because we have a lot of character in this team. I think one of the reasons I did Hard Knocks is I wanted people to see the men that we have on our football team. I'm not saying we're perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we do try to be perfect off the field.
On if the perception that the Jets are undisciplined wore on him..
Yes, that and the personal foul penalties. That's not the truth. That's not who we are. We want to be the most aggressive team in the National Football League within the confinements of the rules. We're not a cheap-shot team. We're a physical team. That's who we want to be. Maybe that gets lost somewhere.
On if Edwards understands what he's done and will be better off going forward…
I think he's remorseful. There's no question. That's great. Hopefully we never have another issue like this for our whole football team. Is that really going to happen? Well, probably not. We'll probably have some issue, but I think it was a message that the entire team, to our coaches and players, that hopefully we learn from this. It's a mistake that is avoidable.
On Wayne Hunter and any other injuries from the game…
He's walking around. He had a sleeve on. It doesn't seem to be getting better.. I know we've looked at it, but I guess it's just a matter of time for him. Westerman kind of has an ankle injury. I don't want to say a definite high ankle sprain, but there is definitely something there. I think he tweaked a hamstring and had an ankle, so he's beat up a little bit. Hopefully, if Calvin comes back, we'll get him a week off. I think he's definitely questionable for this week at least, maybe doubtful.
On if he thinks Pace can play this week
I don't know. I'm hopeful. I really am.
On if there will be any roster moves since they are thin at linebacker…
No, because the great thing about having Vernon Gholston is he can slide back out there as well. Vernon can back up outside linebackers.
On if Sanchez reminded him of anyone when he watched his college film…
It's hard to say. Not really. He was impressive, obviously. He had enough mobility where he can get out of trouble. Great quarterbacks have a feel in the pocket. I think Mark has that. You saw that competitive fire that he has. He can make all the throws. I don't know a whole lot about quarterbacks, but I did say that I really liked Chad Henne when he came out. He burns me every time we play him.
The thing I saw about Mark is, when you evaluate guys that had the arm, he can make the throw from the far hash, make the deep out and the deep comeback throws. I don't think everybody can do that. He's got all the tools as far as he can make all the throws. He's got great footwork. I thought his feet were great. The thing that I love most was just him. He's got it right in here [inside]. That's the thing we see.
On having a more offensive approach this year…
We thought we'd be more balanced this year. I always prefer to run the ball more. I like racking up those rushing attempts in the fourth quarter. If you can run the ball a ton in that fourth quarter, that says a lot about your team. We haven't really been there. I prefer a little more rushing than passing. The great thing is, we're not waiting on a mistake, we're waiting on a play. I think that's how we look at Mark. He's got such a great grasp of this system right now and belief in his teammates, that it's really fun to watch.
On Leon Washington's two kickoff returns for touchdowns…
Excuse me? I never saw that [laughter]. You know what? I'm glad we traded him to an NFC team [laughter].
