Transcript of Jets head coach Rex Ryan's news conference Thursday afternoon:
We had a great week, I thought. Excellent tempo during the week. Today was rough for the offense in a few of those periods. We put them in a real bad situation. We had a third-and-long situation and that's where we like to think as a football team that our defense should dominate those situations. When you look back in the history of our defense, we should be able to make plays on those situations and when we get ahead of those people where they have to force things. That's really when you make big plays, sacks, fumbles and interceptions. That period when kind of like I thought it would.
In the red zone when we went to the 7-on-7 period, the thing that was really disappointing is we had way too many dropped balls. You can't make mistakes like that, and in the red zone it kills you because a dropped ball most of he time ends up in an interception. We have to make sure we are doing a better job there. The positives are we got a lot of interceptions in the red zone. They never let them score. The other part is as a team we have to catch the ball better.
I like the way our offense responded after the first few periods never went real well for them. I thought we responded pretty decent. We had a couple good scoring drives, a field goal in the two-minute situation with our first offense against the first defense. That was encouraging as well.
But overall the tempo for the whole week was outstanding. It was great. The offense had its moments, the defense had their moments. The tempo was the thing that I was excited about the most. We are starting to understand what our expectations are for our football team and I am really encouraged by that.
On Mark Sanchez's first week…
He had an excellent second day. I will start with the good [laughter]. The bad was the first day, it wasn't that great. And the ugly was part of today's practice. It was kind of what we expected. We are throwing him right to the wolves. With our scheme that we have in already on offense, we're throwing it all at them. There is no telling how many plays [Brian] Schottenheimer has, but it's a bunch of them.
He's trying to learn that. He's probably seeing defenses that he hasn't seen, different type of coverages, different kind of blitzes. It's all thrown at him, but he has had his moments, this week he had his moments. Today he had some rough spots as well and that is to be expected.
On if it's coincidental that Tuesday was also the day GQ published its Sanchez photo pictorial…
If that's the case then we probably need to take more pictures of him [laughter]. I don't know about all that.
On if he has given Sanchez a tough time about the photo shoot…
No, really, I haven't given him a tough time at all about that. He looks better than most of our guys would look. Let's just be happy it was him and not some of our lineman. It is kind of funny. He gets in this GQ magazine before the draft. It's kind of like, is he doing too much? It's not even the season. It's not like the guy is going to go out and have this kind of distraction during the season. It's funny. He probably wishes he wouldn't have ever done it right now. Let's put it that way: They're having a good time with it.
On Sanchez's mental capacity…
He's a sharp kid, he really is. I am sure he can repeat back to you, as far as going on the board. There are so many moving parts. It's just a little thing, if it's off, it's "Oh, yeah." He'll pick it up. He is actually probably ahead of the game compared to most young guys when they come in. I am encouraged by him.
On if dealing with this defense will be better for Sanchez in the long run…
I think it will. [Joe] Flacco always said the same thing: It can't get any worse than practice. Joe would keep his poise. The same thing with the other side of the ball. You're seeing a lot of things we are doing offensively that a lot of teams don't do. I was really encouraged by some of the things that we are doing — I know, as a defensive coordinator for all those years. On both sides it's very challenging.
On if the defense is ahead of the offense…
I don't know about all that. I guess we'll find out if we scrimmage each other. I don't think so. I think the defense is ahead of where I thought they would be just for the fact that we have a lot of smart guys. Not everybody is grasping it completely. There are a lot of guys that are familiar with it and there are some guys that are quick. It's crazy. I never thought we would be this far along right now. It's like these guys have been doing this for years.
On if he finds that the Jets who were here last year have embraced his system…
Yes, I think so. If you play defense and don't want to play in this style of defense, then something is wrong with you. Go play offense or go somewhere else. How could you not want to play in this style of defense?
What's tough is when you play in this kind of defense and go to a different one. That's frustrating. That's why I think a lot of times you will see guys that will go to a particular [scheme], whether it's a Pittsburgh guy, one of our players from Baltimore, it's got to be frustrating at times because you know there are other ways of attacking things. This will be a lot of fun to play in and it's fun when you are being successful.
We have a great group of talented players and I think with Mike [Pettine] and all the other defensive coaches, I think they are doing a good job of teaching and finding out what our players can do and what they can do best. They are already mixing in certain packages. We have a package for "Batman" [Ahmad Carroll], we have a package for "Dig" [James Ihedigbo] and all these other guys and it's fun to watch them.
On what challenges Jamaal Westerman is dealing with in his position change…
The great thing is we have already had another position change with him. We having him learning inside linebacker as well. Obviously, we think a great deal of this guy. He's quick. We were fortunate last year [in Baltimore], we had a guy, Jameel McClain from Syracuse. He was a talented young man that came as a free agent and is very similar.
He is a quick study and I think he has a lot of upside. We will see when the pads come on and I actually think that will be better for him. He's a physical player as we saw on tape from Rutgers and he's definitely our kind of guy and we are throwing it at him. The great thing is it's not just that he gets comfortable in just one spot. He has to learn the system and when he does he is going to increase the value of this football team.
On how Kareem Brown is developing at tight end…
Pretty good. We all saw the drop today. It was a beauty. It's too bad those numbers couldn't catch the ball for him today. He's done well, he really has. I know you get one drop. It's unfortunate you guys were there to see that, but he's had his moments already in camp and that's another guy that really is adding to his value for this football team.
A guy that can play tight end, a guy that can play defensive end and do different things for us, special teams. He is going to be a valuable member of our team. He is coming along. I know that one drop was "Oh," but that was Kareem. Those things happen to everybody.
On Vernon Gholston's progress…
Good. I am really excited about Vernon. I think he is where I thought he would be right now at this stage. He is working and getting better every day. The thing we have to remember is he never had any of this time last year. He was on that quarter system [at Ohio State] and that's tough, and when he came in everybody was so much further ahead than he was where it was sometimes tough to make up ground.
I think we are seeing a guy now that is confident, he's right there, he knows what he is doing and you're seeing that natural talent that he has.
On Gholston's role within the defense…
I think you have to earn your role, no matter what it is. Is he a starter, is he this, is he that? I know one thing: He is going to be a major contributor for us.
On Bubba Franks and his return from injury…
He's coming around good. He looks tall to me, so that's good. No, seriously, we don't expect Bubba to do anything really until training camp. So we know that, because he's hurt, you know we'll see, maybe the mandatory minicamp, we'll see how that thing goes. Bubba's a football player, we know it, we signed him knowing that he's going to be an outstanding blocker for us and he's gonna have a role.
Plus, I tell you what – we kid about it a little bit, but if there's a tight end in the red zone, you know there's a guy right there that can help you in the red zone. A guy like that, when he's covered, he's still open. That is a big man with long arms and I know the production that he's had in years past prove that he's an outstanding red zone receiver.
On Franks' potential as a blocker…
A big-time blocker, I think. Remember, Ben Coates we had [with Baltimore] in 2000. He was a big-time receiver at one time but he was a big-time blocker at the end of his career. I think they learn all the tricks of the trade, and I think Bubba's that guy. He's a real professional to me.
On reports of Thomas Jones reporting next week…
I was reading Twitter the other day, and I understand there are reports that he'll come in next week and I hope he does. I'm excited about that if that's the case. I haven't spoken with Thomas but I would like to see him.
On if Jerricho Cotchery will step into Laveranues Coles' role…
Not really. I'm looking for Jerricho to be himself. And all the roles and all that, I think we have enough receivers. We'll see. You know, with guys mixing and matching and all that stuff, does Jerricho have to because someone has to replace Coles in his role and all that kind of stuff? Jerricho's a pretty darn good receiver in his own right. Just let him be himself and I think somebody has to pick up, maybe it's somebody else or some other receivers who would have to pick up Coles' role.
On rookies that stood out when training with the veterans…
Well, Shonn Greene was doing that until he got this hamstring injury or whatever it is. It's not that big a deal. That's why he really wasn't in there today. He was looking pretty good.
On the undrafted rookies…
Well the reps are so limited right now. It's really hard to say "Well, this guy and that guy." We have a couple of linemen that are working well on both sides of the ball. I think they're doing a decent job. Again, we'll know more about them when they put the pads on. A guy can look great in shorts if he's a lineman, but I think we'll find out more about them when the pads come on.
On Kellen Clemens' performance this week…
I think Kellen had a pretty good week, I really did. He did a lot of good things. We had a couple of interceptions in there today that, you know, you can't really blame it on the quarterback if it's going through somebody's hands. There were a couple of mis-throws in there, but you have to give the defense credit, too. They were making the plays.
On the importance of dropped passes when making personnel decisions…
Well, they're huge. Especially when we get going, you can't have drops in the red zone, you can't do it. And the reason those balls get intercepted is because everybody's eyes are on the receivers. You see a lot of zone coverage down there and you don't have the room to throw, so guys who are generally out of the picture on certain routes, running maybe little dry routes or over routes, now those corners who should be out of the picture are actually in the picture. That's why you see so many times those balls get intercepted.
Those are things you can't have. It's a lack of focus and all these guys can catch a football and they just gotta focus and get the ball in their hands and you don't need to run with it until you catch it, and it's just fundamental football. That'll drive you crazy as a coach, but absolutely that's the number one thing as a receiver. You can have all the speed in the world but if you can't catch a football, you're of no use.
On the scouting report on assistant coach Ben Kotwica…
Well, you know what's funny, I just met Ben when he was here. Obviously, you guys are going to get that opportunity to meet him and you're going to be so impressed, just like I was. A little bit about his background, what I know of it. Ben played for [Bob] Sutton at Army. I believe he was a three-year starter there and a cocaptain, which says something.
It's the fact that he was flying helicopters on I believe almost a thousand missions or something. I can tell you this: He's not breaking nerves on anything. He is a sharp guy, very humble, and I believe he's going to be a star in this league as a coach, I really do. We have him working with the defense also and with special teams, and you talk about a guy who's going to be rising through the ranks, this young man will for sure.
On how Kotwica was brought aboard…
The first thing is, the organization had a great feel for this young man and then when you meet Ben, you guys will see what I'm talking about. He's really just an impressive guy and I knew I wanted him on my staff. I wanted him in several roles and that's why I think you see he's helping the defense.
He's actually the only coach we have out there with a whistle. So he's standing with me. To be honest with you, [Bill] Callahan never really wanted that job, so I went to Kotwica and said, "Come here Ben, this will be good training for you to be a head coach one day." I was like I'm not real used to it, wasn't real comfortable with it, so I gave him the bad job. He'd better get used to it, too, because I can see him one day really climbing these ranks and being in that position, I really can.
On any experience with coaches who played for Army...
No, not really. Most of them can't run, that's it. But realistically, this is nothing. The easiest part of their day would be football practice, so you tip your hat to all the guys on the services and what they stand for and the kind of men they are. It's just incredible. We're very fortunate to have Ben with us, let's just put it that way.
On Buddy Ryan's time in the military and its influence on Rex…
He was a master sergeant in the Korean War, so he was leading men into battle for their lives when he was only 18 years old, which I think is pretty amazing. That's why when people ask, "Are you as tough as your dad? Are you like him?", I'm fortunate. I never had to grow up the way he did, so absolutely not. I'm not as tough as he is. Fortunately, the circumstances were different; I never had to go to battle.
A quick little story on him. Somebody who had served with my father said when somebody would ask for volunteers, maybe only one or two guys put their hands up. And when my father asked for volunteers, every hand went up. So I think everybody felt good about him and obviously he was a leader back then and when he went into coaching football, it was like nothing to him. Again, I think that's where Ben will be also.
On David Clowney…
David has had a lot of great days, he's going to get better. He battles with [Darrelle] Revis quite a bit. I know during the first play of the two-minute drill, they tried to throw it deep against Revis on a double-move — probably not a good idea. But he works against [Revis] every day and he made a couple of great moves against Revis, caught a couple passes during this week in one-on-one drills, and trust me, that's not easy.
I feel that he's confident, I know he knows he belongs and can play in this league. The great speed that he has, we all know about. I think he understands the offense pretty well. Again, I expect big things out of him. We've got to get him to catch the ball in the red zone, we've got to do those types of things. If you want to separate yourself from some good receivers and want to be great, you need to be one of those red zone targets. Hopefully he can be one of those guys for us.
