Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following the Thursday midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
Good news. Everybody was full today. The only guys on the injury report: Nick Mangold [shoulder], Calvin Pace [foot], [Darrelle] Revis [hamstring], all fully participated. That's where we're at. We're ready to roll.
On the Packers' "Psycho Package"…
When you have light bodies — we do similar packages here — it's hard to identify who the rushers are. If you've got bigger bodies, it's a pretty good indicator that, hey, these big guys are rushing. It's multiple. You can send four guys, but you still have to try and indentify those guys. That's the advantage you have with a system like that. It's similar to ours in trying to disguise rushers.
On what role Clay Matthews plays in the "psycho" package…
You can put him all over the place. They move around. They try to get a matchup that they like. They're pretty effective. They have a few guys that can rush the passer pretty well.
On how much Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie help the pass rush…
It's always a combination. You generally can't get a sack in this league without good coverage back there. Usually, you can't an interception without good pass rush, so they go hand in hand. That's why I think when you have Darrelle healthy, Cromartie out there healthy, all of our guys playing and contributing, that ought to make an opportunity for us to make some sacks. I think with the front we have, the pressure we can put on you up front should help us in the back end create turnovers.
On having guys up front who can pressure the QB...
If you can get there with three, get there with three. If it takes four, get there with four. If it takes five, six, whatever, I still think it's important to get to the quarterback. You don't have to sack him, but you've got to hit him, you've got to rattle him. A quarterback in this league, if you give him time to throw, they're going to beat you. Every one of them is good enough to beat you. The kid we're playing this week [Aaron Rodgers] especially can beat you.
On if Green Bay is doing a better job of protecting Aaron Rodger or if he is getting rid of the football quicker…
It's the combo platter. They're definitely doing a good job protecting him and then he is getting rid of the ball. I think when he feels pressure, he gets rid of it sooner than later. The other thing, too, is he keeps things alive with his feet. He's able to bail on you, step up and run with it, especially if he recognizes a certain coverage, two-man or something like that. Then he's more likely to take off with it.
On if they need to be cautious with Revis because of his injury…
We're past that now. He's ready to roll.
On if he's firmly convinced that Revis is 100 percent healthy…
I'm firmly convinced. I see him out there. I'm firmly convinced that we're past that.
On if Revis will be on the number one receiver…
We'll see. Each week, we'll see.
On saying he still needs to see improvements even though the team is 5-1…
I don't think you'll ever be totally satisfied until you get to that big game and win it. Then you can sit back and say, "Yeah, we're right where we need to be." Really, we are. We're at 5-1 right now, the best record in football, and the beauty of it is it's not just me that sees it. I think our whole team realizes that we can better, that we can improve. That's what we're shooting for right now.
On if he's seen any evidence that the bye week interrupted their momentum…
The last three practices we've been outstanding. The focus is there. The way we're flying around with the football and finishing on offense looks outstanding. I don't anticipate any dropoff, that we're rusty by any stretch. Our guys are working it. As you guys know, we've had a couple of long practices, as we call them, mans days, back to back. We had our guys carry their pads for two days. We're ready to roll.
On Cullen Jenkins…
Cullen Jenkins is an excellent player. I think they need to rest him a week [smiling]. With those calf injuries, you don't want the thing to persist all season. I definitely he needs to rest. He really is a tremendous player, big, athletic and fast, just like his brother. He's not as big, but he's a tremendous player in his own right.
On Howard Green being signed by Green Bay…
I'm happy for Howard. It's not surprising. When we released him, they're having injuries, I told our guys they'll probably pick up Howard and that's exactly what they did. He's a big thick body and I'm happy for Howard.
On if Green could play this week…
Absolutely. I would think so.
On why they released Green if they were concerned that Green Bay would sign him…
I never said I was concerned. We did what we thought was in the best interest of our football team. I'm happy for Howard, but I'm not concerned that he's playing for them.
On why Green was released this week…
There are a lot of things that go into it. We'll leave things private with our football team internally. Everybody knows what I think of Howard. He's a tremendous young man. I appreciate everybody that comes through here. I've had Howard with me in Baltimore. We've had him two years here with the Jets. Everybody knows how I feel about Howard, but every decision we make is in the best interest of our organization and our football team, so that's the decision we made.
On Damien Woody…
He's a tremendous tackles. It's funny because he doesn't have the measurable of most right tackles. He's a little shorter than most of your right tackles out there, but he is a tremendous run blocker. That's a fact. He's got great feet.
I actually coached against him when he was at Boston College and I was at the University of Cincinnati. The kid was a freshman and he was lights-out. I voted him as an All-American center. He was big back then, but not near as big as he is now. He was probably 300 back then. I even knew then. He's got great feet. He can use his hands well and he does knock people off the line of scrimmage, though I think, by the way, we did beat him on two picks for touchdowns that day from what I remember of it smiling]. He really is a tremendous tackle. He probably doesn't get the Pro Bowl recognition because he's not 6-6, but he does a tremendous job for us.
On Jason Taylor…
He's been outstanding. He's closed out some games for us with some strip-sacks. He made a couple of big plays for us. I love the way he plays. When he's on the field, he's going 100 miles an hour. He gives everything he has. He's more than like a role player. He's in rotations. He's doing all these other things. He's been great, absolutely great and a phenomenal teammate.
On the rotation of Taylor, Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas…
It hasn't been exactly what we've wanted because we've faced some teams like Denver. Last week we were in certain pass rush groups so BT [Bryan Thomas] really never played as much as what we want him to play. Each week it changes. It's not like Jason is going to play 75 percent of the snaps or this and that. I assume by the end of the year, when we add it up he'll have 75 percent of the snaps, but there is really no set number.
On Dwight Lowery earning more playing time and how it affects Kyle Wilson whose playing time has decreased…
It is, but you get what you earn. That's it. I'm feeling better about Kyle. I think he's practicing better. We're in the win business. Kyle is going to be a great contributor to us. He does have some roles, but you're right. With the play of [Drew] Coleman and with the play of Dwight [Lowery], that his role is shrinking. There is only one way to get a bigger role and that's to show it on the practice field. When you do get your opportunities in the game, you have to step up. That's it. That's my responsibility. I love Kyle and he's a first round pick. It would look great for the organization that he starts. We've said all the time, we're in the win business
On what Wilson isn't doing…
I think some of it is finding the football. I think that's a big one. I think part of it also is he's a young player. He is a rookie coming in here. You're changing game plans each week. It's not like you play the same defense over and over. In this league, we change all the time. It's not that we have a set defense. I think sometimes that's tough. You think you've got it now and we do something different. That's the way the league is played and a lot of times it takes a little longer for guys to get the feel of it. I think you're seeing the same thing with Vladimir Ducasse. He's not quite there yet.
On how important it is to keep the momentum going after the bye week…
I think it's huge. We happen to play an excellent football team, a team that a lot of experts predicted to be Super Bowl contenders. This is no easy task, but we think we're going to be up to it. I think it's going to be great because we have our fans also. We're not playing in Green Bay. They're coming to our stadium with our fans and our offense and our defense and special teams. I like that combination. We recognize the fact that Green Bay is an excellent football team, but they're the next team up and we plan on winning, no matter who's on the other side.
