Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Thursday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
Since I don't have the injury report, this is what it looks like. Damien Woody did not practice, still with the knee. James Ihedigbo did not practice. That I know for sure is accurate. Guys that are on the injury report: LaDainian Tomlinson and Tony Richardson were full participants today, but they were listed as did not practice yesterday because of non-football-related, so move them to full participants today. The usual things: Shaun Ellis [knee], Jerricho [Cotchery, groin], Brad Smith [hand], [Sione] Pouha [ankle], [Darrelle] Revis [hamstring], Calvin Pace. So all right, you guys get the idea [laughter].
One thing. D'Brickashaw [Ferguson] did have a shoulder during practice. He practiced full but he did have a shoulder in practice. He fell down and jammed his shoulder, but he should be fine.
On if they have been having hard practices since guys have been getting injured…
This one wasn't near as bad as Jim Leonhard's was. We get our scout team and we're going hard. We're pushing them. We're going hard. He went to finish his block and jammed his shoulder a little bit. He's going to be fine. We practiced inside for the individual practice and special teams part of practice. We went outside for the team [period] so we could get the weather. I was going to practice outside fully, but when you looked at the injury report, it's supposed to be 50 degrees and rain. We went outside for the team period. For the offensive portion of it, we had wet footballs out there. We're trying everything.
On the media being thankful they practiced inside…
You're welcome. I did that just for you guys. I'm hoping for a little more positive press. Maybe we can bury the ball, so to speak [laughter]. No, I'm just kidding. We can move on from it.
On if there were any more burials today…
No burials. We aren't planning on any in the future.
On if he feels the running game is where it was last year…
I don't know if we've got the same amount of attempts as last year. I think we're throwing it more this year. I think we're very effective in the rushing part. Obviously, I love to run the football. Hopefully, that will pick up. In these next several weeks, we're facing some really good run defenses. Still, I have confidence in our running game. I think our backs are healthy. I think we're in a good spot.
On if their communication will be better in the secondary now that it's been a week since Jim Leonhard was injured…
I think it will help us. We look good back there. D-Lo [Dwight Lowery] looks good back there. We had a good practice last week. This week, we're having good practices and I think the communication [is getting better]. There are very few mental mistakes. Guys are running around pretty good.
On if running the football will increase the team's mentality…
I think so. That's the way you would envision a game. You would have more rushing intensive passing attempts. We want to be able to come back on somebody if we get behind, during the playoffs. I always talk about being able to run the ball when the other team knows you're going to run it and throw the ball when they know you're going to throw it. You can have that kind of offense and that's going to suite you well.
On if the offense is better this year…
I think Mark [Sanchez] is better and I think the addition of Santonio Holmes really gives this receiving corps a chance to be special. I think what, LaDainian [Tomlinson] has brought, especially in the passing attacks, makes us better.
On meeting with Mark Sanchez…
I'm actually going to meet with him later this afternoon.
On Braylon Edwards dropping passes…
I think this year, and I don't know the statistics, but I'm sure they are out there, you can count on one hand how many dropped balls he has had. He had a critical third-down one up there this past week and I think he had one up until that point. I'm not sure what the exact numbers are, but I don't think he's dropping that many. Last year he had more drops. The one in Toronto was a classic, like he misjudged a flyball. I thought he's been doing really well catching the ball.
On if meeting with Mark Sanchez on Thursdays is a regular thing…
It's just something I'm going to steal from [Bill] Belichick. I steal everything else from him. I figured I'd steal that one from him [laughter].
You know me, I'm the first guy to give credit. I steal and I admit it. I steal from everybody. The football deal was something that has been done in this league, but something I definitely thought it was appropriate at the time. I have to give my dad credit because he actually did that thing one hundred years ago in high school. He's the one when I talked to him after the game, gave me the idea.
It's funny. I give Belichick more credit than anybody, but this I just laughed at. He did do that. My brother mentioned that as well, but that wasn't where I stole it from. I stole it from my dad and he probably stole it from Pop Warner. There are very few original thought out there now. It's funny because I do lean on so many guys in this organization. From Mike Tannenbaum, to Bill Callahan and of course Bob Sutton. That's just a weekly thing.
On how the players felt about the ball burial…
I think they were just happy to get it past them and to get back inside. No one was dressed for the occasion. I think they were glad to see me shoveling.
On how a loss can affect players throughout the week…
I think a lot of times it does show. I've never been whipped like that, so I don't know how it would show up. I think we've moved on. If Miami beats us, it's not because New England beat us.
On the Jets being a physical or a finesse team…
I think we are a physical football team, I don't think there is any doubt. Did we get out-physicaled that game? Yeah, absolutely. I'm tired of talking about it. That's a fact.
On the Patriots being a finesse team…
I don't care about the Patriots. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm done with them.
On meeting with Mark Sanchez every Thursday…
These next two weeks for sure because I've gone against those two guys. I know those guys well. I've worked under Mike Nolan for a few years so I know Mike well. I've gone up against Dick LeBeau forever. I think I can maybe help him these two weeks.
On if the meeting with Mark Sanchez will just be the two of them…
It's going to be Mark and me. It's no big deal.
On what the meeting with Mark Sanchez will be about…
Just going over a film or two. I can give some incite. Talk about different things.
On Jason Taylor's performance…
I'm not happy with how we used him this week. This guy is a great football player and we need to use him more. I think I was more disappointed in the plan of attack that we had. Obviously things changed when we had Jim out, but he has to get more involved. This guy makes plays. That's all I see. When he's out there, he's making plays. He's tipping balls, sacking the quarterback and making plays in a running game. He's a great player and we need to utilize him.
On how Jason Taylor should have been used during the New England game…
I would have played him more. He didn't play that much.
On when and why Jason Taylor should have played more during the New England game…
It wasn't necessarily Ihedigbo, it was more when Jim Leonhard [got hurt]. You had different personnel groupings. We probably thought we were going to play a little more of this and a little more of that in the game.
On how many snaps Jason Taylor played during the New England game…
I don't have that number on me. I don't think it was enough.
On how Jason Taylor contributes to the game…
I see that the guy makes play. I'm happy with Jason.
On how the team will make sure Jason Taylor's playing time is increased…
I will strongly suggest it.
On if this will be the first Thursday meeting with Mark Sanchez…
Nothing like this structure. I've met with Schotty [Brian Schottenheimer], [Matt] Cavanaugh and Mark every Friday since half way through the season last year. This isn't a huge thing. It's more like a lunch date. I'll eat some Mexican food with him.
On if the meeting with Mark Sanchez will be at a restaurant…
It will be at Café Ryan inside my meeting room [laughter].
On if the meetings with Mark Sanchez are similar to the color-code meetings from last year…
I think this one is going to be more about that I know they guys he's up against, maybe a trap that he's going to lay out for you, this is something he likes to do. There are tendencies that you have, but also there's the fact that I've coached with this guy. If it can help a little bit, then great. Plus we can just talk like he's my son.
On if Mark Sanchez has lost his confidence…
No. He's as messed up as I am [laughter]. He has plenty of confidence.
