Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Thursday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
Guys that are out — we're doing it a day early — Eric Smith [concussion], Damien Woody [knee]. Guys that did not participate today in practice: James Ihedigbo [ankle, knee], Trevor Pryce [hip]. Guys that were limited, and I guess it's new on the list, Darrelle Revis [hamstring]. He was limited in practice today. Guys that were full: Nick Mangold [shoulder], Sione [Pouha, finger], Brad Smith [hand] and then T-Rich [Tony Richardson] and LaDainian [Tomlinson, not injury-related]. They were full today. I expect Revis to play, obviously. That's more precautionary than anything else with that hamstring.
On if it is the same hamstring Revis injured at the beginning of the season…
I'm going to take a shot at it and say yes, but I'm not 100 percent sure.
On Pryce and Ihedigbo not practicing…
I think, number one, it's going to be hard to keep Dig from playing against Pittsburgh. That's his kind of game, a physical game. I think he's going to play for sure. Trevor, I'm not sure on right now. I know he wants to. We'll see how he does. Again, he's a veteran guy that's been in the system a long time. He knows his body well. Hopefully, he'll play, but I'm not 100 percent right now.
On adding Jarron Gilbert to the active roster…
Somebody was wanting to put him on their active roster. They made a courtesy call to us and we decided we wanted to keep Gilbert. That's what happened there.
On why Ihedigbo did not practice…
We don't want to overdo it right now with him.
On who will be relaying the calls since Eric Smith will not play…
We'll see who's out there. Who do we have left? We have D-Lo [Dwight Lowery], Brodney [Pool]. We'll figure it out.
On if Lowery will start…
Yes, I think so. I think we'll start Dwight and see about Dig's availability. I feel pretty good about starting Dwight. He's a smart kid.
On what will be the key to deciding who will be given play calling duties…
Really, we teach our defense a little different than most people. We teach the system. There's more than one guy. Clearly, it's easier for the back end guy because he see's everything in front of him. You generally prefer that your safeties make those calls. I'll tell you, Brodney Pool is new to the system this year, but Brodney has worked his tail off. He spends, there's no telling how much extra with the coaches, with Dennis Thurman and Jimmy O'Neil. He's here all the time, before practice, before meetings, after meetings. He's really trying to get this system dialed in. It's been impressive.
On when Revis injured himself…
To be honest with you, this is news to me. We did hold him out a little bit today. His hamstring is just a little tight. It's not like he pulled it or anything. You'd rather be a little more cautious there.
On what he's seen from Mark Sanchez in practice…
He's good. It's just eye of the tiger. He wants it. This game can't get here soon enough for him. He's ready to go. I think he realizes, too, that this opponent is really good. You have to be smart. You have to take care of the football. He understands that. The competitor in Mark Sanchez, he's out there and he's ready.
On why this game will be Sanchez's toughest challenge…
Because they are multiple. Things that they do give you all kind of different looks and they are physical. This team gets after it. They can blitz you. They can play you base. They have multiple different coverages, multiple different blitz looks, and they're talented. That's a really talented group over there. I think this is going to be a huge challenge.
On needing to spread out the Steelers' defense to be successful…
I think the big thing is your players. New England spread us out too. It's how you match up physically with them. I think that's the key when going against any group. If you spread out any team in this league, you have a chance to be able to throw the football, but they also have a chance to knock the quarterback out. That's something you want to look at. You can put five wides out there, but you're protection is a little limited. A guy like [Tom] Brady got the ball out of his hands quickly and they were able to move the ball with some success. They also moved it on the ground in that game as well.
On if he is confident that they can run the ball against the Steelers defense…
I know one thing, I'm confident we can run against anybody. Last week we were held to under three yards a carry by Miami, and this front's better than Miami's front. It's going to be a big challenge.
On if he's done anything differently with the offense…
I don't think I have quite the impact most coaches would think they do or say they do. They're crazy. I've sat in there. I have a good grasp of what we do and what we ask. I sat in there this week and watched the offensive film from the game with the offensive staff. I have great confidence in our coaching staff, offensive, defense and special teams. For me to go in and think I can add something and it will be the magic thing to get us to play better, no matter what it is, you're giving me way too much credit. I'm not that guy. I'll be there in a supportive role. Whatever is asked of me, I'll do. If I see some things, I'll throw it out there: "Did we consider this" or "Did we consider that?"
On if he ever suggests plays to OC Brian Schottenheimer…
I let guys do their thing. There are times when I'll sit back and say, "Hey, let's ground and pound them" or whatever.
On the criticism of Schottenheimer…
I don't know. You look at it and clearly we haven't had very good offensive performances the last couple of weeks. That's a given. But I feel fortunate that we have the offensive staff that we have. It's a great staff. I think it hasn't been our day lately and I give the opponents credit as well. That doesn't mean I have lost confidence in the staff. It's a great staff. If you look at us statistically and It's one of the best offensive years statistically that the Jets have had in several years. I don't know where we are ranked. I think it's like 13th in total offense. You guys would know better than I would. The sting of the last two weeks, in particular where we have only put up a few points, I think that's what everyone remembers.
On if the Pittsburgh game is a big game for Schottenheimer…
I think it's equal throughout the team. It's a big game for all of us. There's no question about that.
On Mark Sanchez carrying the team forward…
The Super Bowl is what I've talked about since I got here because that's who I am and that's what I believe. If you go into it and don't have that as a goal or those types of aspirations, what do you do it for? Do you want to come in 12th in the league? I don't understand that. To me, I'm always shooting for it. I'm trying like crazy to get there. Now is it hard to get there? Yes. Only one team is successful every year. I want to be that team and that's what I came here to do.
The fact we have a young quarterback and as a rookie took us to the AFC Championship game, that's pretty impressive. The fact we are 9-4 and he's a second year quarterback, that's impressive. There are a lot of things that we have done as a football team over the last two years that have been pretty good. Have we gotten where we want to get to? No. We want to win the Super Bowl and we have the courage to say it. That's our goal and we're not going to be satisfied until we get it. Then we're going to want to win the next one.
On if there is a different feeling going into Pittsburgh…
I think most teams that are competitors look forward to these types of opportunities. It's mid December. Where is the hardest place to play? If you sit back and rank them, I don't know where Pittsburgh falls, but it's a hard place to play. The fact that they are a physical football team and everything about the Pittsburgh Steelers, that's old-school football. Any competitor would be like, "OK, let's go!' We'll see how we measure up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's what I can't wait to do. Mike Tomlin and all of them. He's had more wins against me than I've had against him. I've had some wins against him. I know what his team is going to bring and he knows what our team is going to bring. I think everyone is looking forward to that game.
On Wayne Hunter starting at right tackle…
I've said all along that Wayne is a tremendous football player. He could be a starter for a lot of teams in this league. It just so happens that he backs up two great tackles. Wayne is an excellent football player. They have a couple guys that can really rush the passer, so it's going to be a challenge for all of us. I think Wayne is ready to do the job.
On what he thinks the key matchup will be…
There is going to be some great ones. No question there's going to be some great match-ups. I really want to see the Nick Mangold and Casey Hampton match-up. That one is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
On flaws in the offensive line…
At times we look good and others maybe not as good. It's never just about the O-line blocking. That wasn't a good game for the O-line. That's a fact. To our standards it wasn't a good game for us. I just think overall our tight-ends are physical. I think Dustin [Keller] has really improved as a blocker. We had the two penalties last week on him, but he's usually a really good blocker.
On Joe McKnight's role in Pittsburgh…
It depends. He can give some match-up problems to you. He's a good receiver and he has blazing speed. That could be a real possibility.
On being a part of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry and if it still affects him…
It's just the Steelers. When I was there, absolutely. The funny thing is, we don't like each other, but it's more about respect. We respect them and they respect us. That's what it's all about. At the end of the day, if one team can only go to the Super Bowl, you want them to win. That's a real football team. I guarantee when we were going, during our run, they wanted us to win. I think we are built the same way, believe the same way, and it's more of a respect thing. We're going to try and smash each other. There's no question about that. It's really not a hatred thing, it's more of two tough guys that are going to fight each other.
On how Vladimir Ducasse is progressing…
He's doing OK, but we really haven't seen him in a game. To be honest with you, we really don't want to see him in a game because that means something else happened to somebody. I think he's doing well. When you see him out there, he seems to be doing a pretty good job out there. He's learning and he's communicating with the guys. I have confidence if we have to play him, but I'd just as soon not.
