Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Thursday's afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
Let's start with injuries. Guys that did not practice: Shaun Ellis [back], James Ihedigbo `knee/ankle], Damien Woody [knee] and Matt Slauson did not practice today. Matt's wife's in the hospital. They're expecting. Hopefully, everything goes well there. About these guys, Damien Woody is clearly going to be out with James Ihedigbo. Guys that were limited today: [Antonio] Cromartie [groin], Sione [Pouha, back], Trevor Pryce [hip], [Darrelle] Revis [hamstring], [Mark] Sanchez [right shoulder], Eric Smith [concussion]. Guys that were full: Santonio Holmes [quad], Nick Mangold [shoulder], Brad Smith [hand] and Bryan Thomas [ankle].
Before we get going, I want to make sure everybody has these team awards we announced today officially. David Harris won the Curtis Martin Team Most Valuable Player Award. LaDainian Tomlinson received the Dennis Byrd Award for most inspirational player. Brad Smith earned the Marty Lyons Award for community service. Mike DeVito was honored with the Kyle Clifton Good Guy Award. Shaun Ellis received the Ed Block Courage Award. And John Conner was selected as the Bill Hampton Award winner.
On why Damien Woody will not play this week…
I think we anticipated him practicing by now. He supposedly will practice some tomorrow, but I don't think he'll be ready to play in the game.
On Shaun Ellis…
He's out there, he's just not practicing. He has a back issue. If it doesn't get better, clearly he won't play as well.
On if Woody will be available to play in the playoffs…
I'm not sure. We haven't seen him practice yet. We have a lot of confidence with Wayne [Hunter], but we'll see how Damien is.
On if Hunter playing well gives them more leeway if Woody can't play…
Maybe so. We expected Wayne to play well. Quite honestly, in the playoffs, you want to have all hands on deck. Hopefully, Damien will be able to roll.
On if he has made a decision on if Mark Sanchez will play…
Yes. I saw him throw today, as you guys saw him throw. He looked good. He had some zip on the ball. We'll go ahead and start Mark this game. How long he plays, we'll determine that as the game goes. He will start for us.
On what they can do to improve the run defense…
First off, it starts with showing the tape. Why are things happening? The answer is on tape. It starts with your pad level and then knocking the line of scrimmage back and coming off blocks, not just walking off blocks. That's been our focus this week, getting back to playing the techniques we're used to playing.
On Bart Scott only having two tackles last game…
A lot of those runs were on the perimeter. That front seven, we need to get better. We've got to get back to knocking that line of scrimmage back and flying to the football. Those are things we've talked about all week.
On moving Isaiah Trufant to the active roster…
We want to see the kid play. Could he help us in the playoffs? That's what we're trying to find out. He was [the UFL's] Defensive Most Valuable Player. He's done some good things on the practice field. We want to see if it translates to playing on Sunday.
On generating a pass rush…
You can always blitz more guys but I think you have to win your 1-on-1 matchups. When you look at the tape, it's like, "Guys, the answer's on tape." When you're coming off and you're raising up, you have to start your motor all over again. It starts with your takeoff, your pad level. That way, if you have to reload on counter moves, your pads are still down. If you're straight up and down, you're going nowhere and they can sit back and pass you off.
Now does the field condition play in to that a little bit? Sure it does. That's why when you look at Chicago and Pittsburgh, they never got a sack. Yet they're good pass rushers. You have to really focus, especially in those conditions, on staying down, keeping your pads down and keeping your lean going forward. Those are things we're talking about. I wanted to put them in a shoe, the old school shoe we would work in training camp, but obviously, the conditions didn't play into that.
On if they would alter anything schematically to improve the pass rush…
No.
On if this game is like the third preseason game…
I guess you can look at it that way. Of all the preseason games, that would probably be more like this one. Quite honestly, you don't have the numbers. You're not going to get mass substitutions. You don't have the numbers. We'll focus on playing those guys. We're going to try to get the young guys in, but we're trying to win also. But are we going to take out a Shaun Ellis if he's not ready to go? Absolutely, we won't play him.
On if he is considering personal stats when deciding the amount of playing time for players this weekend…
Not really. I think if you're really close to something maybe that would be it, but no. We came in here, we had one goal as a team and that's to try to win the Super Bowl and that's it. The personal things are great if they come, but we're not thinking about that right now.
On he has given any consideration to making sure LaDainian Tomlinson gets 1,000 yards rushing…
No.
On if it's possible that he play everybody and then rest them later in the game…
That's could be a possibility. We'll see how we feel, but that could be a possibility.
On getting Shonn Greene some carries to gain momentum entering the playoffs…
I think sometimes your opponents kind of dictate that style of play. Clearly, Shonn, we know the kind of runner he is this time of year. To use him as a battering ram, that's what you need in the playoffs in my opinion.
On Joe McKnight seeing more time on offense this week against Buffalo…
I think he's going to get a ton of playing time. I think he's ready for it, so we're going to find out. I expect him to play a lot.
On the changes in Joe McKnight from preseason to now…
I think it started inside him, that he decided that he wanted to be a football player and sometimes, I'll tell you, the bench is the best thing for it. He's been a star all his life. You put him on the bench — "Well, you're not ready, kid." Then he says, "You know what? I'm going to show the coaches. I'm going to show everybody." That's what he did, including playing defense. He's out there, he's playing defense all the time, he's on every special teams show team, now he's up on the varsity on the special teams. He's just kind of earning his stripes a little bit right now.
On why he felt it was important that Mark Sanchez play on Sunday…
More than anything, it's just that routine he's established. He has a good thing going right now and he's comfortable. I just kind of wanted to keep that going. The other thing is to think that we could be playing a Saturday game and if we are, don't come around here, "I haven't done anything," and now all of a sudden you're on a short week. I think that's really what is winning in my decision here.
On if his shoulder would benefit or not from the extra week's rest…
Again, I'm not going to say that he's going to play x amount of plays or whatever, but when we look at it, he certainly would not be out there if we didn't think he was healthy, without question. 11 wins is great. That would be great, but quite honestly, we want to win in the playoffs. I think by playing Mark, that kind of keeps him on track doing his things, his routine and all that kind of stuff. You guys see him out there, he looks good right now.
On if he was waiting to see how Sanchez threw today before making his decision on his playing time…
I wanted to see him throw today because last week, at this time, I had my concerns, but right now, he is zipping it pretty good. I don't want to put him out there if we don't think he's healthy, but I believe he is healthy now.
On Dwight Lowery at safety...
Dwight never played great. We're throwing him in that position. He played like a young safety would. He's got skills. He made the great interception for a touchdown. He's got coverage ability. He's got ball skills. He's got a lot of things going for him. I think he'll eventually be a really good safety. We kind of just threw him out there.
To his credit, he's out there and I looked over there and we said, "OK, you're in the post." He was barely on the video. He's literally 50 yards down the field. "Yeah, you might want to come down. We want to play with 11, not 10 out there." Which, of course, we've been majoring in lately [laughter]. I think he's been doing pretty well out there.
