Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference before Thursday's afternoon training camp practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
On the Jets awarding scholarships to two high school student-athletes from the PSAL…
I think it's fantastic, any time you can get involved in the community, and obviously, with Woody [Johnson] and everything, that's a huge thing. Our football team does get out in the community. We do a lot of different things, so that's a neat thing. We're fortunate to be this position. Anytime you can give back like that, that's great.
On what the nature of Burress' absence…
We'll just say personal thing.
On if he will be at this afternoon's practice…
Yeah, he's already here. He missed that time, it was planned well in advanced.
On Burress' status for this afternoon's practice…
The good thing about today is it's going to be goal line and short yardage. It's going to be a big guy's practice, but he'll be out there some.
On if he plans on Burress playing on Monday night against Houston…
Yeah, absolutely. I think so. Yeah. Again, we won't put him out there if we think he's at risk, as with any player, but I'd like to see him get out there a few snaps. Obviously, our first groups don't go a whole lot, but I'm expecting him to play some.
On if it is an issue that Burress is missing time on the field…
Well, I think what you got to do is, and there is a fine line where you're getting the mental reps and all that—that's probably the most important right now, where he gets caught up to speed with our system and things, and he's doing great that way. I know it's frustrating to him not be out there every snap, but he is starting to do some things. Those ankles, if you don't get it healed, it can be a problem throughout the year. So, we're going to make sure we get him back to where we think he's 100% and then get him out there.
On what makes Burress so special…
The first thing, like you said, the size jumps out at you. He can catch the football, he does a great job catching the football. He's got great body control for a big guy, I mean he can lower his weight, get in and out of cuts. It's unusual for a guy with that kind of size to be able to do that, very athletic. Then, what's underrated is his route running. He knows how to set guys up, he's tremendous that way.
There are other guys in the league that are looked at as supposed to be the top receivers in the league, some of these guys, and they're the top athletes in the league. They might not be the great route runners, and that's what makes him special is that he's a great route runner and he has the size and everything else that you look for.
On if there was a setback to Burress' ankle since he did not participate in team drills on Tuesday…
Well, no, he had a little more swelling in the ankle, and that was to be expected, but, again, it wasn't terrible. That's the thing you try to avoid, by how much do you push him. Well, if were to really pushed him, that could've really been a problem, but now it's just, let's cut back a little, let's make sure he's where we want him to be.
On if Burress will get an MRI on his ankle…
I have no idea if he did.
On if he thinks Burress should go for a precautionary MRI…
I don't even think it's [needed]. I guess he could, but I really don't think it's anywhere close to being that serious.
On if the injury may be more serious than they originally thought…
No, it's minor. He did more than we actually thought he was going to do. Then, it was a thing where it's like, hey, if there is swelling, there is no sense in pushing him longer than you have to. Let's get him back 100 percent.
On the effect Tom Moore can have on Dustin Keller…
I think he'll have an effect on a lot of guys. I think when you team him up with Schotty [Coach Schottenheimer] and all the guys that we have, [Coach Bill] Callahan and all those guys, it's just another way of [saying], "Hey, when we would attack, we'd use our tight end this way or whatever," and I'm sure we'll pick up some things that way. Dustin, he does some of those Dallas Clark-type things. There are some similar traits, so I think it will be good for him.
On what he has seen from Cordarol Scales...
Yes, we [signed him]. I never saw a single tape of him, to be honest with you. I did not. I'm not telling that lie. He's from Ft. Hays State, that much I know. We had him out here. I saw him work out. I was impressed with him. He catches the ball well. He's a big receiver. He's supposed to be a hard-worker and things. Obviously, our scouts brought him in here for a reason and we worked him out with a couple other receivers and we chose to give him the opportunity.
On Marquice Cole's return to the team after being away for personal reasons…
It's great to have him back. He looks good too. He doesn't look like Dwight Lowery-type good, but you can tell he's been lifting and everything else. As somebody said, "I bet he's still fast." I'm like, "Yeah, I bet so."
On Dwight Lowery being slotted at safety…
Well we all know how the season goes. I think that's why he got the size he did, because he wants to be a safety. But we all know, if you get a few injuries and you can't get out there. He gives you position flexibility. Obviously the more that you can do, the better.
On if the team is excited for the goal-line period during Thursday afternoon's practice…
I think so. There's going to be some hitting. If you think about it, it's really the first hitting that we've done since that Pittsburgh game with the number one guys. We had a little scrimmage out there with the three's, the young guys, but this will be it. I'm sure it'll be fun and lively out there. Like I said, our green and white scrimmage will be when we play Houston. That's the way we're approaching it. When you're weighing how you're going to do your things. "We can have one here," or whatever, it might work time-wise, but the fact you're down practices and all that, I never felt it was appropriate. That's why we kind of backed off the green and white and we'll just have at it in that Houston game.
On Muhammad Wilkerson's hip…
He's going to be fine.
On the odds Rob Turner doesn't get into a fight during goal-line drills…
I don't know if I want to take that bet. The last practice he never got into one. I did tell them, I said, "Alright guys, we met our quota for fights." That's what I mentioned to the guys. And I understand it sometimes, and it happens. But I let them know that it's time to just play football.
On if the first preseason game coming up…
It's coming pretty fast. There are some teams playing tonight though, so it could be worse.
On how much the starters will play against Houston…
We'll see, but I would think around a quarter is what we normally play them. So I really haven't put it down to paper yet, but generally that's what you do. Whether they play that long, I'm not sure.
On if special teams coach Mike Westhoff was fighting for players during free agency…
Of course. Like any coach, I remember in Baltimore I'm coaching the defensive line and they let three or four of the starters go. I think all of them, but then McCrary came back off injury. But then we had Siragusa, Sam Adams and Rob Burnett all leave the same year. And Keith Washington and Lionel Dalton. And I'm like, "Are you kidding me?" This was unbelievable. But that's what happens and you coach who you have and all that. But clearly some of the guys we brought, some of the guys doing really well, Mike was one of the guys that evaluated those players. You look at Bellore, he's one of his top rated guys. So we're excited to have him, he's done a lot of good things. Clearly there's three parts to a team and special teams is critical.
On how the team found punter Chris Bryan…
It's [assistant General Manager] Scott Cohen. He's the guy who always does a great job of finding kickers, punters and those kind of things. I don't know where he found him to be honest with you. But I think the young man did punt for Green Bay a little last year so it wasn't like he went on vacation to Australia or something like that and brought this kid back with him, although it's probably a better story.
On how Bryan is doing and the competition at punter…
Not bad, it's pretty good. I think both guys will get a chance to punt and we'll evaluate him, but it's pretty good competition right now.
On Jeff Cumberland and how he's doing in camp thus far…
He's done a great job blocking. Right now I would put him in the average tight end blocking category for NFL tight ends, but that's pretty good considering he was a wide receiver in college for the most part. He changed positions late in the season, so it's kind of new to him. But he's plenty tough and that's it. I see him, he's doing a much better job. Even pass blocking, on special teams I see it all the time. I think his arrow is going like this [pointing up]. I think he has a chance to be a great one, I really do.
On if Dustin Keller's blocking has improved since last year…
No, not really. I saw some improvement last year from him, but I think he's around where he was last year, so I hope to see him get a little more aggressive and all that stuff.
On working out the kinks compared to last year…
We're fortunate because we've had guys who have been in the same systems, so I think we're way ahead of that curve. I'm not seeing as many mental mistakes as we did this time last year. I will say this, we did repeat a little bit of our [skeleton] last week. It seems like last week because we had a day off. We did have to go back and repeat the first five plays because there were mistakes being made. Other than that, for the most part it's been pretty much mistake free.
On who is the second tight end on the depth chart…
Well I think it depends on what it is. Your best blocking tight end right now is mulligan. Mulligan is a great blocker. Cumberland gives you a big target and a guy that can really run, so I think depending on that I look at him as dare I say it, the 2 and 2A. Which you guys love when I say that. It really depends on what you're looking for. Hopefully they balance out. Mulligan had a huge day, our first two minute, he was catching balls all over the place. So he's improved as a receiver as much as Cumberland has improved as a blocker. So it's a good combination.
On if he's comfortable with the tight ends…
I'm definitely comfortable now. In fact we were looking at Todd Heap, but it never worked out. I love Todd, I think he's a great receiver and a good blocker and things, but this worked out because both these guys had made the improvements that you want guys to make. And they're still doing it. Mulligan in the passing game and Cumberland as a blocker. So I'm more confident now than I've ever been in that group.
On an injury update for Joe McKnight…
He should be good, he had an ankle, but I think he's going to be out there. We'll see, is he limited a little bit? Maybe so, but he seems to be doing fine.
On any other injuries with guys missing during walkthrough…
I don't know if injury is the right term. Maybe cut might be better [laughter]. I don't know if we've done anything officially. Maybe not. Oh boy, maybe we'll find out a little later.
On Keller's role changing…
I don't know if that would be the reason. I think having the guys around him, the good thing is that Mark can go back and throw it to the guy that is open. Don't force it to [Santonio Holmes], unless the game is on the line [joking]. Don't force it to Plaxico [Burress], [Derrick] Mason, whoever. I can't wait to see it, like everybody else I'm excited to see this group get out there. I'm glad I don't have to stop them.
