Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Thursday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
All right, here we go. Injury report. Logan Payne, out — he actually did get the cast off, though. Now he has some pins exposed. I don't know if that's a good thing [joking], but he actually did get that removed. Guys that did not participate in practice: Nick Mangold, with his ankle, Ropati [Pitoitua], with his knee, Isaiah Trufant, hamstring. Again, I think Isaiah will be out this week. We'll see about Ropati. I expect Nick to play.
Guys that were limited: Tanner Purdum, with a low back, Donald Strickland, concussion. He was limited. He was out there, just no contact, he was wearing a red jersey, but he moved around pretty good. LT [LaDainian Tomlinson], LaDainian had a calf that kind of limited him today. I expect him to play, though. Guys that were full: Marquice Cole, with a hamstring, Marcus Dixon, shoulder, Garrett McIntyre, concussion, Bart Scott, toe, MTV [Martin Tevaseu], low back, Muhammad Wilkerson, shoulder.
On why they struggle against Miami…
I look at the Dolphins and they are very competitive. Even this year, they are 0-4 — they've been in every game. This is a competitive team, a very physical football team. Right now, this year, you have four first-round picks on your offensive line. People give me flack about building a defense up. How about Tony [Sparano] there? He has four first-round picks on his offensive line. They are a physical team. Then you have a wideout in Brandon Marshall, the size of a tackle, but he can run and is a great receiver. We've had some battles with them. The two years I've been here, they've beat us both times at home. That's hard to do, but they were able to do that, so we have to find a way to end that streak.
On getting beat twice at home by Miami when they have dominated from a statistical standpoint…
That just tells you about their team. When you think about teams, and you talk about competitive, that's what you think about. The first thing that comes to your mind is this is a very competitive, well-coached football team. We have to find ways to beat them. We've only beat them one time since I've been here.
On what they can do to get Mark Sanchez and the offense to start faster…
You try to find what it is. Last year, was it warming up more, come out to throw 100 balls? I don't know. We're still looking for it. Last year, when he really got hot at the end of the year, he actually went to the stadium late and never warmed up, so we're looking for anything. It's just one of those things, because he's been absolutely terrific as the game goes on. We just have to find that groove.
On why they have not had Sanchez arrive late to the stadium again this year…
We've tried that. We've done that. Remember, when he had the shoulder, we would warm him up on the sidelines and all that kind of stuff. It's just one of those things. I think, as a team, we have to get there. I have to take the ball, I got you.
On how much Sanchez was to blame for the slow start against New England…
Remember the [second three-and-out]? John Conner, his nickname, "The Terminator," "Concrete"? Well, that one, he dropped the ball. Those things happen, but it seemed like we dropped some. We missed some targets early, and then we had some drops and that never helps you. We just need to be sharp, collectively, not just Mark, but all of us and start fast. Make it a point. We've looked at everything known to man. We know Mike Nolan is going to throw everyone at us and we're looking at everything.
On if they will try using the buzzer again this week to practice getting the ball out of the pocket quicker…
Oh, yes. The buzzer, it's been out there. By the way, the tempo is good. The guys are running routes quick. That thing about you can't hold it long, it's especially against this team. We know they're going to be blitzing us and pressure, we expect that. The bigger the game, the more you get from Mike Nolan. We know it's coming.
On how much confidence there is in the running game after passing on third down in New England several times…
Most teams in this league will throw it on third downs. We feel great about our running— well, I'm not going to say that, but I'm feeling much better about our running game. In that area, we knew they would expect the run. We ran what we call a kick pass, the fullback is open and we just have to catch the football.
On if he has changed anything in practice to help eliminate the mental errors and penalties…
We're working hard on it. There is no question we're trying to, I don't want to say exactly what we've done, but we still aren't doing the pushups yet. We certainly have talked about it and we're doing some things, even off the field, to try and get better in some areas.
On what the morale of the team is like…
We just need to find a way to win. I think that if you want good morale, that's it. We talk about it, everything. Nothing is good when you lose, the food you eat or whatever, I mean nothing. It's trying to get that winning formula and that winning feeling.
On if it is hard to sell the players on how competitive the Dolphins are since they are 0-4…
No, we look in the mirror and we see 0-3 our last three, so absolutely not. This is a good football team. If you look at them, they have I'd say three-and-a-half Pro Bowl players on their defense. We have one Pro Bowl player. That's what it looks like, Cameron Wake, one of the best pass rushers in the game. You have the nose tackle [Paul Soliai], and I say he is a half because I don't think he's been there yet but he's a Pro Bowl-caliber guy. You have [Karlos] Dansby, who has been to a Pro Bowl, and you have the corner, Vontae [Davis] Revis over there [laughter], so it's a talented group. Then on offense, you have Jake Long and he has the reputation of being the best tackle in football. I like our guy [D'Brickashaw Ferguson], but they're loaded.
On if part of him is happy the Jets will not see Chad Henne at quarterback…
I appreciate you bringing that up. I don't know, it's crazy. He's had two unbelievable games against us and then two real clunkers against us. We'll see. Hopefully, we can play better against this other kid.
On QB Matt Moore…
There's plenty of footage on Matt Moore. We know the kind of athlete he is. He can make all throws. He's a physical talent. He can move. He can do all that. The number changes on you. There still going to run their plays, their offense. Quite honestly, Henne has probably run more than any quarterback in this league. He was back there, if it wasn't there, he was running with it. So you expect the same type of mentality out of this kid, but he's a little faster.
On if this is one of the most challenging times he has faced as a head coach…
Yeah, I don't want to make it a habit of getting there. We've experienced this two other times in my career as a head coach. The only way we fixed it, we fixed it back then, was working hard and trying to get better each day, and that's what we're doing.
On having over two-thirds of the season left to improve…
We just don't want to keep saying that, and as the losses mount we keep saying, "We got time." Let's try to get it taken care of right now. We're not looking down the road. We're looking at this week's opponent and that's it.
On if Mangold suffered swelling after the game and if that is why he has not practiced…
No, I just think he's a little tender, and it's going to be like this for a couple of weeks. He'll be limited, I would anticipate, tomorrow in practice he'll be limited. That's just what it's going to be for the next couple of weeks, but I expect him to play.
On how Jason Taylor is playing for Miami…
Doing good. He's got a sack, he's playing quite a bit. I believe this [Koa] Misi guy, he's been out. He's probably even playing more than he anticipated. We'll see what his role is now if this guy is coming back. Jason's good. Jason's an excellent player, he's smart, instinctive, and can still rush the passer.
On if the Jets tried to re-sign Taylor this offseason…
I'll say this, we would've loved to have had Jason back.
On if he would have made more of an attempt to sign Taylor had he known he would go back to Miami…
I'm happy we had him last year. Jason played great for us last year. He made some huge play. I thought Jason was great for this football team, his presence on the field and in the locker room, as well. He's a class act all the way, so I don't regret signing Jason Taylor here for one second.
On if he's concerned about Taylor's knowledge of the Jets defense…
I understand that he does. Again, we do different things each week. We're not just a, "This is the defense we run each week." But I'm sure he can help some.
On how Sanchez has done in terms of leadership this season…
I think he's done well. I do. Nobody knows the playbook like he does, of the players. He knows it all. He's been great that way. Super competitive. All that. He's got the respect of everybody in this organization.
On if it's hard to judge Sanchez's performance due to the pocket pressure he's been under…
I think it's a lot easier to perform if you don't have quite that kind of pressure, but I thought he's had, outside the Raven game, I think when you look at it, even his percentage, his quarterback rating's probably around 90-something or whatever. Even statistically, I think he's done well. I like the way he's out there. He's competing. He's getting guys around him better. They all believe in him, but we've earned our record. We're 2-3 right, and the entire team's 2-3.
On if he's concerned about the amount of hits Sanchez has taken…
You never want your quarterback getting hit, that's for sure. We've got to do a great job of protecting him. Sometimes, getting the ball out quicker. Sometimes, it's doing a better job in protection. We look it upon ourselves, as we've got to get better. Certainly, you don't want your quarterback to get hit.
On if returning to the run last game was because Sanchez was asked to throw too much…
No, I don't see that at all. I just think we have to run the ball better. All we want to do is win. If we can get more of a balance on offense, getting back to where we feel great about our running game and have that balance, I think that's ideal.
On how much of the offensive line's struggles is rooted in the fact that they have been passing more than running the ball…
I think it's an adjustment for anybody, especially if you get behind, teams are teeing off no matter how good your offensive line is. That happens, but when you have the threat of the run and the pass, it really helps you.
On how they can improve on stopping the run…
I just think we have to get back. We talked about alignment, assignment and technique, and that's been our mantra this week. We're getting back to alignment, assignment and technique, and that's how we've really approached this week.
On if he has talked to Matthew Mulligan about his penalties…
I've had some conversations with a lot of guys. With his, it's about that he wants to do so well and all that, that it's like he hates it more than anybody. That focus, just tightening up our focus and all that, that's been my conversations, basically, with Matthew.
