Transcript of Jets head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Tuesday's midday practice:
First off, you'll notice Braylon [Edwards] wasn't out there. He had a court appearance today. Lito Sheppard was not out there. I'm happy to announce he just had a baby boy. [He's] about nine pounds, a big old kid. We're awful happy for him. Guys that were limited today: Shaun Ellis with a knee; Howard Green with a knee; David Harris, ankle; Bart Scott, ankle. Guys that were full: Mark Sanchez, knee; Thomas Jones, knee; and Donald Strickland, quad.
On if Steve Weatherford will be able to punt this weekend…
We certainly hope so. He's feeling good right now. It's one of those things that just happen. Hopefully, he'll be ready to roll.
On if Weatherford's illness was due to anxiety…
I'm not really sure. It was just an irregular heartbeat. If there's a chance that a player is going to have an issue out there, then we are not going to allow him to play, as much as Steve wanted to get on the field and play. He actually ripped out the IVs and ran out on the field and told me, he was going to kick. It was like, 'Oh, no, you're not." He appears to be fine now [and] had a good day of practice. Steve really felt bad. He's thinking he let his teammates down. Any time there's a medical situation, a possible situation like that, nobody is going to be allowed to play. It's just one of those things that happened to Steve.
On Charles Woodson winning Defensive Player of the Year over Darrelle Revis…
I wasn't going to comment on it, but I was really going to comment on it. You know what I would like? I would like to congratulate the people who voted for Darrelle Revis. These guys obviously really know the game. You've got to look at all the numbers, not just a number about this or a number about this stat or that stat.
A number that I think is interesting would be eight and no that's not the amount of touchdown passes that Green Bay gave up against Arizona. That is the number of touchdown passes we gave up all season as the Jets and the biggest reason for that is Darrelle Revis. There [are] plenty of things to look at - No. 1 defense in the National Football League by 35 yards a game, No. 1 in scoring, even though we gave up seven returns when the defense went on the field. Basically 187 points the defense gave up all season, might be a consideration for the NFL defensive Player of the Year. For the people that obviously voted for Darrelle Revis, I tip my hat to them, because they really know the game. That's all I'm going to say about it.
On how Revis will match up with Vincent Jackson…
I think he will match up just fine. Terrell Owens, Andre Johnson, Randy Moss are all big guys. Andre Johnson, I don't know how big he is, he looks huge, about 225. It doesn't matter. He's going to cover them.
On facing Darren Sproles..
What a talent he is. He's very similar to Leon Washington. [He's] that dangerous of a back, dangerous returner, dangerous out of the backfield, dangerous running the football. We've got to limit his catches and touches on the ball. There is no question. It's funny, because I guess I never realized how exceptional he was until you really start watching tape and you're like, 'Oh, whoa.' He's special, there is no doubt.
On if there are more shorter players in this era of the NFL…
Well, it is definitely a big man's game. There are exceptions, Sproles. You look at Maurice Jones Drew. They are still big men, they are just short. It's hard to find them. They have got such great change of direction. This Sproles kid, I've met him before and what a class act he is. [He's] just a great person [and] extremely hard worker. I was blown away by the way the kid was working, but wow, what a talent.
On if they will dedicated somebody on defense to watch him…
As far as San Diego knows, absolutely not [laughter]. Not going to do that. Just going to treat him like a back.
On what give him the confidence to think that Braylon Edwards will have a break out game…
I just sense it. I really do. I think right now he's pressing so much and he doesn't want to let his teammates down. He doesn't want to let [down] the fans that we have here. He appreciates the fresh start he's got here. He loves it here. I know that the drop sticks out, but look at the catches the kid makes, look at the blocking he's doing. I hope they just turn him loose and not necessarily just San Diego, but he's getting ready to break out. I just sense it. I feel it. I told Braylon, quite honestly, 'Next time you're open like that, I want you to catch the ball one-handed." We'll see if that works.
On what Edwards said to him when he told him to catch the ball one handed…
He looked at me like I was crazy [laughter], which is the look that I get from you guys most of the time. It's the truth. Go catch it one handed and don't worry about it. He's thinking so much. This guy is a great teammate and I just want to stress that. He has been outstanding here. I know he's feeling it. Does the quarterback trust him? Oh yeah, he trusts him. He's a big target and he's made some amazing catches for us this year. He's made some great catches for us, so absolutely Mark [Sanchez] trusts him.
On how Sanchez has gone from mistake-prone to mistake-free in the past few games…
I just think it's playing the game. You can't buy experience. Whether you're a coach, whether you're a player, you've got to go through it. I think he's so comfortable now that this has become his offense. [He's] not just learning it and turning the pages. He knows this offense now. I think No. 1, that's where he's really comfortable. The fact that he's been able to read defenses now a little better than he's done, I think he feels good about that. He feels great about his teammates. He knows when you work with guys, we picked up Braylon Edwards during the season, so he might run his route different than J-Co does. It's little things like that now that he really is comfortable with. We'll see. This is everybody, all quarterbacks.
Eli Manning, I remember he had the zero-point-zero rating against us in Baltimore, and then we played against him the next time and he had a 130 rating. It's the confidence. It's the command of the offense that he has and being comfortable around his teammates. I really love his presence in the huddle now. I really sense that our guys have a lot of confidence in him and he knows that he just has to play quarterback. He doesn't have to put it all on his shoulders and I think that's why you see the success that he's had.
On if Sanchez struggled because he had trouble reading defenses and coverages…
I think part of it is when you're a young quarterback, you are just so, "OK, page 1 says this. Here is our play." He's just trying to figure out that. He wasn't necessarily worried about the other side. He's worried about what our play is. You've got to go to step A before you get down to step B. Right now, he's clearly passed that now.
On what he tells Revis about not winning Defensive Player of the Year…
Revis is going for different hardware right now. So we'll see. We'll feel a lot better if we can put a ring on our finger than the individual accomplishment. It is unfortunate in that you can't get a higher individual award than that award. He's a young, talented player, but you can't take anything for granted. This, in my opinion, was the best year a corner has ever had [and] the most impact a corner has ever had in the National Football League. That's my opinion. Apparently, that wasn't how everybody felt. Like I say, for the people that voted for him, I commend them, because they were able to get past other numbers. All they decided was who the best player in the National Football League is and they picked Darrelle Revis, because clearly he's that.
On Sanchez looking loose at practice…
Today, we just had a few plays that we put in, so it's kind of a loose practice. They have been off a couple of days, just to get the blood flowing a little bit. The meat and potatoes of it will be tomorrow. We are not going to play tight. We expect to win. All he has to do is play quarterback and we are always going to stay loose. I think we play better that way. If we are really tight, then you probably want to bet against us.
On San Diego taking aim at Dwight Lowery last season…
Well, I think they have taken aim at a lot of guys, because that's a great group of receivers. [They are] a big, fast, talented group of receivers. I think the scheme is a little different this year. I think he's confident. We'll see what happens. He's done a tremendous job for us. Really, our whole back end has played well. It seems like when we get a guy healthy, somebody gets hurt. We have never really been at full speed but we expect to be this week.
On saying that he thought Sanchez was tired of being called the weak link on the team…
I think you saw it on the field, where, man, he was ready. He was ready to lead that team. That's who he is. When we called that time out, it was so funny. He was mad. I said, 'All right kid, you're not head coach yet,' but he's ready to roll. Like I say, he'll be a guy that goes to many Pro Bowls. He's going to win a ton of games here.
On how he thinks the perception of the Jets has changed for the other teams in the NFL…
The facts are the facts. Statistically, you can look at things where if you're not necessarily studying us, but you're looking, they are giving up about ten points a game here, they are scoring a bunch, they lead the league in rushing, No. 1 in total defense, oh, that's right, and per play and against the pass and passing average and scoring. Those are hard to ignore. That's what you want. We are just now building to where we want to be. You want to be hitting on all cylinders and that's where we are. I'll tell you, another one that's hitting on all of them is the Baltimore Ravens. I watched that game and I was like, 'Oh, Baltimore figured it out.' There are some dangerous teams that are hitting their stride.
On not being worried that his postseason calendar including a Super Bowl parade could be used as motivation by other teams…
I don't care. That's fine and dandy. That's our agenda. They can put it up next year, too, because we plan on winning the Super Bowl. The only goal we have as an organization is to win the Super Bowl. That's it. They can put it up, you can write it, you can rip it, whatever you want to do, next year, the year after, the year after and the year after that, it's going to be the one goal. Maybe there are individual goals about a guy going to a Pro Bowl, but collectively, our team has one goal, one focus and that's to try to win the Super Bowl. It might be a great year and a lot of accomplishments are made, but the only accomplishment that we want is to win the Super Bowl.
If a team is going to get motivated about that, that's fine and dandy with me. What we are going to do, is play our best. We are going to come out and we are going to give our best every single time out. For you to beat us, whether you needed added motivation, you are going to have to earn that. You are going to have to beat us.
On Philip Rivers being consistent and not having a bad game this year…
It's the due factor [laughing]. He's due, right? Surely to goodness, you can't play the whole season and not have a bad day [laughter], so I feel good about that. That's a good one based on facts, isn't it? When I looked at that, just going down the line, 20 points is the least they have scored. It's an incredible challenge for us. You've got to give them a ton of credit. Their scheme is excellent. Turner does a great job, always has. They draft players and bring players that fit their system, and that's tall, speed receivers that are in great shape. I tell you what, most big receivers are not in the kind of shape that these guys are in. We had Cam Cameron with us in Baltimore, he used to say "world-class shape." Well that's what those guys are in.
You have a huge tight end [Antonio Gates] that's as good as there is. You have two running backs [LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles] back there that are tough, and you've got an offensive line that really competes. I like [Kris] Dielman, the left guard is a tough guy. He reminds me of Conrad Dobler back a few years ago, who played for the Cardinals and all those teams. I'm not calling them dirty. I like them. I've seen him in public and he's my kind of guy. But again it's a heck of a team and a heck of a challenge, but we think we are pretty good on defense, so we are going to find out. Something is going to give.
On how the team got to be so physical…
Mike Tannenbaum should get all that credit. He put this team together. You take an offensive line and we all talk about how you can have an effective offense if you can run the football and protect the quarterback, and it starts with that offensive line. With Mike bringing in the talent that we have here, all of them are talented individually, but they are better collectively. You have a great offensive line coach in Bill Callahan and that's where it starts. Then on defense, bringing the guys that know the difference between "sick 'em" and "go get 'em."
On why Keller was so open on Saturday…
I'm not sure [laughter]. We probably should have been doing it a little more offense is what you're trying to say. We talked about it going into the game, because remember the first time we played. Dustin never had a great game statistically in our first game against Cincinnati. We even said going into the game, this could be it. He still could have a huge game. Just the way it played out. We all know he's a great athlete. Like I say, one day I hope he can be like a Dallas Clark and a [Antonio] Gates, considered in that group of receivers, because he's got the physical talent, that's for sure.
