Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following the Jets' Tuesday morning training camp practice at SUNY Cortland:
On what he's seen from Chris Ivory in his last two practices…
We finally get him out there and he looks good. He looks like what we always thought we were getting. Just a big back that's physical, good vision. I really like his running style. As far as the protection, the good thing is he was doing the mental part, so he's picked up the protections better. It was just a matter of getting him on the practice field. But certainly he has that kind of talent, that vision, that burst and that power. We really won't see that power until we start tackling, but believe me, it's there.
On why Kenrick Ellis did not practice today…
Kenrick had a little issue with his back. We'll see how it was. It was like a weightroom deal. The trainers held him out today.
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On why Robert Malone didn't practice today…**
We know that he's bottom-heavy [joking]. The trainers just said that he was going to be held out this morning. I really never knew anything about it until we went out to practice.
On if the team waived Robert Malone…
No.
On Antonio Cromartie's status…
He was out there. I think it said we'll see how he does, but he never missed a snap today.
On if he has decided which quarterback is going to start against Jacksonville…
No, I haven't done that. We're just going to keep seeing how it keeps going as the week goes and then we'll make that decision.
On what is preventing him from deciding on a starting QB for the second preseason game…
There doesn't have to be a timetable. We want to see, obviously, where Geno [Smith]'s at, how he's progressing in the week, and we'll make that decision.
On if he has a plan set for the second preseason game…
As the week goes, we'll make that decision.
On if the interception Mark Sanchez threw in the first preseason game should be a mistake he no longer makes…
On that particular play you have to have vision. Where he's looking or whatever, you have to have a certain vision to you that, hey look, we see this, you've got the tackle already moving out with him, obviously you don't need to throw that ball. Where his eyes were, we've got to fix that. We worked it through corrections and all that type of stuff. We really worked it. Marty [Mornhinweg]'s hammered it, David Lee has. So yeah, it can't happen. It can't happen again, there's no doubt.
On Santonio Holmes saying he wanted the offense to be more balanced…
Well, I think you never want to just have 13 rushes, or whatever it was, in a game. Will we throw the ball more than we run it? That's certainly a possibility. So again, whatever we plan that particular game, it might be heavy run, it might be heavy pass, but we'll have the ability to do both.
On Sheldon Richardson adjusting from what he did in college to what he is doing now…
I don't know, you tell me. I mean he looks great. I think he's just playing football, he's playing D-line. We haven't asked him to stand up like they did in Missouri to play linebacker yet. You know, he's doing a lot of different things for us. He can play inside, we have him outside some, we've got him in 3[-technique], 1[-technique]. You name it, he's doing it. He's doing a great job.
On if Richardson can handle two-gap responsibilities…
Yes, this young man can almost do anything you can ask a D-lineman to do. He's not small by any stretch. He may be a little shorter than most, he may be 6'2" and change, but he's still a 295-pound man. But certainly he can play anything. When you look at him, traditionally, he's as some people saw, he can be a 3-technique upfield type guy. Well, yes he can, but he can also do everything else. So I think he's not just limited to one style of defense. And that's why when we drafted him, I thought it was funny, "Oh, hey, he doesn't fit the system." Well, what system is that? Our system is multiple. We take advantage of guys' movement skills, we take advantage of the athleticism of our guys, so to me he certainly fits us.
On the official reason for Joe McKnight not practicing…
You can fill it in: "head." That's what it is. Anything other than that, that's the official stance that we have.
On if McKnight has a new injury…
Again, I think that's what we're issuing right now and that's where we're at.
On if he thinks what he says is judged more now than when he first started here…
Well, I think I use the same words, but that could be. I mean, to me there's no difference. I missed plays my first couple of years, too. Every coach in the league is that way. I think it's kind of interesting that most people get it, most people understand that's just part of it. But for the people who are like, "Oh, my coach needs to be standing up there," that's fine. Then your coach probably isn't coaching, if he sees every play. You have to teach, you have to do all those types of things. Like I said, I saw the end result of it, I certainly saw that. I answer truthfully. That's the way I am. I answer questions with what I believe to be the truth, and I think I've done that since I got here.
On if others are harsher in the way they dissect what he says …
That's fair. I'm not running from my record or anything else. I don't know what else to say about it. I guess that's a fair statement. But again, I don't really care. I'm just going to be myself.
On if the fans boo Sanchez against Jacksonville…
Fans can do what they want. We've said that. I certainly hope that we can move past it and we can focus on what's in front of us and give not just Mark but all of us a fair shake. This is your football team, but you certainly have a right to do whatever you choose. If you want to boo whoever it is, our fans certainly have that right. To me, yeah, I absolutely hope that doesn't happen. I hope that everybody is behind us 100 percent. When things go wrong, I certainly understand it, there's going to be criticism and things like that. But to start with, I would hope that our fans are behind us all the way.
On if fans potentially booing at MetLife Stadium is a factor for deciding on the starting QB…
No, absolutely not.
On if which unit is introduced at the start of the game will indicate who is named the starting QB…
[Laughing] You'd have to ask somebody else that question who comes up with that, but it certainly wouldn't affect me who we introduce and that's why the defense is going to be introduced [laughter]. I have no idea who is going to be introduced.
On how Smith was moving today…
He seems to be getting a little bit better, but it's still kind of noticeable, that he's got a little bit of a limp, but I don't think it's as bad as it was.
On if Smith has slumped since the start of training camp…
I don't know about that. I think he's certainly had his moments where he's looked great and not just the first week, but he looked good in the game. He was 6-of-7 passing, so I don't know if that's it. Did he have a couple of rough days? Absolutely, but everybody's had some rough days.
On if the quarterbacks were doing installations…
Yeah, it's just the way it is. You try to install differently as you move on, so there's probably a bigger emphasis placed on install. You guys saw yesterday's practice and it was more of a commitment to doing something else, emphasizing another part of our package, so each day is a little different. We did the same on defense as well.
On if they are waiting on Smith's ankle before naming a starter for Saturday…
I think, number one, let's see how the week plays out, and then we'll make the right decision then. Is that a factor? Certainly, it's a factor. Is it the primary one? I don't know. A lot of factors go into it. But let's get to where we feel good about the decision and it's a complete decision and not just, "Hey, I want to do it for Tuesday for the press conference." So, that's not it. Let's make sure we're making the appropriate decision at the appropriate time.
On if determining the starting QB has more to do with who's leading the competition or if it's a fair competition…
I think it's going to be a fair competition. There's no doubt there's going to be a fair competition.
On selecting a starting QB for the Jacksonville game…
We'll see how the rest of this week goes, but we certainly want to give both guys the opportunity to be with the ones. And we'll just see how it plays out.
On when a decision will be made for who starts at quarterback on opening day vs. Tampa Bay…
Again, we never put a timetable on it.
On teams usually naming their starting QBs before the third preseason game…
Well, that's usually it, but it's not set in stone that that's an absolute must, that that has to happen. We may still be in the evaluating stage for all the positions. We have competition at guard, but a young guy we felt great about, Brian Winters, obviously hasn't been able to play yet. There could be different factors. We still have great competition at the safety spot. There's a lot of competition for a lot of different spots, and it's not just quarterback.
On the starting QB usually playing until the third quarter in the third preseason game…
That's usually the scenario, absolutely, it's usually the scenario. But we'll see where we're at when we get there. Again, it's going to be the appropriate decision at the appropriate time.
On wanting a multifaceted offense when hiring an offensive coordinator…
I think, obviously, we're not just going to say we'll absolutely do this or whatever. That's just something that really the NFL, in general you have to be prepared for. If your quarterback has the mobility to do some of that stuff, then I don't understand why you wouldn't do it. There are other ways of getting to it. If you have a guy like a Jeremy Kerley or a Bilal Powell who can throw the ball, that can be accomplished that way as well.
On if one of the Jets QBs is leading the competition… Again, I think it's too early to say. And just to say this guy is leading or whatever, again the competition is not complete. I think we'll go through the competition and I'm confident the right decision will be made.
