Transcript of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez's news conference following Wednesday's midday practice:
On the learning curve…
It's one of those things where you have to keep fighting, keep playing and keep your confidence. The team has definitely kept their confidence in me and that's encouraging. It's absolutely a steep learning curve and it's something that you need to continue to play with and keep going.
On if anything has changed with Coach Ryan taking a more hands-on approach with the offense…
The biggest thing is getting his point across about what we need as a team. On offense, what's the situation? Do we need to throw down the field? What mentality are we in? How is this game going? To try and manage the situation, manage the offense and try to get first downs, move the chains. Those are really where he's giving a lot of his input. It's not like he's calling the plays or anything. He's obviously leaving Schotty (Brian Schottenheimer) to do that, but the overarching things of where we're at. "Ok, now we're going to take a shot. If it's not there, check it down. Ok, this is a crucial third down. If we punt, it's ok." Things like that. That is where he is trying to get his point across. It's a refresher for the quarterback to see where we're at in the game and make each practice rep like a game situation. It's worked out really well.
On Coach Ryan working with him…
That means the world to me. You know that means he definitely hasn't lost confidence in me and that he wants to make sure I understand that. He's not shy about saying that we're linked. "We're linked together, you and me. You're going to be our quarterback for a long time here." Those are encouraging things to hear from your head coach no matter how you're playing. I do truly appreciate his support and it really helps get through some tough times like this. That's what growing up and being a quarterback in this league is all about. There is a lot of learning to do and a lot of work to do, but it is definitely helping with him around.
On making the same mistakes…
A couple of times (I'm) pressing a little bit too hard. I'm trying to do a little too much. If I were to sit back and look and think two seconds before the play starts and think about where are we in this game? It's 24-14. We are down in our own territory. If you scramble, our guy has to be wide open or throw the ball away. We have momentum, our defense is playing well. We came out the shoot at halftime. When you look back, it is easier to do the armchair quarterback thing and I do it myself, but in that moment that is where the step has to be for me. That is where the growing up process has to come. It's almost a selfish thing. You can't put the ball in jeopardy like that. It's a selfish play when you look at it. Just a lot of growing up to do, a lot of learning to do and in those situations you have to be smarter than the situation and not let it get the best of you and not press too hard. Those are important lessons to learn and I have to eliminate those big time mistakes.
On if he has learned when to make checks…
I guess just go through the progression. When things aren't open, it's got to be more fluid to check a down and not be afraid to check a down and know where my bail-out is. Those are important throws and all of the good quarterbacks in this league who are playing really well have the ability to do that. Just feel when guys drop out of their zones, whether they're all down the field or man-to-man or underneath. That is important for me to know as well.
On if his plays have been simplified…
No. They're not changing anything, they just want to make sure that I understand the situation and the importance of the ball. Kind of feel the flow of the game. Knowing when we need to take chances and cautious of the football. That is where Rex's involvement in the offense is really coming into play.
On what his teammates are telling him…
There's been a ton of support from all guys in the locker room, offense, defense, young guys, older guys. That means the world to me. It's pretty special to know that they're in this with you. They just talk about keep fighting, keep playing, keep your head up, don't ever doubt yourself. That's great. I couldn't ask for anything better.
On if he feels that his turnovers are letting his team down at times…
Sure, it hurts our chances. You can't just give games away like that. Three games are just glaring. If you want to pick someone who lost the game, it's pretty easy to pick it out. I understand that and it's something that is more than understanding, it can't happen. We have to give ourselves a chance and not give the ball to the other team. It hurts us.
On if he is worried about possible being benched…
That's not really something I think about. If that situation ever happened then you just have to go and deal with it. Hopefully I won't have to cross that bridge, but if I do I will worry about it when I get there.
On if he thought things would be easy after starting the season 3-0…
I don't think so. A lot of guys asked after our first loss, "Well, you didn't expect to win all of them, did you?" and I was like, 'Kinda' (laughter). Why not? That's maybe just being a rookie, but at the same time, that's just how I feel. We're going to win. I haven't been playing like that lately and it hasn't looked like it on the field, but we're going to win. We're going to be alright. We're in this thing for the long haul and we'll be just fine.
On Coach Ryan saying he's played well enough to win seven of the ten games…
Those games that were close and even in the Jacksonville game, if you eliminate that first pick early in the game, we've really got a shot. We're fighting at the last play of the game to win, but without the interception on the first play, we're really in that thing. That's seven points they go down and score in three plays. The defense is going to say we missed an assignment here or there and we should have stopped them, but still, they shouldn't have the ball. There's some mistakes in a couple of those games that obviously could have helped us win as well in those seven games. There's just a lot of learning to do (and) a lot of work to do. Just keep working and just keep fighting.
On why Braylon Edwards hasn't gotten the ball more…
Last game, we threw early to him on a third down and I think the ball got tipped a little. The second interception was to Braylon and I just missed him. In the Jacksonville game, he got the ball a few times. He made a big run after the catch. He's getting the ball. When's open, we're trying to get it to him and when he comes up in the read, we're trying to get it to him, but there's no emphasis on getting one guy the ball or not getting someone the ball. We're just trying to spread it out evenly and I think we've done that pretty well.
On if there is anything specific Coach Ryan has done with him to work on not turning the ball over…
It's kind of between me and Rex. It's like code. He's got codes for things, for situations that tie into the overall themes of the game, how things are going and he's just gives me a little code word here or there. It reaffirms what we're all thinking and it gets us all knowing the situation together. It's important for me. I don't know if it would make sense to anybody but us.
Of if the codes are four-letter words…
(Laughing) I don't know, I don't have a headset on, thank God.
On how much a win would mean…
Just have to win. We just need a win and this is the perfect week to start. It's important to me. If we want to win, we have to take care of the football and that starts with the quarterback. You've got the ball every play. I need to make the most of it and be smart with it, throw it away, don't turn it over.
On if Coach Ryan giving him code words before he goes out for each drive…
Something like that. We practiced it a little bit today and it was good, just knowing when we're being real cautious (or) we're really taking a shot. When we're just starting the game, maybe we're a little more conservative here or it's, "Hey man, you just completed your last nine passes, let's go let one rip. Give our guy a shot." He's got a code for it, so it's good.
On Thanksgiving dinner with the team…
We did that Monday night. We just invited guys on the team, staff and I think Bruce (Speight) was there. The media staff was there, strength staff, training staff. All the players were invited. Some guys had family in town already. We had them down at the house and had a little Thanksgiving buffet for them. It was good. Mr. Tannenbaum came and Dave Szott and a bunch of people. Just a chance to get away. I was a little surprised by the turnout after the game, but I was really happy about it (laughing). It was great. It meant a lot to me. They were excited to be there.
On when he planned the Thanksgiving dinner in advance…
Probably a few months ago. It was just something to invite everyone over and have a nice little dinner. It worked out just right.
On if it gets him out of the rookie dinner…
No. I still have to do that one. I think other people are trying to add into that one. Bart (Scott) said something about taking out the linebackers. I don't know where that came from (laughing). Shonn Greene, me and (Matt) Slauson have a big tab coming up here soon.
On if he cooked…
No. We had it catered. It was perfect. I have a lot of work to do other than in the kitchen.
On how important it is to here confidence from his teammates…
It's important because they care about me as a player and a person. They want to see us all do well and it starts with the quarterback. To have their support is very important to me.
On if his recent struggles have been because of what he is doing or what defenses are doing…
I think the majority of the mistakes have been self-inflicted wounds. Poor decisions and poor reads that lead to turnovers. I think it would be more on me.
On if it is better for a rookie quarterback to sit his first year or play…
Every situation is very subjective. Any given situation can change that. Whatever the coach is thinking, it's up to them.
