Transcript of quarterback Mark Sanchez's news conference following Wednesday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
On how his bye week was…
It was good. I got a chance to go home, relax, see the fam.
On if he is at all concerned on the team regaining its focus…
I don't think so. I thought, Monday, we looked great. Today was just shaking some of the rust off all the way around. I'm happy with our play so far and we have a good test ahead of us, so we're excited about that challenge.
On whether he has had the opportunity to watch film on his previous games…
Absolutely, especially this last game, I was just getting away from some of the fundamentals, holding the ball in one hand, getting my feet set. I was pleased with the way we rallied and won the game, but just ball security issues last game because up to that point, I was doing pretty well. You get right back on track and this is a good week to start.
On Green Bay's defense…
Just a relentless group, tough players, high-motor guys all the way around highlighted by [A.J.] Hawk and Clay [Matthews]. I know Clay pretty well, just from playing at school [Southern Cal]. He's sure making a name for himself in this league. You have to be smart with a guy like [Charles] Woodson and it looks like a couple of their DBs might be coming back, so we'll see.
On the matchup of Clay Matthews versus Damien Woody…
It's a seasoned vet against an up-and-coming superstar, is what it looks like. Woody's had his share of good D-linemen to play against and rush him, so he has a lot of experience on his side. Clay is quick, he's going to bring it every play. It should be a good matchup for us so I'm excited to see that.
On his chemistry with the receiving corps…
I think the longer we're together, the better we'll mesh. Things are coming together well. I like the way Santonio [Holmes]'s been able to add to things. I think it puts defenses in a tough spot where they have to figure out if they're going to match a corner and if they're going to match Santonio or Braylon [Edwards], and then let J-Co [Jerricho Cotchery] run free on the inside. Our tight end's not too bad either, so it's good for us. Then when things break down, you get LT [LaDainian Tomlinson] and Shonn [Greene] sneaking out of the backfield. That's perfect for us.
On what improvements can still come in the passing game…
The sky is the limit for the group that we have. If we hit one of those days where I'm hitting it 70 percent or something like that, it's going to be deadly. I think it's just going to take a little more focus, even more attention to detail and just getting back to the fundamentals that got away from me. If I don't throw those two picks, then who knows? Those could be scoring drives and that's more points on the board, more catches for our wideouts and just more opportunities. Just taking care of the ball is primary, and then we'll get this thing going again.
On why his completion percentage has been down the past couple of games…
I'm never making excuses. The rain, obviously, doesn't help, but it just has to get better. I have to be more accurate. I have to be more in-tune with our guys, what routes they're running, how they are adjusting and that's coming with the more experience that I get with them. It's only going to get better and that's good. I'll take the blame and it's my job to improve, so I'll do that.
On how well he knows Aaron Rodgers…
Same agent. I've just seen him at a few events and stuff, but I watched him play quite a bit in the Pac-10. He's a great guy, from what I know, hanging out with him just a couple of times. He's definitely one of, I think, the most underrated quarterbacks in this league. He's definitely one of the best. He's doing a heck of a job and he gets the ball to receivers quick. He's very accurate on the run and he's a really good leader for that team, so it's going to be a good challenge for our defense. They're excited about it.
On whether he talked to Rodgers coming out of the NFL Draft…
Not a ton. I don't know if we're that close. I just know him through a couple of different events and stuff, but he's always been a great guy. I'm excited to see him play.
On if he can compare Darrelle Revis and Charles Woodson…
I don't know about that. I think Woodson is a solid player. They're both just really good players, athletic, great skills when the ball is in the air. They're not just guys that will bat the ball down. They'll pick it with one hand. They are that kind of player, similar.
On if he feels he needs to clean up some mistakes from the Denver game…
That's what the off-week was for, to evaluate some of the mistakes you made in the first part of the season. I've definitely done that and will look to improve some of those things, but it's already almost two weeks ago. We won the game, and that's the most important thing. I'm always going to improve, whether it's from five touchdowns or five picks, just try to get better each week and keep improving.
On feeling uncomfortable in the Denver game…
I was moving my feet around too much, in the pocket.
On whether it was Denver's defensive fronts that caused him to move his feet too much…
No, I just got sloppy. It'll get better. Things that we work on with Coach [Matt] Cavanaugh, drills and routes that we get in practice simulate those situations. We'll get better at them each week. It's just one of those games where you know you're not playing your very best, but it's important just to rally and win the game. That's what we did. That was the most important thing. You fix the little things on the run later, and that's what we're in the process of doing and that's what we will do.
On the confidence he gets when he doesn't play his best game, but still leads the team to a win…
It's huge for us. When we don't play well and win, throw two picks, lose the turnover battle and win the game, that's pretty rare in this league. You count your blessings there and the onus is on me to improve. Just think how well we would've done not throwing those picks. We get the six-point switch right before halftime where we should've kicked a field goal. They go down and kick a field goal, there is six right there. Early in the game, giving them momentum when our defense is playing well and just giving them the ball back in their territory is terrible. It can only get better and that's what will happen.
On what he has seen from Green Bay's "psycho" defense where they feature one down lineman…
That's one of those things where you just get up and play. You have a feeling after going through it so many times in similar looks from our defense, that you know when they're bringing one too many and you just get the ball out of your hands. You can feel it, and then you have a guy like Nick [Mangold] up front. He handles so much and does such a good job, especially last year. This year, I'm just starting to help him [laughing]. We'll be on the same page. We'll rep it during the week, we'll watch it on film, we'll be ready for it and if it's one of those things where we have to adjust on the fly, we'll be able to do that.
On being ranked the third-most overrated player in a Sports Illustrated players poll…
[Laughs] I don't know, it doesn't matter. You hear about it, but it doesn't really change anything.
On if he thinks he was "overrated" because he plays in New York…
I guess because you hear they're so good to me [joking].
On what he likes about the offensive line…
They're obviously really smart. They love their quarterback [laughing]. Let's see, I don't like taking them out to eat because they stick me with the bill and it's not cheap. They're tough guys, guys who play through injuries, Nick battling with the shoulder in the Patriots game. Brandon Moore, he hasn't missed a start in 90-plus games or something. Damien Woody, a Pro Bowl center, now he's playing tackle. Brick [D'Brickashaw Ferguson] is just a stud, and then [Matt] Slauson is an up-and-coming player in this league who's really done well and held his own in the spot that a Hall of Famer left.
Then you get guys like Ben Hartsock, Wayne Hunter, Rob Turner, who can all rotate in and help us. I'm pretty fortunate, especially last year, when there's so much being thrown at you and you have a center who can handle so much. This year, we're actually talking about things instead of him just telling me. It's a great relationship with all the players. They're not just good run blockers and pullers, they can pass protect really well, too. I'm pretty lucky.
On if he moved his feet around on just the two interceptions or in general in the Denver game…
Just in general. I just wasn't set like I normally in, firm, planted in the ground. It just wasn't my best day footwork-wise and that's what led to some of the errant passes. It's just something that I need to improve.
On the evolution of Santonio Holmes on offense…
I thought he did a great job these first two games he's been back. He's understanding the system even more now that he's playing. The sky is the limit for him. We didn't want to overload him those first two games, but now he's really starting to get a good feel for things, so we'll use him as much as possible. It's just a great rotation with those three guys, then to have Dustin [Keller] inside, too, is perfect.
On how he would describe Holmes as a receiver…
Big-play ability. He's a guy that can stretch the field and run underneath routes. He's like the hybrid between J-Co and Braylon, with some pretty good wheels. It's exactly what you would want in your receiving corps, three guys that really complement each other, work well together and bail me out all the time. I'm in a good position up front with the linemen, and an even better position with the wideouts, so it's good.
