Transcript of quarterback Mark Sanchez's news conference at his locker following Wednesday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
On what the feeling in the locker room is heading into the final four games tied for the final AFC Wild Card spot…
We're just focused on Kansas City. They have a good defense so we're going to be challenged on offense, a 3-4 scheme like last week, and that's really all our focus is. We'll let the wild card happen when it happens, but we're just focused right now on the next game.
On the Kansas City defense…
They're an active defense. They're fast-flow. They get after the ballcarrier whether it's the quarterback, receiver or running back. They have a great pass rush and their secondary is good enough to hold up until they get to the quarterback, so we really have to run on the perimeter, get open downfield and our running game has to be strong again.
On if he likes where the offense is right now…
We're there in spurts, I think. We kind of took that third quarter off and really hurt ourselves [at Washington], but we've really shown some flashes of being pretty good and sustaining drives. That's going to be important these next few weeks, especially this week.
On Tom Moore staying around for the remainder of the season…
It's been great. I love having him around. I thought he was a big help during training camp. There is so much knowledge with one guy, and so much experience that he can really help, whether it's the quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, tight ends or offensive linemen. He's a big help for us. We love having him around.
On what Thomas Jones meant to him as a rookie…
He was one of the best teammates I've ever had. [He was] just a real team leader, especially during that playoff push. He would talk to the offense the night before games and remind us of what it was like and told us what it would be like to play in the Super Bowl. He had been there before with the Bears. He didn't say much, but when he did, it was important. It was serious [and] it was from the heart. He was one of the best players I've ever been around, so that was a fun time. I'm looking forward to seeing him.
On if he liked having the Wildcat formation last game…
Sure, whatever it takes to win games, I'm all for it. I thought Shonn [Greene], LT [LaDainian Tomlinson] and everybody adjusted well to that. It was a big help for us.
On the play of the offensive line the last two weeks…
These last two weeks they've been their best all season. That's where their focus is at, trying to maintain that success. The reason for it is because they're working so hard. They are really paying attention to the details of the game plan and the backs are doing a great job as well, whether it's helping out in pass pro or the receivers getting out downfield open quickly to take a lot of pressure off of the line. It's been great.
On the offense's success in the red zone…
That's been one of our big things that we've been trying to emphasize and push, our red zone efficiency. That was a huge emphasis in training camp and it's really helped us this season. That is why we've been converting so well, because of the extra time and effort we've put into it and picking plays we really like, that I'm really comfortable with. Coach [Brian] Schottenheimer and Coach [Matt] Cavanaugh have all done a great job of putting these game plans together for the red zone. We need to keep up with that, and now the trick is to get down there a couple of more times and hopefully keep up with the same success.
On being one of only five quarterbacks to reach 30 victories in their first three NFL seasons…
It takes a lot more than a quarterback. I've been with three great offensive line units, great running backs. My rookie year, we were the best rushing team in the league, we've had some high-caliber receivers and great game plans and a really strong defense, so I've been very fortunate being here with the Jets. I think, as grateful as I am, you're just kicking yourself because there were a couple of games that you wish you could've won. We'll keep piling up victories if we can and keep pushing towards our goals.
On why he feels that the offense took the third quarter off in a must-win game against Washington…
I don't know the reason for it, but we sure weren't on the same page. We had false-start penalties, took a delay of game, took a timeout when we didn't need to — we just weren't sharp. That's not the stuff you want to put on film. We can't afford to play like that at any point in the game because it will get you beat. We found a way to win, and that was important, but we just can't take plays off like that.
On Coach Ryan saying the offense must be at its best this week to beat Kansas City…
Absolutely. They rotate their corners plenty. Whether it's nickel backs or safeties coming in and playing the tight end or slot receivers, they're going to have a great scheme with Coach [Romeo] Crennel. We're going to have to play well. We have to get open down the field. We have to protect the quarterback, establish the running game and I have to be accurate. It's the same goals each week, but we just have to keep improving.
On how they can work on getting the plays in quicker on offense…
We just stress and [put] the emphasis on getting up to the line quickly, getting to the huddle quickly, understanding what personnel is in the game and making sure our signals are sharp with that. Because every second you can save that way gives the play caller and myself an extra second either at the line or in the huddle to explain something, remind a guy or make a specific tag and you're not at the line waiting for guys to get set. We just stress the importance of that.
On if he felt the offense was slower getting ready and getting the plays in against Washington…
I don't know. I just don't think we were very sharp, especially in the third quarter, whether it was not getting the play in, me saying it fast enough, us getting our personnel collected [or] lining up fast enough. Whatever it is, it has to get fixed. All of us can do a better job of that.
On the struggles on third down against Washington…
There were two or three third-and-ten pluses and those, you just don't concede them as not converting and they're not give-up downs, but at the same time, there aren't many calls on third-and-17 or third-and-25 that anybody feels great about. When we get to that situation, it is because we've done poorly on first down or second down. We got a penalty. We got a delay of game. We have an offsides, a personal foul, a 15-yard penalty, anything like that, it really can hurt your chances. It's just like giving up a sack. The chances of converting on third down when, really your backs are up against the wall like that, it's pretty low, so we need to put ourselves in a better position.
On what Tom Moore's contribution has been to him…
How much tape do you have left [joking]? He's one of the best offensive minds and football minds I've really been around. He just has a different way of saying things sometimes. He has a way of just keeping you calm. He reminds you of what you can do to get better and he's just a calm presence that I just think is good for our offense. Any time you have a question about a coverage, a specific coordinator you're facing, he'll always give his insight. He'll ask for your input and he wants it to be a discussion.
Then, the best part, in between when you're grinding on film or whatever and you're waiting to switch from third-and-2-to-3 film to third-and-4-to-6 film or whatever, he'll tell a story about Terry Bradshaw or being with the Steelers or whoever he has been around, being around Peyton [Manning]. They are some of the best stories you can ever hear and they are real fun. He's just fun to be around. It's insightful stuff.
On anything specific things Moore has said to him that have been helpful…
Reminding me about corners' techniques, reminding you about when certain teams play a specific style of defense, whether it's 3-4 or 4-3, certain tells that every defense inevitably has to have. Just like an offense, you have tendencies. He's done this for so long, he picks up on a lot of them.
It really helps between him, Coach [Bill] Callahan, Schotty [Coach Schottenheimer] and Cav [Coach Cavanaugh], and all of their experience, it really does help with my checks at the line of scrimmage and little things, whether it's a specific stance, the hips of a cornerback or their eyes when they're covering the slot player. All that stuff, it's really insightful and it can absolutely help you. Those are the things that go through your mind when you're checking plays and looking for any kind of chink in the defense's armor. That's big.
On how important Plaxico Burress has been to the team's red zone success…
He's been big, whether he's catching touchdowns or just demanding double teams. He's used his size. He has used his physical style of play to just position himself and really go get the football. That's been nice to have. He takes a lot of pressure off Tone [Santonio Holmes]. He takes a lot of pressure off Dustin [Keller], the backs and me. He's been a joy to compete with and play [with] for our team, so we've really enjoyed having him.
On what it means to hear Thomas Jones call him a winner…
That means a lot because he knows how things felt my rookie year and how difficult things were at times. I was just trying to stay afloat. We went through a couple of tough spells and him, Alan Faneca, Nick [Mangold] and a lot of the guys we still have were some of the first guys that came up to me and were true veterans that just reminded me, "Hey, man, you're our guy. We drafted you for a reason. Prove them all wrong." Those kinds of things really help.
When we get a younger guy now, that's all I've known is how the veterans have come to me and reminded me that they have confidence in me. So when we get a Jeremy Kerley or Joe McKnight or someone and they fumble or they drop a punt or they drop a pass, to remind them, "Hey, man, you're my guy. You're not going anywhere. We're going to get this right. I don't care what happens, we're going to get this right." I think that's why I can be positive with those guys. They taught me a lot about being a veteran and helping out young guys.
On if he thinks back to the encouragement of his teammates during his rookie season in tough times…
Absolutely, and he was just a locker room leader, one of those guys that wasn't afraid to speak up when it was really important. When something needed to be said, he wasn't shy. That was pretty cool to see. Coming in as a rookie, you see this guy on TV, he's one of the biggest, most physically imposing backs you've ever seen. I didn't know what to say to him. I was just like, 'Hey, what's up?' [laughter] That was probably it for the first month and a half, two months of the season.
I just remember him getting fired up when we were running the ball so well, we'd have quick passes off of run plays, where instead of handing the ball off, I'd throw it. I'd throw it and I'd miss Jerricho [Cotchery] or Braylon [Edwards] or something, and I just remember seeing him jump up and down on the film and get in my face and say, "Hey, man, you don't hand that ball off, if you don't complete that thing, it's on. You'd better hand me the ball." That kind of stuff was fun to look back on and you can see it all over the film, but he's one of the best players we've ever had.
On if he has thought about the reception he will get from the crowd during the pregame introductions…
I haven't even thought about it until you brought it up, so I don't know.
On if he has thought about it at all…
No.
On if he thinks there is a correlation between Moore's presence and the improved performance in the red zone…
I think we stressed that quite a bit. I think Coach Cavanaugh does a great job of explaining on the tail end of Thursdays and Fridays about what our red zone plan is going to be through the multiple film sessions we have with him, whether it's as an offensive line and the quarterbacks or the entire skill group with Cav. He does a great job of explaining things.
Then Coach Moore is there to bounce questions off of. I know that, when they makeup the plan for that specific red zone game, Tom Moore is in there helping, just giving his feedback, leaning on his experience and knowledge of this game and red zone football. That can never hurt. There is never such a thing as too much help. He can always help and it's great to have him around.
On if he is happy that Moore will be around the rest of the season…
I love it. I think it's great for us because he can help the receivers, tight ends and he's not just glued to my hip. It's not just for the quarterback or anybody like that. It's for everybody and he's not shy about helping guys when they need it. He's not one of those guys who wants to be in front of all the cameras. He's not a me-first guy. He's totally team-first, in the back, in the shadows, and when you need him, he's right there to give help, so it's great.
