Transcript of interviews with selected Jets players during the locker room media period before Thursday's afternoon practice:
LB DAVID BOWENS
On David Harris …
He is a great person. He approaches the game well. He is not a dumb rookie. He really knows his stuff. I don't think we will be missing anything with him being in there.
On conversations he has had with Harris …
One of the first things he asked me is how I have lasted so long in the league. I told him it was about staying out of the clubs, taking care of your body and just following suit. I told him that the ice tub was going to be his best friend during training camp. He did that. You look at a guy who has been in the league for a while and see what he does to maintain and kind of follow suit. He is doing that. With the mental approach, he listens to Eric [Barton] and Jon [Vilma] and takes notes like those guys and watches film like those guys. You can see that he is behaving like a veteran.
On Harris' composure …
When asked a question by the head coach in a team meeting, some guys clam up, and he is just himself all of the time. That just shows a lot of composure that he has already.
LB DAVID HARRIS
On his comfort level …
I'm very comfortable right now. Great coaching and great teammates have helped me along since I've started. I've adjusted pretty well.
On if it was an adjustment not calling defensive plays as he did at Michigan …
At first it was. Playing linebacker at Michigan for four or five years, you get used to calling the defensive huddle. I get here and [Jonathan] Vilma and [Eric] Barton call it in the huddle. Now Vilma is down and I have to pick up more responsibility.
On Vilma …
Vilma is a great player. Anytime you lose a player like that, it is very hard to fill his shoes. He's a great team leader, he's very well respected and he has run the defense for four years now. I will try to be ready when my number is called.
On learning from Vilma …
He and Eric Barton help me out a lot. They pick my brain to see where I'm at, if I'm understanding certain defenses and making the right adjustments and checks. You can pick up a lot from his work ethic. He is a student of the game and takes the job very seriously.
On the possibility of more playing time …
You always want to be on the field more. Now I have to take advantage of my opportunity.
On his approach …
I tried to come in and bust my tail. I give 110 percent any chance I get as I get acclimated to this whole situation. I have tried to put my best foot forward any chance I get.
On preparation …
You have to be ready when your number is called. This is football and anything can happen. Injuries happen. It changes from week to week, so you try to go in and be ready.
On Kerry Rhodes …
Kerry has also been helping me out with making adjustments. He is the leader of the secondary, and the linebackers and secondary work very closely together. We try to be on the same page as much as possible.
On adjusting to the pros …
The more time you're on the field, the more you get used to everything, the quicker you get adjusted to seeing different plays and being able to play fast without thinking as much.
DB DARRELLE REVIS
On Jonathan Vilma…
A Pro Bowl guy, a leader who is our anchor. He is the quarterback of our defense. He makes a lot of plays and does a lot of things for us. Just to have Jonathan Vilma on your team, he is a leader and he has great character. Sometimes he asks me on film if I was OK in the screens or what I was doing. He is one of those guys that cares about the whole team and just wants to win.
On whether he knew Vilma was injured Sunday …
I didn't know he was hurt, so I didn't know what was going on. After you hear something like that, it hurts, but you have to move forward and hope he gets better soon so he can come back on the field.
On David Harris …
He has had a lot of playing time. He has been mixed in there. He has to step up and be a leader. We believe in David and we know that he is going to do that.
S KERRY RHODES
On the possibility of Jonathan Vilma not playing Sunday …
We are so used to him being out there, hearing his voice and knowing where he's going to be that it's going to be strange. It will be strange. It will be something different.
On his relationship with Vilma …
It will be like Ed Reed without Ray Lewis. You know that type of rapport that they have for each other. Not the type of players that they are, just the type of rapport that they have with each other. That is the same thing that we have. It will be tough.
On David Harris …
He is a good young player. He can make plays. He knows the system because he has been in it before. He is pretty comfortable making adjustments and making plays in this defense. He has done a pretty good job so far, so we'll see how it goes if he is asked to step in there.
