New York Jets defensive co-captain Shaun Ellis, who accounted for 1.5 sacks against the Texans and three tackles, ranks second on the team with 4.5 sacks this season. On Monday, a day after the Jets' 26-11 win over the Texans, Ellis talked of the surging defensive unit.
“We’re mixing it up. Guys are really taking it hard, playing a whole lot better and not making a lot of mental errors," he said. "We’re just playing smart football. We just have to play more consistently and get better every week.”
Read below for the complete transcripts from inside the Jets' locker room
New York Jets’ LB Victor Hobson, 11.27
On being defensive “Player of the Week”…
It’s a great feeling. I’ve just been trying since we started this system to come out, improve and get more comfortable. I’m trying to make my nichè each and every day, each and every week. I’m just going out there and trying to get better each and every day.
On getting a better grasp of the 3-4…
As a defensive unit, we are becoming more comfortable. We’re all playing better, we just feel better and more comfortable each and every day with everything that they call, which allows the coaches to become more comfortable with us and gives them more freedom to call different plays.
On the significance of being effective without blitzing…
It’s great. The defensive line played real well; they were able to put pressure on the quarterback, and that makes it easier for the whole defense.
On making the playoffs…
We’re just thinking about taking it one game at a time. We’ll build on this victory from Sunday and right now just focus on Green Bay.
On playing in Lambeau Field…
I’m sure it will be cold, but it’s a tradition, the “frozen tundra.” Everyone has to go through it at one point. We just want to go work on this game plan, get ready for practice and get ready for that game. It’s definitely going to be a big game.
New York Jets’ WR/QB/RB Brad Smith, 11.27
On going to Lambeau Field…
It’s my first time, and I’m excited. There is all that history, and all the great players they’ve had.
On making the playoffs…
We’re just trying to take it one at a time. Next week is Green Bay.
On Mike Nugent’s special teams tackle…
It wasn’t just a tackle, it was a great hit too. He did a great job of doing his job all day long.
New York Jets’ DE Shaun Ellis, 11.27
On what clicked over the last three games…
We’re mixing it up. Guys are really taking it hard, playing a whole lot better and not making a lot of mental errors. We’re just playing smart football.
On getting everything in place with the 3-4…
It’s a process. Like I said, we’re just trying to go out every day and practice. Coach calls the plays and whether we’re in 4-3 or 3-4 we just have to execute it.
On if this team is for real…
Yeah, we’re for real. We’re starting to gel a little bit more. Like I said, we just have to play more consistently and get better every week.
On how tough it was when teams were scoring on them a lot…
It was real tough. A 15-yard run and a 20-yard run there, at the end of the game, those add up. It was very frustrating. It was a good thing that we had a game where we controlled the run. Now we just have to put to games together.
On Coach Sutton getting more comfortable in his role…
Yeah, he does a great job of calling the plays and getting us to execute the plays. The main thing for us is, we’re always in the game as long as we keep the score down.
New York Jets’ K Mike Nugent, 11.27
On hearing from anyone in Centerville over the past 24 hours…
Not too much, just a couple friends and family. My sister just had a baby last week, so my family wanted to stay in town, they really wanted to come to the game. I was thinking at the time of the game, that they were probably going to be pretty upset that they weren’t there.
On what was going through his mind with the 54-yarder…
I was just thinking, “The warm-ups went really well, so just hit it like I did during warm-ups.” I always have a lot of confidence in Ben Graham holding, James Dearth snapping and all the guys on the line doing a good job of protecting us. I knew all that would come through I knew I had to do my job.
On the coach’s growing confidence in him…
I think it does. I think you really have to earn that kind of confidence, as a kicker, or even as a punter, in certain situations. I think as a kicker, you have to earn that, and I think I did that this week in practice and showed that the next time we get to that point, we do have the opportunity, depending on the situation.
On if his confidence in himself has ever shaken…
Not really. That’s the biggest thing I’ve tried to learn from other guys that I’ve talked to, especially in the NFL, is the fact that if you don’t have confidence in yourself, you might as well not even be out on the field. If you’re the only one in the whole stadium that has confidence in you, that’s the most you need.
On talking to people about kicking at Lambeau Field…
I played with B.J. Sander, who was a punter for Green Bay for the last two seasons, but I played with him at Ohio State, so I hope that he’s someone I will be able to talk to and try to get info about what the wind does there and how the field is.
On if he is looking forward to playing at Lambeau Field…
Absolutely, just the fact that it’s such a great tradition at that stadium. They’re going to come out and play their best against us, so if we can just perform at our potential. That’s what we’re looking for.
New York Jets’ RB Kevan Barlow, 11.27
On what was stopping the running game yesterday…
It’s the NFL, they play football too. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go out there and run the ball the way we wanted to. We have to put it behind us and get ready for Green Bay. As a competitor, I want to go out there and run the ball successfully, but we weren’t able to.
On building up chemistry between three running backs…
It’s been working for us. From the beginning of the season, we’ve been rotation three backs when Derrick Blaylock was there, so it’s been working for us throughout the whole season.
On if it was a hiccup, or a trend…
It was a hiccup, as you said. But we’re working on it. It’s definitely something we want to work on when we’re getting ready for Green Bay.
On if each guy has his own niche…
Basically, any back can get in there on any play, at any given time. They expect us to go out there and do everything, which we are. Some plays are designed for Leon Washington, but for the most part, we can all go out there and run everything.
On how he knows when he will go in…
It’s predetermined; every couple series, depending on the game.
On a sense that the coaches are happy with the three-man running game…
I think they’re happy with it. It keeps fresh legs and you get a different look from each back, but it is what it is. It’s worked for us since the beginning of the season. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
On if the two guys not in the play talk on the sidelines…
I’m always talking to Cedric Houston if something goes wrong or if he sees something that I didn’t have. We definitely ask each other on the sidelines. Even B.J. Askew, who didn’t play the last two weeks, draws up fronts. We definitely help each other when we’re not in the game.
On if he has experienced that before…
Yeah, as far as the help. Fortunately, we have guys that can help us; players and coaches.
On when he knows what the rotation of running backs is going to be…
For a while, Cedric Houston was hurt, so it was just me and Leon Washington, but now Cedric is healthy and he started rotating with us and he was successful. He came back against the Bears and we were positive running the ball, but coach likes it and it’s been winning games for us.
