It's hard to believe Jason Taylor is in his 10th NFL season. Taylor, a 6'6", 255-pound defensive end from Akron, still comes off the edge like a youngster and not a 32-year old man. He has already racked up four sacks in '06 and the Dolphins' career sack leader now has 96.5 for his career.
On Sunday, rookie Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson will match up with Taylor for the first time in his young career.
"There are tough challenges every week," Ferguson said. "Last week, and the week before there was a guy named Dwight Freeney that I had to go against. Jason Taylor is an excellent athlete. he's very talented so we'll have to go out there with some type of plan to execute so we'll be all right."
Read Below for More Player Quotes from Inside the Locker Room
New York Jets' G Pete Kendall, 10.12
On the advantages for D'Brickashaw Ferguson of gaining size or speed…
You would always like to be bigger without sacrificing quickness. I think that as he matures physically, he will be able to carry a few more pounds and still be quick.
On the increased difficulty of adjusting to a league in which you face players like Dwight Freeney and Jason Taylor every week…
Well certainly, that is a challenge any left tackle would face, and couple that with the fact that this is his [Ferguson] first go-around… that's just life in this business and it's certainly different from the ACC.
On matching up against good players…
There are no weeks off in this league except for the bye. Everybody you play against has good players and every guy you play against is capable of beating you. Again, for a rookie, that's probably different from what they did before. When you play in college and they schedule Division I-AA teams, you may essentially have weeks where you don't have to try very hard to do well, but that's certainly not the case here.
On Ferguson's confidences weakening since college…
He seems to me to be the same guy.
On statements that is easier to draft a lineman than a quarterback…
I think that's pretty fair. I think quarterback is probably the most challenging position in all of sports. It's much more difficult to guess how a skill-set will translate from college to the pros because so much of the quarterback position comes from right between the ears. With blocking and tackling, I think it's easier to project how a skill-set will transplant from college to the pro league.
On Ferguson being frustrated…
If he is, he certainly hasn't shown it and that would be a little naïve. I think D'Brickashaw is too smart for that. I think he understands what he was getting himself into and what the team was going to throw him into. He was the fourth pick in the draft - there are certain expectations that people have with that.
New York Jets' WR Jerricho Cotchery, 10.13
On having a chip on his shoulder after last week…
Well, we were disappointed with what happened last week, but I'm expecting a lot of guys to come out this week with a lot of energy and effort to not let what happened last week happen again. This week, we've just been practicing hard and we'll see what happens on Sunday.
On playing in front of the home crowd…
It's always good to play at home especially in front of our crowd. They give us a lot of energy and we'll be expecting the same thing form the crowd this week. That, along with the energy that will be playing with on the field, I think will help us out a lot.
On the importance of wide receivers chipping in and making blocks…
The receivers always play an important role out there on the perimeters, so we're just going to do our job. Whenever the pressure is there, we're just going to make plays on the outside to make it a more even game.
On thinking about scoring in the first quarter…
Putting on added pressure is not something that we're consciously thinking about before the game. We're just going to go out, execute our game plan and try to run it effectively.
On being anxious to get back on the field after last week's loss…
We're definitely anxious, but I think this week of practice relieved us a lot. I know for myself, I wanted to go out and practice the next day after that loss. think it will be good for us to go out there and play this Sunday and not let what happened last week happen again.
On Leon Washington adding to the offense…
Leon does a lot of things well and he's another weapon that we have on our offense. We have a lot of guys that do a ton of things well and I think that helps diversify our offense a lot.
On what opposing defenses think of Leon Washington…
They're not saying too much, because I think some of the guys are in shock about some of the moves he makes. The guy can stop on a dime, he can run fast, and he can make a lot of guys miss. I think when teams watch him on film, they know that he's an elusive guy and he can make a lot of things happen on the field.
New York Jets' LB Jonathan Vilma, 10.13
On what they wanted to focus on during practice…
(We wanted to) focus on the Dolphins, and what we wanted to do to stop them.
On what stands out about the Dolphins offense…
They have great skill position players in Ronnie Brown, (Chris) Chambers and (Randy) McMichael. They have really good skill position players all around, across the board. Joey Harrington did a good job in the New England game of getting the ball to them, so we have to defend that.
On it being important to get back on the field after last week's loss…
Obviously, you want to get the sour taste out of your mouth, so it's great for us that we didn't have a bye and we could get right back in it.
On it being easier to prepare for a QB like Harrington rather then one like Daunte Culpepper…
No, because Daunte can still play. It's not like he's no going to play. It doesn't make it any easier for us because now we have to defend two QBs instead of defending one. Whoever is in there, we have to defend his abilities and on top of that stop their offense. So, whoever is in the game we have to get ready for them.
On the New York/Miami rivalry…
That's what makes it very big: it's a division game, it's always going to be played tough, and it's always going to be a close game. I think we had maybe one blowout in the four times I played them. It's going to be a hard fought game and just the fact that it's a division game makes it that much tougher.
On knowing about the rivalry before he came to the Jets…
Yeah, and I remember the greatest comeback and the whole nine. I know it's been a big rivalry and it's great that we have that within the division; it makes for a lively game.
On being a Dolphin fan when he attended the University of Miami (FL)…
No, I wasn't.
On being a Dolphin fan now…
No, definitely not now.
New York Jets' WR Laveranues Coles, 10.13
On being a part of the big comeback against Miami…
That was my rookie year, so it was something different for me. Jets/Dolphins always seems to be a pretty big game, but that moment in particular was just amazing. I recall people leaving and then once we started making the comeback, people were pulling over on the side of the road and people were coming back into the stadium. It was just one of those games that you're never going to forget and always be proud that you were a part of.
On practice this week…
You're a little bit more focused any time you take a lashing like that, but it's no different. We take the same approach every week. I think everyone tries to prepare themselves to go out and win - that's what practice is about. I think the guys this week put together some good practices and when we do that, our coach lets us know if we keep practicing well, then good things will happen.
On the challenge of a defense with a big front line…
The good news is that I don't have to deal with those big guys, but they're on the defense and they're very talented across the board. They have guys that just know how to play the game and that's where their veteran leadership is. Any time you have guys that can rush the pass the way they do… they're just talented. There's nothing else you can say about them. When you look at them on paper, they're scary.
On more incentive facing a divisional opponent…
You treat every game like it's the Super Bowl - every game counts. It's a 16-game season and this is a game we have to win. Whether it's Miami or Hempstead High, we're going to try and win the game. That's just the way it works. I think for us, we're trying to put together a solid game from start to finish and hopefully come out on top.
On Leon Washington adding to the team…
He added 101 yards. Any time you can get a guy that comes in and gives us a good push like that, he and our running backs have been doing a great job. I know they were criticized earlier, but I think now teams are softening up and giving us a lot more cover-2, which gives our running backs the opportunity to make plays and give us a chance to win ball games.
On hearing comments about Washington from the defensive line…
I'm standing out wide, I don't get to hear any of that. What goes on inside - to be honest - I try to stay away form it. The guy just comes in and plays an excellent football game for us and hopefully, everybody will continue to go in the right direction.
New York Jets' T D'Brickashaw Ferguson, 10.13
On being anxious to get back on the field…
We just need to go out there and execute to our best.
On a different tone in practice…
We try to stay consistent, that's our approach win lose or draw. We're going to go out there and do the things necessary to be successful.
On the tough challenge of Jason Taylor…
There are tough challenges every week. Last week, and the week before there was a guy named Dwight Freeney that I had to go against. Jason Taylor is an excellent athlete, he's very talented so we'll have to go out there with some type of plan to execute so we'll be alright.
On extra pressure on the running game with the Miami defensive ends being very fast…
I think whenever you have great defensive players, they're always going to have an impact on anything you do. Again, Jason Taylor has a lot of talent and it's important to understand that so you can do what you need to do, accordingly.
On not worrying about who lines up on the other side of the ball…
Even in college and high school, you're always going to have to go against great guys. Now, I'm going against players that are on the top of their game, so to get caught up in what I did last week or what I didn't do last week would not put me in the best position to play this week. I have a new opponent, I have new things to worry about week-by-week and just staying consistent is what I need to do.
On the importance of a quick offensive start…
There are definitely things that we speak about; I think the most important thing that we, as a unit, always strive to do is execute and we'll take it from there.
On improving consistency, as a personal goal…
I think whenever you can produce and execute and be consistent, that's always a plus.
On watching the Jets' comeback against Miami on Monday Night Football…
Again, we're in a league now where it doesn't matter what you saw a minute ago, it's always play-by-play and it's important to realize that.
On feeling more comfortable in the NFL…
I don't know if comfortable is the word I would use, but going up against these guys is definitely a learning process. I get a chance to learn more about these individuals, so being faced with different problems, now I know how to deal with them a little bit better.
On what Leon Washington brings to the team…
He's just an excellent player all the way around. The things he's done so far, are impressive and he continues to contribute that every game.
Friday Injury Report Jets
Questionable: FB B.J. Askew (foot), CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (calf), RW Tim Dwight (thigh), RB Cedric Houston (knee), OL Pete Kendall (thigh) & OL Trey Teague (ankle)
Probable:*DL Dave Ball (hand), *RB Kevan Barlow (calf), *LB Matt Chatham (foot), *OL Anthony Clement (shin), *DL Bobby Hamilton (knee), *FB James Hodgins (knee), *OL Adrian Jones (thigh), *CB Justin Miller (hip), *QB Chad Pennington (calf), *S Kerry Rhodes (thigh), *TE Sean Ryan (Chest), WR Brad Smith (thigh), *S Eric Smith (knee), & *DL Kimo von Oelhoffen (knee) & *RB Leon Washington (hip)
Dolphins Doubtful:WR Marty Booker (chest) & QB Daunte Culpepper (knee)
Questionable:CB Travis Daniels (knee), TE Justin Peelle (knee), & LB Derrick Pope (hamstring)
Probable:*TE Randy McMichael (ribs)
- Denotes players who participated in practice
