Transcript of head coach Eric Mangini's news conference with the New York Jets media before Wednesday's afternoon training camp practice:
In terms of yesterday, I thought the weather created some problems, which was good. There were some wet-ball issues, catching it, dealing with it in special teams, kicking it, throwing it, all those different aspects that come up with any type of rain game. So I thought that was positive. It was pretty close to a standard Wednesday for us. Today is pretty close to a standard Thursday for us. So we'll move right through the week and get used to that process.
One announcement: The reason you see everybody in Titans gear is we're going to have a throwback day against Philly on Oct. 14 wearing Titans uniforms. I looked at some of the uniforms and some of the different things associated with it, so that will be a good chance for us to honor our history and some of the players that were part of that team that went on to play for the Jets' Super Bowl team. I know Larry Grantham is confirmed to come, Bill Mathis, Don Maynard and Curley Johnson. They'll all be there. I just think it's a great opportunity for us to recognize a part of a long and proud history of Jets and Titans football.
On if they will wear leather helmets …
We're thinking about it. We'll see if we can get it approved by the league, but with concussion issues [smiles] ...
On if he will wear a suit and tie …
We haven't talked that far through it, but probably not. We're looking to try to get the game at the Polo Grounds, not sure if we can get that done [smiles].
On getting permission to wear Titans uniforms …
Anything like this goes through the league. The league is always very good about things that honor the tradition of the different organizations. Obviously names do change but this is a name that's been part of our past. They were comfortable with it.
On who the Eagles will prepare for …
Hopefully the Titans [laughter]. We'll send them some of that tape. I'll be happy to send them some of Don Maynard running or Curley Johnson. He played a couple of different spots so he'd be hard to prepare for.
On if the Eagles will be wearing their throwback uniforms …
I'll be able to see Andy [Reid] here in a couple weeks, even less than that. I'll see what he's got planned.
On if the last play in yesterday's practice was an incompletion or interception …
It was close. The official who was in the end zone ruled it as an incompletion. It looked close. And what was great about that is what a perfect point to teach off of. Ray [Ventrone] had an opportunity earlier in the drive to end it with an interception, and there was just a small technique thing that he could have done to secure the football a little bit better. Then you get in that situation later on. He had the right idea. It might have just been a beat too late for what he was trying to do. Those one-second decisions, those quick decisions, are the difference. Then Adrien Clarke picks it up. He was rumbling, stumbling, poor ball security, threw out a stiff-arm and celebrated early. There's plenty to teach off of that.
On if it is better for an offensive lineman to catch the ball or to knock it down in that situation …
Knock it down. Because usually only bad things can happen when you try to catch it. It may bounce off your chest or get knocked out of your hands. If it hits the ground, it's over. There is no need to pad stats at that point.
On if the right thing to do is to go down and have a teammate cover him up …
Really it's the same issue on Shaun [Ellis]'s interception with Chad [Pennington]'s drive. At that point they have one timeout left. They really couldn't have stopped the clock. We would have been on the 8-yard line. Catch it and hit the dirt. The game's over. He was running. Leon [Washington] made a nice play, he just ran out of yards to catch Shaun. He was right on Shaun's back trying to punch it out. You see that all the time with someone returning a ball, doesn't get on the ground, then the offense will take it back.
On his assessment of the offensive line this preseason …
I thought that last game we actually showed a lot of improvement in the running game. I was really pleased with that against a very good run defense. I thought the fits were better than they were in the first game. It showed improvement over the course of camp. There is some new teaching going on with some of the things that we're doing and some new concepts being put in. So that does usually take time. I think there have definitely been some positive things there.
On if Pete Kendall has affected the advancement of the line …
I think everybody here is a professional, and everybody here focuses on what's important, and what's important is improving yourself individually and improving the team collectively. That's the approach we all take.
On practicing away from spectators and saving some elements of installations …
There's definitely elements. You want to be able to really work on some of those things. Some of it may be things we've run once or twice just to take a look at early in camp and get on tape, but now you may focus on it, you may have some route adjustments off of it. There may be some looks that you haven't really covered. That's another important part of the process.
On being comfortable with the installation at this point …
I've liked the flow of the installation. It really has been consistent with the flow of the installation during the OTAs, trying to follow the same pattern as you would during a normal game week and get that routine really established in the players' eyes and in the coaches' approach. It's so consistent during the season, our thinking was to just start that way instead of transitioning into it.
On whether he has seen enough of QB Marques Tuiasosopo to assess him …
Tui has been here for quite a while and he's worked through a lot of reps. I'd like to see some more of him in the games. That's something we'll look to do. I think Tui has done a lot of good things. It's always difficult when it's a new system. They haven't been exposed to it. I know dealing last year with all the quarterbacks facing a new system and the challenges that were there. I appreciate that element.
On Darrelle Revis at cornerback vs. nickel …
He's learning both spots. He's worked both spots since he's been here. That'll be the case moving forward. A lot of those DBs have worked inside as well. Yesterday there were some things I really liked and some things where you recognize he missed that element of the teaching. You have to go back and cover that point again. It may be the way to play the receiver at the break point where we've hit that six or seven times, maybe even more. I'm just talking about my meetings. Bob [Sutton] and Mike [MacIntyre], I'm sure they've hit it multiple times, too. It's really the first or second time during this phase of his progress where he's hearing it. There's some backtracking we have to do with him, and he's really got to add some extra time to his prep as well.
On technique being a deciding factor when talent is equal …
Technique is usually the deciding factor with guys that are equal, and a lot of times it will win games where the talent isn't equal. If you can be sound in your technique and you can be sound in your scheme, then the other team has to beat you. In the NFL, a lot of times games are lost and not won. You want to always make sure that if you are on the negative side it's because the other team beat you, not because you lost.
On if Revis is a fast learner …
In talking to his [college] coaches and meeting with him, I saw how bright he was, I saw how he picked up information quickly. That being said, there's a lot of really bright guys and with the volume of information that's coming in, it takes some time. There's a large volume and a very short amount of time. I'm happy with the way he's working at it. It's something you have to diligently chip away at.
On if Revis is where he would like him to be at this point in camp …
I didn't really put a level on it. What I was pleased with is in talking to him and assessing his recall, he did a good job with the notes he had taken during the OTAs and things we had covered during the OTAs. He obviously had spent some time not just working out but working on the information he left with, and that's good.
On Cody Spencer and Brad Kassell having a preexisting friendship …
I think the more guys like each other, I think that's always a positive thing. It's good to be able to have that chemistry. You like to see that across the whole team. That's something you work for because the level of communication is better. You just anticipate the way a player is going to react because of your familiarity. Brian [Schottenheimer] calls it the me-to-you factor with the receivers and the quarterbacks. When you have that, it's not about running the route at 10 yards and breaking at a 45-degree angle. Sometimes that can't take place, but if you understand how Laveranues [Coles] is going to adjust versus the way that Jerricho [Cotchery] or Justin [McCareins] is going to adjust, they're subtleties. Having that feel for each guy can be a real edge.
On David Barrett playing through an injury last year and his character …
I worked out David Barrett a long time ago when he was coming out of college. I remember watching him on college tape. I liked the way he played then. I see a lot of those same characteristics you saw when he was at that point. He has a very consistent approach. He's very diligent about the way he does things. That toughness is there. You appreciate that toughness at any position, especially the corner spot where you have so much running and you're so isolated. That takes a lot.
On if Barrett's playing through injuries helped his standing with the Jets …
We're always looking for guys that can work through those different things. It's an important aspect of what we seek in players, and that's why one of our core characteristics of players is toughness.
On the end of camp this year versus last year and his progress …
It's a little bit different in the sense that the level of installation has increased this year because last year you're starting at a radically different point. We're able to do some things this year that we weren't able to do last year. I've been really happy with the way the players worked. It's been a long camp. I'm sure it's been a challenging camp. That's what camp is about. It's to get you ready for the season and to lay that foundation moving into the season.
