Transcript of Jets head coach Eric Mangini's news conference before Thursday's midday practice:
I'd just like to start out by expressing my condolences to all of the families that were affected by 9/11 on this seventh anniversary of the tragic event, and just say our thoughts and prayers are with them and will continue to be with them.
In terms of what we are getting done today, we're following our standard schedule. There's really not much deviation. There will be a few things, points of emphasis, things we have to clean up from yesterday. Other than that, it's following the normal process.
On his relationship with the Patriots…
I'd say it's the same as it has been. No change. I have respect for all of the people there, the staff there and Bill [Belichick]. It's really the same feelings I've always had. It was just a good experience there for me, personally and for my family, while we were a part of the organization. Obviously, it's a great organization and I continue to respect them and appreciate all of the things that they did for me while I was there.
On if he had any contact with Belichick at the league meetings…
No.
On if his relationship changed with Belichick after "Spygate"…
With Spygate, we've been down that road so many times. There's really nothing to add from everything I've said leading up to this point.
On Chris Baker's contract extension…
I've always felt strongly about Chris and I'm really happy that we're able to move forward. Mike [Tannenbaum] and Ari [Nissim, director, football administration] do a great job with that. This is another great example of the work they do.
On Baker's role on the team…
His role really has not changed. I think Chris did an excellent job last year in terms of catching the ball, of being a complete tight end, run-blocking and all of those things. He made an amazing catch yesterday, a left-handed, one-handed grab, kind of off-balance. He has outstanding hands.
On if he has anxiety about playing a new kicker…
Less anxiety than having Kellen [Clemens] kick [laughs]. Jay [Feely] has done a good job over the course of his career, and he's kicked in our stadium. He has familiarity with the weather conditions, the way winds can shift, and I think that's a real bonus.
On if he was surprised Feely was a free agent…
I think he did a really good job last year and to have him available was a real plus.
On the key to Jerricho Cotchery's development…
Work, work. He works every single day, exactly the same way, and he's just such a consistent guy. He had a great off-season again this year and spent a lot of time focusing on things that he wanted to do better. He is very honest with himself in terms of what he needs to improve and then he puts together a plan to do those things. He follows up on the plan and it's consistent.
He's just a real model of consistency and work ethic. He is a great example for all of the young guys, especially the young guys that are primarily focused on special teams right now, as to how your career can develop.
On he considers Cotchery's work ethic solid…
It's better than solid. It's an example of a work ethic, as opposed to just a general classification. He's a great role model.
On Cotchery's personality…
He's very quiet but he's a great person. He is committed to the community. He is committed to his family. He is committed to the team. It's hard to get better than Jerricho Cotchery.
On Dwight Lowery's two consecutive end zone pass breakups at Miami…
It was man-to-man and he was coming over and wasn't alert for that type of route in that situation. He was jogging over a little bit, which caused a little angst, but showed a good burst and good awareness where he thought the ball was going to be placed.
He's a guy that does a lot of studying. He always has throughout the course of his career. The most impressive thing about Dwight was our interview at the combine. Here is a guy that's playing corner, and you put those guys up and make them explain the defense.
Whenever you look at a cornerback you want to see if he understands just what he has to do, or does he understand the whole defense? For most guys the description is "cat coverage" — "I've got that cat," and he can't really explain who has all of the other cats.
With Dwight, he could explain man and zone techniques, his technique, the backside corner's technique and the safety's technique. He could explain fronts and front fits. That's a really good trait for any defensive back, especially a corner. You knew that was going to translate into really in-depth studying at this level and you can gain some edges by doing that.
On an explanation of why Lowery was jogging…
I've only seen him cover one of those, and you knew what was going to happen as soon as that receiver took off over there. He did have the leverage on Dwight at that point. Dwight knew that he had the boundary of the sideline to help him out, but he showed his burst and showed his awareness.
On Bryan Thomas…
He had a very good off-season. He was very committed in the weightroom in terms of his conditioning. He has been extremely consistent in OTAs. I thought he had an excellent training camp. All of that stuff translated into what we saw last week. He's been very consistent throughout this whole term leading up to the season.
On if Lowery is the Jets' latest fourth-round draft find...
Dwight has one game in, so I'd like to reserve judgment here. I don't know, maybe we should trade back [laughs]. There has been a lot of success in the fourth round. It's really a testament to the scouting staff. As you get past those first two rounds, you have to dig a lot deeper, and that becomes the scouts' draft. Finding those guys in the later rounds is so key. It's also key in building long-term success because of the type of contracts that you get in terms of the value that they can have relative to where they were drafted. It's a great thing when it happens.
On being comfortable with Lowery because of his intelligence…
I'm more comfortable with any player like that. I think that is the key to not just success in any given game but long-term success in a career. It is the ability to understand exactly what you're doing, how everybody fits, and then to be able to look at your opponent and identify things that you can take advantage of. It's a giant edge. The guys that understand that, the quicker that they understand that, usually the quicker they develop and contribute, and the longer they play.
Tony Richardson has been playing forever, and he's another guy that really understands the whole offensive scheme. He understands what the opponent is trying to do to him and he's used that to create tremendous longevity. Roman Phifer is another guy who does things like that. It's a pretty common trait of those guys that played forever.
On rookie TE Dustin Keller getting advice from veterans…
I think the more that the rookies can hitch their wagon to an established vet and a guy that understands how to play and how to be a pro, the better off they are. He has worked with a lot of the older guys and the older guys have been great with him. Bubba [Franks] has been great with him, Baker has been great with Dustin. He has a good relationship with [Erik] Ainge as well. They spend a lot of time going over things after the fact.
On if Lowery has found a mentor on the team…
I'm not sure who he has gravitated towards one way or the other. I know that his ears are always open and he's very willing to take the coaching and apply the coaching. That could come from me, it could come from Jerome [Henderson], Bob [Sutton], or it could come from Kerry [Rhodes], Darrelle [Revis] or whoever it is.
On Jerricho Cotchery and Brett Favre…
In terms of the chemistry, Jerricho has been healthy throughout all of training camp and he's been able to work with Brett the whole time. That does speed up the chemistry between two guys. They talk a lot in meetings. That receiver group and the quarterbacks do a lot of interaction in the team meetings and in watching film, both our practice film and the opponent: "Well, this is how I think I can run it," "This is what I think he's going to do" or "OK, I'll put the ball here." The more that guys can be talking about what we're doing and what they're doing, the better the execution and the deeper the understanding of how we are going to attack.
On Randy Moss saying the Patriots are still the team to beat…
They have won six out of the last seven division championships and they were 16-0 last year. Again, you can't minimize the impact that Tom [Brady] has had but he doesn't stop the run defensively, he doesn't cover kicks and he doesn't return kicks. Those groups are deep, they are good, they are experienced, they are tough and they are seasoned. All of those things come into play. Just look at the three phases. It's a pretty complete team from top to bottom.
On if he agrees that the Patriots are the team to beat…
I think that it is what it is. They have won six out of the last seven, they were 16-0. They have the team that they have and we have to go out and play against them.
On OC Brian Schottenheimer being in the booth during games…
We were doing that throughout the whole preseason. It's something that we have talked about in the past. You're always experimenting with different approaches. The one value of the booth is that you have a big-picture view because of where you're located. It's also very much a controlled environment. You're able to move on to your next set of thoughts or your next plan of attack.
I think with [Brian] Daboll down on the field, those two have such a good relationship and he has such a good relationship with the quarterbacks that they are able to talk and we're not losing in terms of the on-field adjustments and coaching.
On the helmet radio worn by the defense…
[David] Harris has it and we've alternated it. [Kerry] Rhodes has had it, [Eric] Barton has had it. We've done a couple different things in terms of the second player. Only one guy has it at a time. It's been good, but just like with all of these communications, at different points during the game it goes out and we always operate on signals first. That's an added bonus, as opposed to having to relying on that and having to adjust when it inevitably goes out.
On if the helmet system had glitches against Miami…
Yes, but that's pretty standard. It will happen. I don't know how many times this year, both offensively and defensively where it goes out or the sideline pictures are suddenly blurry. You just have to roll and adjust.
On if he still uses hand signals…
We always practice with hand signals and then just add the headset.
On how they signaled at Miami…
It's just a function of when it goes out to be able to move into the hand signal. As you're practicing, you don't practice necessarily with the radio. You practice with the signals and then add the radio towards the end of the week.
On if the first method of communication during the game is the helmet…
Right.
On his expectations of Jets fans on Sunday…
I expect it to be loud like it always is. Jets fans are pretty consistent in terms of the energy and passion they bring. That's the same year in and year out. I've dealt with it as an opponent a bunch of times and it's hard to hear. It's hard to hear when you are sitting on the other side of that. It makes it good.
On if he's worried about his offense since the Jets almost lost to Miami, which was 1-15 last year…
Last year is really last year. We were 4-12, they were 1-15. It was last year.
On if Favre's improvisation will be successful against the Patriots…
I think Brett did some improvising 10 or 15 years into Green Bay. I think that's kind of his DNA. Whether he's here two or three weeks or two or three years, I anticipate him probably adjusting a little on the fly.
On if he is concerned about Favre's knowledge of the playbook…
No, it gets better each week. The nice thing now is it's not the playbook but it's the game plan book. The playbook is this big [holding his hands apart] and the game plan book is this big [moving his hands closer together]. You're able to focus on it and practice it specifically against that opponent, the fronts and the coverages, not against "Mystery Opponent X," where they could run two-deep, three-deep, blitz-fires. Whatever you're going through, the contingencies are there, and this is much more targeted.
On Laveranues Coles' and Favre's lack of practice time together and if that caused the missed end zone pass at Miami…
We've had other guys open and missed them. I think you'd like to say that you definitely would hit it if you practiced more, but I think these are two good players there. Laveranues will get open again and I'm sure Brett will get him the ball.
On his reaction when Favre improvises…
It's not like every play is a circus. It's every now and then some things come up. In that situation, you had to. It was fourth-and-whatever and the best chance he had was to lob it up and see what happens. I felt really good about what happened. It felt great. I'm sure there will be some other situations where I will want to have some throws back, but I know it's going to happen both ways.
