Transcripts of interviews with selected Jets following their 38-27 preseason win over Philadelphia on Thursday night:
HEAD COACH REX RYAN
I was very pleased with our offense. The whole game we really did some great things. Danny Woodhead is the first guy you really have to tip your hat to. I was told a stat that it was the second-most rushing yards by anybody in preseason history [since 1992], so that says a heck of a lot. I think he wants us to know that he wants to be on this football team.
I thought our quarterbacks played well. Obviously I was happy with the way our first unit did on offense driving down. I think [Mark] Sanchez was [5-of-5] passing. We looked good. We did a nice job getting into the end zone. I was disappointed with the first unit on defense. Sometimes if you just lay your jock out there something like that can happen to you. We can touch that up any way you want to [laughing]. The penalties and all that stuff, we'll look at that and see how we can teach the technique differently. We need to look at that stuff.
I think the defense really responded in the second half. We got after them pretty good in the locker room. I thought our guys responded. I think we had seven sacks. Michael Vick is not your average guy back there. When I saw him run that one time I was like "Oh."
We were playing vanilla defense, both of us, until it got real competitive at the end. A call or two slipped in there on both sides, them as well as us [laughing]. I still don't have an answer on who can cover the Clown [David Clowney]. But I am happy with this football team. This is a good football team. We're going to find out next week. And really everybody is going to find out next week. That is what I am excited about.
On if Woodhead did enough to make the team…
Well, we'll see. It always comes down to numbers. I don't know what more he is supposed to do. We'll see. He had a heck of a game. He is tougher than nails. He works everyday. For a guy that overcame the injury like he had, you certainly pull for him.
On who broke the no-blitzing agreement…
I think they're going to say I did, but I don't believe I did. We ran a four-man rush and I don't think they did a good job of identifying the fourth guy. That's what led to the fumble for Vick. Then they started to blitz. Andy [Reid] is a great guy. He probably knew we wouldn't go a whole game without blitzing. That's an excellent football team over there and I wish him the best. He's a class guy.
On if Vick was a little better than he would have expected considering the layoff…
I don't know. I was surprised we were able to sack him as many times as we did.
On Jets penalties on defense…
I'm concerned. I want to make sure we're teaching our guys correctly and really look at it. I want to see if it was an obvious foul. I want Lito [Sheppard] playing football and staying aggressive, but we'll have to see the film.
On Vernon Gholston's sack…
It was great. It was the first of many. We're going to approach it that way. It was good to see him get one after last week when he got one and then hit the quarterback. I thought he was physical against the run as well. I was happy with the way he played.
On the backup quarterbacks…
I like our roster. We have depth. I think we have three quarterbacks who can play.
On Kellen Clemens…
He hasn't gotten the reps. He only threw two balls today. One was a perfect pass and we just dropped it. He's done a nice job in practice. His elbow has been a little banged up, but Kellen has been doing a good job in practice.
QB MARK SANCHEZ
On if he feels he is where he needs to be at this point...
I think we have plenty to prove to ourselves and this is a great start to the season, but we haven't arrived. We haven't unleashed our full potential and we have a ways to go, but we've made the right initial steps as a group. I think we're developing a camaraderie and a trust in each other. This is a special group. When I pay attention to those older guys, the veterans, and keep my cool and let the game happen, then we have some great stuff ahead of us.
On the passing game performance…
It sure looked OK. We'll find something to correct on the film, but when you have that kind of time to throw and when you have a guy like Dustin Keller going down the middle one-on-one with someone, he's a big-time threat. And then for Jerricho [Cotchery] to make that big-time catch, I put it on him before he was coming out of his break and he made a heck of a grab.
On starting the regular season…
I can't wait. This is great experience so far. I think we've made the right steps as a team. We're really coming together and we are excited for the regular season. On the road like that in a hostile environment like Houston, it's going to be fun.
On his comfort level compared to the Baltimore game…
I feel like Baltimore was a great experience. It was almost a welcome-to-the-NFL experience and one you learn from. There's two ways to go when something like that happens, you can either tank and go down the tube or you can really bounce back. I think that's what we've done. With the kind of veteran leadership we have on offense and defense, the guys just kind of picked me up after that game and let me know that they believed in me, and that Coach believed in me as the starter. I'm excited at the way we've bounced back as a team and personally and now it's on to bigger and better things.
On the opening drive…
I think that was exactly the sort of statement we wanted to make as an offense to ourselves and to the league. We want to feel like a force to be reckoned with and that we can carry our weight on this team. It's just a preseason game. There is plenty of work to be done and a lot of game-planning for a great Houston team. It's going to be fun for us to game-plan and then finally get on the field in the regular season.
On Erik Ainge's performance…
He let us know before the game that he was ready to go. A lot of people were talking about Michael Vick being in town, and he was like, "Be ready for the Erik Ainge show." He proved himself right and he had a heck of a night. It was fun to see him out there doing as well as he did.
On watching Michael Vick…
He looked like he was getting back to his old self and running around quite a bit. I'm sure he's still adjusting to things after a long layoff like that. But he was great after the game, he said, "Hey, rook, I see you playing. I saw you play in college," and he gave me some words of encouragement. And I told him to keep up the good work and make the most of this opportunity. He seemed real nice and wished me well. So that was real classy of him. He was spinning it out there and he can still run. I think it's only a matter of time and he'll find his rhythm again and he'll be fine.
On if he felt as comfortable in one series as he did against the Giants…
Pretty close. It was a great start. Leon [Washington] makes a great close to the ground and then we came back to Dustin down the field and then we hit Jerricho down the field again in the red zone. I thought it was as good a series as an offense that you could have. We moved the ball around quite a bit. The run doesn't get much pub but we had some big-time runs on first downs, taking the heat off the quarterback and letting Thomas Jones do his thing.
On ending the preseason on a high note…
We wanted to finish strong every drill, every rep, every practice and every preseason game. This was a great step for us going into the regular season.
On making his secondary reads…
The one to Jerricho was a 1A/1B kind of read, the inside-post route. He shook his guy and I put it on him early. And then a couple plays to Dustin were second reads as well. We're getting through the progressions and we had plenty of time.
On the offense's confidence in its aerial attack…
We aired it out all right tonight. That will be good. Everyone knows we have a tough running game, so that could be a little changeup for us. Who knows.
RB DANNY WOODHEAD
On the game…
You know what, it's football. It was fun. I went out there and executed the plan. It's really not about what I did, it's what the offense did. If the offensive line didn't create the big holes, I wouldn't have had such a great game. I just took advantage of what was given. I felt comfortable out there. The more you are involved in the offense, the more comfortable you will be. I just tried to use my God- given ability and that's all I can do.
On playing the entire game…
It brought me back to my college days when I played full games. It was great to play as much as I did. Whenever they call me, I'm going to go out there and do what I can to help benefit the team. I went out there and did what I can for the team. My goal coming in was to help the team win the game and we won the game. I'm very happy with that.
On tonight's performance…
I'm happy with how I played. My first run, I got a little burst, but at the end of the run, it felt like I was carrying a heavy back pack. I wasn't feeling very fast after that play. I went out there and did what I can for the team. I'm sure there were things I didn't do right, but I will watch film and correct it. I'm a confident player, but I don't know if tonight's performance made me any more confident than what I am.
On making the team…
I'm not worried about that. That's not my job to make the decision of who makes the team. My job is to go out there and play football. Hopefully, my performance is enough. Either way I'm going to keep working hard and try to become a better football player. It's all in God's hands and I trust whatever he's going to do with my life and that's the way I will approach it.
LB BART SCOTT
On the penalties called against the Jets' first defense...
We just have to figure out how the refs are going to call them. With the one with [CB Darrelle] Revis, I thought that was incidental contact. The feet got tangled up. It's just their interpretation. It's preseason for the refs, too.
On the game rules this season…
Every year they have different inferences. They over-call things during the pre-season, and usually it settles down during the regular season. In that drive, I think they had 12 yards of offense, the rest was in penalty yards. Of course, we don't want to have penalties. We want to be the least penalized defense in the league. If that's how they are going to call it, then maybe we'll change our technique.
With Revis, we have to send it in to the head ref and see, was it interpreted wrong or maybe was it not a great call or maybe the ref had a bad angle. They make mistakes as well. And if they say no, this is how they are going to call it, then we have to adjust. It's like when we had to adjust the year after the Patriots played the Colts and they changed the rules about being able to be physical at the line. The defense always adjusts. This is an offensive game, and they want to see points on the board.
On RB Danny Woodhead…
He showed a lot of heart. We were kind of light on running backs. He pretty much played special teams and grinded it out. He showed a lot of guts, especially to break a lot of long runs like that. That was great, but it also takes a lot out of you. For him to have two great runs like that means that he is in shape. He can be counted on. He is durable. He's small, but he takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. We tease him for that big helmet he has on, but obviously if he handles the ball like that he is going to be a marked man.
EAGLES QB MICHAEL VICK
On playing tonight…
It felt good to finally take some snaps at the quarterback position. I think I played fairly well. There are some things I could have done better but it felt good to get out there and play some quarterback on a consistent basis and shake off some cobwebs.
On meeting with NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell…
It was a great meeting, as I expected. We talked about some things and he didn't make his decision at that point in time but I thought what the outcome would be. I've been doing everything I could, doing all the right things and staying on course and I was happy with the decision.
On convincing Goodell for a shorter suspension…
I've been trying to show him that I'm moving in the right direction. I'm changing my life for the better. (I'm showing him) that I'm doing all the things that a professional athlete is supposed to do on and off the field. I can't get complacent, I just have to stay strong and keep moving forward. I have to continue to have faith and have faith in myself and trust myself and I think he believed that.
On facing fans…
That's part of the game. Jets fans – they're great. They go out and demonstrate what true fans are supposed to be. They boo, and that's part of the game, but at the same time, I felt some love. I understand it's a part of what I have to deal with – it's part of what any quarterback around the League has to deal with.
On most important thing he took away from meeting with Goodell…
Having to continue to trust myself on a consistent basis, from day-to-day, for 24 hours a day. I have to use good judgment. That's what I've been trying to display and it's what I've been trying to do day-to-day in my walk of life.
On becoming the player he used to be…
I still think I'm a couple weeks away. I'll take this time to get in shape – to get my endurance and to continue to strengthen my legs and to work my mind with the offense, the mental capacity of the game. I just have to try to do all the right things to put myself in the position so that when I'm called on I can go out there and do my best.
On the importance of practicing over the next few weeks…
It's very important. Being able to practice and going out there to continue to get a feel for the offense and to work on the little things and ball security. It's the small things I have to work on and that's the most important thing at this point.
On taking hits…
It's been a long time – since 2007. It's what I wanted. I wanted to get hit a little bit, to get a feel for the game, to get knocked around a little bit, to have to move in the pocket. That (Jets) defense definitely did a good job at that and I commend them for that. But at the same time, I have things to work on in my game and I still have a ways to come but I felt good with the outcome.
On the wildcat package…
I felt like it was more productive. There are a lot of things we can do. My mindset it to help this team in whatever capacity I can and do the things I know I can do when I'm out there on the football field.
On receiving a two-week suspension…
I was surprised but I'm just blessed to have an opportunity. I'm blessed to be standing here in front of you today. I'm blessed to have the opportunity play the quarterback position today and it's still somewhat like a dream when I step out there on the field. Coming from where I came from two years ago and knowing where I've been, I just try to enjoy the moment. I can't complain about anything. If it was a six-game suspension, if that was the final ruling, the verdict, then I would be happy and I would say that I would have to work on personal development and perfecting my game.
On the length of the suspension being fair…
I don't look at it like a suspension and that's what the Commissioner indicated to me – it's an opportunity to get myself together and to take some time off and to do all of the right things.
On his touchdown run…
I didn't even know what to do with myself. I was telling myself to keep the ball, or to hand it to an offensive lineman, or to spike it, but after I got up, I just lost it. My mind went blank and I just ran off the field like nothing had ever happened. I went through so many scenarios in my mind, but it was great. It was gratifying getting into the end zone and I'm glad the play was called for me to have the opportunity to do it.
On receiving the verdict on the suspension…
I found out from Andy (Reid) about three hours later.
On handling the ups and downs of being an NFL player…
You just want to have an opportunity to come back. Unfortunately for me, I have been suspended for the first two games, so it gives me something to think about. It gives me ambition and motivation to come back stronger. When I'm working the next two weeks, that's what I'll be thinking about – the bad things that happened in this game, while I'm correcting them.
On where he is after playing today…
I'm about 90 percent. I'm almost there.
On getting involved in the Philadelphia community…
I'm very excited about having the opportunity to go out and have an impact on kids in this world. Not only playing football is important, but it's about how many lives I can affect and how many people I can change from here on out.
