Now that head coach Eric Mangini has matched the win total from the 2005 Jets, many people are wondering if the first year head coach has met the goals in which he has set for himself and or his team.
"There was no set schedule. There was no set milestone," he said. "And the way that it was going to be gauged was progress. And that's really how I'm going to gauge everything throughout the season. Are we building on the positive things? Are we making strides on the areas that we need improvement? First and foremost, it's to win the game, and then after that, is are we improving individually and collectively as a team."
Read below for Mangini's complete transcript
New York Jets' Head Coach Eric Mangini, 10.23
Opening statement…
Offensively, we did a real good job with the running game and that was a collective effort with the receivers on the perimeter blocking well. The offensive line did a nice job of getting a hat on a hat. The tight ends and the fullbacks, and then the running backs taking advantage of those holes and also making some yards after contact. Not just Leon, but Kevin's contribution and collectively a solid effort.
Defensively, with Roy Williams, he was obviously a big threat and I thought that we did a nice job holding him to a limited amount of production. I thought that was a very important key to the game. On special teams, this is an explosive group, one of the better groups in the NFL. Everybody helped keep down the return yards and we had a really nice return there, Justin's return, and made a good play on the squib kick, the one that Hodgins returned. I was pleased with the way that group, the special teams group, responded against a really tough challenge.
Our players of the game this week are: offensively; Leon Washington, defensively; Dewayne Robertson, special teams; Kerry Rhodes and the practice player of the week was Jamie Thompson.
Today we gave the guys a little bit of a break from meetings. They are still coming in to work out, get their DVDs, start their individual preparation. This is a case similar to training camp where they created the opportunity through hard work, especially over the past few weeks, and then they had to capitalize on the opportunity with the victory which they did, and they earned it. It will be a nice break for them, and I'm sure they will come back Wednesday ready to answer quite a few questions on the Cleveland Browns, which they will get.
On giving the players a day off a week away from the bye-week…
It was one of those situations where I think they have been working extremely hard, and like in training camp, there were some opportunities right before we broke training camp. A lot of that is tied into what they are doing and the types of things that they are creating. You have to be able to capitalize on it when it comes up, whether it's catching the punt or kicking the field goal or whatever the key element is. Yesterday, it was winning and they did that. I thought they earned it.
On using a day off as incentive for winning…
We talked in the captain's meeting. I'm sure the captains didn't mention it to anybody. It might have been out there floating in space somewhere. The other players sure seemed to know about it.
On taking the day off altering the schedule and preparation for this week…
No, there was a good group there when I went down to the weight room this morning to get my normal 10-mile run in. So they were down there and there were a lot of guys coming up to the coaches' office to watch the tape on their own, get set up to do that, get their DVDs, and start their prep. Just a little bit of a break from the formal setup. But they were all here.
On the rate of progression thus far for Mangini's program…
There was no set schedule. There was no set milestone. The way that it was going to be gauged was progress. That's really how I'm going to gauge everything throughout the season; are we building on the positive things? Are we making strides on the areas that we need improvement? First and foremost, it's to win the game, and then after that, I am looking to see that we are improving individually and collectively as a team.
On players who have made progress individually…
I feel certain individuals have made progress and we've made collective improvement.
On Mangini's satisfaction with the team's overall progress…
I've been happy, especially over the last couple of weeks with the consistent individual preparation and, the consistent level of practice. I thought the last two weeks, we've had really good practices. Judging by the questions that we ask and the interaction of the coaches, the individual preparation, especially going into Wednesday, which is key, has been very good and very consistent, and I've been really pleased with that.
On if he believes the players are catching on to his system…
I'd like to think that they are seeing the benefits and it's so important to the success of a player, his approach and him being a professional. It's so important collectively the way practice ties into games and the way that it all lends itself to being successful. That's really the formula.
On if the players have learned and improved since the JAX game…
I think they have really worked hard for a long time. Training camp was tough and they will tell you that, repeatedly. We've been working and they have been working and I've been pleased with that. There have been a few hiccups here and there. But after you work, you need to then go execute. At Jacksonville, we didn't execute the way we needed to.
On if the players have made significant strides in the last two weeks since JAX…
Any time you go through an experience like that, it's something that nobody wants to repeat. Certainly you can count me right in that mix with everybody else. But they were working; it wasn't like that week we had taken off. Although we played like it, we didn't. We were there.
On the players learning the value of consistency after the JAX game…
The function of each week is so different and each opponent is so different. Whether you win or lose, Detroit is not going to affect Cleveland, and Jacksonville is not going to affect Miami. It's what you do during that week to prepare for that opponent and then how well you execute on that day, that is key and that is why focus is one of our core values. What are you doing today, what do you need to improve on today, the meeting, the practice, the skill work, the film work.
On the players learning to take one game at a time after the JAX game…
It's an ongoing process of fighting human nature where when you win, you sometimes feel that things are okay and mistakes maybe aren't as important. When you lose, sometimes the tendency is to think the sky is falling and some of those things are the function of six inches, slight outside shade instead of slight inside shade. The key is, what are the positives; let's keep those, let's build on those. What are the things that weren't positive, let's correct those and really how does all that play into who the next challenge is.
On forgetting mistakes after a win…
No, we'll definitely cover the mistakes. We'll definitely cover that. It's important to, and it's not something that this break is any indication of how we feel about the next opponent. It's more a function of the opportunity that they created by the way that they worked, and the way that they took advantage of the opportunity. These things will come up periodically throughout the year, and we'll take each one as we go.
On the lack of major injuries to the Jets this year…
I've seen some seasons where there have been dramatic levels of injuries and some where you're okay. I think you're always hunting for the best pattern, the best schedule, the best preparation routine, and that's an ongoing process. I don't know if you can necessarily pinpoint one specific reason why you have more one year than you do the next.
On the running game making significant strides on Sunday…
I think it ties back into what we've talked about here for a while since Brad Smith's reverse run. To me, that play was a good example of what we are trying to do on every play where all 11 guys contributed, from Ramsey sealing the backside to 'Brick getting down the field and getting a key block down field to Laveranues. All 11 guys worked together and executed their assignments. Yesterday, there were a lot of those plays where you got closer to all 11 guys doing what they need to do, and those two yards go for four, the four go for 12, and it's so important as you execute a run, whether you're on the back side or the front side. You're all live and you're all part of that, and the success or failure of that run isn't just tied into the person with the ball.
On finishing strong against Detroit…
I was really pleased. We work on the four minute offense each week, being able to close the game offensively and not giving them another opportunity, and I thought we did a nice job there, at the end, getting the first down. That's been an ongoing process and we've been working on that for quite some time. It was good to see that. Offensively, Brian (Schottenheimer) and I talked about that quite a bit during the fourth quarter, the approach that we were taking and being able to move the ball down the field and score. That is always big not just emotionally, but to be able to do that and execute that, it's just so important.
On Dewayne Robertson…
He's had some good weeks here. He has just missed that top spot each time. Dewayne is focused on technique. He's a powerful guy, he's a strong guy, he's got good quickness and he's marrying that with good hand placement, good footwork and all that natural ability combined with the technique work that he's doing is making him more and more productive each week. We saw that quite a bit yesterday where he was effective, not only in pressuring the passer, but also in the running game, the way that he's playing blocks.
On running more of an angle Sunday….
No, it was pretty consistent. I mean, there were different fronts where you can move around a little bit, but, you know, each week that will vary.
On players coming in to watch film on their day off…
I think that's the way all days off should be. I think that's a great way to spend your day. Who wouldn't want to come in and get a little extra work on your day off?
On what the core Jet values are…
Do your job first, and trust that the guy next to you is doing his job; communication; focus and finish. Those are the core values that we talk about week-in and week-out. If you do your job first, you can fix the problems, you understand where if there is a breakdown, how to get those things taken care of. Communication, we always talk about the fact that it's better to all be wrong together, because then you've got a chance and half the guys will be right, half the guys will be wrong. Anything that comes up would be handled through talking about it. It may not be perfect, but it's so much better to work out the look or the adjustment than kind of assume that the person hasn't worked out and then realize after the play that it isn't. Focus, that's been ongoing, and whether it be the five-second rule or not worrying about the past or future and then finish. Finish isn't just the game. It's the play; it's the practice; it's the meeting. It's everything you do right down to the end because you never know what opportunity is going to be created by you running the football or what opportunity you're going to miss if you don't.
On facing Romeo Crennel…
I was trying to think about me and Rac (Romeo Crennel) playing against each other. That's even worse than Bill (Belichick) and I playing against each other. Rac is such an unbelievable guy. He's a great person, he's a great coach, and he's taught me a ton about the game, but also his style, the way he deals with players, the way that he treats people in general. He's just a really good teacher and friend.
On Crennel having a tough season in Cleveland with injuries…
When we are not playing Romeo, I always want to see Romeo do well. I care about him as a person and I know his family incredibly well. I think that he's very good at what he does, and injuries are a difficult part of this situation, and he's working at it and we've talked quite a bit throughout the season, even last year. He's very detail-oriented and he does a good job.
On talking to Crennel this week…
We might cool it off here this week.
On if Curtis Martin's Status will change this week…
No. Next week would be the earliest and we'll see where we are.
On if Martin will practice for sure next week…
No. We'll look at it again next week, we'll sit down with the doctors and Curtis, Mike and I and we will gauge where he is. We have that full window that we could use or we could start it up a little bit earlier. We'll just see how it is next week.
On if Martin will play if he returns to practice…
You know, it's Curtis. If he comes out and he's the best player, he'll play.
On having three running backs if Martin returns…
Brian has been pretty creative. Brad has gotten some reps and Kevin and Leon. I'm sure we'll put them all back there. Dwight might get a few, run the option, do something like that.
On if the decision on Martin is strictly medical…
Well, initially it will be medical because we have to obviously gauge where he is and player safety is the most important thing. Once that decision is made, then it will be completely football and Curtis knows that we're going to play the best players to give us the opportunity each week, and he understands that completely. That's something that it would be a pure football decision at that point.
On trusting Martin to be ready to play…
I trust Curtis inherently.
On taking advice from his brother-in-law, GM of the Cleveland Indians, Mark Shapiro...
You know, I've talked to him quite a bit and between him and Ron (Shapiro; father-in-law), they are a wealth of information. They have seen, it may not be football, but they have dealt with a lot of different issues organizationally. Or in Ron's case, he's been on both sides, either representing players or working with organizations. They are great resources. Mark's been good to bounce ideas off of, and Ron as well.
On if Mangini regrets taking Trey Teague off of PUP…
I think it goes back to that same discussion we have. Each injury is so different and you anticipate things going one way with each injury, each person, each situation, so you just can't pinpoint exactly when things are going to resolve themselves. Trey has been doing a good job; it just hasn't gotten to the point where we can move forward.
On if Mangini expected Teague to be ready to play by now…
We felt there was a good opportunity, but like anything else, you knew there was a chance that he couldn't, as well. We made the decision at that point, thought it was the best one gauging all of the information.
On first quarter success versus the fourth quarter on Sunday…
We have been working on both those situations quite a bit. We made some progress against Miami and even in the earlier games. The drives were moving along but we were a little bit off. Some of it was just slightly on the execution, where a drive could have kept going or just a few things here and there. I thought yesterday, we did a nice job of executing effectively, similar to Miami, and it's always good to end with a touchdown there and then getting the other chance on third and the one shot with Justin (Miller). I think we did make some progress late in the game with getting the first down and closing that out. They both are situations that we will work on week-in and week-out throughout the course of the season.
