The Jets get pumped up for the game
Come Monday morning, the Jets will return to the classroom and review the game film from Sunday's contest. Then it is onto the Vikings for the Green & White. Minnesota, with a 6-7 record, would like to earn a playoff berth in the NFC.
"What is important now is for us to look at the tape, understand where we made mistakes, correct those things and make progress," said Jets head coach Eric Mangini. "We need to work the same way, come back against Minnesota and play a lot better."
Read below for Coach Mangini's complete press conference transcript
Opening statement…
I just talked to the team and the message was pretty clear. Buffalo is a good team. We knew they were going to come in here and be very difficult in terms of their energy, the way that they work, the way that they execute and that we were going to have to match that. We needed to play good in all three phases, as we have been. We didn't do that. We gave up way too many yards in the running game, too many big plays on defense and then we turned the ball over on offense. We didn't effectively execute the things we had hoped to execute. It's a combination of things. On special teams, we did some things that we thought we could have taken advantage of, but we didn't quite execute there as well. Across the board, it was a collective effort in the other direction, where all three phases contributed to it against a team that has been improving week-in and week-out. They are a good team and they play tough and you have to match that. You have to play good football to beat them. That's something we knew going into the game. It's the same approach. Together tomorrow we will watch the tape, we will correct mistakes, and we will move forward. We will learn from this loss. It will be the same, consistent approach we have had week in and week out. We will make progress.
On lining up to go for the first down on 4th-and-1 at the start of the third quarter but then punting…
What we were looking to do is to get up quickly and execute the play prior to them getting set. They did a good job of taking away what we were looking to do. That was the design. When they didn't give us the look we wanted to we were going to take the penalty and get the extra five yards to have Ben (Graham) punt it in the corner of the end zone. That is another good example of things we need to do better. We had the plan, in terms of what we were going to execute, it wasn't there, then we took the penalty. We had to be able to pin them down. It's the three groups working together and executing effectively.
On level of disappointment with the team…
It's the same approach. As long as we take the same approach, as long as we play consistently, we work consistently, we focus consistently, and take care of the things we need to take care of, that's what is important to me. We didn't play anywhere near where we needed to play. We didn't coach anywhere near where we needed to coach against a good team. Just watch the tape – Buffalo has improved significantly. They play with a great motor and you have to match that. You need to execute effectively and we didn't.
On whether the play-calling was conservative…
I don't think it was any more conservative. I think it was a case of calling the things we thought were going to be effective. Every week it changes, the approach changes based on what we liked from the first game as well as some of the things they were doing. It was the game plan against them, as opposed to taking a more conservative approach.
On the loss…
The important thing is to look at this and to continue to make progress. That's always the important thing and that's always the approach we are going to take. When you win last week in Green Bay the way that we won and you lose this week – it's all the same approach. We need to focus on the things we need to get better at and work at those things. We need to correct those things, come back and focus on the next opponent in the same we have against the last group of opponents.
On the match-up between NYJ LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and BUF RE Aaron Schobel…
Schobel is an excellent pass-rusher. He's a high-motored guy and he challenges a lot of people. He's a difficult guy to block, and it's every play.
On the secondary coverage of David Barrett and Kerry Rhodes on the TD pass to BUF WR Lee Evans…
In that coverage there is a vertical element there, and we should have been on top of him, but we weren't. We were too aggressive there, we were playing the sticks. With a guy like Evans, you make a mistake and it's a home run. That's what he has been doing quite a bit.
On backfield coverage during TD run by BUF RB Willis McGahee…
It's disappointing to not have everybody consistently working together in gap integrity. It is never one guy on a long run like that. It's never just the defensive line. It's never just the linebackers. It's never just the secondary. You give up a long run like that and it's a collective effort. It's like making a long run on offense – it is a collective effort. Everybody needs to play that call a lot better. There were a lot of different chances to make a play there and we just didn't.
On the temptation to scoreboard watch…
This is a good example of why it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what happens outside of what we do here. If we win the game and take care of the things we need to take care of that's what is most important. If you lose the game, none of that other stuff matters. What is important now is for us to look at the tape, understand where we made mistakes, correct those things and make progress. We need to work the same way, come back against Minnesota and play a lot better.
On the 4th-and-one play in the beginning of the third quarter…
The play was the play. It was something we wanted to do quickly based on the look that they gave us. That was the play that we called. When you don't get the look you want, as the look wasn't there, then the plan was to take the penalty and punt to get them backed up. It was a one-score game, so if we get them backed up then we have a good opportunity. We would go out there, play defense and force them to punt and start with really good field position on the next series. That was philosophically what the though process was.
On QB Chad Pennington…
There are some throws that he is going to want to get back. Buffalo does a really good job of flowing with the passer. They have good speed and they can break on balls quickly so it's important for you to get it in there and to execute the run effectively. The timing is very important there. There were a few throws that he missed and they batted a couple out there and there was that interception.
On giving up big plays…
That's a core part of what we have talked about defenseively. You never want to give up big plays. You want to make them go the long, hard way. (Lee) Evans is a guy that it is no secret that he can hit the home run. It's the same thing with Willis (McGahee). He's got that ability to break away. It's a collective group effort when you give up a play like that.
