The New England Patriots are not only well-prepared, but they are adept at making adjustments as well. First-year Jets head coach Eric Mangini, a member of the Patriots coaching staff from 2000-'05, won three Super Bowls while in New England. This weekend, he hopes to eliminate his former employer from the postseason.
"When I was at New England with Bill, I thought he made outstanding adjustments," Mangini said of Coach Belichick. "That's a very good staff. He's an excellent evaluator of talent in terms of players and coaches. It is real. There is an element of an adjustment, fixing problems. That's why it's so important to understand that when adversity strikes - which it always will -you have to move on from that because you have to have the presence to deal with the next series, the next event, and the next moment."
Read below for Coach Mangini's complete press conference transcript
New York Jets' Head Coach Eric Mangini, 1.3
Opening Statement…
We released Andre Maddox from the practice squad and signed cornerback Alfonso Hodge. As far as practice today, we'll have the same schedule we've been following through the regular season. That won't deviate at all, meetings or the work we're doing on the field.
In terms of New England, as you look at them, it's pretty consistent with what we talked about on Monday. They're going to attack weaknesses, minimize strengths, and play to their strengths. They are extremely well-coached. Obviously Bill (Belichick) is going to the Hall of Fame as a coach. You can see that consistently in the level of play and the level of execution week-in and week-out.
Another guy going to the Hall of Fame is Tom Brady. He does a tremendous job of orchestrating the whole offense, getting them into good plays, getting them out of bad plays, understanding what the defense is doing, understanding what the offense is doing and directing the protection. He's a special guy in that category. They have several other weapons with three really good running backs and excellent tight ends.
The receivers have made tremendous progress throughout the season. I talked to you a lot about Brian Daboll and the work he does with the receivers. Regardless of who he works with or how it changes, they always perform at a very high level.
Defensively they're tough, they're physical, they're smart and they're disciplined. They do a lot of different things along the same lines as every other phase in terms of game plan specific things to attack the opponent and to win that game.
On special teams, I think their return game is outstanding. It's first in kickoff returns, third in punt returns. The coverage has gotten better and better as the season goes on. Again, I think Brad Seely is one of the best special teams coaches in the league. You see that year in and year out with whoever he has, how they perform at a high level as well.
On the Patriots correcting mistakes…
Whether it's the passing game, whether it's defense or special teams, if something's not working, if there's a weakness, they're very good at correcting that weakness and not making the same mistake twice and improving, making progress each week. You see that in any phase of the game. Very rarely do you get to exploit the same things twice.
On if this game is personal to Mangini…
This game is personal in the sense that I'm proud of the way our team has performed. I'm proud of the way our team has worked, the progress we've made to create the opportunity that we have. This is the opportunity that we have. That's what we're focused on. It's personal in the sense of the things that we're doing, not opponent-specific.
On the knowledge the Patriots and Jets have of each other…
The knowledge works both ways because there are obviously dramatic similarities between the two teams. The things we understand, they understand. The problems we have, they have. Some of the strengths that we have, they have. That's a positive and a negative because it can cut both ways. You can work on things that you may think they're going to exploit, but maybe it turns up somewhere else. You have to balance the knowledge with the understanding that it is truly game-plan specific, it's opponent specific, it's for that Sunday.
On New England's ability to correct mistakes…
That's something that we focus on as well as correcting mistakes. That's part of what we do week-in and week-out, learn from things that have happened and try to build on that. It's the same philosophical approach, being game-plan specific.
On if the Patriots are more dangerous considering their previous loss to the Jets…
Every game is its own specific event. What happened in the past really has no bearing on what's going to happen in the future. The key thing is how well we prepare during the week, how well we execute on Sunday. That's all that matters. Everything else is merely history.
On Kerry Rhodes compared to New England's safeties…
Those guys (Rodney Harrison), and Victor Green I'd add, Steve Atwater, they were a lot further along in their career when I coached them. I think Kerry has a lot of great qualities that you see show up in the games. His approach has matured quite a bit. As that continues to get better, which he's been working on, he'll continue to get better. There are a lot of positives from the season that he can continue to build on. I think as we move further along, those comparisons will work themselves out.
On Rhodes' ability to blitz…
There are times when he's done a very good job there. There have been some times where he's come clean. It's an ongoing process. You have to keep getting better in terms of when they do have a hat for you. How are you going to counter it? Are you going to go speed to power, throw a move? All those different elements of continually being able to evolve as the awareness of what you can do get better.
On respect…
My goal is the respect of the people that I work with, the respect of the coaches and the players, the New York Jets. That's what my focus is on. That's what I care about. How we play, how we perform, that's what we're all focused on. It's the New York Jets.
On having the respect of Belichick…
It's important for me to have the respect of the people that I work with here. That's my goal, that I am able to help our players get better, put them in the best position to succeed. That's really what my goal is every day.
On what separates Belichick from others in terms of success in the playoffs…
I don't think it's merely a case of preparing for the playoffs. One of the qualities I admire so much about him is, as smart as he is, as much success as he's had, his work ethic hasn't changed. He puts in the same amount of time and energy and effort and thought into the preseason games, the first game of the season as he does any other game. It doesn't matter whether it's three Super Bowl rings, Man of the Year, whatever the accolades are, it doesn't change.
On importance of this game changing the intensity…
We've been in a situation like that for quite a few weeks where every game was extremely important to get to the next stage. This is exactly the same scenario. There are 1,500 people in the NFL sitting at home, and there are not as many playing this week. We want to avoid sitting at home.
On how the Patriots will counter the Jets game plan…
You have to go into the week understanding that there's going to be some things you've practiced that show up. There's going to be some things that you practiced that have no relevance. There are going to be some things that happen during the game that you have to adjust to. A lot of different teams have that element to it. Oakland had some game plan formations offensively and plays, packages. Understanding that, you think through the different contingencies. You may not be able to practice them all, but you have a plan for what could happen. The players understand that it's so important to gather information during the game, come off the sideline, see the pictures, talk to the coaches, get the adjustments, be ready to move on to the next series. The next series could change as well. It's a constant evolution throughout the game.
On Belichick's halftime adjustments…
When I was at New England with Bill, I thought he made outstanding adjustments. That's a very good staff. He's an excellent evaluator of talent in terms of players and coaches. It is real. There is an element of an adjustment, fixing problems. That's why it's so important to understand that when adversity strikes, which it always will, you have to move on from that because you have to have the presence to deal with the next series, the next event, the next moment. The second you get caught up in the 60-yard bomb, the fumble, whatever the case may be, you're losing the chance to continue to win the game.
On Mangini saying 'New Engalnd'…
We all evolve and change. I had a lot of great experiences at New England. We can say "playoffs" now, too. There are a lot of words we can talk about now (smiling). It's just part of the progress. I'm developing (smiling).
On if Mangini can say 'Super Bowl' now…
No (laughter).
On Chad Pennington compared to Tom Brady…
The parallels between Chad and Tom in terms of their work ethic, their approach, their understanding of the opponent, their understanding of their own system, are very strong. Even as people, they're very strong. Tom Brady, I had him in some early meetings when he was a sixth-round draft pick. He's the same guy in those meetings even after he's had all the success he's had. Chad is the same guy regardless of the success he has. Both of them give you the opportunity to do a lot of things offensively, to make a lot of adjustments. That's another reason why organizationally we're so committed to bring in smart players that can be adaptable and selfless players that are willing to play whatever role it takes to win that game on that day.
On the Jets' halftime adjustments…
The process at halftime is you come in and talk as a staff. You identify the problem plays, put those on the board and you talk to the players. The adjustments really aren't just halftime specific. Sometimes you come off, it's a scheme run that you hadn't seen the week before and it's different. Being able to look at the picture and say, 'Okay, we need to fill this gap, play this a little bit different in terms of where we fit with the linebackers.' It's not just a grand scheme in terms of the halftime; a lot of those adjustments happen on the fly. Brian (Schottenheimer) and Bob (Sutton) and Mike (Westhoff) have all done a good job at various points. But to give you one specific one, it doesn't do justice to the multiple ones that have happened.
On players' in-game feedback…
You always want to get the feedback as to how it was blocked, what the technique was. It's so important that on the sidelines. We have game film. We're going to see what the truth is. Sometimes someone went in the wrong gap. It's better to just say, 'I went in the wrong gap,' then, 'No, no, I was there.' Now you're chasing ghosts. Honesty on the sidelines it is extremely important to truly identify, is this a problem with the defense or did you make a mistake? The two are very different.
On specific players who contribute feedback in-game…
A lot of guys have done it in different points, whether it is Laveranues (Coles) sometimes seeing the corner sitting hard inside where now you have a chance to threaten the inside and go vertical, or Chad (Pennington) with some kind of look he's getting. Jonathan (Vilma), Shaun (Ellis), Eric Barton, Brad Kassell, Matt Chatham, or the safeties. You need to gather information from everybody because they're the best source; they've experienced it. The picture doesn't always tell the story.
On the defense taking to the coaching…
They've taken to the coaching throughout the process. There have been significant progress. It just doesn't always show up dramatically. Things that you see where you're getting better may not be the flashy items. We talked about it in here, the week before the bye week, having a really outstanding practice defensively where it's not just the fits, it's the level of communication, it's the working together, doing your job first, trusting the other guy is doing his job. There are a lot of elements that come into play. Then having the bye week, seeing some of the problems, being able to spend a good amount of time on those, really evaluating the first eight weeks, getting a lot of corrections. I think that helped as well.
On when it all came together for the defense…
No process ever comes down to one moment where you can point to and say, 'that was it.' It's accumulation of a lot of reps, a lot of time, a lot of work. What seems like a real transformation, may be a quick transformation, is the effect of a lot of time and effort to get to that point.
On the second half of the Cleveland game being the turning point for the defense…
That would not necessarily be the specific moment because, as you talk about blitzing, it's so important you have everybody covered, that you're hitting the right gaps. That comes with seeing it done correctly in practice, seeing it executed correctly in the games. There are a lot of times where we haven't blitzed very much but played really good base technique. Being able to do both is what helps you to really make progress defensively.
On how much time Mangini will spend picking a boxing match to show the team this week…
Probably the same as every other week. I'm getting a lot more feedback about what I should show now.
On whom Mangini is getting feedback from…
From everybody. I expect a call from my mom sometime this week. You all know what a big boxing fan she is. Hey, you should really show this, show this. I appreciate the input.
On Pete Kendall's contribution to the development of Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson…
It has been extremely significant but, I would put Brandon Moore, Anthony Clement, all the veteran guys, in with that process. Pete happens to be in between the two of them. They've all worked with those guys either during meetings, during practice or after practice.
Pete is excellent about studying film, then sharing that information, talking through the adjustments, being proactive about that, being a good example as to how you should prepare on a personal level outside of what's done here on a team level.
On Kendall as coach on the field…
Pete adds a lot of value. He would be a good coach. I think he's thought about it. I don't know at what level he'd want to do it. If he does at the high school level, it would be interesting to see how he deals with the parents (laughter). You appreciate Pete's sense of humor. I appreciate it as well. I know he's highly regarded in here. Two-time award winner (smiling). It would be good for him to get some feedback.
On appreciating what the team has accomplished…
I appreciate it in the context of how the players have worked, how they've controlled things by their actions and their consistency, their approach. That's what I really appreciate and respect.
On Mangini being viewed as his own man…
I never looked at it in terms of having to be my own guy. When I talk to different people before I took the job, that was one of the things they stressed, is to be your own guy. Whenever you had someone who has been an extreme influence on you, you definitely take things good and bad from that person. You develop into a role. To me it's important just to approach things the way I believe they should be done. I learned from Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Ted Marchibroda, Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Kirk Ferentz and Nick Saban. There have been a lot of different coaches that have impact and have taught me a lot of lessons. I try to take all those different lessons, apply them to the way I believe things should be done.
On Nick Saban accepting the coaching job at the University of Alabama…
I really like Nick Saban. I respect him. That's how I feel. I have a high regard for him as both a person and a coach. It was great when I interviewed down there with him, I got to spend some time with him and his wife. I wish him nothing but the best.
On if one of Mangini's coordinators took a head coaching job at a division rival…
It's part of the nature of the NFL. People change and move on and through success opportunities are created. Sometimes those opportunities are at different places. That's just the nature of the business.
Wednesday Injury Report Jets Questionable: FB B.J. Askew (foot), RB Kevan Barlow (thigh), CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (jaw), CB Andre Dyson (knee), FB James Hodgins (knee), C Nick Mangold (knee), OL Brandon Moore (ankle), S Kerry Rhodes (knee) & DL Dewayne Robertson (knee)
Probable: *LB Matt Chatham (personal), *RB Cedric Houston (calf), *QB Chad Pennington (calf), *DB Eric Smith (foot) & *DE Bryan Thomas (shoulder)
Patriots Out: S Rodney Harrison (knee)
Questionable: WR Bam Childress (ankle), RB Kevin Faulk (knee), CB/S Chad Scott (back), TE Benjamin Watson (knee) & NT Vince Wilfork (ankle)
Probable:*QB Tom Brady (r shoulder), *CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), *DL Richard Seymour (elbow) & LB Mike Vrabel (back)
*Denotes players who participated in practice
