Transcript of interviews with selected Jets players during the locker room media period Monday afternoon:
CB DAVID BARRETT
On defending screen passes …
It's more of everybody trying to get to the ball. We need to get more guys running to the ball to make tackles.
On the defense's performance through the first three weeks …
I feel like we still have a lot to do to get to where we want to be. We still have a lot of steps to take to be the defense that we want to be.
On being selected as the Jets' defensive player of the week …
It feels good, but I was just doing what I'm supposed to do every day — go out there and make plays and do my job.
On Kerry Rhodes recording the team's first interception …
Just because you get one doesn't mean you get others to come along with it. You have to work for it and go out and practice trying to take the ball away and getting interceptions in practice in order for that to happen on the field.
RB THOMAS JONES
On the second-half performance of the running game …
I thought we did well in the second half. The offensive line wore them down and gave me some creases to run through. The offensive line did a great job and the receivers did a really good job of blocking down field and getting some of their defensive backs blocked to give me some more room. I thought we were very productive.
On TE Chris Baker …
He did a great job of blocking Jason Taylor and Joey Porter on the ends. Those are two really good players and he handled them pretty well during the course of the game.
On whether he expects his second-half performance to serve as a catalyst …
It is definitely something that can give us confidence in the running game as far as the offensive line and the running backs. The first couple of weeks were pretty tough. We played two really good run defenses and they were doing a lot of different things that were giving us some problems. It's a long season and every week isn't going to be the same.
On whether he gets stronger as he gets more carries in a game …
My history has been that I get stronger the more carries I get over the course of a game. I'm one of the guys on the offense and I'm here to do my job. I take advantage of my opportunities and I'm not one of the coaches who makes those decisions. All I do is try to play and do my best when my number is called.
On his 92 rushing yards in the second half …
You start to get a feel for the game and how the defense is playing and you're able to instinctively do some more things. That's what I was feeling in the second half. It felt good to have some success running the ball. I'm a running back and my job is to get yards. Anytime you can be productive and get positive yards over the course of the football game, you will definitely feel good out there on a day when you win.
S KERRY RHODES
On his interception against Miami …
Everybody has been stressing the turnover situation and I was able to make a play for us in the third quarter and the offense went down and scored. It was a big play for us.
On the toughest part of defending a screen pass …
You really don't have a man that is assigned to the screen unless it is man coverage. You have to be in the right spot because there is no magic call for the screen. You just have to be in the right spot to make the play and when you are there you have to make the play. It's a tough play if you are not expecting it, and they did a good job of running and executing it.
On whether he expects Buffalo to utilize the screen ...
The NFL is a copycat league, so if they see plays working and having success they are going to come back with it. I'm sure we will run 1,000 screens each practice to try and get it right.
On the first win …
It's great. Whenever you're in a situation where you're 0-2 and you're trying to get off the schneid, it's always tough. The first win is always the toughest one and we got it now, so we have something to build on. We're trying to move forward and get more wins.
RB LEON WASHINGTON
On his versatility …
Ever since high school I've always played both ways. I always take pride in the fact that the more I do, the better I can help the team out. I take pride in going out there and doing what I need to do to help our team win, whether that's returning kicks, playing on kickoff team, punt team or at running back. The more you can do, the better.
On his confidence level as a kick returner …
I'm always confident in my ability to go out there and make plays for my team. Having confidence helps in your preparation for what you do during the week and playing the game. Obviously, losing Justin [Miller] is big for our team, but Coach Mangini talks about it all the time that you have to take advantage of opportunities when the opportunity is given to you. I just want to go out there and help our team out. Brad Kassell does a good job of staying on top of us as the special teams captain. I just want to help my team.
On his 98-yard kickoff-return touchdown …
I feel like it wasn't that hard for me to make that play. I pretty much ran straight through the hole and got sideswiped by the kicker and the rest was history. Our guys did a good job up front in the wedge with blocking those guys up. Honestly, I think the easy part was going to score the touchdown.
