Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Friday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
All right, here we go. We ready? This is it, the few, the proud. Mike DeVito, out, did not practice, knee. Everybody else is probable for the game. They'll all play. All these guys are full [practice today] as well: Marcus Dixon, shoulder, Vlad Ducasse, knee, Shonn Greene, rib, Jeremy Kerley, knee, Nick Mangold, ankle — who by the way is cheering for Madison [High School vs. Summit in the New Jersey North II, Group 2 finals tonight]. If you wonder about the immediate release of Nick Mangold, I'm not saying [joking]. ... Calvin Pace, groin, Brodney Pool, knee, Matt Slauson, knee, LaDainian Tomlinson, knee. Everybody is ready to roll.
Great practice today, full of energy. The ball never hit the ground, so it was really a fast tempo, that old "perfect Friday." It wasn't perfect, but it was an excellent Friday practice, so I'm excited about that. We'll see what happens in the game, but we're excited to go there We know it's going to be a hostile environment, a tough place to play, but we think we're up to the task.
On who will start in place of Mike DeVito…
Kenrick Ellis
On if he is going to the Summit-Madison game...
Yes, no doubt. The game is at 7. I'll probably be tailgating at about 3 o'clock [laughter]. No, I'm just kidding [laughs]. Maybe a little before, but we will be there for the game at 7.
On if Jeremy Kerley will be back returning punts this week…
Yes, he'll be back there. He'll also be in the slot some. I think everybody is basically going to be back in similar roles that they had before they were injured.
On if it is difficult to prepare for a running back when there isn't a large amount of tape to study...
No, it doesn't really affect anything. He has similar traits to [C.J.] Spiller, who we faced last week, a speed guy. He looked good at hurdling. He jumped over somebody and had a couple of nice carries. The kid is out of Nebraska, he had averaged 7 or 8 yards a carry or something like that, so the guy has speed and home-run-hitting ability, so he's similar to Spiller that way.
On what he saw from David Harris in the game against Buffalo…
Just everything, the way he was running to the ball. He's doing a great job in pass coverage, in blitzing the quarterback, how to pressure-rush. He was in coverage on the sack that he got. He did a great job recognizing the pressure and finished the deal. He's just doing a great job. He's leading that defense. I don't know who's playing better at middle linebacker than him this year, I'm not sure, but he's a guy that, obviously, has to be considered for the Pro Bowl this year. I would assume he will finally go this season.
On if the team's red zone success has to do with Tom Moore's consulting…
Probably. That's probably helped, I would think. It can't hurt. You've got Tom Moore there. I know Schotty [Brian Schottenheimer] talks to him quite a bit. We're second in the league in red zone. You can say we struggled in this and that, but two things we targeted, maybe we put too much emphasis on it because we're great in the red zone and we're winning at home. This week we're targeting winning on the road. But really I wouldn't be surprised if he's been a help.
On defensive consistency…
We have had some moments that we're not real proud of, a couple of obvious ones, but for the most part we usually can always count on that. But like I said, to be dominant, be great, you can play where you're at, but to be dominant, you have to close things out and that's what we're really working on.
On G Matt Slauson…
It's like he's an old pro now. That's what you love about him. This is his third year. He was in that original draft with Mark [Sanchez] and Shonn [Greene]. That's a pretty good group right there. Three starters. But I just see a guy, you'd just assume he's been playing for years and years. He's always been a big, strong, tough guy. He brings that to the table each week, but he's more than that. He now recognizes everything. He just fits in with those guys.
On if having a good performance against Washington would be big to the confidence of the offensive line…
I think it'll be huge, because that group right there's third in the league in sacks. So I think if we can play well against them, I think that will bode well for us down the road.
On if the way the offensive line played last week makes him believe it can play well against Washington…
Yes, I mean it's going to be a huge challenge, but I think we can. I think we'll be up to it. I really do. I think they won that Madden deal, for the best offensive line of the week. And they deserved that, there's no question, our offensive line deserved that, but I think that's the kind of line we have. Now, just be consistent. We've had a great week of practice, so I expect them to play well.
