Transcript of Jets head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Thursday's midday practice:
[Darrelle] Revis practiced today and then Thomas Jones and T. Rich [Tony Richardson]. All those guys practiced today. They were full-go. [Donald] Strickland is the only one that never practiced. He's got that quad. Shaun Ellis still limited with his knee. Guys that were full [were] Shonn Greene, [Mark] Sanchez and [Robert] Turner.
On if Strickland will play this Sunday…
It doesn't look that good right now because he's missed two days of practice. That will be a stretch to see if he goes, but we should be good. We've got good depth, so hopefully he can get well. I know he's trying like heck to play, but I don't think he will.
On what this game means to the future of the Jets…
It would be a great accomplishment. Clearly, that's what every team is gunning for. That's what your goals are. First year as a head coach, we expect to be in. I think it's going to be a huge disappointment if we don't make it. Again, we know we're playing the best the [AFC] North has to offer this year, so it's going to be a big challenge. Our team, I feel good about it. I think our guys are preparing well. We know Cincinnati plays a physical brand of football. They're very physical so it's going to be one of those old fashioned football games I believe.
On the possibility of J.T. O'Sullivan playing QB for Cincinnati…
This team is built on running the football anyway. Obviously, Carson Palmer is a special quarterback. This is about a team. They are going to try to win the game, well no kidding. They better try to win the game. I guarantee this, we're going to try to win the game. We're going to put everything we've got in it and I'm sure the Bengals are doing the same thing. We know what's at stake. I'm excited to see our fans. Playing this game in front of our fans, I think is going to be huge for us. [It's] going to be a huge advantage for us. Again, we're preparing [with] no distractions. We're just ready to play. Whether they want to kick it off early is fine with us. Our team is ready to play.
On what it would mean to close the Meadowlands with a win…
We're just happy to play in front of our fans. That's it for us and [to] try to make a run at these playoffs. The focus isn't anywhere but that.
On practice this week…
I'm feeling confident. Our guys have practiced well. Obviously, not selling Cincinnati short, they swept the defending Super Bowl champions twice [and] Baltimore twice. They've had a great season so far. I like the way they're building their team. They're being physical. They're running the ball. Their defense has really improved from where they were the last couple of years. No surprise [that] they added Jeff Fitzgerald to coach linebackers. I know Fitzy is a heck of a coach. Again, we know we're going to be tested. We're going to lay it out there and we'll see what happens in front of our fans. We're excited about this opportunity.
On if the team will have to improve their pass defense from last week…
I'm going get you on the Austin Collie. I know that he played good. No question about it. You're exactly right, he did have a big game. Dallas Clark had a big game [and] Reggie Wayne. They could have said all of them. Did we expect that game to go differently playing against the Colts [and] the best quarterback in the League? I expected to give up some completions in that game. Clearly, we have the number one pass defense in the League, so I think when you look at our body of work, I like the way we stack up. We'll match up against anybody again. Peyton Manning never threw a touchdown pass which is probably the only time this year that that's happened. Now I know he only played two [and half] quarters.
On the two passes from Peyton Manning that reportedly could have been touchdowns but were overthrown…
There might be a reason for [the overthrow]. Who knows? Maybe the timing wasn't exactly right.
On if he was happy with how Lito Sheppard covered Austin Collie…
Sometimes. Sometimes not. You've got to give guys credit. [Collie] is a good receiver and if he was open [Manning] put it on him. I'm happy we got the win. Quite honest, I'm ready to move on and move past that.
On tightening up the pass defense…
I feel good about our pass defense. I think this is going to come down to how we can defend the run. I think that's going to be our biggest test. Clearly, we can't have any hiccups in the backend. Mentally, our focus has got to be there. It's going to be a big challenge with Chad Ochocinco against [Darrelle] Revis. That's going to be a great challenge there. [He's] one of the best vertical receivers in the game. This game is going to be won on the ground. Who can run it the best. Who can defend it the best. I think that's a huge advantage in this game.
On Revis' illness…
He just had an illness. He was just sick.
On Braylon Edwards saying they will not lose the game on Sunday…
We go into every game with that mentality. Not only are we not going to lose, we're going to try to find a way to win it. Obviously, that hasn't happened every game this year, but that's the mentality you take in to it. I'm not surprised by his comments. I think we all expect to win.
On if teams that have clinched a playoff spot should be required to play their starters…
No. A team has earned the right to do whatever they want. You can't tell a guy that, "Oh yeah, you've got to play your starters," and then all of a sudden they're not focused fully. Now somebody gets hurt, who's responsible for that? The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't going to be responsible if Carson Palmer got injured or Peyton Manning gets hurt. Who cares? The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be, "Oh, that's too bad." That's it. Those guys earn the right to do what they think is in the best interest of the organization. Hopefully, we'll have that opportunity next season and beyond that we'll be able to rest players.
On if would resent people telling him he should play his starters if he was in Jim Caldwell's position…
How can somebody tell you to play anybody? I don't think it's realistic.
On having players line up and step forward if they have been to the playoffs…
I just wanted to show how special it is to get an opportunity to play in the playoffs and never make an assumption, "Well, I'm a young player. I can go many times." Sometimes, those days never come. The opportunity we have right in front of us is critical that we take advantage of it. I just sat them out there and [said], 'If you've gone to the playoffs step out. Now, if you've gone twice, if you've gone three times." It becomes clear how special it is to get to the playoffs. Nothing is ever given in this game. You've got to earn everything. The opportunity we have in front of our fans. Our fans want this. I don't know if they want it as much as this team, but you sense how much our fans really want our football team to make the playoffs.
On players like Calvin Pace and Braylon Edwards who have never been to the playoffs…
That's a great point. You bring up Calvin Pace and Braylon Edwards. There are some really outstanding players on our football team that have never been. You would assume that a Braylon Edwards, a Calvin Pace had been to the playoffs. It just goes to show how special this opportunity is.
On Bengals rookie LB Rey Maualuga, out with a broken ankle…
He's a good football player. He really is a good player. I love the way he blitzes. He goes 100 miles an hour. I've seen him flipped over. He only goes one speed and that's full speed. I'm sure that's going to be quite a loss to them. He's an exciting young player.
On showing the players who has made the playoffs…
I really never did it for Mark's sake. Even the veterans, really everyone to see. Here [Alan] Faneca has made nine Pro Bowls and he was our leader with five playoffs. Bart Scott was only in three playoffs before. It's a thrill. That's why when somebody asked me if that was playoff atmosphere in Indianapolis and this game, I think you sell the playoffs short by saying that. There is really something special about being in the playoffs. That is what I want our guys to grab on to and get in there. See what it is all about, see what we can do.
On if he was surprised to see how few players had three playoff appearances or more…
No, I think I knew that. You realize that this is something that doesn't happen very often. I knew that the numbers would drop off drastically the more years you put on. Hopefully we get to where we are a football team that are perennial winners and a playoff team. I would love to see us put a string of playoffs together. Right now my focus is to put one together and that's this year.
On who had the most playoff experience…
Alan Faneca with five [playoff appearances].
On Brandon Moore not going to the Pro Bowl…
He's playing outstanding. A lot of times, whether it's recognition, I think our record as a football team hurts some of our players. There is no question. At the time of the voting, I don't even know if we were .500. I think that's obviously a consideration. When in doubt, and rightfully so, you take the team with the best record. But Brandon [Moore] is a guy that probably received a lot of votes from people he played against, but probably no votes from people he didn't play against because he's not a household name. Where an Alan Faneca, and deservedly so, is a guy that is very recognizable. Nine times in a row you go to the Pro Bowl. His name is much more recognizable than Brandon's is.
On the matchup with Cincinnati…
This one is going to be a man-on-man type challenge. It really is that kind of game. Some of the other ones, there are more finesse teams, and you feel confident because I feel our strategy in the way you build a team works against teams like that. This one is kind of mirror images of each other. It's going to be an old-fashioned, knock down-drag out.
On the dynamic of possibly playing a team twice…
Trust me, we're not saving anything. That's pretty safe to say [laughter]. We're not going to save anything. I doubt [Cincinnati will]. They may. You'll know that by who's playing and who's not playing.
On if facing a team familiar with the Jets' approach gives the opponent an advantage…
I don't think so. It is 11 over there and 11 on our side.
On if Cincinnati has a good record against him…
Yeah, but I don't think they did in the last two. If you go back in recent history, the last two years I would say we won three of those games. I know we swept them last year and I think they had 132 yards and 131 yards, and the quarterback got hit a bunch. Is it a challenge? It is a challenge because they changed the way they're operating. It's not the same thing. We had a pretty good grasp of what they used to do.
There is a lot of confidence there. Now they've changed their offense. They're throwing a lot of extra linemen in there, unbalanced lines, running the football. It's a running football team now. That part of it is going to be more of a challenge than the other part. Our defense is adjustable. Once you have your protections dialed in and things like that, I don't care how many times you face us. We still have some answers.
