Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference following Thursday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
Injury report: David Harris was full with that back. [So were] Calvin [Pace], foot and Darrelle [Revis], hamstring. Brodney Pool did get hit. He collided with Darrelle today and we'll see how he is. He was limited as far as practice. We took him off the practice field. [It was] more precautionary than anything else, but he got smacked in the head. He's being looked at right now, but they just collided into each other. We'd rather be safe than sorry, so that happened during practice. It was kind of late during practice so he did not come back.
It was a good practice today, spirited. I'm struggling with what to do. We're indoors. We're playing indoors. Do I have the little air vent open? Do I turn the fans on? I can't figure that out, but anyway, I'm struggling with that.
On how Detroit uses Ndamukong Suh…
Generally he's on the left. He's the defensive left tackle, so he'll be matched up against Brandon Moore. That's going to be a great matchup right there.
On if Detroit moves Suh around…
They can move him over center some, over guard, but generally he's at left defensive tackle.
On Detroit's run defense…
It's interesting. The style of play, they're a one gap penetrating defense. I think they're sixth in the league in tackles-for-loss, so they get a lot of hits in the backfield with their penetrating style. Teams have been able to run on them some. With the system they play, one of the weaknesses would be that you probably give up more rushing yards. As noted, they've got 23 sacks this year, so they're a big sack team, a big tackle-for-loss team. Guys really are pinning ears back, getting off the ball. They stop the run on the way to the quarterback, so that's kind of the mentality of the D-line that they have. I tell you, they've got a great safety. That [Louis] Delmas is a heck of a safety.
On the defense…
We've got to get some turnovers. Yes, there's no doubt. I expect to have the best defense in the league every year. Is that realistic? I don't know. Probably not, but that's what we expect. I think my history is pretty close to that.
On if he's concerned that the defense has been struggling with forcing turnovers…
Yes, we started off doing great. We're not getting the turnovers right now and that's something that clearly we've got to do a better job of. Getting interceptions, that's normally what you do. That's the area we need to improve on. I think we're getting enough fumbles. We're forcing fumbles. We've just got to do a better job of making plays. We had a great opportunity and Darrelle [Revis] knocked Brodney [Pool] off of one last week, but those things are huge and Detroit is doing a great job of that. They're forcing turnovers.
On if there is anything he can do at practice to help the defense with forcing turnovers…
You try. At the end of the practice here, we have guys working on specific things, safeties going on different routes, corners trying to work on whatever it is, trying to get more interceptions. That's what you do. You try to do ball drills like crazy. Sometimes, it's just getting an opportunity. Really, you don't make an interception unless there is a pass rush. You don't make a sack unless there is good coverage, so it's kind of a combination of things right now. Plus the ball is getting out quick. It's not like somebody is standing back there all day eating a snack.
On why the Jets didn't claim Randy Moss off the waivers…
Nothing about it. He's a great player.
On if he's glad Moss didn't go to the Dolphins…
[Laughter] I can't comment on that one, either. How about New England? Yes, I'm glad he never went to New England [laughter]. I'm just trying to save me some money. I budgeted several dollars, but maybe not enough [smiling].
On Jim Schwartz comments that the Lions have more sacks than the Jets and if the Jets' 15 sacks is enough…
It depends on if you need one at the time. Clearly, you want to get sacks and turnovers. My comment about the best defense in the National Football League coming to town was based on them averaging 38 points a game. One of their reporters asked me, "Do you think they'll score 38 this week?" I was like, "No. The best defense in the league is coming to town. There's no way you're scoring 38. I don't believe that." Whether that's a shot across our bow that we only have 15 sacks, that's fine with me. That's good. They ought to be proud of the fact that they have more sacks than we do and more turnovers than we do at this point. That's something that you can judge. You generally want to judge yourself against the best, so judge yourself against ours. That makes sense to me that you would do it and be proud of it.
On if Ndamukong Suh is mentally ahead of other rookie defensive linemen…
Yes, and statistically and everything else. The guy's a great player. He was recruited by Bill Callahan, so I kind of wish Bill would have brought him here, but he didn't. I asked Bill and the quote from Bill was "I thought he was going to be a great offensive lineman." Typical O-line coach. Here he is one of the premiere D-lineman in the league and you're going to make him an offensive lineman. It's the same thing I would do. I mean D'Brickashaw [Ferguson], I can't believe he's not playing at the defensive tackle spot. It is funny how he immediately looked at him and just knew he was going to be a great player and wanted him to be an offensive lineman. I don't know what his sack numbers are, but he's rushing the passer. He's doing well against the run. I like the motor he plays with. He's really a phenomenal player.
On if Suh is more savvy than other rookies…
Probably. He's a better player. I can't remember a rookie defensive lineman coming in and having that kind of impact.
On if it is harder to make an impact as a rookie on the interior…
I would say so. It's a different game. You're used to being physically dominant against the guys you play against in college. When you come in at this level, this is a man's game here. He's going against men and he's still doing a great job. With this matchup this week, I think Brandon Moore is the finest guard in football, so this is going to be a great matchup to watch with those two.
On if Mike Tannenbaum is upset that he has called Brandon Moore the best guard in football…
Probably. Remember, he's got a lot of years left, so I feel better making that statement. David Harris, like I said, is an average linebacker right now [laughter].
On what makes Moore so good…
He's a 600-pound bench guy, so I think that's where you start. He's got great natural strength. He's square. He's smart. He can play a power game, a finesse game. He can do all those type of things and he's durable. You can have a lot of athletic ability in this league, but durability is sometimes as important as athletic ability. He's got all of that. He's tougher than a boot.
On how active he was with the offense this week…
I try to get involved each week. I sit in there. Occasionally, I'll talk with Brian [Schottenheimer]. I'm not calling any plays or anything.
On his confidence level in the offense…
I feel good. I know we're going to be challenged by an attacking front, but I think our offense will attack as well. We're licking our wounds a little bit. Anytime you get shut out, kind of embarrassing. We're a prideful team, a prideful group and a prideful unit. I expect us to rebound even though we know it's a tough place to play. There's certainly a lot of talent over there.
