Transcript of head coach Rex Ryan's news conference in front of his locker following Wednesday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
All right, here we go. Injury report. Mike DeVito with his knee and Kenrick Ellis with his ankle did not practice today. They were on the side with Bill Hughan, our strength coach. Guys that were limited today: David Harris, ankle, Nick Mangold, ankle, Isaiah Trufant, hamstring, and then Calvin Pace, groin, was limited. Guys that were full: Marcus Dixon with a knee and Ropati [Pitoitua] with his knee. With that said, DeVito, I thought for sure that he'd go. We'll see how it progresses. I expect him to do more tomorrow. He pushed it quite a bit with Bill Hughan, so hopefully he doesn't have soreness and we're able to get him ready to roll. We'll see.
On Scotty McKnight getting injured Monday…
It's so bad. It was really unfortunate. In practice he ran a route, broke across the middle, caught a ball and then went down. It looks like he has a significant knee injury, obviously, an ACL injury, and that's just unfortunate. The young man really is working hard and I thought was really improving. It's just unfortunate.
On if he is optimistic about Ellis' injury…
Yeah, hopefully tomorrow both of those guys will get out there and practice some tomorrow. So, we'll probably have a better idea tomorrow.
On if Calvin Pace injured himself in practice today…
No, he's had this groin injury and things like that and we just kind of limited him a little bit. Not really concerned with him in the short term. It's more long term.
On the challenges the Buffalo offense presents and how the Jets have handled similar challenges by using nickel and dime packages…
I think we've handled those things pretty decent this year. Obviously, New England ran the ball against some of our packages and all that kind of stuff. We don't really defend Buffalo the same way. [Fred Jackson]'s run the ball on almost everybody. He's made some huge plays, too, not just in the running game but in the screen game, so we have to be really ready for him. He's probably, if you're taking an MVP of their team, it'd have to be him, I'd think.
On if Jackson presents more of a challenge because of the injuries to the defensive line…
Well, with all of us, we have to definitely defend the run. That's where it starts. You've got to defend the run on these guys, because even though they spread you out, they still run the football. They actually have 20 more carries than we do, 20 more rushing attempts than we do as a team. There still a run-first football team and then they'll also throw it on you, obviously, but they've been very successful running the football this year.
On Ryan Fitzpatrick's improvement this season and what he is doing differently this season…
Even in the past, he was a very competitive guy. I'm just going to throw it out there — he's smart, I think [joking]. I got that one right in my comments, definitely got that one right. He's a very competitive guy and he's a got a strong enough arm. There's guys with bigger arms than him, but he's smart, he gets the ball out quick. He identifies coverages quickly and he can run with it. He's a better athlete than some people give him credit for. We know that, so we'll definitely have to prepare for that.
On what has allowed Buffalo to lead the league in interceptions…
Well, they do a great job. I'll tell you what, it's not by accident. They catch a lot of tipped passes and all that, because they play hard. They run to the football and things we pride ourselves in, as well, you see it with them. They do run to the ball well. Sometimes you get leads, you get more opportunities. This team, it seems like they attack the football. Even a couple of years ago, obviously our six interceptions we had in our game probably helped their total, but they were amongst the leaders that year, as well. It's a ball-hawking group in the back end. I like the way they play. They run to the ball.
On if the Bills' ballhawking on defense makes them susceptible…
Maybe so. Sometimes if you don't make it, sometimes the ball can go by you, but they're very aggressive. They're not going to change their style.
On where the Jets miss Brad Smith the most…
I would say in the Wildcat. Brad is the best Wildcat quarterback in the league, or Wildcat running back. With Brad, it's quarterback, because you have to defend the pass, as well. Obviously, Joe McKnight's done a great job on kick returns, but Brad is a super player. We hated to see him leave, but sometimes that happens. You have 19 unsigned free agents. We knew it was going to be a challenge, but we definitely wanted Brad back. Unfortunately, we were unable to sign him.
On having success running the ball against Buffalo in the past and if the game plan will be similar this season…
Well, you definitely want to run the football. Each week, you set out trying to run the football and this week will be no different. We want to establish a run and also be able to take shots down the field. That's basically what we try to do each week. The play of their inside guys—I'm glad Kyle Williams is not going to play against us, because he's really a good football player, but the young man from Alabama [Marcell Dareus] is doing a great job, Dwan Edwards, as I used to call him, "Big Wiggle," from our Baltimore days, he's playing really well also.
On why he thinks the running game has been more successful the past two games…
I think it starts with running the football [joking]. That might be one way, but then getting back to more two-back-two-tight-end stuff, there are different things that we have always done in the past. I think that's who we really are. I think I was kind of set up and enamored with those three wides. And when we looked at it, we said that might suit our personnel, but really what's best for the Jets is the ability to run the football, maybe play more regular personnel and two-tight-end personnel groupings.
On the difficulty in executing game plans while having a high turnover among the skill positions like the Jets have had the last two seasons…
I think there is some. Obviously, if you bring in somebody new to your system, there is some adjustment period. But again, we're not using that as an excuse. We're at the stage of the season where that is no longer an excuse.
On Mark Sanchez's play over the last couple of weeks…
I think he's played well. We got the two victories and you know that's how I always judge how the quarterback plays is if you win or lose, so he's played well the last two weeks.
On if the importance of completing long passes downfield is exaggerated…
You'd like to take some shots, there is no question about that, and you'd like to hit on those. That's probably more important, but sometimes there are some things where you feel like they are sitting on your routes or sitting at the sticks and you throw it up there deep just to keep them honest. If they play those sticks, you hit them for a touchdown, so certainly, you have to do that.
On if they did more hitting than usual in practice today…
Yes, probably so, just to get back from that time off and things, be able to set your pads. As we said, that was a man's day today. That was a real practice, a lot of fundamental periods, getting back into hitting and tackling. Really, when you look at it, those two years, I want to make sure we do a good job of tackling. I think that's been a thing where sometimes if you come off the bye week, that's definitely an emphasis, tacking.
On if he has found a formula for the post-bye week…
Still searching, unfortunately, but hopefully this week. I feel good about our preparation. I feel good about where we are, and obviously, it's a big challenge going to Buffalo where they are undefeated and tied for first in our division, so they're a good football team. This will be a big challenge whether you're coming off a bye or not, but I feel good about our plan. Obviously, my history is not good.
On Santonio Holmes' production so far this season…
Last week it was Plax [Plaxico Burress]. Now this week it's Tone [laughter]. I understand that. Hopefully, it's the same thing. Hopefully, we have the same effect where he catches three touchdowns, but I understand, it's the numbers. But the great thing about Tone is he never gets caught up in the numbers. We don't get caught up in the numbers. If you ask anybody in this league who the top receivers are, his name will always come up because that's who he is. He's an explosive guy. I'd love to see him catch a few more balls, there is no doubt.
On what his message was to the team this week…
Just don't assume that on Sunday we can roll out there. It's important right now that we get physically, mentally, emotionally ready right now. We know we have the opportunity right in front of us that we talked about, trying to win our division, and the opportunity is right in front of us. We're running into it. We understand that and we'll be ready. There are absolutely no excuses, time off, whatever, that helps us, obviously. Our guys are fresh, but mentally, we have to be focused, we have to be sharp and understand that it will be a physical game.
On if he feels that the team has lost some of its swagger…
No, I don't believe so. I think just the opposite. I think we're getting it back. I think, if anything, I don't think we lost it, but I think winning these past two games certainly helps. The style of play is back to playing New York Jets football and I think that's important, so I think just the opposite.
On if he plans on playing Joe McKnight at running back anymore this week after his play against Buffalo last year…
Well, did he do anything last year? I forget that game [joking]. Yes, absolutely, he'll get more opportunities this week.
On Mike Mayock's comments that the team is upset with being scheduled to play New England on Sunday night and then in Denver on Thursday night…
As long as you win, no one has a problem. Hopefully, we win the Sunday night game and we come back and win that Thursday night game, then it's a bonus. That's a plus. Like last year, we played Cincinnati on Thanksgiving, you know, the green bean casserole game [joking]. When you win it, that's great. You sit back and say, "Hey, that's great. We have a little more time." I always think it's a positive if you win.
On if he thinks it was unfair to have a Sunday night game before the Thursday night game as opposed to a Sunday afternoon game…
I never thought of it that way because if I said something, then "Ryan Blasts Commissioner" [joking]. I think I'll avoid that one.
On if McKnight will have a different role than he's had…
I think he will. I think he's earned it. He's done a great job, even as a receiver. He's done a great job. They are using [C.J.] Spiller a lot as a receiver, too. You get an explosive athlete, you look for ways to use him and I could see us using him a little more this week.
