Transcript of quarterback Mark Sanchez's news conference at his locker following Wednesday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
On if he expected to be playing in a game of this magnitude a month ago…
Well, I think nobody really lost sight of our goals a month ago when we were going through a tough stretch of three games, but we knew that everything we wanted would be right ahead of us if we just stayed the course and fought through it, I thought. I've just been proud of the last three weeks of the way we really worked through three tough losses at one point in the season. So this is right where we want to be and there's no better team that we'd want to play than a division rival and a divisional opponent, for what looks to set us up real nice in the division if we win.
On how different this Jets team is from the team that lost to the Patriots earlier this season …
Well, I think we learned a lot these last couple weeks and in that game that you can't come out slow against a team like that. We played pretty poorly that first quarter and then really turned it on for three quarters. It felt like the second, third and fourth quarter we played really well and we're right in it at the end of the game. For us, it's just coming out maybe a little faster and seeing how things go, but I was proud of the way we played the first time and just need to pick up where we left off and improve a little bit, take care of the football.
On the difference in the play of the offensive line and running game since the first meeting with the Patriots…
I think we ran the ball pretty well against them up there. We're starting to come into our own as an offense. I think when we take care of the ball and are pretty efficient on third down we really do well. So that's kind of been the name of these last three weeks of winning, is taking care of the football and playing well on third down.
On how much Nick Mangold has to do with an improved running game…
It's great to see him healthy. He's still working through a tough injury, but that's a tough guy and he's getting everybody involved on the offensive line. Brandon Moore's getting better and better each week and this guy's an old-time vet. To see him, as hard as he works with Coach [Bill] Callahan. Him and [Matt] Slauson, they compete to work in practice, so that's why things are going so well. It was a gradual thing. From that lockout, we've all started to settle in and get used to it. The offense is kind of getting into a groove here. We just want to keep it going and keep taking care of the football, really.
On if it will be hard to resist passing the ball more playing against the worst-ranked pass defense in the league…
That's a coach's deal. That's their game plan. I'm excited about it. I think our game plan's great, so it doesn't matter. I don't care if we throw it 100 times or run it 100 times, as long as we're winning. We're in the winning business and we've got to win, so whatever it takes.
On if playing a rival in primetime is the type of game he relishes…
They're all important. They're all big. We wouldn't be in this position if we didn't win against Buffalo, so the most important thing is to not change. The field is the same size, the ball is the same shape. Don't change. But at the same time, I understand the magnitude of the game and playing well on a big stage.
On the team's improvement in the red zone…
That was a huge emphasis in the offseason. I think we're top five in the league or something like that in scoring in the red zone. We're getting down there, we're getting more touchdowns than we did last year. Now it's a matter of taking care of the ball. I can't give one to the other team like last week against the Bills. That would have been at least a gimme field goal, if not a touchdown. That's a second down play. You don't do that. So we can even be better. That's where the emphasis is for me this week, is finishing drives. You want to keep converting on third down, keep getting completions on stuff, but in the red zone, we've got to finish.
On what the biggest difference is in the team's red zone play…
I don't know. We just really put an emphasis on it. That's where games are won. I think our team's done a great job with making adjustments that way. Each week, whether it's a penalty issue or something like that. If we put an emphasis on that, our team and players really take it to heart and they take it seriously. So they knew the coaches were stressing that and we've all just kind of tightened up our game a little bit and really emphasize it and it's paid off.
On getting back to running the ball...
I think it's been great. Shonn [Greene]'s been running very hard. He's had some great lanes to run through, and the handoffs look pretty good, too [joking].
On how comfortable he is that the offense is playing a familiar style…
Well, we've just been balanced. Whether it's 30-plus pass attempts or in the 25-28 range, I feel comfortable with all of it, but I just think our team works this way. Runs set up the passes, passes set up the runs and things look similar. It helps our game plan when you have similar formations for passes and runs and stuff, that's huge. Especially when you're studying the stuff. It's easy to remind guys, OK, this is a certain play package and here's what we're going to do for these 10, 12, 13 plays or whatever. They're all one kind of Ace package and I like it.
On having success on play-action passes…
It's just kept defenses off balance a little bit. Early in the year, we were doing a lot of run action and stuff. It just wasn't getting the sell that we wanted, because we weren't running the ball as well. So once the running game becomes a huge factor like it is right now, teams are trying to get another hat in there, another player in there to stop the run and that's opened things up on the outside.
On how important play action is to his game…
I'm comfortable doing it. The most important thing is to keep repping it. When you see a guy like Peyton Manning, he wants to make sure all of those run actions and nakeds, where he gets out on the edge and stuff — you've got to make those look like the runs. That's our emphasis in practice. When all that stuff looks the same, things will really open up on the edge and it allows our receivers to work.
On where he is with the process of getting more familiar with his receivers…
It's an ongoing process. We'll judge it at the end of the year. I'm not good at giving grades like that, but I know they're working hard, that's for sure. They're practicing very hard. That's what it's going to take. We need to keep getting reps in practice. It's been good. They've been open to hearing my feedback. I want to know what they want to do and we've been on the same page, so it's been good.
On if he is tempted to take his shots against the Patriots pass defense…
I think us playing our game plan is the best. When we're balanced, we're the most coachable, I feel like. But whatever the game calls for. It doesn't matter either way, as long as we're winning.
On if he believes this game will decide who wins the division…
It has a lot to do with it. I don't think this is the end all, be all. It's not the end of the world, but we don't want to think about losing the game. We're thinking about winning. We'll just react after the game, but this is a big divisional game. It could set us up nice.
On having two games in five days…
I think we just take them one at a time, and that's super cliché, I'm sorry, that's really the focus. And as soon as this one's over, I just know the biggest push when you have a Thursday game is, right after the game make sure you get your treatment. Get stretched out. Get in the cold tub. Take care of your body and get your rest, because it's a long week of travel next week, but we'll handle that when we need to. We're focused on New England and we had a great day today. It's going to take a lot of good practices and we're off to a good start.
On if he goes into a game feeling that he has to outplay the opposing quarterback…
No. I need to do whatever it takes for our team to win, and that's get completions, convert on third down, put us in the right run checks, just be very accurate. Don't give them any cheap ones. That almost hurt us last week and our defense bailed us out, so just don't give them anything and we should be OK, but I don't think about it like that.
On how he would rate himself so far this season…
I think we're 5-3, so 5-3. I don't know. We just want to keep winning. We're on a three-game winning streak. That's great, but we'll just take them one at a time. We just have to keep improving. You can't giveaway some cheap ones, and really, you look at the seven interceptions, I think that's what it is, and they're some dumb ones. So we get rid of those and we're really playing well.
On if he is motivated by the fact that opposing teams have had great efforts by their quarterback when defeating New England this year…
It's always going to take a good game out of the quarterback to beat that team and that defense, because Coach [Bill] Belichick's going to have them in the right position. And it doesn't mean you have to go out and make a spectacular play, but just understand the situation. You watch Eli [Manning]'s drive last week. It was awesome, one of the best drives you've seen by a quarterback this season, but he did the little things right. He took the underneath routes when he could. He got a penalty that got them down there and took advantage of it. People often criticize, "Oh, well you got a pass interference." Well, so what? Then you take advantage of it and you go play, and he did an awesome job of that. So whether it comes down to the last drive or just being accurate all game. That's what it takes to beat them, and you just can't give them anything. Can't throw one to them.
On where he feels the biggest impact was felt when Mangold returned to the lineup…
I think it just gives the other guys a lot of confidence, too, up front. For me, of course, I feel great talking to Nick and we have such a good relationship on and off the field that when we're playing games, it's just that, we're playing. We're having fun. Talking to him at the line of scrimmage, it's not the same as I used to be, where I was just terrified to ask, "Man, I really don't know what's going on. Nick, help." He's just so good about, I'll say something, "OK, let's direct it here." And he says, "OK, you've got so-and-so, you know that." And I'm like, "I'm good, I got him." It's more of a discussion, so I think the other guys see that how comfortable I am. And he's so calm. Whether he are up by 40 or down by 40, he's always just smiling and happy and having fun. He's just a good leader on that offensive line. So we all love having him back.
On if he wants to be in a position like Eli Manning was to win on the final drive…
You just want to play well in those situations, but I'm not hoping the game comes down to that. You just react to what goes on in the game and that's it.
