Transcript of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez's midday informal news conference following Wednesday's morning practice at training camp:* *
On how practice went today…
It was good. It was really competitive. There was some bright moments; the seven-on-seven and the two-minute drill for the offense were awesome. Then, we ran a "got to have it" drill and a scripted red zone drill that the defense won by far. [Antonio] Cromartie made some awesome plays. One of them was just a bad ball by me. Another one, in the end zone, I thought was a "for sure" touchdown, and J-Co [Jerricho Cotchery] did, too. He was ready for the ball. [Cromartie's] long arms reached around and picked it off. I was stunned.
He's a heck of a player and it was fun because we got him back on the two-minute up the sideline. Similar to the one by Braylon [Edwards] in the Miami game last year on Monday night. Just an awesome, athletic play and he's such a different player this year. He's really working hard, going through some tough stuff, having to lose some weight, and coming out here conditioning and running extra, and then going out and making a play like that, that says a lot about his mental toughness and how he's coming along. But overall, it was a good, competitive day and now we have to come back. I'd say it was a tie this morning, so we have to come back and try to win this thing on offense tonight.
On how he feels after three days of camp…
Physically, I feel great. It's a huge step for me. I was excited to test everything out after the surgery over the offseason and see how things go. I feel awesome. Mentally, I'm feeling so much better. I'm progressing so much that sometimes, I'm thinking too much, trying to get it all perfect. It's a fine balance between just going and playing and then trying to fix problems on the field. We're battling through it, Schotty [Brian Schottenheimer] and I are battling through it and getting mad at each other the way we want to. The way we want it to be competitive. Sometimes I'm doing it just right, and a couple things I'm a little off. It's good work, it's quality film that I'm getting to see, and we're playing against the best defense. It's very competitive.
On if he was encouraged about his play in the red zone and being patient enough to find the safe route…
It happened quicker, and that decision-making is happening quicker. Sometimes, defensive schemes trump all your reads. They cancel out everything because everybody gets back. You have a guy like LT [LaDanian Tomlinson] or Shonn [Greene] underneath, sitting there waiting. Sometimes, you don't have to wait through your entire reads, just get it to him right away. That was encouraging, and Scottenheimer was so happy because it happened so quick, it was exactly what he wanted. So it was good.
On if Braylon Edwards' catches amaze him…
Some of his catches are unbelievable. Him versus Cromartie is such a fun matchup. If I was a fan, that's what I would watch. I would follow those two around all day long and watch them because they get after it. Cromartie has these unbelievable ball skills, but so does Edwards. They're competitive now. They push, they scratch, they claw, so it's good for the both of them, it's good for both sides of the ball.
On Cromartie's range…
He has long arms and tips the ball away. He's one of those guys. Another thing Schotty has been talking about is location on balls and on all your throws. Spot-throwing guys open, a foot and a half behind a guy doesn't cut it anymore in this league. These guys are too good, especially Cromartie. It challenges the quarterback to be perfect. That's what I want to be.
On looking forward to playing with Santonio Holmes in practice…
It's going to be huge. To get another speed guy, stretching the field, somebody they have to respect. Underneath routes, down the field, or outs, he can do it all. He's had a great attitude joining the team, just like everybody we've acquired this off-season. It's going to be fun to have him back and we're happy his son is healthy. That's the most important thing.
On if this year's defense can be more dominating than last year's defense…
I wouldn't be surprised, and they were number one. They're competing against all their stats last year, they're competing against us in practice and they're competing against themselves. They are tough now. They give you so many looks. As a quarterback, you are mentally exhausted playing this team every practice. That's the way you want it to be. It's so good for me, growing up in this league, playing these guys. It can't get much harder than this.
On how Mark Brunell has helped him develop as a quarterback…
He's been great. Watching him, playing for so long, he has a great feel for things. Sometimes, it doesn't go exactly how you draw it out in the meeting room at 10:00 at night, when Schotty is going through install. It doesn't happen perfect that way. But he's so savvy, so well-versed in multiple offenses that he has a great feel. He knows where his checkdowns are, where his outlets are. He knows how to fix problems at the line of scrimmage, and then at the end of the day he goes to play. He'll let his body take over and mine take over and let it go. He's a sharp guy and he's been great for us. I get down and I get mad and upset about these interceptions. Cromartie makes an interception and he'll remind me, "Hey, that corner you threw against and picked that ball, he's not a bad player. It's okay. Sometimes, those happen." He's great to have around. I'm thrilled he's here.
On improving his cadence and getting guys offsides…
It's one of those things that I get a chance to focus on it this year maybe because I'm not scrambling. Like I talked about the first day, in your rookie year, you're just scrambling to spit the play out right in the huddle that when you get to the line, the last thing on your mind is the cadence. Now, it's one of those situations where I got the play, I know what we're doing, now let's add a little more. Let's try and get these guys. We had Jenk [Kris Jenkins] today, we got two guys, I think Calvin [Pace] or somebody yesterday. It's been three days in a row. It's like a hit streak in baseball. I got three in a row, so I need to get them again this afternoon
On if he had an unfair advantage against Jenkins because Jenkins was in his first practice…
It's the matchup. First day back, let's get him. That's kind of the way our team goes. It was fun and I made sure he wasn't too mad at me.
On how he works on his cadences…
I listen to Brunell. Talking with Schotty about which syllables, which numbers, colors to emphasize, and then going back and listening to myself in my head. In quarterback-center exchange, you can say, "High green 30, green 30 hut," and it's whatever. If you focus on it then, you get a chance to let it happen during the team setting, so that's what we've been doing. And just listening to Brunell. He's good. He'll punch it, he'll give it for seven or eight huts. Even the offense is like, "Dang, hurry up, hike the ball." He's been great, just to watch and learn from.
On Brunell as a ball-handler after the snap…
His eyes, his feet, all marry up together and they match up so well in the play-action game. Faking end arounds, he's deliberate, he emphasizes those fakes because they help. If you hold somebody for half a second in this league, you'll have a chance. All you need is a chance. He's pretty good, pretty fun to watch.
On Cromartie's performance during practice…
Sick. He's a monster. We got him one time and we're going to get him again this afternoon. I told him already. The one in the end zone to J-Co, he made an awesome play. J-Co ran the right route and the ball was there. He made an awesome play. The other one to Dustin [Keller] was just a bad throw by me and he had it covered, and then he tipped another one away in the end zone. That's just him being an athlete. He got beat on the route and when I'm throwing it and I just have to put it out there a little more.
