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1495 Sports is proud to bring these New York Jets quotes for 11/7/12.
Head Coach Rex Ryan:
Opening Statement:
“I guess we’ll start however you guys want to start it. Here’s where you’re not supposed to start, by saying the injuries so we’ll start with those. I think, and this could change, but Bart Scott, Kenrick Ellis, and Joe McKnight did not practice, which we all know. There’s a possibility they won’t practice (again today). Guys that will be limited, Brandon Moore, hip, Nick Mangold, ankle, Eric Smith, knee, Bilal Powell, shoulder, Jeff Cumberland, wrist and Sione Po’uha, low back. Guys that will be full are LaRon Landry, heel, Mark Sanchez, low back, Matt Slauson, knee, Calvin Pace, shin and (Mike) DeVito, finger. With Bart, it’s his toe, Kenrick, knee, and Joe McKnight ankle, so those are the injuries. I guess I’ll start with my thoughts on playing at Seattle. This team is, as everybody knows, 4-0 at home. Notoriously, this is a tough place to play. The fans are over the top. When you think of an indoor-type atmosphere, it’s kind of like the noise level that you get there even though it’s an outdoor stadium, but that doesn’t make a difference. I think when you look at the statistical facts, I don’t know the exact number, but I think since 2005, I believe there are 105 false start penalties for the opponent when playing at Seattle. That shows you it’s a tangible thing right there. That talks about the kind of noise and how much that “12th man” gets involved there in Seattle. It’s obviously an extremely tough place to play. The fact that they have a really good football team also makes it a tough place to play. Having wins over Dallas, Green Bay, Minnesota, and New England at home also shows you the task that we have in front of us. With that being said, we’re going to roll our sleeves up and go up there. We’re going to leave Friday and stay on east coast time and give it heck. That’s what we’re planning on doing. They’re an interesting team. It’s built through the running game. Obviously, they throw the ball probably fewer than any team in the league, yet when they throw it, they’re throwing it down the field. It’s built on that running game and play action pass. They make some vertical shots. A stat that really jumped out at me was, this young quarterback’s (Russell Wilson) rating at home is 120. That would lead the league as the best home quarterback rating in the National Football League. As good as the running game has been, there are also real positives in their passing attack. That’s an obvious one. Another one that jumped out at me was, if you look at the last five games of Seattle, this young man has a quarterback rating of 154 on third down. Obviously, we have a big task in front of us defensively. On defense, all they are is the 4th rated defense in the National Football League. They have a huge secondary. They look huge. I don’t know how else to put it. I think they average 6 foot 3 inches, 220 pounds in the secondary. The biggest corners look like Antonio Cromartie. These are two really big corners and the one safety is a giant. It’s an interesting group. (They have) a big, physical defensive line with two extremely productive and athletic edge rushers, so that’s a big challenge. On special teams, by the way you have Pro Bowler Leon Washington back there. They also have a veteran punter and kicker. This whole game is going to be a challenge. There’s no question about it because of the physical talent that this team brings. When you combine that with playing in a hostile environment as well as going cross country is going to be a challenge. Again, it’s (a challenge) and I’m excited to see our team head up there. We’re going up there and we’ll be confident. We have a lot of preparation in front of us, but I’m excited to get to work today.”
On if they will simulate the noise of Seattle’s stadium in practice:
“We definitely will. We’ll have the speakers blaring and we’ll do that. I don’t think there’s any other way (to simulate the noise) unless you get 80,000 fans to come out here and yell, but I think that’s the best way to do it. We have to just let it go and make it so loud where it’s miserable for all of us. I think it’ll be a peaceful thing when our defense gets to practice. We can turn that volume down a little bit. I think that’s the best way to simulate it. It’s still a 100-yard field and all that stuff. Those things don’t change, but the intensity of the crowd, I think you try and get the speakers and obviously the communication is tough.”
On Seattle’s defense:
“The thing that jumps out at you when you look at them, this is a big football team. the linebackers are more run-hit, faster, run-hit guys, but they’re the giants up front and they’re very athletic on the edges. And sometimes they put a giant guy in there also to play end. So they’re big, fast and they are physical. You look at the DB’s, they’re very physical. Again, with that size, it’s not surprising. When you look over out there, it’s like, ‘That is one big dude.’ There (are) some big guys. I think when you’re watching the tape, we don’t get to see Seattle play very often and then when you watch them, it’s like, ‘Where did they get this kid?’ “Oh, this guy played in the CFL.” I’m like, ‘What’d he play, defensive end?’ I mean, he’s huge, this corner’s huge. And then the safety’s a giant. It’s like, this is a big, hard-hitting football team and they run around. They’re well-coached, you can tell that they run and hit and they’re sound in what they do.”
On what tangible positives he can cling to:
“Well, I think it’s interesting that you bring it up because we’re running the ball at a better clip than we did earlier in the year. I think if you look at our last 100 carries for instance, I think we’ll maybe be at a 4.3 yard per rush, something like that. And then on defense I think we’re giving up 3.1 over the last 100 carries. I think those are going in the right direction. I think that’s something you can look at, so I think we’re improving. Will it be tested on both sides of the ball this week? Absolutely, but again, that’s fine.”
Quarterback Mark Sanchez
On playing at Seattle:
“They haven’t lost at home this year. They look tough on film on the road and especially at home, so it’s obviously a big challenge for us. But we’re excited about it and we’re excited to get the second half of the season started. This is a good challenge for us, right off the bat.”
On Seattle’s defense:
“They have great edge pass rushers (and) they’re tough in the middle as well. (They have a) great front seven and then, their backend, safeties and corners, (are) probably the most physical in the league. (They are) some of the toughest guys we’ll play. (They have) great speed (and) good ball skills, they find the ball in the air. This is one of the best groups we’ll play all year. They’re a sound, disciplined team (and) that’s no surprise with their head coach. It’s going to be good for us.”
On facing Coach Carroll:
“I’ve never done it other than practice at USC so I know how competitive he is and how bad he wants to win every game. It has nothing to do with me, he just wants to win. So that’s always good, facing somebody like that, it always brings out the best, hopefully, in both sides. I’m thrilled about it. I’ve been watching him from afar and rooting for him, obviously, but maybe not this week.”
On what he needs to improve:
“Just keep emphasizing taking care of the football and keep developing these wideouts and growing with these guys. And then the other thing is just, at the end of the day stay positive, no matter what. Just keep staying positive, keep pumping our guys up, keep believing in it and trust the system. And don’t, just because we’re 3-5, start to doubt your preparation, don’t start to doubt what gets you past 3-5 to start racking up wins. Just keep trusting in that because as soon as you lose faith in your prep that’s when it will really go. We just have to stay strong and fight through this.”