New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan, 8.24
Rex Ryan
Opening statement…
That was obviously something great that came out of the win here (the check from MetLife to build a playground in Newark). To pull out a win in a situation where you turn the ball over five times, had two fumbles, three picks, had a safety against us, had a missed field goal with an asterisk, (it) looked like it could have been two misses there, and gave up an 84-yard run to start the game, I don’t know if you can ever win a game that way. I don’t care if it’s preseason or what. We have a thing, “One team, one fight,” and that’s what it took. There’s no question about it. And I’ll take it. I don’t care. I’m not apologizing for it. We’ll take the win. Do we have to correct a lot of things? Absolutely, but I’d much rather do it after a win. We’ll take Snoopy too. (Laughter) So, I’m happy to get the win. That was our goal, our mission going into this game, we were there to compete. With that being said, we had the entire starting offense out there for three full quarters, and then I put (Mark) Sanchez in. Unfortunately, the best play that he makes probably all of preseason, he ends up getting hurt on it. We’ll see the severity of the injury later, but it was a tremendous play by him. But that’s football. You compete and you go out there and you do your best. Obviously, it’s very unfortunate that he was injured. But with that being said, I think there were some guys that really stepped up. Obviously, Ryan (Spadola), Spicoli as we call him, he stepped up, had a big day. I love the way the defense responded. I’ve been on some record-setting rushing defenses in my career. I’ve been blessed that way. I never thought I’d be one in futility, but that opening run of 84 yards, that was a little embarrassing to say the least. After that fact, I thought the defense really buckled down. And the way the defense in particular responded after the turnovers is exactly what we stressed from day one, that they’re not in there until there in there. In a way, it’s, ‘Hey, it’s more TV time for you.’ And that’s the way you have to hit the field. I was proud of the way the defense responded, but as a team, I was just happy we got that opportunity in overtime to play some more football and I was pleased with that.
On the play of Geno Smith…
Obviously, there were some good moments and there were some low moments. The interceptions, the ball was a little behind the intended receiver (on the first one), and then he overshot the one with the young man playing centerfield (Stevie Brown) and he does a great job of that. He broke on it (and) made a nice play. Then (Justin) Tuck, you have to tip your hat to him. Great play, (he) disguised it well. The defensive end drops back into coverage in a trap coverage and he just made a great play on it. So, obviously he had moments where he threw the ball extremely well, but there are some things he has to take and learn from this.
On whose decision it was to put Sanchez in the game…
That was my decision. It was a coach’s decision all the way. It was my decision. You’re talking about competing. All week, you’re talking about winning a game and competing and that was my decision.
On whether he was planning on putting Sanchez into the game…
That was my decision. Like I said, that was my decision all the way, that he went in. He was five-of-six passing. He looked decent. Obviously, he had the fumble and the unfortunate injury, but it was my decision for him to go in the game.
On why he put Sanchez in for the fourth quarter…
Why compete period? We put him out there with guys. We’re there to win. We had our starting offense out there for three quarters because we’re trying to win the game. That was what we wanted to do. We were going to leave our guys out there. We’re trying to compete and everybody’s out there. Injuries are part of the game. Obviously, we’ll see the severity of Mark’s injury and others as well. But you can get hurt in practice, you can get hurt in different things. Obviously, it never worked out the way we wanted it to, certainly, but we’re here to compete.
On why Sanchez was the only starter in during the fourth quarter…
The way the game went, we left Geno in there for three quarters, and when we had a chance, we put Mark in. I always wanted to play Mark.
On playing Sanchez without the starters…
Again, I had Mark in there. I probably extend the ones out there maybe even a little longer than I wanted. But we had them into the third quarter, it’s generally what we do, and as it worked out, we played them the whole time. Again, it’s my decision and we’re going to compete. We said we’re going to compete and watch that competition, an equal competition, that’s we wanted to try to get to. I understand being second-guessed and stuff when an injury happens, certainly I understand that, but that’s football.
On the play of Matt Simms…
I thought he played well. He was up and down, but he had 6-of-10 (passing and) a 135.0 quarterback rating, so he did some good things. Coming here to play the Giants, I think obviously was big for him. The play of his dad (Phil Simms) was pretty darn good for a number of years also.
On when they will decide who will start at quarterback in the regular season opener…
Like we’ve said from day one, whenever we think the appropriate time is, we’ll make that call.
On if he thinks he needs to see more from the quarterbacks in the last preseason game…
We’ll see. If that’s what we think we need to see, then we’ll take it all the way up.
On whether he knows the severity of Sanchez’ injury…
No.
On if he thinks it was irresponsible to put the likely starting quarterback in with non-starters…
That’s an assumption on your part. I can understand that’s your assumption. This team, we’ll make the call on a starting quarterback when we think it’s appropriate, and we’ve said that from day one. To me, obviously we talked about the competition and that’s something I thought was important. If it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t have put him in there. I would not have put Mark in if it wasn’t important.
On if Smith still has a chance to be the starting quarterback…
Again, we’re going to compete all the way through.
On if Smith can still be named the starting quarterback…
Hey, I’ll make that call. I don’t have to answer a question. I’ll answer it the way I said. From day one, (we said) we will make the announcement on a starting quarterback when we think it’s the appropriate time, not when you, not when this person, or this person, or this person (thinks so). Maybe that person (joking), but that’s about it.
On not answering whether Smith can still be named the starting quarterback…
I can say anything I want. That’s the beauty of this country. I can answer it 100 (times). I can stand backwards and answer the question. I’m going sideways. We’ll make the announcement when I think it’s the appropriate time.
On whether he had reservations about putting Sanchez in with the backup offensive linemen…
After the injury, you always have reservations, like, ‘Okay, aw shoot.’ But we’re competing. I’m telling our players, ‘We’re trying to compete to win this game, period.’ And that was it. Mark was throwing the ball well and that’s it. But you know, if a guy gets injured you can say the same thing, ‘Hey, I wish Cro wasn’t out there.’ He bothered his hip. But we’ll see, like I say, and hopefully the severity of the injuries aren’t too serious.
On whose call it was to put Sanchez in…
Again, I said that was my call. I wanted to go with Mark.
On whether Sanchez was told before the game he was not going to play…
I doubt that very much.
On whether anyone told Sanchez before the game he was not going to play…
He wasn’t told that from me, and since I made the decision, that was probably the one he should’ve listened to.
On the severity of Sanchez’ injury…
We know he has a shoulder injury. The severity of it, we do not know yet.
