Jets' Ryan running high on optimism
Written by davemundy, Friday September 11 2009
He’s a rookie head coach, starting a rookie quarterback in the season opener against a team some are figuring to be among the best in the conference this season, but give Rex Ryan credit for optimism.
Asked during Wednesday’s conference call if he and first-year signal-caller Mark Sanchez can expect a rough outing in Sunday’s
He’s a rookie head coach, starting a rookie quarterback in the season opener against a team some are figuring to be among the best in the conference this season, but give Rex Ryan credit for optimism.
Asked during Wednesday’s conference call if he and first-year signal-caller Mark Sanchez can expect a rough outing in Sunday’s
That may seem like the eternal optimism of youth coming from a coach whose team is predicted by most to finish at or near the bottom of the AFC East heap. Ryan is no stranger to the NFL, however, and figures his chances a little differently.
“We have a team that we've got a couple of outstanding running backs, we've got a veteran offensive line that is one of the best offensive lines in the league,” he told
That offensive line helped the running back tandem of Thomas Jones and Leon Washnigton roll up 1,760 rushing yards and 19 TDs last season.
“Last year, this was one of the best running teams in the league, the Jets,” he said. “It's because of our offensive line. That's obviously where it's going to start. We have a rookie quarterback, so we need to be able to run the football.”
Ryan maintains his team can run the ball “On anybody.”
His counterpart, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, has a team which has made some significant improvements on defense but had its problems stopping the run during pre-season outings against the Saints and Vikings.
“Well Rex builds his team around great defense and he's committed to running the ball,” Kubiak said. “When you come out of the preseason and struggle like we did against the run, then you're going to get tested. So there is no running away from that.
“We're going to have to do a better job but we're going to rotate guys,” he added. “We're going to play eight and keep them fresh and they've got a big job to do for this football team.”
The Jets went 9-7 a year ago with Mr. Methusaleh, Brett Favre, at the helm. Favre has taken his traveling circus to a climate he’s more familiar with in
“I think he's going to be an outstanding quarterback,” Ryan said of Sanchez. “He's got great leadership. He's got all the intangibles. He's confident, he's poised. He's got all the physical talent that you look for in a quarterback.”
Kubiak is similarly impressed with Sanchez, the Jets’ top-round pick out of USC who roomed with the Texans’ top pick, linebacker Brian Cushing.
“I've been very impressed. I think he has really taken to what they do,” he said of Sanchez. “The thing that really scares you is he is able to make a lot of plays off schedule, moving around and that type of thing. So anytime a guy does that, you know he makes you play the defense longer.”
Ryan said he hopes being able to establish the run game will help keep Sanchez from having to meet the Texans’ defense on their terms.
“Certainly, when you think of the Texans on defense, you think of two guys in particular: Mario Williams, and, of course, the great linebacker, DeMeco Ryans,” he said. “Those are two huge pieces to the puzzle over there. Then, getting (Dunta) Robinson back as well for this game. They definitely have some talent here on defense, and some of the best players in the NFL in those two young men for sure.”
Ryan said the more aggressive defensive philosophy employed by
“But I think the big thing is that they're running around, they're competing, they're flying around all over the place, and I think they have a chance to be good on defense,” he said.
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