Jets coach Rex Ryan heaped lavish praise on the Dolphins’ offense Thursday, but couldn’t help but take a playful jab at Miami’s cornerbacks.
“We’ve got two excellent cover corners,” he said of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. “I understand we’re not as good as Miami’s, but we’re pretty good.”
Ryan, whose Jets play host to the Dolphins on Monday night, appeared to be referring to this preseason remark from cornerback Vontae Davis , who said of himself and Sean Smith: “I’m going to go out on a limb and say we’re the best [cornerback] tandem in the league.”
Ryan, on other topics:
• On former Jet Jason Taylor: “He’s a Hall of Fame player. We miss him dearly as a player and as a mentor. I am blessed to say I was Jason Taylor’s coach for a year. He’s as instinctive a guy as I’ve ever been around.”
• Asked if it would be an embarrassment to lose to a winless team, Ryan said, “We have not beaten Miami at home in the [two previous] years I’ve been here. They’re in every single game. Don’t think for a second we don’t recognize the fact that’s a good team.”
• Does he still guarantee that the Jets will win the Super Bowl? “I guarantee you we’re going to chase it, that’s for sure. Do I think we’ll win it? Yeah, absolutely.”
• On the Dolphins’ offense: “ Chad Henne looked like Dan Marino against us one game a year. The next game, he wouldn’t do anything and we lose. With [offensive coordinator] Brian Daboll , a very creative guy, they’ve been moving the ball well but have struggled a little in the red zone and on third down.
“You’ve got three big-time receivers and the fast kid from Abilene [ Clyde Gates ]. Brandon Marshall is one of the best receivers in the game. Davone Bess is a matchup nightmare. With Reggie Bush back there, you kind of hold your breath. It’s an offensive line that has four No. 1 draft picks. Matt Moore is a guy, when he gets hot, you’ve got to watch out for. This is a talented group.”
• On the Jets’ three-game losing streak: “Everything stinks when you lose. When you lose a game, it’s almost the equivalent of a 10-game losing streak [in baseball]. So we’re on a 30-game losing streak. … Our running game [and] ability to stop the run have not been up to our standards.”
• On what people tell him on the streets during this skid: “It’s no big deal. Shoot, I’m still the man.”
• On quarterback Mark Sanchez’s play: “He’s had his moments he’s played really well. I’d like to see him a little more consistent throughout the game, maybe start a little faster.”
• Davis, Daniel Thomas , Nolan Carroll and Chris Clemons were limited in practice Thursday, all with hamstring injuries. Thomas has said he intends to play Monday. Davis practiced fully last week, leading to optimism he was ready to return, barring a setback.
• Bush said the team’s offense “has been all over the place. We haven’t found our identity yet. It’s coming.” He said practices in the past week “have been a lot more productive” than ones earlier in the season.
• Though Ryan called Moore a “gunslinger,” Moore said, “There’s only one gunslinger if you ask me, and that’s Brett Favre. ”
Source:
