Buffalo Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Opening Comments
Alright here we go. Obviously the big challenge in front of us this week. I think the Jets look like they’re playing at obviously a very high level. I know they got Brandon Marshall and (Eric) Decker. I guess they broke an NFL record for most games with touchdowns to both guys. So you know, they’re playing extremely well. Their defense obviously is playing well. So this is, to say a major challenge in front of us probably is an understatement. But I think we’re excited about it. We know the preparation’s just starting today but I think we’re excited about this opportunity to play against a really good team. So with that, fire away.
Q: What differences do you see since the last time you’ve seen them? Especially with Ryan Fitzpatrick.
A: Well I think the numbers speak for themselves. I think they’ve improved in that area. I think Bilal Powell has really stepped up for them. He’s a really good all-around back. He’s excellent in protection, excellent as a receiver, and running with the football. I think he’s really stepped up. Quincy (Enunwa) never played. So they do a lot of four wides that it’s probably a little different then what we faced the first time we played them. And you know he’s an explosive guy. He can run well, like sometimes you use him even as a tight end to block and things. So that’s probably the big difference that you see offensively and then on defense they’re healthy, they’re getting after it.
Q: No Clemson helmet today?
A: No I think that was when they came out with number one. Now possibly Friday it could be something.
Q: Any thoughts on the Chip Kelly news from yesterday?
A: I think, I know Chip’s an excellent football coach and I really like him. I think he’s a good guy and I think some of the things he does, his forward thinking and some rest, you know the way he handles practices and things like that; I’ve tried to incorporate some of it, maybe not all of it, but some of the things, some of his ideas. So he’s a guy that I respect and I think he’s a good guy, and he’s a really good football coach.
Q: Do you think that this is a good example that the coach should coach and a GM should handle the rest?
A: I mean I really wouldn’t want to speculate on why he was let go or anything like that. But I think it works best. I’ve been around a long time and I know in Baltimore I was there for 10 years and you have Ozzie Newsome and he was outstanding and I feel fortunate to be in this situation. So it’s…either way I think maybe there’s guys that can handle that. I know I wouldn’t want to have that responsibility.
Q: You seem to be more subdued.
A: No, I’m just ready to go. I think I’m excited more than you know. I’m excited to see some of these guys step in and see how we prepare. You know start of a week. But I’m excited. I know our guys are gonna prepare well and I’m excited to see that. It’s a big challenge in front of us so as a competitor it gets me excited.
Q: T.J. Barnes said Todd Bowles should be Coach of the Year. Where does he stand on your list?
A: Well I think he’d be right up there. I don’t think there’s any doubt. I mean they’re sitting there right now at 10 wins and things off hand that that’d be probably a good selection. You know Ron Rivera has only lost one game so I think it might go that way. But I think Todd Bowles has done a great job.
Q: Calvin Pace said he expects this Sunday to be a blood bath.
A: I don’t know why he’d say that. I’m subdued. (Laughs)
Q: Does it ever occur to you how much IK Enemkpali impacted that team and their season?
A: No. I mean I don’t look at it that way I just see that the young man is…you know I look at it from our perspective and how we’ve gotten this guy here. I know he’s remorseful, all that kind of stuff. He feels bad about what happened but I think he’s grown from it and I think you know I’m happy that IK’s on our team. How it effects the Jets? You probably need to talk to them.
Q: Would you agree they are a different team because they have a new quarterback?
A: Well I think Fitz (Ryan Fitzpatrick) has done a great job there. There’s no question about that. He’s done a great job leading that team and he’s always been a gritty guy. A guy that I’ve always admired. I liked his toughness and things. I think he’s put up the numbers though that have really been impressive.
Q: Can you go back to your reaction after your Thursday night win over the Jets earlier this season? Everything seemed to be in front of you and in front of this team. How have things gone 180-degrees since then?
A: Yeah. There’s no question, we’re a different team right now than we were obviously. The main thing if you look we’ve got 10 starters out. That’s probably something that jumps out at you. But yeah I truly thought that this game was gonna set up that hey, this one’s win and in. And it is, it’s just only one team playing for it unfortunately.
Q: You made some roster moves yesterday placing Ron Brooks and Charles Clay on IR. Are you planning to promote some from the practice squad?
A: Yes. Yep. We’re gonna promote a couple of DB’s. That’s probably a good thing.
Q: Noel and Dowling? Or Seamster?
A: No. It’s (Sammy) Seamster.
Q: So (Merrill) Noel and Seamster?
A: Yep.
Q: Is that a bad sign for Ronald Darby’s possible availability this week?
A: No we’ll see how he progresses during the week. I hope he can play. I know how competitive he is and going up against…I know going up against great players like (Eric) Decker and Brandon Marshall, I know from a competitive stand point you want to put yourself against the best and I know that’s what…he’d love to that. We all know that about Darby.
Q: Will LeSean McCoy practice today?
A: I don’t think so.
Q: Is there still a chance for him to play Sunday?
A: We’ll see how the week progresses.
Q: Would it make sense?
A: We all know how it looks right now. So it probably doesn’t look real good but we’ll see you know…I’ll say this; I’m never gonna put a player out there that I think’s at more of an injury risk or can’t defend themselves. Regardless of how competitive they are.
Q: Even with Darby and Gilmore healthy it’s a challenge to cover these guys…
A: Yeah.
Q: How much more of a challenge is it without them?
A: Well when we played them the first time it was a great challenge. I thought it was a heck of a game. Both teams getting after it. It was a heck of a game. But yeah, I mean going up against those guys it’s tough. I mean there’s no doubt about it. It was tough. We’re fortunate to have an excellent player like Leodis (McKelvin) back there. I think a guy with experience and is a good football player. I thought (Mario) Butler did a pretty good job this past week. Now those guys aren’t in the class of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker I can promise you, and that’s no slight to those guys. But there’s a lot of players in the league that aren’t in that class. But I think either way, I think our guys like as I mentioned, I think they love competing and that’ll obviously be a step up in class. And it’s certainly not gonna be easy.
Q: What have you learned about yourself as a coach this season?
A: I think the biggest thing, obviously I wish I wouldn’t say some stupid thing that I said. But you know I get it. That’s just me, but sometimes I wish…you know because I think you see the impact it has. My heart was in the right place, I thought I’m telling the truth. But at the same time, it’s like I never look at it as what if this doesn’t go exactly the way I expect it to go. Well, I’m seeing right now.
Q: What is the stupid thing you said?
A: Well no I just think when I’m like hey, we’re gonna be in the playoffs. I just honestly, 100-percent believed that. I absolutely did, without question.
Q: Do you think a lot of people bought into it and the criticism is a reaction from those people?
A: No I mean I’m…number one it’s not the criticism that I take. It’s the criticism that our teams takes that bothers me because…and the reason I say that is these guys play hard, man, and they prepare. It just hasn’t gone right. Hasn’t gone the way we wanted it go. But I’m the guy that should be criticized, that’s fine. But when it goes over into the team, that way…you know our fans, look they’re frustrated. They believe like I did and I love the fact they believed in me. There’s no question about that. I feel bad that I didn’t deliver, that’s how I look at it. There’s no question about it. I know what I think and what the future holds for this team. I’m excited about the future but all I want to do is focus on right now, this future is on Sunday and that’s as far as I’ll get in looking ahead. But I’m looking forward to this. I know we have to improve to play against this football team. I know that. But I’m excited about…I know we have a lot of guys that are chomping at the bit to play and they recognize the challenge that’s in front of us also.
Q: In what ways didn’t you deliver for your players this season?
A: Well I’m just saying the record. The efforts always there. I’m no different than the rest of the team. Efforts there, the preparations there and all that. But the results haven’t been.
Q: Don’t tell us you’re gonna turn into Bill Belichick?
A: It’s onto the Jets. I don’t know what to tell you.
Q: What have you learned about Cordy Glenn, his toughness and abilities to overcome obstacles?
A: Well guy’s a phenomenal guy. There’s no question about it. I think the year before was when we went through, in my eyes, like a herculean thing. Like how does this guy play off of what he went through? So I think it’s probably more so that way. But I just see a guy that goes about his job, his business, every single day and is a tough, tough cat. There’s no question about it. But I love the way he prepares, his demeanor never changes, but he’s a class act.
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