Jets' Rex Feeling Giddy After Bye Week: 'I Can't Tell You How Excited I Am'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The Jets had their bye this past week, and it couldn't have come at a better time for Gang Green.
The reeling Jets were drubbed by the division-rival Dolphins, 30-9, in Week 8, and they currently sit at 3-5, tied for last place with the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.
The always boisterous Rex Ryan admits that his team has disappointed through the midway point of the season, but as always, he remains optimistic that his struggling bunch has the ability to turn their season around.
"I can't tell you how excited I am," Ryan said at his press conference on Monday. "I know we're not where we want to be. We're not even close. We're not sniffing the playoffs, we're not sniffing anything right now. But I want to get there. I'm excited about the prospects in front of us."
Ryan listed the many areas that the Jets need to improve on, such as third-down defense, run defense and the signature ground-and-pound approach.
With the surprising Seahawks next on the docket for New York -- at the incredibly loud CenturyLink Field, no less -- Ryan has spent time looking to his assistants for new ideas and suggestions for how to maximize the talent on his roster.
"We got a bunch of suggestions," Ryan said. "I hope they're good, but we're certainly looking at them. It's kind of a tough thing, because you have to put all your focus on this one thing. But we have to be open for different suggestions and things. We definitely have taken them in. We will be doing some different things. I don't want to get into the specifics of it ... If there's an advantage to be gained, then I want to gain that advantage without letting our opponent know."
Ryan added that while changes won't necessarily turn the football world upside down -- Mark Sanchez will remain the quarterback -- some players may be used differently moving forward.
"I'm excited about trying to implement some of these things," Ryan said. "I'm not going to say that they're radical. It's more about how we're using everybody. (Are) there things that we can do to help this player or help this player... Those are things we're looking at."
After taking on Seattle, the Jets will finish up their regular-season schedule against the Rams on the road, the Patriots and Cardinals at home, the Jaguars and Titans on the road and the Chargers at MetLife Stadium.
Their final game in Week 17 will be against the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Hmmmm, a week filled with suggestions and thoughts about how to use players differently. More Tebow time, anybody? Sound off with your thoughts and comments in the section below...
