| Jets coach Rex Ryan is encouraged by the recent play of QB Mark Sanchez. (US Presswire) |
Although they face what is arguably their biggest rival, the New England Patriots, on Thanksgiving night, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said the Jets will be focused just as much on themselves as their opponent as they continue to target their areas of weakness.
Ryan said he has seen a lot of improvement coming off the Jets' win in St. Louis.
It starts with the quarterback and Ryan likes the command Mark Sanchez has at the line along with a better grasp of making checks.
"He’s been good this season," Ryan said of Sanchez. "I think he’s really been better at identifying fronts. Him and (C Nick) Mangold do a great job communicating with each other."
The team finally has all three RBs -- Shonn Greene, Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight -- back and all three contributed on Sunday (McKnight has been battling a sprained ankle and Powell had a shoulder injury). Powell, who Ryan said the Jets usually rely on to be a stalwart in protections, gave up a strip sack, but also scored the first two touchdowns of his career.
"Bilal is normally tremendous in protection," Ryan said. " He’s the one who gave up the strip sack, which is strange. That’s uncharacteristic of Bilal Powell."
Ryan pointed out that on the next play, Powell leveled a Rams linebacker.
WR Stephen Hill has struggled and on Sunday, dropped a certain first down pass from Sanchez. However, Ryan hasn't lost confidence and sees positives.
"I was impressed with the way the young man blocked," Ryan said. "We’re going to keep throwing it to him. I think this young man is going to realize, ‘You can play this game.’ The fun part, the easy part is to catch the football."
CB Ellis Lankster had a solid day playing nickel and has become a reliable member of the defensive secondary. His penalty was one of only three on the day for the Jets.
"It’s been an area of focus to improve on our penalties," Ryan said. "I can honestly say there isn’t any other team in the league working harder on that than us."
Ryan said that at 4-6, in spite of the latest win, the air of desperation remains.
"Without question it's there," Ryan said. "It’s not a panic thing, we've just got to be focused and tight. Right now, we're just swinging. We're behind where we have to be and we can only focus on ourselves and find a way to punch our way out."
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