New York Jets: Todd Bowles speaks about learning curves

Head coach Todd Bowles of the New York Jets enjoys keeping things real and straight to the point. So far during training camp, he’s had the opportunities to see all the strengths and opportunities to continue to put the Jets back into the right path. It won’t be easy but he’s been doing his part to put his thumbprint on the entire organization.

The Jet Press would like to thank the Media Relations Department of the Jets for sending us a full transcript of what Bowles had to say so far during training camp. Here in its entirety is what Bowles thinks about the learning curves for the team and various topics across the organization:

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On an update for Muhammad Wilkerson…

He’s day-to-day. He rode the bike today. But he’s day-to-day.

On if there is any chance Wilkerson will practice tomorrow…

If he’s feeling okay. It’s tight. On day-to-day we err on the side of caution rather than the other side. Hopefully he will, but it’s day-to-day right now.

On how the quarterbacks performed today in practice…

They made some throws. Bryce (Petty) threw two interceptions. He overthrew a couple of people. Sometimes the rush got there and effected it. We didn’t block as well as we did the past two days. It was all inclusive. Offense, we were a little sloppy today. We made some mistakes on defense, but we were sloppy on offense.

On the learning curve for Petty…

I don’t think it’s large. He’s football smart and he’s an aggressive guy. He gets it and he understands football. So, as he learns day-by-day it will slow down for him. When it slows down for him, I think he will start being effective.

On Geno Smith’s turnover and if it was disappointing…

No, it was just a bad decision. It was his first turnover of camp. You don’t blow it out of proportion, but you talk about it and you recognize it. At the end of the game, he’s got to let the ball fly. He just can’t sit there and hold it.

Jul 30, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets free safety Durell Eskridge (35) takes a handoff from quarterback Geno Smith (7) during first day of training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

On Smith’s ball security…

It’s been fine up until this standpoint. You don’t know about live bullets because they have to learn how to slide. Some quarterbacks get cocky and try to make the extra yards and they get blown up. So, up until this (point), he’s been fine.

On how much Chan Gailey is emphasizing to Smith to pull down the ball and run if his receivers are covered…

You pull it down if nobody is there. You throw it away if someone is coming at you. They’ve been doing a good job, Geno, Ryan (Fitzpatrick) and Bryce, until today, of getting rid of the ball, pulling it down and not turning it over. They emphasize it a lot.

On the biggest things Petty needs to work on while transitioning into the Jets offense…

Just learning a new offense. He knows how to play quarterback. It’s a different system, different reads. You don’t see the coverages in those type of things that you do in college. He just has to get comfortable with the system and understand the way things work, so he’ll be fine.

On if there was a reason Oday Aboushi is not getting first team reps…

We’re getting some guys looks early. We’ll get some guys looks next week. But, no reason.

On if it was planned to give Smith all the first team reps…

He’s on the first team, so he takes first team reps.

On if he plans on giving Ryan Fitzpatrick first team reps…

We switch it up. We put Fitzpatrick against the first team defense some and we put Geno against the second team. So, we try to do things that way. You don’t just switch the people around.

On how much the offense is predicated on getting the ball out of Smith’s hands quickly…

It all depends on what he sees. It’s a regular offense. He has deep throws and he has quick throws. Some days we work on deep stuff and some days we work on the short stuff. When it’s short, it’s got to come out. When it’s deep, he’s got to see if it’s open and he’s got to chuck it down there.

On Smith’s decision making…

For the most part, he’s been good. For three days, for the most part he’s been pretty good.

On if he learned anything new last year coaching Antonio Cromartie…

He talks a lot (joking). No, I didn’t know the work ethic (before last season). The way he studies film during the season and game week, come Monday, he’s already got a jump on the opponent. Because I didn’t know the person, I didn’t know how professional he was and the way he carries himself. I thought that was outstanding; that was one thing I didn’t know about him.

Jul 30, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive back Darrelle Revis (24) defensive back Antonio Cromartie (31) talk to New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles during first day of training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

On how Stevan Ridley is progressing…

He’s running sprints and that’s all he’s doing. That’s what he’s been doing until he’s able to cut and everything. You won’t see him.

On if he figured rehabbing for Ridley would take this long into camp…

When we signed him, we knew it wasn’t going to be a rush. We’re not trying to rush him back, we’re trying to get him healthy. When you’re taking a flier on somebody like that who’s had production and effectiveness, you want to nurse him back to health sooner than later rather than just throw him out there.

On Cromartie’s press coverage last season…

I think every corner does that depending on the receiver whether there on or off the ball; you want to stay square as much as possible. I didn’t see as much last year when he was here or last year in Arizona. Whether players are injured, whether they’re trying to hide something or whether its press-bail or press man from the inside is all relative. Unless you really know the coverage, which I didn’t when he was here, so I didn’t put too much thought into it.

On it being mentioned in a book that the former coaching staff was not happy with Cromartie’s coverage…

I didn’t read the book. Sorry.

On if he has a problem with Cromartie’s press coverage…

No, he’s been staying square. All of them drop and open at some (point). Sometimes, we have techniques where you do that on purpose, so I don’t see a problem in that. If anything, he’s got to use his hands more. I don’t see a problem with him opening (up).

On if he still talks as much…

Yes, but he’s more of a timing type of guy.

On if there’s any second or third team guys that have jumped out…

Not to speak of, no. They’re all just practicing getting better.

On how Jace Amaro lining up at H-back can maximize his skills…

We’re going to mix him up a little bit. He’s learning how to block. You don’t come in here as a pass receiver out of college and have one year just learning how to block, but he puts his face in there and he does some things. (We’re) moving him around a little bit. (He’s) learning different blocks right there helps enhance, hopefully, his durability by not banging every play. He can line up in there and stay in and block but it’ll help his pass catching skills a little bit partly because of the guys outside, but those are some of the things he should be able to do inside.

Aug 16, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Jets tight end Jace Amaro (88) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Jets won 25-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

On his impressions of Shaquelle Evans and Quincy Enunwa…

Enunwa is a big guy. He’s all muscle and he’s solid inside and not as fluid as the other guys but he’s got a big body and he’s tough and he can catch the ball and he can block. Evans has been steady, nothing stood out for really anybody right now. But he’s been working hard and running routes so he’ll get his shot as the days come.

On if Evans has had any issues with his shoulder…

It’s been good so far.

On what he thinks of Marcus Gilchrist, Calvin Pryor, Antonio Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett…

I think the communication between Gilchrist and Pryor is getting better. They’re getting to know each other and knowing how to disguise and do things. I think Jarrett and Allen, from a disguise standpoint and stripping the ball and those types of things, have been outstanding thus far. If you look at a strip, it’s probably Jaiquawn or Double-A (Allen) getting it out so I think all four of them are working pretty well together.

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