New York Jets: Todd Bowles discusses roster cuts

Head coach Todd Bowles knows just how tough it is when it comes to trimming down the roster of the New York Jets. It’s not an easy task but is just part of the business when it comes to getting down to the final 53-man roster in hopes of fielding the best possible team to produce a winning season. The Jets are preparing for their upcoming “Snoopy Bowl” against the New York Giants and the team is heading into the game with a few notable injuries.

Thanks to the Media Relations Department of the Jets, they sent The Jet Press a full transcript of what Bowles thinks about having to make roster cuts, injuries and certain players on the rise as they prepare for their cross-town rivals. Enjoy!

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On whether the team reached the penalty limit today…

We were right at five. Over five is the mark.

On the meaning of the end of training camp…

I don’t think it means much. The guys get to go home and have a normal routine. They don’t have to stay for late night meetings. Practicing once a day with the new rule changes, it’s almost like practicing during the season, so it doesn’t mean too much.

On the captains…

We are going to go game-by-game.

On whether Calvin Pace will play this week…

He was a little sore today. We are going to go day-by-day and see how he feels up to the game.

On why captains will be named game-by-game…

I’ve been around captains that got hurt during the year. They wear a big C on their chest and get hurt during training camp and you don’t have any, so whoever plays well the week before and gets a chance to be in their hometown, you give them a little bone that way. We will go game-by-game.

On playing the Giants this week…

It’s not so much the Giants as it is us trying to get better. We know they are a tough team. We know they play very physical football. We are trying to get better from last week and cut down on our penalties. We are working on ourselves getting ready for the opener. We want to make a good showing for ourselves.

On Shaquelle Evans in camp…

Shaq started to come on a little bit before he got hurt. He started getting the right routes, he started catching the ball easier and he started playing faster (which) was the biggest thing so hopefully the injury didn’t slow him down too much. I’d like to see that on Saturday.

On Walter Powell…

He did a good job kick returning, especially in the first game. They’ve been kicking it out of the end zone since then, but Walt has good hands and we’ll see him more receiving and blocking with this one.

On reducing the roster…

I mean it’s tough, it’s a tough business to try to tell someone they can’t play anymore. We’ve got a lot of good competition so the cuts aren’t going to be easy. You just have to be honest with yourself. We have guidelines at certain positions and what we are looking for. You either make those plays or you don’t make those plays, (make those) blocks or you don’t make those blocks. It comes down to that. It’s never anything personal. You hate to tell someone they can’t play anymore, but that’s the reality of the business.

On whether he has a good sense of how good this team is and what he has in terms of talent…

I have a pretty good idea of what we have with the exception of about three or four guys. I have a good idea about everybody else. I understand what we can be and I know what kind of work we have ahead of us, but I have a good idea of what we have.

On whether he is happy with what he has…

Yes, I’m very happy.

On whether Matt Flynn will play Saturday…

I wouldn’t expect him Saturday. I’d probably expect him next week.

On Ronald Talley and Durell Eskridge…

Both did pretty good today. Both practiced. Hopefully, both will play on Saturday.

On Ryan Fitzpatrick’s comfort level now after being the starting quarterback for a couple weeks…

He has gotten more comfort as far as throwing to the receivers, getting on the same page, so from that stand point yes.

On whether Devin Smith is getting closer to starting Week 1…

Not closer.

May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Devin Smith (84) during organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

On the team is at this point…

I see we have potential to have a good team, but we have to gel and the chemistry has to come together. It’s ok to have pieces, and I understand what those pieces are but I know where we need to get to. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we do have the talent to get there.

On how well he knows Tom Coughlin…

Just from playing against him over the years. He’s real polite when I see him off the field, at the combines and everything else. So, I know he’s a good man and he’s a damn good coach.

On whether there is anything Bryce Petty can do the next two games to earn the backup position…

He has to progress. To say he’s going to get better in two weeks and be ready for the season is wrong. You just want him to get better and as the season goes and the practices go and he gets more comfortable, he’ll be ready if an opportunity comes.

On whether he is going to defend Odell Beckham Jr. in this game like he would in a regular season game…

No, it’s preseason. We’re just working on ourselves right now. The regular season is different than the preseason. We just have to work on ourselves getting better.

On how he would defend Beckham Jr. in the regular season…

It all depends on the other matchups. You don’t match up a guy just because you have a guy. You have to look at the other four or five match ups and see if those are conducive, so if they’re not then you won’t do it.

Next: Coffee with the New York Jets: Josh Johnson officially signs

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