New York Jets: Todd Bowles speaks about cornerbacks

Head coach Todd Bowles of the New York Jets knows how to keep everyone in check and just speak it like it is. So far during training camp, he’s talked about key topics and most recently, shed some light on what he truly thinks about the Jets’ cornerback situation and if Darrelle Revis is truly the best to ever play at the position.

We here at The Jet Press would like to thank the Media Relations Department of the Jets for sending us a transcript of what Bowles said about the current state of the team so far this summer. Here it is in its entirety from yesterday:

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On whether he feels the team is ahead or behind of where he wants them to be…

We’re not ahead or behind. We’re just working. I mean, you don’t give it a week and then see if we’re far ahead. You give it a week to make sure they get used to their pads, try to keep the injuries down. And make sure they’re working well together. And we’re working.

On if he is happy with what he’s seen so far…

Yes, thus far I am.

On Antonio Allen’s injury…

Initially they said it was his Achilles. I don’t know how serious yet because it just happened. I’ll have to check on it right after this.

On Brandon Marshall’s comments about Jay Cutler…

I don’t worry about that. The guy has to handle where he came from and deal with it as is. I’m worried about the team right now. I didn’t see it, so I don’t have an opinion on it one way or the other.

On Antonio Cromartie’s comments about Tom Brady’s suspension…

Not really, it’s a player’s opinion. They’ve seen people suspended for worse or suspended for less. I’m assuming he’s giving his opinion.

On whether he agrees with Cromartie that Brady should not be suspended…

I don’t have an opinion.

On whether or not he is tired of hearing about Deflategate…

I was never involved in Deflategate to be tired of it.

On if preparation is changing because of the upcoming game…

Not yet. Next week. Right now, we are fully in camp mode. So we’re going to work on us getting better and we’re going to use that preseason game to get better. You just don’t want to look sloppy when you get out there.

On whether Muhammad Wilkerson is still day-to-day…

Yes, he is.

Aug 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) steps to pass as New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) closes in during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

On if he is still not concerned about Wilkerson’s injury…

I’m still not concerned about it. He’s still day-to-day. I don’t really have anything else to report on.

On whether he is still erring on the side of caution with Wilkerson’s injury…

He’s still a little tight. When he’s ready to go, I’m sure he’ll be ready to go.

On whether he would rule Wilkerson out of the first preseason game…

No, not yet.

On Geno Smith…

Its progress, you know they make progress every day. They do a lot of good things. They make some mistakes just like everybody else. So as long as the progress is good and the mental capacity is fine you know you work with that and you go forward. That’s for him, Ryan (Fitzpatrick), and Bryce (Petty).

On what progress he has seen from Smith thus far…

I mean just understanding the offense, you know. Breaking the huddle and understanding and managing the clock and knowing where everybody is and taking his reads. He’s been doing a good job with that.

On the communication between Marcus Gilchrist and Calvin Pryor…

It’s been good. They’ve been getting to know each other because Gilly (Gilchrist) missed the entire spring, so Calvin has got to get used to him again. And as far as making different calls, but they both are pretty good and communicate well. They just have to work on their disguises.

On whether Stevan Ridley is close to coming off the PUP…

He’s still working on the side. Until he comes out there with a helmet and shoulder pads, I consider him a ways away.

On Quincy Enunwa making some good catches today…

He made a good catch today. He has to be consistent. You have to show up every day. One day is not going to make you or break you. You just have to be consistent over a course of time so we’ll see if that continues, but he did a good job today.

Aug 4, 2014; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (left) runs with the ball after a catch in front of defensive back Rontez Miles (45) during training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

On whether he is preparing for head coaching responsibilities he did not have as a defensive coordinator…

I don’t think you can prepare for them because different situations happen differently. You just have to understand that you’re in the game and what’s about to happen before it happens so you don’t have any problem calling timeouts or things of that nature. I think you have to go through it personally.

On the depth at inside linebacker…

So far, it’s been pretty good. That’s the one position where we do have (veteran) players. With the exceptions of (Taiwan) Jones, everybody else has started in this league, so we have a good mix of veterans there and they push each other.

On how long it takes to get all the coaches in sync…

It takes a while. It takes a while for those guys to get used to each other and practices and camp is as much for us as it is for the players. Getting on the sidelines and substitution patterns, and headsets and so forth that has a lot of communication that goes along with it. This is a practice run for them too.

On whether he thinks Darrelle Revis has done enough to be in the conversation about being the best cornerback of all time…

Probably. You can’t compare eras. When I was growing up, Mike Haynes was one of the best I’ve ever seen, but you can argue Deion (Sanders), Revis, you can argue (Richard) Sherman, (Patrick) Peterson. It all depends on who you are playing with and who you’re going against. It’s all relative.

On whether he thinks Revis is better than Sanders…

I didn’t say that (laughter). I said in my era, I’ve seen those guys play. Personally, I don’t think anybody is better than Deion, that’s just my opinion, but, you have to go through a career, then get put in the Hall of Fame and measured that way. But the things that Deion was able to do as a player, punt return, and kick return, and offense, and the speed he had and the awareness he had, that’s hard to be matched in any era. Mike Haynes was before that and I thought Mike was one of the best that ever played if not the best and he doesn’t get talked about. It’s a good barber shop argument and we can go from there. Mel (Melvin Blount), too. We can be out here for a year trying to debate this because all of them are great players.

Next: Coffee with the New York Jets: Is Revis the best ever?

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