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New York Jets: Todd Bowles calls team sluggish

ByLuis Tirado Jr.|

When it comes to the New York Jets and what head coach Todd Bowles brings to the table, one can easily tell the amount of accountability that comes with the territory. Recently, Bowles chimed in his thoughts when he called the team sluggish during practice as he made them do more running and sprints to balance things out.

Bowles has his own beliefs on what it takes to claim greatness and if the Jets act sluggish during training camp, he won’t have any of that breeding on his team. It’s refreshing to see him hold his team accountable by just telling it like it is in the grand scheme of it all. He’s not afraid to kick the tires and show that everyone needs to carry their weight and prove their worth, regardless of position.

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Truth of the matter is, the Jets are coming off an embarrassing 4-12 season and need to put in an incredible amount of hard work, preparation and execution to rebound nicely this upcoming season.

Being sluggish during practices won’t cut it and Bowles knows if the Jets want to be considering top contenders again, there can be no shortcuts taken whatsoever.

In a full transcript sent to The Jet Press courtesy of the Media Relations Department of the Jets, Bowles was able to shed some light on why he called the team sluggish including other aspects of the training camp. Take a look at it in its entirety:

On Antonio Cromartie and Eric Decker sitting out of practice…

They sat out today. I sat some of the guys out last Friday. They didn’t sit out Friday. I told them their day was today.

On how long he will play the starters in the first preseason game…

We’ll see how it goes. They’re not going to go very long but I have a play count in my head. I’ll discuss it with the coaches after practice today. When we get out there and try to play against somebody else, hopefully both sides (of the ball) do well early on.

On if Ryan Fitzpatrick will get any first team reps during the first preseason game…

This game, only Geno (Smith) will be working with the first team. I don’t know how long they’re going to be out there, but they’re not going to be out there very long. We probably won’t have time to switch it up.

On why he had the team do some conditioning during practice…

We were a little sluggish today, a little average. You can’t be average. This is the first day since camp started that we looked a little sluggish so, it’s a wakeup call.

On if he thinks the sluggishness can be attributed to the day off…

Probably. I’m sure they’ll come back tomorrow. Everyone knew what their assignments were, but we were a sluggish.

On if the sluggishness could be attributed to a lack of effort…

It wasn’t effort, nothing specific. The whole practice was dragging, both sides of the ball, coaching and everything. Players, coaches, everything was dragging.

On if he was tempted to scream at everyone…

Not yet (laughs). It’s camp and it happens. It was no big deal. Guys probably need to get in a little better shape anyways so, it worked out.

May 8, 2015; Florham Park, NY, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan (left) and head coach Todd Bowles watch rookie minicamp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

On if there’s a timetable for the return of Muhammed Wilkerson…

He did a little bit today, but still no timetable on when he’s coming back.

On if he expects Wilkerson to be out for Thursday’s preseason game…

I’m not sure yet. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. If he doesn’t do anything tomorrow, I’ll probably say yes.

On if Smith needs to put more air under his balls in the red zone…

At times, it’s all about location. He’s got to understand when the corner is playing high and he’s got to throw it behind him, when the corner’s playing low and he’s got to put it up high and outside. It’s a chemistry thing with Eric as well, as well as (Jeremy) Kerley and the other receivers. They’re working on that. He made some decent throws in the red zone late in practice today.

On if Brandon Marshall and Smith were talking about the miscommunication of a play on the sideline…

Yes, it’s a communication thing. It’s about timing and deciding and the size of the DB, what leverage he’s playing and then being on the same page.

On if he’s seen enough competition at Willie Colon’s position…

No, I haven’t. Willie has gotten most of the first team reps because he’s been getting limited reps. Today was the first day he’s seen extended time. We’re trying to see him see extended time, two or three reps doesn’t cut it. You have to get more time, so we have to get him more reps. Everybody else will get theirs (reps). We haven’t played a game yet, so we’ll work that out.

On if the team was sluggish because of the intensity of training camp…

No, you can’t be sluggish. You can’t practice average if you want to be great. You can have very few of those days and today was the first time. I don’t think it was big deal, but at the same time they’ve got to understand where they are and today was not a good day.

On if playing the first preseason game will help change the team’s mindset…

Because you’re playing somebody else it helps the mindset at any time. I’d like to see a different team tomorrow, not Thursday.

On if he is doing game prep for the preseason games…

No, we’re looking at it as camp. So we’re going through it as camp.

On Smith throwing his first interception of training camp…

The DBs made good plays. They get paid money too, hopefully they’ll make some more. I was starting to think they couldn’t catch (joking). You’ve got to give them credit. Somebody’s got to win or lose every day. It happened today.

Jul 30, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) attempts a pass to wide receiver T.J. Graham (10) during first day of training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

On if there is an update on Chris Owusu’s concussion…

He’s still going through the protocol, but he’s getting better.

On if he has any concerns about Owusu because of his injury history…

No, I think he’ll be fine.

On Lorenzo Mauldin…

He has a high motor. The guy’s hungry. He has a high motor. While he’s learning what to do and learning the plays he’s getting better and that’s the thing you want out of your rookies. You want to get better as you learn what to do. It’s not going to be sound or fundamentally or technically sound every time, but if you see the motor and the effort you can live with that. That’s what he’s doing.

On if Marcus Williams will be next in the lineup if Antonio Cromartie is out…

We’re still evaluating. Marcus played well in the spring, he’s playing well now. With Cromartie out, Buster going outside, Marcus is the next nickel in, so he’s a pro he understands what to do. He’s got a feisty attitude, just have to clean up some things for him.

On Erin Henderson…

Erin has been a pleasant surprise. He comes in he knows his assignment. He’s aggressive. He’s good on special teams. He’s been doing good things on defense. I like what I’ve seen so far.

On if Darrin Walls will continue getting safety reps on the third team…

Yeah, we’ll keep working on that.

On what he has seen from Buster Skrine in camp…

He’s aggressive, he’s hungry. He runs every day, he competes all the time. He’s one of those guys that just constantly tries to get better. As he learns technique and tries to clean up some things and understand leverage, and downs and distance going forward, but Buster has been as good as advertised so far.

On how Sheldon Richardson has been practicing since the news broke…

He has a good attitude. He always has a motor. His attitude has been fine and he’s been working through it. Obviously he’s playing with wrist so he’s a little sore right now. But he’s been doing good.

On approach for Richardson for preseason games…

We’re going to sit down and talk about that tonight. And it will depend on injuries and how long people go and I’ll see where he is from there.

Next: Lunch with the New York Jets: Trevor Reilly fighting for spot

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