With new cast for Rex Ryan, Jets shape up as must-see TV

fozzi58 · Apr 17, 2010

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/jets/2010-04-16-sw-rex-ryan-hard-knocks_N.htm

By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Fans of HBO's Hard Knocks will see less of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan come this summer's training-camp documentary series — a lot less.

Ryan has shed 40 pounds since lap-band surgery last month as the now-300-pound coach and his team shape up for their five-episode close-up on HBO.

When asked what he saw from game tape of last season's postseason run that ended in an AFC Championship Game loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Ryan said at the owners meetings, "I saw a lot of me, and that's why I had the lap-band surgery."

At this rate, he would be a front-runner to be a winner on The Biggest Loser.

Ryan's run-heavy offensive mantra of Ground and Pound might need to be tweaked to Ground and Fewer Pounds to reflect the slimmed-down coach.

"We've got the leaner version of Ground and Pound," Jets right tackle Damien Woody laughed. "We're still going to be Ground and Pound. We're just using a leaner cut of meat."

Ryan never addressed his players about the Hard Knocks opportunity. He didn't have to.

"Guys are really fired up about being on Hard Knocks," Woody said.

"We have a great squad. We're very close. We have a bunch of different characters who are very entertaining."

The biggest and boldest is Ryan, a sound bite waiting to happen.

At times, Woody expects, Hard Knocks will be akin to watching an HBO comedy.

"John Goodman is the guy I think of when I think of who Rex is like," Woody said. "He's a big, burly guy who likes to joke around. Rex is a great coach to play under. … We don't even look at Rex as a head coach. We look at him as one of us. When we go to battle, he's right there with us."

Ryan is the energizing force who has helped owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum make the Jets into a national brand.

"We're a team that's taken on the identity of our head coach," Woody said. "Rex is a very confident guy. And we're a very confident bunch.

"With the pieces we have in place and the experience we gained in the playoffs last year, we have just as good a chance as anybody to make that run at (the Super Bowl) this year."

Woody and his linemates paved the way for the league's leading ground game, which averaged 172.2 yards a game. Now it will also boast hungry LaDainian Tomlinson, playing in a new setting after his nine-year tenure with the San Diego Chargers ended over the winter. The Jets signed Tomlinson after the departure of Thomas Jones, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on the heels of a career-best, 1,402-yard season.

Tomlinson was motivated to sign with the sledgehammer Jets, given his familiarity with the zone-stretch power attack he was exposed to early in his career under former Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer's son, Brian, was the Chargers quarterbacks coach and is now the Jets' offensive coordinator.

"We're a throwback team," Woody said. "This is a quarterback-driven, passing league. But we're bucking that trend by being a predominantly running football team. … We run the ball more than any other team. And we've been known to have the best offensive line in the National Football League.

"You combine that with a new stadium, playing in New York under the bright lights, that fires L.T. up."

Woody is moonlighting on Tuesday nights as a Sirius Satellite Radio NFL analyst, preparing for a future broadcasting career. He pointed out that the Jets' top-ranked defense should be even better in its second year under Ryan with the addition of former all-pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie opposite all-pro shutdown corner Darrelle Revis and the return of nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury in Week 6.

"This defense can be really scary," Woody said. "In Year 2 with Rex, we can go from being the No. 1 defense to a flat-out dominant defense.

"Antonio Cromartie is another guy coming here with a chip on his shoulder. He's got a lot to play for in a contract year. The guy is ultra-talented.

"We're going to have the best cornerback tandem in the NFL."

And what of second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez, who just saw Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes join his arsenal after Monday's trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers?

"In the playoffs, Mark was making plays to help us start to win football games," Woody said.

"Any player usually takes the biggest jump from Year 1 to Year 2. Mark's going to make a huge jump, and the thing about it is we're not going to put too much on his shoulders. … That is going to help him with his transition."

It should also give the 23-year-old quarterback with the marquee looks more time to prepare for his new co-starring role on cable in a few months.
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........ · Apr 17, 2010

Not a bad read. I think that's the most I've read from Woody since he came aboard. Thanks for posting that.

CatoTheElder · Apr 17, 2010

"John Goodman is the guy I think of when I think of who Rex is like,"
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"I'm talking about drawing a line in the sand, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT!"

alleycat9 · Apr 17, 2010

CatoTheElder said: ↑

"I'm talking about drawing a line in the sand, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT!"
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someone said it yesterday... THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU......

LEGIONS · Apr 17, 2010

lenny clarke a dead ringer for rex

Coach K · Apr 19, 2010

LEGIONS said: ↑

lenny clarke a dead ringer for rex
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lol all he has to do is lose his insanely thick boston accent.

With new cast for Rex Ryan, Jets shape up as must-see TV

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With new cast for Rex Ryan, Jets shape up as must-see TV

fozzi58 Well-Known Member

........ Trolls

CatoTheElder 2009 Comeback Poster of the Year

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LEGIONS Member

Coach K New Member

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