With the New York Jets' rocky season barely in the rear-view mirror, the team's leadership is still dealing with the fallout. Addressing season-ticket holders in a conference call Friday, coach Rex Ryan said one problem may have been the complicated nature of the offensive system implemented by former coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
"Quite honestly, the verbiage that we had last season was probably a little much," Ryan said, according to the New York Daily News.
Ryan is optimistic that the recently hiredTony Sparano will be able to simplify things.
"When we were in the interview process, (Sparano) showed me the verbiage..." Ryan said. "I'm like, 'Wow.' I can visualize our football team in this type of system. I can see (quarterback) Mark (Sanchez) being extremely effective playing the quarterback position. Also, I liked the mentality that (we'll have) similar to what we had a couple of seasons ago where we were able to run the football regardless of what we're facing... I'm excited about sitting in there and learning (the offense) as well."
General manager Mike Tannenbaum echoed comments made Thursday by owner Woody Johnson defending the embattled Sanchez.
"Mark will be our starter, but that doesn't mean that the group as a whole will look identical in 2012," Tannenbaum said.
"I've never been more certain in a guy's work ethic and passion than Mark," he added.
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Ryan also vouched for Sanchez during an interview on WFAN radio in New York later in the day.
"I don't think we have to light a fire under him," Ryan said, according to the Daily News. "Mark is a motivated guy."
The coach's prognostications did not impress Patriots safety James Ihedigbo, who played under Ryan with the Jets.
"Who cares?" Ihedigbo said when told about the comments, according to the Boston Herald.
