Rex says he'll be more hands-on with Jets
Photo credit: Getty Images | Undated file photo of Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan.
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INDIANAPOLIS -- He's no David Letterman, but Rex Ryan is making his own list. Except his isn't of the Top 10 variety. Ryan has jotted down several things he believes he needs to get better at in 2012. At the top of that list, he said, is being more of a hands-on coach, not delegating so many responsibilities to his staff.
"Instead of being pulled in maybe different directions or whatever, I have to sit back and say, 'You know what? I have to coach more and I need to have more of an impact even on what we do defensively,' " Ryan said. "When you look at it, [defensive coordinator] Mike Pettine and [defensive backs coach] Dennis Thurman have been with me forever. Bob Sutton is a tremendous [linebackers] coach. But I know I can make an impact on defense. I always have my whole life and I think I'll even get more involved."
Ryan said he's already talked it over with Pettine, assuring him that it's not a slight. "I'm going to run more meetings," Ryan said. "It's not because he can't. He's terrific. Mike is absolutely terrific. But just for myself, I want to be more in touch with our players."
Asked if he'll call more defensive plays, Ryan said: "We'll see how that goes. We'll share it like we've done in the past. We've always gotten input. Whether I'm making the final call or Mike Pettine is making the final call or whatever, we've always had input from all the guys."
Ryan expects Santonio Holmes and Mark Sanchez to get together soon -- just the two of them -- and try to work out their differences. He added, "For us to be an excellent football team, they have to be on the same page and we have to pull the rope in the same direction -- every one of us. And that's going to happen."
