Harris: 'We don't care what everyone else thinks'
New York Jets linebacker David Harris (52) sits among the confetti after the Jets' 30-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship. (January 24, 2010) Credit: AP
CORTLAND, N.Y. - Right from the top, coach Rex Ryan determined he was going to have one of the toughest defenses in the NFL, and the Jets finished as the league's No. 1-ranked unit last season. A year later, after adding cornerback Antonio Cromartie, safety Brodney Pool and pass-rush specialist Jason Taylor to the mix, inside linebacker David Harris says the Jets' defense should be just as good, if not better.
"We have a better grasp of the grand scheme of Rex's defense," Harris said before camp broke Thursday. "We're more comfortable, and we're playing a lot faster . . . We have a lot of confidence in everything Rex tells us to do. We want to be that tough, nasty, physical, ball-hawking defense that nobody wants to face.''
Much has been made nationally of the presence of HBO's cameras for the "Hard Knocks'' training camp reality show. Harris said the cameras haven't affected the way the Jets go about their business and have captured the "environment Rex has created over two years.''
But Ryan, his coaches and many players have been outspoken about their Super Bowl goal and how good they believe they are compared with the opposition. It's a bold approach that could lead to opponents coming in with a chip on their shoulders and gunning for the Jets.
"We don't care what everyone else thinks,'' Harris said. "Teams know we're going for the Super Bowl, but they've still got to face us on Sunday. I don't think ["Hard Knocks''] has caused us any problems."
Harris said the new players came in with open minds and fit into the scheme quickly. But the Jets are missing the biggest piece of all in holdout cornerback Darrelle Revis. Harris also is considered a core player who needs to be signed for the long term, but he chose to come to camp and play out the last year of his deal. He said Revis is in a different situation because he has three years left on his contract.
"The front office is doing what they think is best for the team,'' Harris said. "It's still tough not seeing him out there because he's such a great teammate and such a great player. But we have to move on as if he's not coming back.''
