Westhoff believes talent level is off the charts

CORTLAND, N.Y. - Mike Westhoff has been in the NFL for nearly 30 years, including a decade with the Jets.

So he has seen his share of teams. But there's something about this year's squad that makes the special-teams coordinator think the Jets are, well, special. He believes this is the best collection of players assembled on any team he has been around.

"Yes, I would have to say it is," Westhoff said Thursday. "I think it is. We had a really talented group when I came here [in 2001] that was getting older. But there was a lot of talent with that group.

"There were three groups in Miami that were exceptionally talented with [Mark] Duper, [Mark] Clayton and [Dan] Marino. I mean, please. Give me a break. Hard to get any better than that. Then we had that great defense with Zach Thomas and those guys, but I don't think they're any more talented than this outfit.''

Message received

Linebacker Bart Scott knows the perfect way to help bring along rookie Vladimir Ducasse.

"You just have to light his young -- up," Scott said of Ducasse, who is battling Matt Slauson for the starting left guard spot. "You teach him by making him break. You tell him things like whenever he was pulling, he would sit off the ball. His weight was [on] his heels.

"Those types of things, after you defeat him and smack him around a little bit, you send it to him in a text message."

Extra points

Westhoff said he expects rookie CB Kyle Wilson to be the primary punt returner and that Brad Smith has solidified his spot as the kickoff returner . . . Rex Ryan said LB Brashton Satele, who was hurt in practice Wednesday, has a "lower leg, ankle-type" injury and should be fine.