CORTLAND — The Jets took the field for their first training camp practice Thursday, and they got rave reviews from their head coach.
Not surprisingly, Rex Ryan liked what he saw.
“We’re further along with this team than I have been with any other team,” Ryan said.
Ryan said this feels like the team he’s always wanted during his six years as Jets coach.
“This is kind of the team that I want,” he said. “It’s not just me pumping it out and sending the message out there. It’s each other. They’re pushing each other. The communication is phenomenal on both sides of the ball. It’s great to see.”
Someone asked Ryan about the 2010 team, which went 11-5 and lost in the AFC Championship Game.
“I’m not saying we’re better than that team,” Ryan said. “I’m not saying that yet. The proof will be in the pudding. I’m saying “further along.” That team we brought in a lot of new players and things like that. … Will we better than that? That would be great. I’ll sign up for that right now. From the mental part of the game, the communication, it’s pretty impressive.”
Ryan sees a huge difference between this year and last year. The Jets had seven new starters on both sides of the ball and an even more uncertain quarterback situation in 2013.
“We are a zillion miles ahead of where we were last year,” Ryan said.