"From the sound of it, new Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano speaks the same language as his new boss, Rex Ryan.

In his first remarks since getting the job, Sparano said his offense will be a tough, physical one. Surely, that is what wowed Ryan when he interviewed Sparano for the position.

"I like playing a physical style of offense," Sparano said on a conference call with reporters. "Anybody that knows me knows that I want to be physical. Being physical doesn't mean you're going to run the football 55 times a game. Being physical means that you're going to protect the quarterback, it comes in the attitude of the receivers and how they go about what they're doing, and it also comes from the quarterback position. I like a physical mentality."

Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum said Sparano's predecessor, Brian Schottenheimer, came to them last week and said he thought he needed "a fresh start." They agreed with him and decided to mutually part ways. The team waited to make an announcement until the Jaguars hired a head coach, a job Schottenheimer interviewed for, so they would not hurt his chances.

In the meantime, the Jets interviewed Sparano and their own offensive line coach Bill Callaham for the offensive coordinator job. They picked Sparano, and Callahan departed for Dallas where he became the Cowboys' offensive coordinator and line coach.

"I felt great about Bill," Ryan said. "I thought he would do a tremendous job as a coordinator. Then, when we met with Tony, I was like, 'Wow,' I was blown away. When it came to that mutual agreement, then we knew Tony was our guy.""