New York Jets coach Rex Ryan tells his receivers to keep up with the program - Syracuse.com (blog)

Stephen D. Cannerelli, The Post-Standard The New York Jets held their sixth day of Training Camp at SUNY Cortland on Wednesday August 1, 2012. Antonio Cromartie returns a kick during a special teams drill. Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard New York Training Camp - August 1, 2012 gallery (19 photos)

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan has his offense off and running, and he warned on Wednesday that anyone who can’t keep up with it will be left behind.

Ryan was clearly irked by the attrition rate of his wide receivers at the end of the workout. Eight of his 12 had been slowed by what he referred to as “soft-tissue” injuries, leaving him low on personnel options.

Ryan theorized that the wideouts can’t keep up with new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano’s uptempo offense, putting their muscles under too much strain. Something has to change, Ryan said, and it’s not going to be Sparano’s playbook.

“This is who were are offensively. We’re not slowing up,” Ryan said. “We got to be in shape. We’ve got to take care of our bodies. I think when you break away and you are away from the team (in the off-season), you’ve got to be to be in world-class shape. This is the type of tempo we’re talking about. Whatever it is, were certainly looking at it. We’ve identified a concern. We’re trying to fix it.”

The coach said he might eventually take a look at cutting back a bit in practice, but he doesn’t want to penalize the players in good enough condition to stay on the field.

“You’d always consider it, but if you dial it back too much you hurt the rest of the team. I think those guys are going to have to step up as a position group,” he said. “Our job is to try to help our guys. But whether guys never listened to (conditioning tips), I’m not sure. The defensive backs are running as much as anybody, and we’ve been pretty healthy there.”

The new pace is a product of Sparano’s priorities. He said he values efficiency as much as results, and grades every play to gauge its effectiveness. A play run poorly that ends well in practice, Sparano said, may not necessarily have the same payoff against real competition.

“Each day our efficiency is getting better,” Sparano said Wednesday.

Ryan points to the clock for proof. During a 15-minute period of 9-on-7 play Wednesday, the Jets had 12 plays scripted. They instead ripped off 24, and had a minute left on the clock.

“I’m not saying there was anything against what we did in the past. It was not to this kind of tempo at all. Not even close,” Ryan said.

“Pace is the most important thing,” Sparano said. “Our pace and tempo does put pressure on people.”

Sparano said he’s toned down the offense verbiage on play calls to keep things moving at a brisk clip.

“I think one of the things we want to make sure of is that our pace isn’t interrupted by (a coach’s) ego,” he said. “That (easier calls) has been good for us. It’s forced them to learn. Getting in and out of the huddle good tells me they are understanding it.”

Perhaps because he doesn’t have to haul his 307 pounds as far downfield as the wide receivers go, Jets center Nick Mangold endorsed the new gear of Sparano’s offense.

“It’s the total mentality of the offensive line of get going, get to the front, get moving,” Mangold said. “Our guys are in great shape. It plays well into what we did this off-season.”

Ryan wishes some of his skill players had followed a similar plan.

“I think the offensive line is doing a nice job with it. But the guys that are running, you’ve got to go (in a hurry),” he said. “We’re trying to get them (the injured players) back out there. Obviously you are not going to put somebody out there that’s not ready to get back out there that’s going to hurt themselves again. I just can’t put my finger on it. I’ve never been around that kind of situation.”

One potential wideout who hopes to prove that he’s up for that challenge was on the receiving end of Ryan’s glare for another reason Wednesday. Veteran defensive back Antonio Cromartie, who might get a few plays on offense this season, tossed another back page remark into his coach’s lap by proclaiming himself as the second-best wide receiver on the team.

“I’m going to say this right now. Listen to me when I tell you this,” Ryan said. “I’m aware of what was said. I’m on top of it, I’m telling you that right now. And it will not be a problem. And that’s all I’m going to say about the whole thing. I will handle this.”

Lindsay Kramer can be reached at 470-2151 or lkramer@syracuse.com.