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The Jets’ new offensive line coach learned a valuable lesson. With the revolving door at One Jets Drive, temper your words when talking about players.
A few weeks ago, Dave DeGuglielmo, was raving about Wayne Hunter. You remember some of his words, they were pretty powerful.
The Jets signed two veteran right tackles on Tuesday – Ray Willis and Stephon Heyer. Both started a bunch of games a right tackle in the NFL. Willis has 10 career starts, and Heyer, 35. Some of Willis’ starts were at guard.
But both these guys are right tackles by trade, and are very comfortable at the position.
These signings speak volumes about how the Jets feel about Wayne Hunter.
They didn’t just sign one insurance policy, but two.
Somebody should have told the offensive line coach what the plans were, and to hedge his bets.
He was being loyal to Hunter, and wound up with egg on his face.
And if this was done to motivate Hunter, it’s probably not going to work. He’s a player who tends to press when he’s under too much pressure. He doesn’t need any more motivation than the game film from last year.
While neither player is great, they are both serviceable starters. You can get by with either.
Hey, I’m not saying these are bad moves, but honestly, it’s hard to take all of the rhetoric that comes out of Florham Park. You don’t know what to believe.
For those of you that get Jets Confidential Magazine, Johnny D did an extensive feature on Vlad Ducasse a few months ago.
He interviewed two people very close to the player – his agent Joe Linta, who is also a former offensive line coach (and current high school coach in Connecticut), and Vlad’s coach at Stamford High School, Kevin Jones.
It’s no secret Vlad had a rough initial couple of years in the NFL. Linta and Jones both told JC that the Jets told him they are going to stop moving him around (which was messing with his head and technique), and let him settle in as a right tackle.
They were sold a bill of good.
With the additions of Willis and Heyer, along with Austin Howard (if he’s still with the team – he might have already received a call from the Turk), along with Hunter, who is guaranteed $2.5 million in 2012, Ducasse is clearly not in the picture at right tackle.
And you want another pretty good clue. He was working at guard during last Thursday’s OTA practice.
After a draft weekend where the Jets didn’t add a right tackle (Robert Griffin is going to play guard), Mike Tannenbaum was asked a few times, why he didn’t pick a right tackle, he obviously brought up Hunter, and repeatedly brought up Ducasse and Howard – repeatedly. He wasn’t asked about Ducasse or Howard, but kept bringing them up on his own.
That was just a few weeks ago. How’s that working out?
Okay, we’ve established the fact that it’s hard to believe a lot of what you hear out of Florham Park.
That isn’t just bad for the media, but the players. Jerricho Cotchery got tired of the bull, and asked out.
But on paper, these moves make sense – two pretty good street right tackles who can challenge Hunter , and may the best man win.
I really liked Willis coming out of Florida State. He’s a solid right tackle, a good run blocker.
And as for Heyer, he’s got amazing long arms, which is so important for the position.
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