With signing Mark to this extension and keeping Hunter around we really need flexability in this years draft. Does anyone have any updates on Vlads progression to this point, can he be a starter and allow us to draft either an OLB, wideout, or T Rich if he falls?
He hasn't had an opportunity to progress. It's the offseason. He's [hopefully] been hitting the weights and keeping in shape. I think players can't even meet with Coaches until after the draft or something, he most likely doesn't even have a copy of Sparano's playbook.
We will not have any sort if idea until OTA's and even then we really will not know until Training camp.
I was wondering myself if the whole “Tanny looking to trade Wayne Hunter” thing had anything to do with any form of confidence in Vlad... I guess all we can do is hope he’s training and watching tape.
thats what had me wondering also, its about time a 2nd round pick steps in as a starter. He cant be much worse than Hunter was lsat year....
I don't think he can be starter and perform even as badly as Hunter last year. Hunter (and Vlad) should improve in man blocking. If Vlad isn't doing as well as Hunter they'll put Hunter in. Hunter should be somewhere between acceptable and less of a liability this year so....
Vlad has the physical skills to be a pro bowl right tackle. The question is, can he make enough progression mentally to eliminate mistakes & stop playing so tentative. A full offseason should do wonders..but there is alot of work ahead.
This is key. If I remember correctly the Jets originally had him trying to learn all the positions and that was rough on him. Then we have finally free time to learn, lockout occurred so the Jets used him as a bigger TE like they had with Turner. I agree physically he can be a pro bowler, but all we need him to be is serviceable which I think he can be.
I think not having OTA's and a full camp last year really hurt guys like Ducasse, and Wayne Hunter, who really were expected to step up and probably didn't get the reps to prepare them for the job. People forget Ducasse was drafted out of UMass, and the NFL is a bit of a step up from that division. I think there's a slight possibility he'll show up something this year. -X-
I think sporano can simplify things for him and coach him up. Not having an offseason last year really hurt players looking to develop ..I hope he works out ..second round was a little risky for a project so it better work out
Ducasse gets one more training camp to prove himself. Hopefully that will be enough to inspire him, because he's decent for run blocking, but bad for pass protection. We shall see.
Apparently Sporano is going to use a man block scheme instead of a zone, so hopefully Vlad will be able to catch on faster. Also where did you all see that Hunter is on the trading block ?
I refuse to jump on the Vlad is a bust bandwagon. As many have stated since day one (and before it) he was a project coming out of the draft. A project who has yet to see a full offseason with the Jets. Tried to teach him multiple positions his rookie year. Did you see this guy on Hard Knocks?
