Rex will start Vladimir Ducasse regardless if he's a development player or not if he's the better athlete. And he is willing to put up with alot of mistakes. Look at last year with the development of Sanchez. As the season went along, I wanted to kill him about the 8th game in. I couldn't believe they kept Sanchez in even after he fumbled for 7 straight weeks, had multiple interception games and was personally responsible for at least three losses. Of course by the time we hit post-season, Sanchez played with an unreal composure. He looked like he'd been there before. I was impressed with his winning attitude and the results on the field. I was wrong to quit on him. Rex believes in his guys to a fault. But I kinda respect that.
I doubt he'll be as tolerant if Faneca's replacement lets someone through to crush Sanchez more than a few times. Not saying that will happen.
when you put a QB into the fire, you have to leave them there. OL? not so much. If Ducasse is shitting the bed, they will bench him for Slauson/Turner. If they don't think any of those 2 will be able to step up if Ducasse is not ready then they are retarded for cutting faneca until they make sure in TC.
I have a lot of trust if they are going to start Vlad right away. They say he can run block very well, its his pass blocking that is the "project" part. Fine, thats no different from Faneca right now. The difference is Vlad can get better at pass blocking.
the quarterback position is very different than any other position. how loyal was he to kerry rhodes last year?
either way he won't start a guy just to start him. he built up rhodes in the offseason and wasn't afraid to sit him down.
Rhodes was not a rookie who was learning on the job. Rex seems to trust someone like Sanchez, who'll follow Rex into the fire and not complain regardless of the situation. Actually now that I think of it, Sanchez was "benched" too after his injury for not sliding.... Rhodes thought he knew better than the defensive coach, sucked up the place for most of the season AND was a cry baby. No comparison. I'm willing to bet, if Rex sees Vlad as a guy who is the best athlete and can learn on the run, he'll be your starter.
Sanchez sat against the Bucs against his own wishes. He kept saying I can play and was the only time the whole season he openly disagreed with Rex in the press. Rex was visibly angry/annoyed with Sanchez at the press conference after the game referred to him as a "bonehead" albeit "my bonehead." And this happened AFTER Sanchez had Joe Giriardi come in to teach him how to slide. Sanchez could have played. Rex was teaching him a lesson. Do what I tell ya, or sit.
he didn't travel with the team, because he was getting treatment on his knee. Sanchez was too injured to play against Tampa.
This article says he was hurt but wanted to play. Also says Rex didn't sit him as a punitive measure, but the result is the same. Sanchez learned a lesson. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/qb_upset_he_won_play_vs_bucs_vDTs2c6wlbZtOLtx73zNhI In the end, I think Rex has good instincts with putting players in the right position to win. He is very good at judging talent as is our fantastic O-Line coach. I don't think we have much to worry about regarding Faneca. If Rex thinks he can replace him with someone on our roster, I'd guess he knows what he's doing.
Just to back up my original point "While some lip service has been paid to Matt Slauson, today Mike Tannenbaum remarked on WFAN that the team felt like keeping Faneca would stunt the growth of a player like Ducasse, and that they’d rather him get in there (a very Rex sentiment) and play right away." rest of story: http://www.thejetsblog.com/2010/04/27/alan-faneca-signs-with-the-cardinals/
This. If Vlad struggles Ryan will look at his other options. Taking a QB out of a game is way more detrimental to their psyche than any other position IMO just because it rarely ever happens.
