Identifying the Cracks: The Offensive Line- Bassett

Identifying the Cracks: The Offensive Line
by Bassett on October 3rd, 2011 at 11:47 am


“If we don’t identify the cracks, we’re going to keep on having the same problems. I don’t know who’s going to fix it, but somebody’s got to man up and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get this done. (Cut) the dumb stuff.’”

– Derrick Mason

So where are all the cracks that Mason is talking about? Let’s talk about it in cause and effect fashion. We’ll start this series with what we think was the most important reason and the first domino to fall, then continue on throughout the day and tomorrow with the other following reasons on why this team can’t get out of their own way.

First off, as currently constituted, the Offensive Line is terrible.

It pains me as much to write it as it does to have you read it, but last year the Jets had a very good offensive line and they had two quality backups that were able to kick in when needed. While the backups were never starter quality for this team, they’d do in a pinch … and with the relative health of the Jets OL unit for the past three years, the Jets OL was rarely, if ever pinched.


Even with the talented skill players the team had, the strength of the offensive unit was undoubtedly the offensive line. They had three former first rounders at the most important spots (Brick, Mangold, Woody) and then two players that were groomed by the organization … one a veteran (Moore) who had been holding his own for years while the other was fresh meat (Slauson) who played for OL Coach Bill Callahan in college and whom was conveniently sandwiched between two of their young cornerstones.

Cimini stumped loudly for Brandon Moore to be considered as one of the best guards in the league, and while we think Moore’s good … we do think that the constant extolling of Moore’s virtues last year was starting to ring a little hollow by January. Moore’s good, but let’s not get carried away … he’s not exactly Steve Hutchinson reborn. In summation, the line was good, but not to be confused with great.

Fast forward to 2011. The Jets OL has a reputation that has carried them through some of their moves early in the year respective to the unit. The Jets cut Right Tackle Damien Woody to make a change at one of their most vital spots. Conventional wisdom was that the Jets would bring back Woody at a reduced salary, but it never happened. Then there was a buzz that Ducasse might be the man for the spot. But that had to be a frightening notion – even to the Jets. There was a thought that maybe cutting Woody was another “cut him a year too early” move like the team made with Alan Faneca … not a bad thought, but at the tackle spot it was riskier. From what I hear, Woody didn’t return because of any hesitance on his part. By every indication, he wanted to come back and play – but the Jets were just not serious about having him do so. Strike one.

And so the Jets chased Nnamdi Asomougha at the start of the free agency period, to the neglect of their offensive line. In what seemed at the time a calculated move, the Jets promoted their career backup Wayne Hunter (who’s already 30) and whom in his limited time as a starter or replacement never overly impressed me to become the new full-time starter at the Right Tackle spot.

Then to make matters worse, the Jets lost Rob Turner in the preseason’s first game. Strike two. If claxon alarms weren’t going off in the Jets front office at that point …

But the Jets continue to ignore the issue. Plowing on with increasing lower level talent in backup spots. The Jets are forced to fully retool their bench from a year ago behind Vlad Ducasse, who’s no an inspiring figure – to anyone. Once Turner was out, that was the sign to many fans that any pretense about this unit’s dominance was eroding … and just an injury away from sheer panic. But the Jets made no major moves despite what appeared to be serious concerns about the unit’s readiness.

What made matters with Turner worse was that they let the string play out for over a month, keeping a roster spot for him, before ultimately shelving him for the season just about a week ago. The Jets should have either fished or cut bait … but they decided to do both … crippling their ability to add a veteran to the roster during the cutdown process only to shelve him for the year just weeks later. The initial diagnosis was that Turner should be coming back to the field in the coming days … over-optimism, I suppose.

Across the field last night, the Ravens took a different approach during the preseason. Veteran Center Matt Birk was injured and the Ravens sought to bolster their line’s depth. While other teams were cutting players like Bryant McKinnie and Andre Gurode, the Ravens snapped up the two talented vets. Both players played last night in the game – both players were instrumental in establishing the Ravens line of scrimmage. While no one is going to send Gurode and McKinnie to the Pro Bowl, the Ravens strategy of shoring up their line sure looked like it’s working out better than whatever the Jets have been doing this year – especially since Turner’s injury.

Once Mangold went out, the roof officially caved in for the Jets.

Strike three.

And yet the Jets are still sitting amongst the debris. Instead of bringing in a veteran to help out, the Jets have entrusted an undrafted rookie at the Center spot who they found off waivers just weeks ago as a player who touches the ball on each and every offensive play of the game. Blame who you want about the missed snaps last night, but remember that Baxter’s just a soldier carrying out orders the best he can. It’s not working, and it hasn’t worked since Baxter was forced to play against the Jaguars, but the Jets just keep inexplicably doing it hoping for better results. Here’s a fact, Baxter has not played well, and beyond poor play, he’s also distracting his other line-mates from their true assignments, putting Mark Sanchez in harm’s way. Sorry, but Sanchez isn’t yet the sort of player to rise above the chaos going on in front of him yet. Maybe someday, but not today.

In desperation, the Jets tried Slauson at Center for a bit last night, and while it wasn’t horrific, Vlad Ducasse sabotaged using Slauson there. Shortly thereafter, Sanchez was doing rocksplosions with Colin Baxter while practicing their snaps on the sideline. After the game Ryan said they were letting Baxter compose himself – but the truth is evident. The Jets would rather play Colin Baxter at Center than have their supposed #1 backup Vlad Ducasse in the game in any capacity. A kick in the balls would feel better than knowing that fact.

It is a painful realization of just how far this unit has fallen from grace. Yet I still wonder if the Jets even get it.

So, what’s to be done now?

How do they fix the cracks, or in this case, the gaping holes? Even if Mangold can play next week, it doesn’t address all the line’s problems. They can’t go back in time and un-IR Turner – which means that they’re still very susceptible to injuries across the line. Given the prospect of having Vlad Ducasse or a healthy Rob Turner play Left Tackle in the event of a Ferguson injury … who would you have rather played there?

I know my answer.

Even when Mangold was playing, the offensive line wasn’t generating a push to run the ball effectively – and so the Jets have been forced to throw it. If they are spending more time pass protection, this then means their linemen are going to take more of a beating over the rest of the season. Most lineman secretly hate pass protection for that very reason. Like it or not, the Jets need to add one or two veteran depth players at the OL spot – even if just as backups to post-pre-emptively stem the tide against further injuries.

Rewind back to the draft for a moment. Remember hearing buzz that the Jets were serious about drafting an offensive lineman? Wayne Hunter is a big part of the reason they must have considered it. Vlad too. Wayne Hunter has gotten off easy in this post, but there’s no mistaking that he is a big part of dragging this unit down. He’s not getting the proper road grading push for a true Right Tackle, and he’s a detriment in pass protection if up against an athletic end. This then means the Jets need to re-deploy more resources (How much time was Mulligan on the right side of the line last night? Like every play?) to his side.

If the Jets can find someone off the free agent wire who they think has a remote chance at challenging Hunter at the Right Tackle spot, then they need to put the players through their paces for the starting spot. I know it’s more chaos and more drama for the team mid-season but if the Jets’ are actually serious about their stated goal of getting to the Super Bowl, then there’s no way this unit as currently constituted can take them there.

The picking might be slim, but are they any worse than what we’ve already seen?