Ed Blanton, This Year's Starting RT?

Blanton, an undrafted FA out of UCLA where he was a three year starter, was hard to miss in his rookie training camp with the Jets last year. Even on an NFL practice field, he stands out due to his size. At 6'9", 330 pounds, he was easilly the largest man on the field. His size though, appeared to be a handicap rather than a help. Perhaps at the college level, his size allowed him to get by without great technique. He learned he had to do more. He was cut, and then added to the practice squad.

It appears Blanton didn't languish there however. In a move that was well under the radar, HC Mangini promoted him to the active roster for the playoff game against NE, although he was put on the inactive list for the game itself.

One might read too much into that, but Mangini threw Blanton a bone there. Mangini wouldn't do that unless Blanton had been doing everything that was asked of him, and perhaps a bit more. I suspect Blanton worked hard all year, and Mangini wanted to recognise him for his effort.

The Jets have yet to resign last year's starter at RT, Clement. Blanton may get his chance in 2007. Could Blanton be that good run blocking RT the Jets need so much? A big road grader that has learned to get lower when he blocks? I hope so.... he looked like a very coachable hard working kid in TC.

I'm calling him a player to watch for 2007.... he might be a very pleasant surprise.

 

I don't even know where to start, although based on your post you are unlikely to read it anyways. Any bum off the street? A three year starter at UCLA is any bum off the street? You want a list of how many great undrafted rookies ever made the pro bowl? It's a pretty long list, and frankly, I can't be troubled to go find it, as your mind is obviously made up already.

So, maybe we should just go out and get 5 first round picks and sign the top 5 free agents this year. Oh, nevermind.....

 

Hey, I'm not saying Blanton is the answer..... I might stick my neck out a bit more if I could have watched in-season practices, but there is a bottom line for me here. I've learned already to have faith and trust in the guys Mangini likes. If in fact this activation of Blanton for the playoff game was a reward Mangini gave Blanton, I think there is reason to be optomistic about him. That, and the fact that Clement hasn't been resigned yet. We don't as of now, have a starting RT.

I was never on the Katnik or Missant bandwagons. Blanton however, showed some flashes in TC last year. It's still a long shot, but I'm calling him out as the surprise player to keep an eye on. He's strong, very strong, and if he can learn to bend at the knees and learn to use his height as a leverage advantage, get low and explode up, he could be a pretty nice RT in time. He's reasonably athletic for his size, having been a LT at UCLA. He opened some nice running lanes for M Jones-Drew at UCLA.

 

Then they do place some value on him, right? If he wasn;t valued, they would have let him go. In either scenario, I am only saying he might have some promise, even more so if other teams might want him.