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I don’t think people are really focusing on enough on how huge the health of his player is for the success of the Jets in 2014. This situation is pivotal . . .
The Jets need Willie Colon, and if they don’t have him, this offense could have major issues.
Keep an eye on this one.
Colon has had a rough off-season. First he had surgery for a torn muscle in his arm. Then he had a knee scope.
His status for the start of training camp is unknown.
Even if he’s ready, the Jets are likely to have him on a pitch count this summer.
Boy, do they need this guy.
Oday Aboushi started for Colon in the spring practices.
Rex Ryan did what Rex Ryan does, he was offering high praise for Aboushi.
Hey, it’s quite possible that in time Aboushi could be a terrific guard.
But this is a player who was an offensive tackle at the University of Virginia.
He was then picked as a tackle by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2013 draft.
He was a tackle all spring and summer last year.
He was inactive for every game.
Then this spring, he was moved to guard, in part due to the Colon injury, and in part due to the possibility that guard could be the better spot for him, since he seemed to struggle last summer against speed coming off the edge.
To think he’s going to be instant coffee at right guard, and be able to fill the shoes of Colon, is probably a bit Pollyanna at this point.
He’s a major work-in-progress as a guard, a position he doesn’t have a lot of experience at.
If the Jets entered the season with Brian Winters and Oday Aboushi at guard, is that a plan that engender a lot of confidence in y’all?
Winter might improve in Year Two, but he was wildly inconsistent last year.
“Obviously, Winters got the nod last year because we feel like he was the most ready,” Colon said.
Not really.
He wasn’t ready. He was a college OT in the MAC, who was moved to guard in the NFL, so he needed a lot of work.
He really struggled with diagnosing what was in front – stunts, blitzes and twists.
We will see if this improves in Year Two. That remains to be seen.
And Aboushi diagnostic skills weren’t great last summer.
So you are going to have Winters and Aboushi as you starting guards in a must-win year?
That seems like an awfully risky move.
Like I said, Aboushi could be good at guard, but he probably he needs a red-shirt year as a backup or on the practice squad.
Colon is a good ball player.
He’s a mauler, a road-grader.
No question he needs to cut down on the pre-snap penalties, but overall, this guy did a nice job for the Jets last year. He’s a heck of a run blocker.
The Jets really need Colon this year.
There is question about it.
July 15, 2014
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