The Battle at LG

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From Jets camp: Slauson has lead in left-guard battle

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1:59 PM, August 6, 2010 ι By MARK CANNIZZARO

It’s official: Matt Slauson has the edge over rookie Vladimir Ducasse in the battle for Jets starting left guard, which was vacated when the team released veteran Alan Faneca in the offseason.

Slauson worked with the first team offense in the Friday morning practice and Rex Ryan said it would be “accurate’’ to say he’s in the lead for the job.

“With Vladimir’s (inexperienced) background we never expected him to be ahead of anyone right now,’’ Ryan said. “What we’re looking for fro Vlad is I want to see him finishing with a certain mentality and attitude. Just finish guys.

“Slauson has that and that’s why I’d put Slauson ahead of Vlad. He’s a tough and nasty guy. I’d like to see that (from Ducasse) sooner than later.’’

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Ryan said he wasn’t going to “apologize’’ for the bold message he scrawled on the ESPN bus that visited Jets camp on Thursday that read: “Soon to be champs.’’

“That’s out mentality, our goal,’’ he said. “I’ve got the confidence to put it up there. I believe we’ll do it, so why wouldn’t we go for it? In my crystal ball I’m seeing us as Super Bowl champions.’’

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Nick Folk had a strong morning practice, making all six of his FG attempts, from 38, 40, 41, 41, 45 and 51 yards.

“He was nailing them,’’ Ryan said.

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WR David Clowney was excused from practice to tend to a personal matter. Ryan said he hoped Clowney would be back for meetings later in the day. … G Marlon Davis (knee) and LB Brashton Satele (ankle) sat out practice. TE Jeff Cumberland, who’s been having an excellent camp, took blow to the head and missed some drills late in practice.

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The play of the morning practice was a long Mark Sanchez scoring pass to WR Brad Smith to finish an 11-on-11 drill. Smith beat rookie CB Kyle Wilson, who he’d beaten moments earlier with an acrobatic one-handed catch on the sideline.

Ryan was pleased with the offense and got after his defense for not finishing on that drive, something he’s been harping on as a problem from last season.

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Sanchez delighted the crowd with a slide after a scramble. He got up raised his arms in mock celebration and took several playful bows. Sliding, of course, was a hot button issue in Sanchez’s rookie year because he got hurt not sliding correctly and Ryan brought in Joe Girardi to teach him how to slide.

“I was impressed with the slide,’’ Ryan said.

Later in practice, at the end of a skirmish between G Rob Turner and LB Jamaal Westerman, Jets LB Jason Taylor took down Sanchez in a mock pro wrestling move and pretended to punch him out on the ground.

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LB Calvin Pace picked off a Sanchez pass that was batted at the line of scrimmage. Ryan said he teaches his defensive players to bat balls in the air not down to the ground. … Odd scene was Taylor covering RB LaDainian Tomlinson on a pass route down the sideline. Tomlinson didn’t come down with the catch. On the next play, Taylor batted down a Sanchez pass at the line.

[Apache 51]

Competition is great, maybe we will get 2 starters out of this eventually, with a year head start with Faneca gone this year instead of next.

[Bleedin Green]

Good for Slauson, and if he wins because he's legitimately the better player and not just because Vlad is out-sucking him, then that is VERY good news for the Jets. You can never have enough young quality OL, and with Vlad's ability to play tackle as well, it would be great for the Jets if they can get Mangold locked up and then they've got a very young group who can hold down 4/5ths of the OL for quite some time.

Nick Folk had a strong morning practice, making all six of his FG attempts, from 38, 40, 41, 41, 45 and 51 yards.

“He was nailing them,’’ Ryan said.

Call me crazy, but am I the only one who's not only not nervous about Folk, but feeling better about him than Feely? I never trusted Feely from the day we signed him, and he proved me right far too many times. Folk is a Pro Bowl kicker who had a bad year, if the injury and mechanics issues are true, the Jets could potentially be in great shape.

[Mistalava]

Competition is great, maybe we will get 2 starters out of this eventually, with a year head start with Faneca gone this year instead of next.

I think you are right. Starting LG this year and RT down the road.

[Larz]

I'm cool with this, in a perfect world vlad the pancaker takes over mid season or provides quality depth this year

[SoFlaJets]

Call me crazy, but am I the only one who's not only not nervous about Folk, but feeling better about him than Feely? I never trusted Feely from the day we signed him, and he proved me right far too many times. Folk is a Pro Bowl kicker who had a bad year, if the injury and mechanics issues are true, the Jets could potentially be in great shape.

according to Rex's Friday PC apparently Westhoff has straightened him out with his technique and footwork-it's another good listen over at the Jets' team site

[Kentucky Jet]

according to Rex's Friday PC apparently Westhoff has straightened him out with his technique and footwork-it's another good listen over at the Jets' team site

FOLK is a good kicker. Like many others they sometimes need to be straightened out.

Slauson should be in the lead. He has been here and can exert himself physically without having to think. VLAD is not there yet. Saluson has been with CALLAHAN for 5 years 3 in college and 2 inthe NFL. Thats got to help him immensely. Lets wait until the end of camp and see who plays better in games. I am banking on Slauson. VLAD has a long jump from U of Mass. to the NFL. It will be done but will take some time. By the end of the season VLAD will be a force to be reckoned with.

[Jbro22]

Sucks, they make a pretty good TV.

[crashingjet]

Call me crazy, but am I the only one who's not only not nervous about Folk, but feeling better about him than Feely? I never trusted Feely from the day we signed him, and he proved me right far too many times. Folk is a Pro Bowl kicker who had a bad year, if the injury and mechanics issues are true, the Jets could potentially be in great shape.

That doesn't make sense, Feeley was automatic for you guys and Folk, he sucked big time last year. I wouldn't be comfortable with that switch.

[Bleedin Green]

That doesn't make sense, Feeley was automatic for you guys and Folk, he sucked big time last year. I wouldn't be comfortable with that switch.

Feely was what he's always been; automatic when the pressure was off and dogsh*t when the pressure was on. He was as unreliable as they come when you needed him most, the Falcons and Colts games are the most blatant examples of that, and there are certainly more. Keep in mind, this is the same guy who goes down in the history books as have a bigger end-game meltdown than the immortal Doug Brien, missing three different game-winning kicks in a single game (thankfully not for the Jets, but for their roommates in blue).

Not to mention, those line drive kickoffs of his were absolutely brutal, your team should know that better than anyone.

[crashingjet]

Feely was what he's always been; automatic when the pressure was off and dogsh*t when the pressure was on. He was as unreliable as they come when you needed him most, the Falcons and Colts games are the most blatant examples of that, and there are certainly more. Keep in mind, this is the same guy who goes down in the history books as have a bigger end-game meltdown than the immortal Doug Brien, missing three different game-winning kicks in a single game (thankfully not for the Jets, but for their roommates in blue).

Not to mention, those line drive kickoffs of his were absolutely brutal, your team should know that better than anyone.

Yeah, but we cut him cause of his exorbitant salary, sh*t attitude and because we hit on a good rookie (who went to the Pro Bowl last year). I'd be really nervous if we cut him for Folk, who was 18/28 last year while only making 5 of 12 attempts from 40-50 yards. Not a good.

[MadBacker Prime]

Vlad can also be used similar to how Hunter was used last year on short yardage situations.

(List him as the third tight end)

[ECURB]

Yeah, but we cut him cause of his exorbitant salary, sh*t attitude and because we hit on a good rookie (who went to the Pro Bowl last year). I'd be really nervous if we cut him for Folk, who was 18/28 last year while only making 5 of 12 attempts from 40-50 yards. Not a good.

At least Folk won't help give away a game to the Phins.

[JiFtheOracle]

Good for Slauson, and if he wins because he's legitimately the better player and not just because Vlad is out-sucking him, then that is VERY good news for the Jets. You can never have enough young quality OL, and with Vlad's ability to play tackle as well, it would be great for the Jets if they can get Mangold locked up and then they've got a very young group who can hold down 4/5ths of the OL for quite some time.

Call me crazy, but am I the only one who's not only not nervous about Folk, but feeling better about him than Feely? I never trusted Feely from the day we signed him, and he proved me right far too many times. Folk is a Pro Bowl kicker who had a bad year, if the injury and mechanics issues are true, the Jets could potentially be in great shape.

Great point. Its almost the best case scenario. If Slauson beats him out, then we are in good shape, assuming its not because Vlad is poo. Hopefully its a hard fought battle. Honestly, I kind of want them to start putting Vlad on the end to play a little RT. Wouldnt hurt to start grooming a man of his size to replace Woody who's getting long in the tooth. He played T in college. Or at least have him practicing multiple positions to get optimal use out of him as far as depth is concerned.

I hope you are right about Folk, the game is different then practice. If its in his head, its in his head. Hard to break for a kicker.

Its the kicking game.

[Vudu]

I didnt like Feely because he was a douche nozzle who felt the need to put his political views on twitter that noone gave a sh*t about.

I especially hated what he said after Chris henry died.

[SenorGato]

Call me crazy, but am I the only one who's not only not nervous about Folk, but feeling better about him than Feely? I never trusted Feely from the day we signed him, and he proved me right far too many times. Folk is a Pro Bowl kicker who had a bad year, if the injury and mechanics issues are true, the Jets could potentially be in great shape.

IMO the Folk signing was the smartest pickup of the offseason...Unless the kicker is really old and clearly physically declining there's no reason to hold a bad year against them.

This will remain true until the Texans (hopefully) let one of their 2 kickers fall into our laps...preferably Rackers...that guy is perfect for this team.

[stoicsentry]

Feely was what he's always been; automatic when the pressure was off and dogsh*t when the pressure was on. He was as unreliable as they come when you needed him most, the Falcons and Colts games are the most blatant examples of that, and there are certainly more. Keep in mind, this is the same guy who goes down in the history books as have a bigger end-game meltdown than the immortal Doug Brien, missing three different game-winning kicks in a single game (thankfully not for the Jets, but for their roommates in blue).

Not to mention, those line drive kickoffs of his were absolutely brutal, your team should know that better than anyone.

This is so ludicrous. The pressure wasn't on when he was making field goals in week 16, week 17, @Cincy in the playoffs, @San Diego in the playoffs.. but it WAS on during the Falcons game? Really? Nothing short of a perfect season and I do mean perfect would have satisfied some of you. And you'll watch Folk have far worse of a season this year. If you think missing ONE 45 yard field goal one time is bad, or not being able to hold the ball for your own field goal with the Falcons game is bad then just WAIT to see what you have in store here.

[stoicsentry]

IMO the Folk signing was the smartest pickup of the offseason...

Ummmm how is that even remotely possible? A kicker who was terrible last year is a better pick up than Cromartie or Holmes? Jay Feely sucks, right... but Nick Folk had a terrible season because... he's good? WTF?

[Jetsfan80]

Idiots. We didn't just cut Feely and pick up Folk with the intention of upgrading at kicker. We let go of Feely as a UFA to get a legit pass-rusher (you know, one of our biggest needs) in Jason Taylor. Who cares about a friggin' kicker when you can add a 7-10 sacks rotational DE/OLB into the mix? I'll gladly take a slight downgrade (if it even is a downgrade) at kicker to get better at getting to the QB.

Besides, I bet Feely returns to 2008 form based on the latest evidence. He was hurt in '09 and it appears that Westhoff knows what he's doing.

And whose to say Feely ends up having the same level of production next year? With the way kickers wax and wane, it wouldn't surprise me to see Feely have a Neil Rackers-like fall from grace next year. Its not like he's a guy who can kick 50+ yarders routinely, he's every bit an average kicker.

[Bruce Banner]

Last year Kaeding was the best kicker in the regular season. That didn't help the Chargers in the playoffs. None of us will know if getting Folk was a good idea until he's in some pressure situations. Right now this is Kaeding time, lets wait until its Viniateri time.