New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan finally made a change many sensed was long overdue by announcing Thursday that beleaguered RT Wayne Hunter will move back to a sixth-man role with former Baltimore Ravens backup Austin Howard moving into the Jets' starting lineup.
Hunter, who surrendered a league-worst 11 sacks among right tackles last season according to ProFootballFocus.com, gave up two more to New York Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul in Saturday's preseason loss, a third sack was nullified by penalty.
Hunter, who also committed 11 penalties last season, was excused from Tuesday night's practice at MetLife Stadium. He was back with the team Wednesday but alternated snaps with Howard.
"The more I thought about it, I need to see Austin against Carolina,'' Ryan said while looking ahead to the Jets' Sunday night matchup with the Panthers. "This is what I want to do and we'll see how he does.
"I know what I said before about Wayne being our starting right tackle. (But) the more I went back and looked at where we're at as a football team and getting feedback from coaches and knowing the history of Wayne -- the success he had basically as a sixth man -- I decided that's the way we're going to go. ... I'm going to put Wayne in that role, where really he excelled, and that's being a guy who basically fits whether it's a tackle or guard, tight end."
Source: USAToday
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Hunter, who surrendered a league-worst 11 sacks among right tackles last season according to ProFootballFocus.com, gave up two more to New York Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul in Saturday's preseason loss, a third sack was nullified by penalty.
Hunter, who also committed 11 penalties last season, was excused from Tuesday night's practice at MetLife Stadium. He was back with the team Wednesday but alternated snaps with Howard.
"The more I thought about it, I need to see Austin against Carolina,'' Ryan said while looking ahead to the Jets' Sunday night matchup with the Panthers. "This is what I want to do and we'll see how he does.
"I know what I said before about Wayne being our starting right tackle. (But) the more I went back and looked at where we're at as a football team and getting feedback from coaches and knowing the history of Wayne -- the success he had basically as a sixth man -- I decided that's the way we're going to go. ... I'm going to put Wayne in that role, where really he excelled, and that's being a guy who basically fits whether it's a tackle or guard, tight end."
Source: USAToday
Attached Thumbnails
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August 23, 2012
