A second-round pick in 2010, Jets guard Vlad Ducasse was moving quickly to the unforgiving territory of NFL busts.
Last year, the since-departed offensive line coach called Ducasse an “every third series guy, maybe.” The Jets’ confidence in Ducasse was so shaky that in the offseason they signed veteran Stephen Peterman, who was cut. That left Ducasse, who arrived as a tackle out of UMass, to battle third-round rookie, Brian Winters, to be the starting left guard.
Guess what? Ducasse squeezed past an injured Winters, has impressed as the starter in two games and is headed toward his third straight start — his third straight career start — Sunday against Buffalo.
“He’s earned that spot and that’s why he’s in there,” coach Rex Ryan said Wednesday, admiring how Ducasse has played tackle and both guard spots. “A young player you stick him in one spot. But here he’s had to learn left tackle, right tackle, right guard. That’s been impressive.
“Obviously a second-round pick, you want the light to come on sooner than later,” Ryan admitted.
But hey, it went on.
Ducasse, who arrived in the U.S. in 2002 from Haiti, credits several factors for his breakthrough. There’s prayer. There’s unending help and guidance, especially with the mental approach, from right guard and first-year Jet Willie Colon. And there was a critical self-evaluation.
“In the offseason, I took a step back and looked at myself, looked at where I was,” Ducasse said. “Just evaluated myself. Talking to the guys, sort of understanding what my goal was in the season.”
So what exactly did the man who flattened Patriots stud Vince Wilfork on Bilal Powell’s 3-yard run for the Jets only touchdown in the loss Thursday to New England see?
“A lot of things, but it was mostly like I was drafted here for a reason. They believed in me. One thing I have to do is bring my confidence in myself up to play to the best of my ability,” Ducasse said.
He did that Thursday. Pancaked Wilfork, remember?
“Just doing my job,” the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Ducasse said.
“He did a good job He was physical,” Ryan said. “Vlad handled himself real well.”
Maybe that moment can propel Ducasse farther along the path. After all, Wilfork is “a future Hall of Famer,” according to Ducasse. The job gets no easier this week with Buffalo’s athletic tackles, Kyle Williams “one of the most underrated guys” in the NFL, and Marcell Dareus, “that big dude from Alabama,” according to Ryan.
“Vlad is getting better each and every week,” said Colon. “When you’re able to look at tape and see positive things, it only boosts his confidence. Obviously, we need him. He’ll only keep getting better.
“I relate to Vlad. I went to Hofstra, he went to UMass. He played tackle, I played tackle. We both were converted into guards so some of the things I had trouble with or the mental aspect of things, I can see what he’s going through so I try to give some insight into technique, how to play things, how to see things,” Colon added. “He’s extremely talented. If you watch the tape, you see him throwing a lot of guys around out there. The sky’s the limit for him.”
Now that the light finally has gone on.