“You need me to do what?’’
That might simply have been Alijah Vera-Tucker’s response when Jets coaches requested him if he’d transfer from proper guard to left deal with throughout follow a number of weeks in the past.
That, nevertheless, wasn’t Vera-Tucker’s response. Not even shut.
The 23-year-old Vera-Tucker, who’s develop into a rock at guard for the Jets in his two seasons since being drafted, beginning the second he left the USC campus and arrived onto the Jets’ Florham Park campus, didn’t blink.
So, he dutifully practiced at left deal with in case of emergency …
… and emergency arrived final week in Pittsburgh, the place the Jets had as many wholesome and competent tackles on their roster as their foyer trophy case has Lombardi trophies and Vera-Tucker began at left deal with in opposition to the Steelers.
“It was undoubtedly a giant shock,’’ Vera-Tucker advised The Put up Thursday of his preliminary response to the potential transfer from a place at which he’s on a path to turning into a Professional Bowler. “Whenever you’re an inside man and somebody tells you to play deal with, it’s undoubtedly totally different, undoubtedly a bounce you need to make. However they had been assured in me and assured in asking me, and that felt good that they felt assured sufficient to ask me.’’
It’s not breaking information that the deal with place for the Jets has been a black gap this season. Mekhi Becton was misplaced for the season to a knee harm in coaching camp. Free agent signee Duane Brown injured his shoulder earlier than the season opener. George Fant went onto injured reserve with a knee harm. And now rookie proper deal with Max Mitchell is out with a knee harm sustained Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Brown, who’s eligible to return off injured reserve, has been working towards some this week and has a slight likelihood to play Sunday in opposition to the Dolphins. If that occurs, it’s doable Vera-Tucker strikes to proper deal with.
When requested on Thursday, if he has any thought which place he’ll be taking part in in opposition to the Dolphins, Vera-Tucker mentioned, “That’s nonetheless to be decided.’’
Three days earlier than recreation day.
That Vera-Tucker is taking this in such seamless stride comes as no shock to anybody on the Jets. This, in any case, is identical participant who efficiently began his total rookie 12 months at left guard solely to be moved to proper this season when veteran proper guard Laken Tomlinson was signed within the offseason.
“ ‘AVT’ form of carries himself like he’s been on this league for 5 years already,’’ Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur mentioned Thursday.
“I don’t hear an excessive amount of from him,’’ quarterback Joe Flacco advised The Put up. “He places his head down and he works. He lets his play converse for itself.’’
The transfer to left deal with?
“That is the last word crew sport, however your preliminary response is, ‘Oh man, he’s so good at proper guard for us,’ ’’ Flacco mentioned. “However then it’s like, how can we get our greatest guys on the market on the sphere? And to have a man like that not blink is spectacular. The preliminary inclination is to be like, ‘Are you severe? I’m taking part in so good at proper guard and also you wish to put me at left deal with? What if I get uncovered?’ ’’
AP
All Vera-Tucker has finished is expose himself as a good higher, extra versatile and worthwhile participant than he was already.
“I’m not an offensive lineman, however I do know the sport — and that’s particular,’’ operating again Michael Carter advised The Put up of the Vera-Tucker place change. “What a particular expertise Alijah is. I can take each good factor I’ve ever mentioned about anybody and direct it towards him and it nonetheless wouldn’t be sufficient. He’s a particular participant and a particular particular person and the self-discipline he carries from day-to-day is unparalleled and unmatched.’’
Quarterback Zach Wilson mentioned, “That dude’s a baller for even simply taking up that problem.’’
Middle Connor McGovern is aware of in addition to anybody how troublesome the transfer Vera-Tucker made is to make.
“For a man that’s taking part in at a Professional Bowl stage to be selfless sufficient [and] go and transfer over there's fairly spectacular, as a result of I don’t assume folks understand how totally different every place on the offensive line is,’’ McGovern advised The Put up.
“What he simply did, lots of people don’t perceive how arduous that's,’’ LaFleur mentioned. “I can’t say sufficient good issues about him. He’ll play middle if he must. I’m positive if he begins taking part in middle he’s going to need some aim line reps at fullback.’’
When LaFleur’s remark was relayed to Vera-Tucker, he smiled and mentioned, “I would really like that. I night time want a TD in my profession sooner or later. I might need to hit up LaFleur on that.’’
It’s the least the teaching workers can do for him.
Vera-Tucker has felt the respect and the love from his teammates and coaches.
“Plenty of guys got here as much as me and congratulated me for what I used to be capable of do on the market,’’ he mentioned. “That’s a giant enhance for me. I don’t take any of that of granted.’’
The Jets can be fools to take Vera-Tucker without any consideration.
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