For Alijah Vera Tucker, it was a mutual understanding.
He said he met director Robert Saleh “halfway.”
They had meaningful discussions during the offseason, and by its end, Vera-Tucker left with the vision that the Jets would use him at one position, and one position only, in 2024.
His career started steadily, starting 16 times at left guard as a rookie.
But over the next two seasons, shortened by a torn ACL in 2022 and a torn Achilles in 2023, Vera-Tucker bounced around to every position on the line except center.
But he said the Jets have enough depth this year and coach Vera-Tucker specifically mentioned the backup options at tackle that they shouldn’t have to pivot him in an emergency like they did last year, when he started three games at right guard and three at right tackle before the season ended.
The effort to keep Vera-Tucker in the same position had been going according to plan through the first few weeks of camp.
“It feels good knowing that they’re going to take care of me and I’m going to be able to develop at one position,” Vera-Tucker said Monday. “… Looking back, I wouldn’t change anything that I did. I wanted to help the team and that’s what I did. So, I wouldn’t change anything about that, but I’m happy to be at one position.”
But it could all unravel.
They may need to fix some of the mess on the offensive line.
Over the past two seasons, the Jets have had to pivot and quickly fill Vera-Tucker’s role, but he has not been able to play a full season since his rookie season.
Vera-Tucker said she isn’t experiencing any lingering pain in her Achilles, but the rhythm and flow of the position still needs some adjustment.
When he wasn’t able to practice enough during the offseason, he watched film of Cowboys guard Zack Martin and Colts guard Quenton Nelson to figure out what attributes he could emulate to improve his pass blocking.
“He’s been tried at so many positions over the years, and he’s finally settled into one position and honed in on that position and is good at that position,” right tackle Morgan Moses said Monday, who was Vera-Tucker’s teammate on the Jets in 2021. “And for him, he feels like football suits him, he can focus on one position and not have to move around all over the place.”
And on paper, the Jets certainly have some depth.
We shouldn’t go into crisis mode because of one or two injuries like we did last season.
This would help realize the vision shared by Vera-Tucker and Saleh.
“I think he’s in great shape,” offensive line coach Keith Carter said.
