NFL free agency 2014: Jets offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse, who has struggled, to visit Vikings, per source (original) (raw)
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new york jets vladimir ducasse.jpg
Vladimir Ducasse, once the Jets' starting left guard, was benched after four games last season.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Jets pretty much struck out with offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse.
They picked him in the second round of the 2010 draft and gave him a four-year, 2.965millioncontract,witha2.965 million contract, with a 2.965millioncontract,witha1.025 million signing bonus.
He played out the duration of his contract, but was never able to become a full-time starter. He began 2013 as the starting left guard but was replaced by rookie Brian Winters after four games. It might have happened sooner if Winters had not been hampered by an ankle sprain suffered in training camp.
Ducasse is now an unrestricted free agent who, all told, started five games with the Jets over the past four seasons. As the Jets seem unlikely to bring him back, Ducasse has begun trying to find a new home. To that end, he will visit the Minnesota Vikings, according to a league source.
Ducasse has the size – 6-5 and 326 pounds – but could never put it all together with the Jets. Originally from Haiti, he came to the NFL with a more limited football background than most players. And perhaps it was difficult to get an accurate reading on his potential since he played at Massachusetts, and could dominate many opponents at that level with his size alone.
After being benched last season, Ducasse played just 29 snaps combined for the rest of 2013. In his four games as a starter, he committed six penalties and allowed 10 quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. Ducasse, upon being demoted, struggled to explain the reason for his penalties.
“I don’t have a clue what’s going wrong,” he said. “Penalties are penalties. That’s one thing I can’t really explain. They’re just penalties. Just something I have to clean up. I think I’ve been doing a pretty solid job (overall) compared to where I was before.”
Winters did struggle as a rookie, though. He was rated by Pro Football Focus 77th among 81 guards in the NFL, including 74th as a pass blocker and 75th as a run blocker. A third-round pick, he will need to improve in his second season.
The Jets, meanwhile, have begun rebuilding their offensive line, though it certainly does not need a complete overhaul. On Wednesday night, they agreed to a contract with right tackle Breno Giacomini, who will replace Austin Howard, who left for the Raiders in free agency. The Jets also probably will need to replace right guard Willie Colon, who is an unrestricted free agent. As of late last week, they had not reached out to his representation to begin negotiations.
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