How Much Does Wayne Hunter's Benching Change Jets' 2012 Outlook?

Wayne Hunter getting the call to the bench helps the New York Jets quite a bit in 2012.

According to Kieran Darcy of ESPN New York:

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The New York Jets have a new starting right tackle.

Two days after saying Wayne Hunter would remain the starter in the team's third preseason game, coach Rex Ryan announced that Austin Howard will take Hunter's spot against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.

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This was no shock to anyone, because the Jets' offensive line needed a fresh fix after two preseason games.

Ahead, let's break down Gang Green's offense with Austin Howard in the mix and how the Jets' season now previews.

Keep Running the Rock

The running game has to remain the Jets' main philosophy, because neither Mark Sanchez nor Tim Tebow has proven to have an explosive ability in the passing game.

And with Howard now at right tackle the Jets can begin to develop the 25-year-old and get him more acclimated to pro football. Wayne Hunter may be 31, but he failed to seal the edge consistently in 2011—if at all—and the majority of New York's ground success came up the gut.

Well, against the improved defenses of New England and Buffalo, it was necessary for the Jets to have a more promising player on the edge of the line this season. Shonn Greene may be coming off his best season, but much more production can be had if bouncing outside is available.

Now, Greene and Joe McKnight can become a more threatening two-back tandem. With McKnight being the more change of pace back, his impact will generate a more dynamic rushing attack.

Instead of just slamming the trenches between the A and B gaps, the Jets will be able to use Greene off tackle and McKnight more on sweeps, and counters and tosses ultimately take pressure off the passing game.

Flow the Defense When Passing

As imperative as this change was, we have to keep in mind that Howard still must prove his ability. In addition, the importance of the offensive line has only been enhanced courtesy of a pass-first league.

So to prevent defenses from taking full advantage of the Howard's inexperience, getting the coverage to flow one direction will be crucial. Meaning, lots of play-action from under center and shotgun.

Despite the Jets' passing shortcomings, the running game has been more reliable than it has been given credit for. Although it is nowhere near elite, Greene's presence does force a defense to acknowledge the potential threat.

And considering the Jets have a non-explosive passing game, opponents won't be anticipating it nearly as much. This is an unforeseen aspect that gives Gang Green an edge because the receivers will see a lot of single coverage, and the ground game gets more respect from the front seven.

Regardless of whether it's Tebow or Sanchez playing quarterback, play-action roll outs, sprint outs and read-options from shotgun will expose an opponent's vulnerability. One prime example is to have Howard blocking down on the defensive tackle and pulling the right guard outside with a lead-blocking back.

This simply force the linebackers to briefly freeze, which then creates a more favorable blocking matchup and gives the quarterback more time to boot outside. The Jets will get the coverage to flow and then the quarterback will also have the option of throwing it away in the event of solid coverage.

So the change doesn't alter the Jets' approach too much, but giving Howard an opportunity does provide for more optimism.

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