New Jets offensive line coach DeGuglielmo loves Hunter at right tackle

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Lest there be any debate, as of now, Wayne Hunter is the Jets' starting right tackle. Seriously. Absolutely no debate. New offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo is willing to stake a lot on it.

"Until they tell me otherwise and until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that son of a gun is going to be my starting right tackle," DeGuglielmo said Wednesday at the Jets training facility -- a rollicking introduction that put the former Dolphins coach on par with Rex Ryan in the bombastic, player-defending department.

DeGuglielmo, who goes by the nickname "Goog," quickly proved that he does things a little different, saying that he wasn't "worried about the ghost of Bill Callahan. . . . Everyone replaces somebody." That much was evident in his animated, often humorous defense of Hunter, whom DeGuglielmo said he's wanted to coach for two years. He said he believed that the tackle's struggles were overblown by fans and media.

"It . . . snowballed, if you go clip by clip," DeGuglielmo said. "It's almost like with a cornerback, if you get beat deep, no one is ever going to let it go. It's the same with tackle. An error is a glaring error. I see many, many more great things."

The coach's comments came about three weeks after general manager Mike Tannenbaum said Hunter would have to earn his spot after a lackluster 2011 campaign and about a week after Hunter said the job was his.

Hunter, who signed a four-year, $15-million contract extension in July 2011, failed to meet expectations after a strong 2010, and his feud with Santonio Holmes further exacerbated the Jets' collapse. DeGuglielmo, though, said that was behind them and that he'd spoken his support to Tannenbaum, adding: "I'm telling you, this guy has skills."

Among his many attributes, DeGuglielmo pointed out Hunter's size, athleticism, and explosiveness. "This guy has the physique," he said of Hunter (6-5, 318). "He's a warrior. They strap shields to this guy and put him in the Coliseum."

DeGuglielmo's endorsement now leaves a question mark near Vlad Ducasse's name. Ducasse, the 2010 draft pick who was expected to challenge Hunter, has had a stalled start for the Jets, though DeGuglielmo was quick to point out that the team didn't consider him a bust.

"Vlad's gotta work his way into it, but he's got great skills," DeGuglielmo said, noting that once Ducasse learns the system, the Jets will try him at other positions.

"As he feels comfortable, he's poised to challenge at different spots," he said. "I mean, what is offensive line? They're like sled dogs . . . And these guys are waiting for someone to say mush."