Slauson: Hunter an upgrade over Woody

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When Matt Slauson picks up the remote and channel surfs, he often finds himself tuning in to check out NFL analysts breaking down the Jets' ground attack.

The Jets are ranked 28th in rushing at 92.4 yards per game. But they've showed some improvement of late, running for a season-high 162 yards in their Oct. 23 victory over the Chargers leading into last week's bye.

"I watch a lot of things on the NFL Network and ESPN,'' Slauson said Monday, "and they're all saying, 'Well, the Jets aren't running the ball because they're not the same team. They don't have those guys that can grind on you play after play.' That just isn't true. We have the guys.''

That's when the left guard tweaked the retired Damien Woody, essentially calling Wayne Hunter a better player than Woody, who is now an ESPN analyst. "Our offensive line is the same, except we have Wayne," Slauson said. "And in our opinion, that's an upgrade."

Hunter struggled early in the season but has played well in the last five games. Hunter told Newsday on Monday that a two-hour conversation with left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson after the Sept. 18 win over the Jaguars helped get him on track.

Slauson has taken notice, and it's why he felt the need to talk up Hunter. "I like Damien," Slauson said. "He's a really good player. He'd had a hell of a career, but Wayne is an incredible athlete. As long as we continue to work and learn and execute, our line is going to be better in the coming games and the coming years."