One of the greater benefits of drafting Jake Long first-overall in last April's draft, was the fact that it was kind of a surprise-package deal. We got ourselves a bona fide left tackle in Long. But we also got ourselves a kick-ass right tackle in Vernon Carey. It's like when you order a Whopper value meal at BK and you get a surprise onion ring with your fries! I love it when that shit happens!
To re-cap, Carey was originally drafted in '04 to be our starting right-tackle. But things went to shit on our line and the behemoth had to convert to left tackle. He stared all 16 games last season and was the lone bright spot in a craptastic offensive line that killed John Beck's confidence and killed Trent Green. But now that J-Long is here, Carey can move back to his more natural right tackle spot. And that is all kinds of goodness.
Coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive line coach, doesn't see Carey's transition as difficult. "If you can play left tackle in our league, you can play right tackle in our league," Sparano said. "With Vernon, he's a big, strong guy and the right tackle is a more powerful position. I think that's an easier transition, certainly, for him." Offensive line coach Mike Maser agrees Carey, who is 6 feet 5, 335 pounds, fits better on the right side. "He's a big guy and you'd like your right tackle to be a big, thick guy like Vernon," Maser said. "I kind of think he naturally fits into that mold."
And as if having him mauling defensive ends and linebackers at his more natural spot wasn't enough, Vernon is going out of his way to help rookie Long with his transition into the big boy's pool. And that's just freaking awesome. I'd say, if everything falls neatly into place, we've got ourselves two pillars for bookends on the O-line for many seasons to come.
And I say Fuck Yea! to that.
Can I get a Fuck Yea! from Tiny Armando?
Fuck Yea!
Right on.
