Vladimir

Ducasse

His roster spot will be absorbed by former Bears OLB Sam Acho. Ducasse drew nine starts at left guard last season but was mostly ineffective, earning PFF’s No. 69 run-blocking grade out of 81 qualifiers at his position. The 31-year-old’s next team will be his sixth since arriving in the league as a second-round pick in 2010.

Also inactive for Buffalo are QB Derek Anderson, WR Da’Mari Scott, TE Jason Croom, OG Ike Boettger, DE Mike Love, and CB Taron Johnson.

Incumbent Wayne Hunter was a nightmare last season, allowing a team-high 8.5 sacks while committing a club-most 11 penalties. Ducasse has even been more of a headache when on the field, if that’s possible. If the Jets don’t add a tackle in the draft or free agency, they’ll have to decide between the lesser of two evils in Ducasse and Hunter at right tackle.

The Jets probably would have released Hunter, freeing up $2.45 million, if they believed Ducasse could provide an upgrade. Hunter was horrible in 2011, allowing a team-high 8.5 sacks and committing a club-most 11 penalties. The 61st overall pick in the 2010 draft, Ducasse is quickly shaping up as a bust.

“That’s how I see it,” Ducasse said. “This is my third year, and I put a lot of pressure on myself that I have to do better than last year.” Tellingly, Ducasse says his main goal for 2012 is “more playing time.” The No. 61 pick of the 2010 draft will need a monster preseason to be anything other than a deep reserve.

Slauson is really just a replacement-level player, but Ducasse hasn’t shown enough yet to be considered a real threat here. It’s likely a case of Rex Ryan trying to generate some competition at a leaky position. The Jets’ main area of concern on the offensive line remains the right tackle spot.

Ducasse has already lost out to Matt Slauson for the left guard job, but he won’t kick back outside. The 2010 second-round pick is going to back up both guard spots while Austin Howard operates as the swing tackle.

The Jets want to put pressure on incumbent swinging-gate Wayne Hunter, and former second-round bust Ducasse is his primary competition. The Newark Star-Ledger confirms that 2012 is Ducasse’s make or break season with New York. It’s his third year in the league, and Ducasse struggled mightily in his first two.

Ducasse has been moved back to left guard in OTAs, and there is lingering worry that he would be a poor fallback option if Hunter got injured or the Jets benched him. Ducasse has been a total flop as the 61st overall pick in the 2010 draft, so the concern isn’t surprising. He should only be a deep reserve this season.

Slauson, the incumbent, has held off a weak challenge from Vladimir Ducasse. Along with right tackle Wayne Hunter, Slauson represents another weak spot on the Jets offensive line. It’s part of the team’s overall offensive dysfunction.