Willie Colon to Stay With Jets

By Glenn Naughton

New York Jets offensive lineman Willie Colon sent out this tweet today in letting Jets fans know that he’ll be back in green and white for the 2015 season.

I am so happy to be back wearing the Green&White. Thank you to all who prayed for me and my family. #NyJ pic.twitter.com/zZ2f5iJFGl

— Willie Colon (@willcolon66) March 12, 2015

The local product from the Bronx who attended Rutgers University will be entering his  ninth NFL season and third with the Jets.

While Colon struggled with penalties last season as the Jets starting right guard, his leadership and locker room presence have always been recognized by coaches and media alike. The big man has also been applauded for his work within the community.  Even with that being the case, fans are more concerned with his on-field performance.

In sixteen starts this past season, according to PFF.com, Colon’s run blocking was uncharacteristically poor but that still didn’t stop the Jets from finishing third in the NFL with 142.5 yards per game while averaging 4.5 YPC, good enough for a fifth place tie.

Despite allowing just one sack in pass protection, the former Pittsburgh Steelers fourth round selection did allow 20 quarterback hurries tying him for tenth among NFL guards who played at least 700 snaps.  Even still, quarterback Geno Smith averaged more time from snap to throw than any QB in the NFL, so as a unit the protection was better than many  may realize, with Colon earning the highest grade among Jets linemen.

Colon’s return creates a log jam at the guard position that should  mean a training camp completion to determine the eventual starters.  Having signed Seahawks free agent James Carpenter along with last year’s starters at LG in Brian Winters and Oday Aboushi, second year man Dakota Dozier rounds out a group that will hopefully take a step forward in 2015.

Glenn Naughton

Glenn was Born in the Bronx, New York and has followed the Jets religiously despite being stationed in several different countries and time zones around the world. He now resides in England and has been a JetNation member since 2005. Glenn will bleed green with the rest of us through the highs and lows.

See Full Bio