Five Jets Training Camp Stories without Tebow

June 12, 2012; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan speaks before New York Jets Minicamp at the Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

This morning, we wrap up our five part series on training camp stories that we will be following, that don’t involve one Tim Tebow. They amount to your lower level storylines that we will be paying attention to when the Jets open up training camp. In case you missed any you can catch up below:

The Battle at Kicker (link here)

The Search for a Second Wide Receiver (link here)

The Search for a Second Running Back (link here)

Do we have a Blocking Tight End? (link here)

And now, the final of the five storylines we will be tracking…

Drum roll please……………………

Are we stuck with Wayne Hunter?

We couldn’t let that one go by without discussing it, could we?

Wayne Hunter. That name brings up a great deal of anger amongst Jets fans, doesn’t it?

He did a decent job at the end of 2010 coming in relief of Damien Woody, so the Jets felt they could let Woody go, in favor of Hunter.

What did we get instead? This:

Can we expect better? Potentially. Turn the page for more.

The coaching staff loves him. Tony Sparano has been a fan of Hunter’s since he before his arrival from Miami. So much so, that while coaching Miami, Sparano wanted Miami to sign him. Clearly, he sees something in him the rest of us have not.

New line coach Dave DeGuglielmo is a fan as well. He was quoted to the tune of Hunter being the starter as long as he is the line coach. Does that mean Hunter can’t be beaten out? Of course not. What it does mean is they see ability in him, and when a coach sees ability, they bring it out. Hunter is set up for success, as much as he can be, in 2012.

Fear not, however. As little as the Jets did address the position in the offseason, there is competition in camp.

The first guy is Austin Howard. He is 6’7″, and 333 pounds, certainly the build that we want. He is in his third year in the league, playing in four games with the Eagles, before the Jets signed him off of the Ravens practice squad. He will have a chance to compete for the spot. . Stephon Heyer is a veteran signing that will compete for the spot at right tackle as well. He comes with experience, as he has 35 starts in his six year career to his credit. He’s 6’6″ 330 pounds, and will be in there vying for starting right tackle as well.

Others that will compete include Robert Griffin, Dennis Landolt, and Caleb Schlauderaff.

The line will improve in 2012. Will it improve thanks to Wayne Hunter stepping up, or by a replacement?

That is the story we will be following in training camp.