It has been one year since Joe Tippmann’s role with the New York Jets shifted dramatically. The offensive lineman transitioned to right guard after teammate Alijah Vera-Tucker sustained a season-ending triceps injury days before the team’s Week 1 opener last year.
Tippmann, who had primarily played center for his first two seasons, stepped into the guard position, and the move proved successful. He started all 17 games at guard and subsequently earned a four-year contract extension worth $66 million. He is now firmly established at the position.
"It’s been a great transition," Tippmann said. "If we would’ve said it at the beginning of camp last year, I would’ve said, ‘Oh no, that won’t happen.’ It’s something that, as soon as they told me Week 1 of the season, ‘Hey, we need you to move over,’ I fully embraced it. Now, at this point, it’s something that I’m really excited about, getting to continue playing guard."
Tippmann noted that playing guard offers a different experience compared to center. "I joke with Josh, I just tell him that guard is so much easier. Just because you get that whole aspect of having to make the points and all that [as a center]. You get to walk up to the line, wait for what Josh says and make your decision based off that. It’s been a smooth transition. I definitely like the guard position and I’m definitely comfortable here."
This current season offers Tippmann a more predictable path, having a full year of experience at guard, along with organized team activities, training camp, and preseason, all with a clear understanding of his position.
This stability is a characteristic of the entire Jets offensive line unit, which is returning four of its five starters. The group is expected to be a strength for the team.
"Just being able to lock into this group and be able to sit there and build off each other for such an extended period of time, it’s been a good feeling," Tippmann said. "Good to just keep learning together. Learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses, where we can help each other out, it’s all been good. It definitely opens up that dialogue where we can be honest with each other, we can help each other out. I think it’s just something that’s great for the room."
As Tippmann continues to develop at guard, he has found a valuable resource in newcomer Dylan Parham, also a guard. "Me and him, both being guards, he was quickly a guy that I could stop and say, ‘Hey, how do you like to attack this block, this pass pro rep? What’s your thoughts here?’" Tippmann said. "Quickly we were able to get into the flow of being able to bounce that off each other and stuff that helps me, stuff that helps him and just being able to learn together and grow together."