Wilfork to test Jets' Slauson, Hunter

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - There are few visions more terrifying than looking up from a three-point stance and seeing the face of Vince Wilfork looming over you.

The 6-2, 325-pound Patriots nose tackle is an earthmover of a man, a rare player who has the strength of a Caterpillar and the agility of a cat. And the Patriots love to shuffle him around in their defensive formations, looking to unleash him on the most vulnerable man on the line.

"I've seen him literally take guys and just toss them,'' Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan said. "They're going to move him around and try to get a matchup, some way, somehow.''

Whether it's protecting Mark Sanchez or spearheading what the Jets hope will be a clock-consuming, grind-it-out running attack, the Jets' offensive line will play a pivotal role in their AFC divisional playoff game against the Patriots Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. And their success may come down to the performance of their two least experienced players, left guard Matt Slauson and right tackle Wayne Hunter.

"We have a lot of confidence in both those guys,'' center Nick Mangold said. "They both have experience, and we all know how to work together as a unit.''

Slauson, a second-year player, became a starter at the beginning of the season after the Jets parted ways with Pro Bowler Alan Faneca. Hunter, though 29 years old, has even less experience. He has started a total of five career games, with four of them coming this season in relief of veteran Damien Woody.

Hunter replaced Woody for the game-winning drive against Indianapolis last week after he went out with what later was revealed to be an Achilles injury. The 6-5, 318-pounder also started the last three games of the regular season while Woody recovered from a knee injury.

The loss of Woody could especially impact the Jets' running game. Last week, they ran for 169 yards against the Colts and kept possession for 18 minutes in the second half. Just as they kept the ball out of Peyton Manning's hands, they would like to do the same to the Patriots' Tom Brady.

Jets coach Rex Ryan, who said earlier in the season that Hunter is the person he'd most like to have his back in a bar fight, said this past week that he has every confidence that he can get the job done against New England.

"I've always said that we have the best backup tackle in the league in Wayne Hunter,'' he said. "He's played a lot of football for us and we have a lot of confidence in Wayne.''

Hunter, who was out of the league for a year before the Jets signed him in 2007, has had an up-and-down career. A third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2003, he spent three years in Seattle and one in Jacksonville after tearing his ACL while with the Jaguars.

Hunter calls himself a "late bloomer'' and believes everything he has gone through has happened for a reason. "To be honest with you, I think God was just saving me for this weekend,'' he said. "It's a blessing in disguise. I have fresh legs at 29. Hopefully, my career starts now at 29 as an offensive tackle.''

Facing Wilfork at the so-called start of your career is quite a daunting task, as Slauson can tell you. But this is the third time this season he has lined up against the Patriots, and he believes he is a stronger player.

"I'm not as scared as I was at the start of the season,'' he said with a laugh. "I think that's because week after week, I've had to line up against the best pass-rushers, and each week I do a little better. I think this time I will be a little more prepared for him. Because I definitely think I will see a lot of him.''