The 2012 season hasn’t started off to be Jeremy Trueblood’s best year.

First, in training camp, he was asked to take a $1 million dollar pay cut. Asked may be too nice of a word – more like told he would accept the drop in salary or be released.

A few weeks later, Trueblood’s best friend on the team, right guard Davin Joseph, was injured in preseason action and placed on injured reserve.

Finally, two weeks into the season, Trueblood was replaced in the starting lineup by Demar Dotson and relegated to a backup, something he hadn’t faced since early in his college career.

Fast-forward to Week 6 and things may be looking up for the former Boston College product.

Neither head coach Greg Schiano, nor Trueblood himself would confirm that a decision has been made, but it is a good bet No. 65 will line up between center Jeremy Zuttah and Dotson come Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

“I haven’t returned yet, I haven’t thought about it, I have just continued to work and see what happens” Trueblood said Wednesday afternoon surrounded by area media. "Nothing is set in stone yet."



Schiano was just as coy, but sounded like Trueblood has the early advantage in the race to replace guard Ted Larsen who has filled in since the Joseph injury, although Schiano also pointed out that Larsen hasn’t necessarily lost the job

“Jeremy (Trueblood) is a very intelligent football player,” Schiano said. “He is very experienced. I think he has a much better chance of grasping things in the short amount of time. His best buddy Davin (Joseph) has played guard next to him for a long time. Different scheme yes, but they work together on so many different things.

“I think he has got a good understanding. I think they all do. It is just going to be a matter of who we think the best choice is for this week. Again, that’s what we are trying to do. We are trying to win this game against Kansas City.

“No doubt. Ted (Larsen) is part of that equation. I think what happens is everybody else gets the attention because they have not been there. I probably need to just grab Ted (Larsen) and tell him that too.”

Trueblood went on to talk about making the switch from tackle to guard.

“I have played a lot of years with one of the best guards in the NFL,” Trueblood said. “I have picked up a lot of things over the years that he has done and tried to do it. Obviously I can’t do it exactly like he does it. Just some of the little things he does I am trying to do. It has been pretty easy because of that – it hasn’t been easy – but in my head it is (easy). I just have to translate it to my body and stuff like that. It is a work in progress.

“I don’t think you would really think of it being that different of a technique. Maybe it just happens a little faster I guess. Everyone is a little closer. But it is just football. It is what is. I’m just having a lot of fun competing.”

Zuttah talked to PewterReport.com on Wednesday about having a third different guard lined up next to him so far in 2012.

“It is just different, the timing, dealing with playing with different attributes,” Zuttah said. “It just takes some getting used to but Jeremy is a smart guy and has played a lot of football. He can adjust. We will just try and get on the same page and he will have to adjust but Jeremy and I have played next to each other before.”