AZ Republic: Changes in store for offensive line

[Evil Ash]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/1026cardsnb1026.html

Changes in store for offensive line

Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 26, 2006 12:00 AM

The regular season reaches its midway point Sunday in Green Bay, and the Cardinals still are trying to find a starting offensive line combination that works.

Coach Dennis Green confirmed Wednesday that there will be alterations in the starting lineup Sunday, although he declined to detail them.

It appears, however, that there will be three changes. Right tackle Oliver Ross, who allowed two sacks Sunday at Oakland, likely would be benched. Left guard Reggie Wells would move to right tackle, and right guard Chris Liwienski would move to the left side.

Rookie Deuce Lutui, a second-round draft pick, could take Liwienski's spot at right guard. It would be Lutui's first start.

Milford Brown, who started the first five games at right guard, is listed as probable after missing the past two games because of an ankle injury.

The Cardinals are last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (66.9) and yards per carry (2.5).

Well at least he is making changes this week. I'd prefer that we find out if we can fix some of the Oline internally so we wouldn't need as much in the offseason.

It seems like putting a band-aid over a bullet wound but its better then doing nothing.

 

[Shane]

These cocahes suck. Gorin should be playing right tackle. Outright bench Ross and Liweinski and have Lutui step in at Guard IMHO!

 

[AZ Shocker]

This after almost three seasons as head coach of the same team?
Don't you always build a team from the lines on out?

Amazing....

 

[Chris_Sanders]

My guess is that Oliver Ross is done here in Arizona.

 

[Shane]

My guess is that Oliver Ross is done here in Arizona.

We can only hope

 

[BACH]

These cocahes suck. Gorin should be playing right tackle. Outright bench Ross and Liweinski and have Lutui step in at Guard IMHO!

Gorin struggled in pass-protection in NE and Brady is right-handed. Gorin most likely can't handle our RT, because it's the blindside tackle.

I don't understand why Ross isn't moved to RG. Liwienski hasn't done anything IMO. Wells is our best option at RT.

Our line should be: Big - Milford/Lutui - Leckey - Ross - Wells

 

[CardNots]

Dang, just do something I don't care who goes where.

Just shuffle the Cards, deal them and let us see what we got...

 

[mjb21aztd]

Well it will be intresting somewhat to see what the changes are my guess is Lutui will be starting and alex and ross will be benched thank god. Be nice to see us get close to 100 yards rushing this season but we better go after some damn olineman this offseason through fa and the draft and just not sign other teams garbage olinemen or olinemen from bad rushing teams.

 

[Goldfield]

Well, it isnt Davis at guard but it is a change that might help IMO. Getting Ross off the blindside is big. Wells cant play guard with the big boys but I still think he can play OT.

With Step & Ross out & Wells not a guard I think it will be alittle better. Why it take this long for proactive changes to a line that flat out isnt getting it done is beyond me...

 

[az1965]

I hope Ross never sees the field again. Wells covering Matt's blind side is scary. I don't have any confidence in Wells.

 

[Buckybird]

If Gorin struggles in pass protection, why did we trade for him? The coaching
on this team is just crazy!!! I still do not think that Wells can play RT in this
league.

 

[BigRedRage]

i dont think wlls is much better than ross, we shall see

 

[az jam]

My guess is that Oliver Ross is done here in Arizona.

What's the cap hit if we cut him as he signed a pretty big contract??

 

[vince56]

What's the cap hit if we cut him as he signed a pretty big contract??

not enough to worry about. Next year's cap is huge.

 

[BACH]

If Gorin struggles in pass protection, why did we trade for him? The coaching
on this team is just crazy!!! I still do not think that Wells can play RT in this
league.

Because the plan was to play a right handed QB all season. IMO Gorin became more or less useless when LEinart took over.

 

[Totally_Red]

This is the best long-term solution IMO. (meaning till the end of the season)
It will help answer several questions.

1. Can Wells be an adequate RT if he stays there and concentrates on the postion.

2. Is Lutui a legitimate starter, and can he be at least adequate in pass protection.

3. Can Loney coach up the best (IMO) five we have?

 

[stewdog1]

3. Can Loney coach up the best (IMO) five we have?

The coaching hasn't worked at all yet.

 

[PJ1]

It is just amazing how overrated Wells is. The guy is not good period and moving him to RT will not help. He is as big a problem as Step or Ross.

 

[joeshmo]

What's the cap hit if we cut him as he signed a pretty big contract??

Off the top of my head so I dont have specific amounts for you.

Moderate contract.
High base salary.
Low signing bonus.

Minimal cap implications if any at all in year 3 of his contract in the 2007 offseason. In fact we probably gain cap space.

 

[Team G]

It is just amazing how overrated Wells is. The guy is not good period and moving him to RT will not help. He is as big a problem as Step or Ross.

You're right PJ1. If "Watch Out" Wells plays like he did in Oakland, Matt will get killed, again, this week.

 

[Russ Smith]

At least it will be interesting. Green Bay has the worst pass defense in the entire NFL, by far, nearly 50 yards more per game than the next team.

Wells will be blocking Kampmann who is 3rd in the NFL in sacks. Green Bay is actually 7th in the NFL in sacks partly because everyone throws on them, partly because they have some pass rushers, Kampmann, KGB, even rookie AJ Hawk has 2.5 sacks and seems to be having a good rookie year statistically after reportedly getting off to a slow start in camp. So they get some sacks, but they give up so many passing yards teams are willing to take that risk.

Probably not the worst team to shuffle your OL against.

Let's face it, Green sees the light, it's coming right at him, and he's got to make changes and see if he can right things before the train runs him right over.

I do feel sorry for Leinart, it's tough enough as a rookie without all this circus surrounding him, changing OC's, injured WR, and now the coaches are shuffling the OL willy nilly but leaving Ross on Matt's blindside is just stupid so we gotta try something.

 

[BACH]

Off the top of my head so I dont have specific amounts for you.

Moderate contract.
High base salary.
Low signing bonus.

Minimal cap implications if any at all in year 3 of his contract in the 2007 offseason. In fact we probably gain cap space.

Cardinals | Ross Contract Breakdown - from www.KFFL.com
Mon, 21 Mar 2005 16:41:21 -0800

Updating previous reports, the five-year deal OL Oliver Ross signed with the Arizona Cardinals has base salaries of $2.8 million per year from 2005 through 2009.

Cardinals | Ross Agrees to Terms - from www.KFFL.com
Fri, 4 Mar 2005 19:16:48 -0800

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the Arizona Cardinals have reached an agreement with unrestricted free agent OT Oliver Ross. The contract breaks down as a five-year, $17.5 million deal, paying Ross $6.3 million in 2005 between the signing bonus and base salary.

$3.5M bonus - $2.8M base. 3rd year, meaning a $1,050,000 cap hit the next two years with $2.8M in annual cap savings.

$1,750,000 in cap saving, right?

 

[BACH]

It is just amazing how overrated Wells is. The guy is not good period and moving him to RT will not help. He is as big a problem as Step or Ross.

Wells has the quickest feet and best technique of any of our linemen. Yet, he plays the frontside G position, which is usual where the team's strongest and least mobile player plays.

 

[CardinalChris]

Wells has the quickest feet and best technique of any of our linemen. Yet, he plays the frontside G position, which is usual where the team's strongest and least mobile player plays.

First I always thought he should be on the outside. Second, I thought the resigning was in preperation for the possibility of losing Big to Free agency, then sliding Wells outside where his quickness and lack of brute strength would be minimized.

 

[Renz]

The Cardinals are last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (66.9) and yards per carry (2.5).

Unbelievable.