Gandy’s Versatility, Durability A Good Match For Cards
Greg Gladysiewski
azcardinals.com
Durability and versatility are perhaps the two most important assets an offensive lineman can possess. And looking at the playing career of Cardinal tackle Mike Gandy, he has plenty of both, and then some.
In his six NFL seasons, the 6-4, 310-pound Gandy has started 62 games at three positions—left tackle (43 games), left guard (14 games), and right guard (five games)—and was in the top tier of free agent offensive linemen available when he signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals earlier this year on April 2.
“I think it’s a good situation with the new coaching staff and the players who are already here,” offers Gandy. “I saw a lot of talent, a lot of potential … probably more so than any other team I’ve been on. I see it as a great opportunity. It’s a great city and I really like the situation here.”
A key factor in the Cardinals’ allure for Gandy was new Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt and Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Russ Grimm. As offensive coordinator under Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, Whisenhunt helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL following the 2005 season, and Grimm is widely regarded as one of the finest offensive line coaches in the NFL.
As one of the ringleaders of the Washington Redskins’ vaunted “Hogs” offensive line for Head Coach Joe Gibbs in the 1980s, Grimm played both guard and tackle during his 11-year pro career and espouses the value of versatility for an offensive lineman.
“You’ve got to know what your buddy is doing anyway,” Grimm explains. “There’s more to the play than just ‘I block this guy.’ You’ve got to know what the (running) back sees, what to expect from the tackle, what to expect from the guard and center. So you’ve got to be able to play more than one position, and you’ve got to know what those guys are doing.”
After Gandy completed an all-America career at Notre Dame with 26 consecutive starts at guard, the Chicago Bears selected him in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft, 68th overall. But in his rookie season, Gandy was inactive for all 16 games as the Bears cruised to a 13-3 record before a divisional playoff loss to Philadelphia. For Gandy, not seeing the playing field all year was hard to handle.
“It was tough,” Gandy admits. “Coming out of college, it took me longer than expected to make the jump (to the NFL). We had a good team that year and a lot of guys stayed healthy, so that didn’t help the cause. It was hard to go from playing all the time to not playing at all. It pushed me the next year and motivated me, and I’ve been playing (regularly) ever since.”
Gandy started the final 11 games of the 2002 season at both left guard and left tackle, and then opened at left tackle for 14 games in 2003 while battling through a shoulder injury. In 2004, he again changed positions and started the first five games at right guard, but was released by the Bears in mid-season.
His career was resurrected in 2005, however, when he signed with Buffalo and was a 16-game starter at left tackle to help pave the way for a 1,000-yard rushing season by running back Willis McGahee. Last year, Gandy again showcased his versatility for the Bills with nine starts at left guard and seven starts at left tackle, positioning himself as a coveted free agent entering the upcoming 2007 season.
“He’s athletic. No question about it,” says Grimm. “The guy’s got good feet, he can move … he’s going to be a good player.”
When the Cardinals began their off-season workouts with a mini-camp in mid-May, Whisenhunt and Grimm made it a point to see how the offensive linemen handled not only their own position, but their ability to perform at other spots on the offensive line. Nothing new, however, to Gandy.
“Coach Grimm wants everybody to learn everything, so going through the camps I’m learning all the positions, getting experience, because you never know what’s going to happen during the season,” adds Gandy. “Someone might have to play somewhere else. Being in the league a few years, I realize it’s best to learn every position.”
Entering the final few workouts of the off-season, Grimm believes he’s ready to cast the dye and slot the players into specific positions, with Gandy opening at left tackle.
“We’re going to settle it down a little bit,” Grimm explains of working the lineman at more than one spot. “Obviously, those guys have to be able to switch (positions). We’re going to let them get a little bit comfortable right now and if they can flip sides, fine. Once they get all the assignments, then we can flip flop.”
And Gandy relishes the chance to learn from Grimm, one of the elite position coaches in the league. ““He’s definitely a great coach. With Coach Grimm, right away I felt our styles meshed together. I know he’ll make me become a better player and make some jumps (in talent) in my game.”
“There’s a ton of talent on this team,” adds Gandy, alluding to an offense which features quarterback Matt Leinart, the receiving tandem of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and running back Edgerrin James. “I’ve played on teams that didn’t have a lot of talent and we still won games. So having all these weapons, and having a clean, fresh start, I think there’s going to be a lot of good things to come.”
