The Official Move Reggie Wells to Right Tackle Thread.

[RugbyMuffin]

Correct me if I am wrong but didn't we use Reggie Wells at LT 2 years ago when Big went down?

And if I remember right he did pretty "well" playing at the position.

Why not put Wells at RT? He is supposidly one of our best linemen.

We could play with Elton Brown, or Duce at the LG position.

It is worth a shot.

Peace

 

[arthurracoon]

MJ mentioned that this morning

if they dont get a trade worked out, they might move Wells to RT, and Lutui to LG

Im with that

except for the fact you would be changing 2 positions instead of one

 

[Goldfield]

I agree 100% it should of been done the min Ross got hurt.

We have more depth at G then at T

 

[devilfan02]

This is prob old news but MJ said on Gambo and Ash that the Cards are working on trading a 6th or 7th round pick for a tackle. Even if they pulled that trade off, there's no way we'd get a good return for that late of a pick.

I agree, put Wells at RT for the preseason and see how it works

 

[daytripper]

IMHO at some point in time we are going to have to revamp the O line to address the Southpaw. Just as most Olines are set to protect a right handed passer we will have set our oline to protect a lefty. Jville did this with some success during Brunnells tenure. As RTs should be a little less in demand maybe we should move now to pick one up.
This would allow for us to consider some different Lt possibilities and allow for Big to move to LG where he would be at his best.
That all said this will be a transion year for the Oline, which will make a playoff run a Big (pun intended) challenge.

Later

 

[SECTION 11]

IMHO at some point in time we are going to have to revamp the O line to address the Southpaw. Just as most Olines are set to protect a right handed passer we will have set our oline to protect a lefty. Jville did this with some success during Brunnells tenure. As RTs should be a little less in demand maybe we should move now to pick one up.
This would allow for us to consider some different Lt possibilities and allow for Big to move to LG where he would be at his best.
That all said this will be a transion year for the Oline, which will make a playoff run a Big (pun intended) challenge.

Later

daytripper speaks the truth. this is right on

 

[Redsz]

I disagree with everyone so far.

By moving Wells to RT you are disrupting the continuity on the line even more. Instead of trying to sort out just RT, you would have a rookie at LG working with BIG for the first time and then Wells dealing with working at RT for the first time.

Lutui doesn't even sound ready to be moved to a starting guard postion. And while he may have surprised the coaches against 2nd team players that does not mean he is ready to step in and work with the first team as of yet.

And for the 264643215465 time, BIG is a LT!

 

[BigDavis75]

I disagree with everyone so far.

By moving Wells to RT you are disrupting the continuity on the line even more. Instead of trying to sort out just RT, you would have a rookie at LG working with BIG for the first time and then Wells dealing with working at RT for the first time.

Lutui doesn't even sound ready to be moved to a starting guard postion. And while he may have surprised the coaches against 2nd team players that does not mean he is ready to step in and work with the first team as of yet.

And for the 264643215465 time, BIG is a LT!

I agree 100%. Lutui looks really bad so far, and Bridges has looked really good at RT. This would be a bad move for the team THIS season.

 

[devilfan02]

I disagree with everyone so far.

By moving Wells to RT you are disrupting the continuity on the line even more. Instead of trying to sort out just RT, you would have a rookie at LG working with BIG for the first time and then Wells dealing with working at RT for the first time.

Lutui doesn't even sound ready to be moved to a starting guard postion. And while he may have surprised the coaches against 2nd team players that does not mean he is ready to step in and work with the first team as of yet.

And for the 264643215465 time, BIG is a LT!

Why not try it in preseason against 1st team defenses? So what if it disrupts the continuity if the line, somethings gotta change.

 

[BigRedRage]

you put official in the topic and i thought that meant it was happening!

 

[JeffGollin]

I agree with Redsz. What we don't need is to disrupt continuity by continually shifting guys around on the O-line. (If they wanted to do that, they should have done it during the TOW's).

More importantly (at the risk of exposing my lack of knowledge of offensive line blocking schemes) it's always been my impression that your RT should be the best run blocker on the O-line.

Reggie Wells, in my opinion, is far from being our best run blocker. He probably has the best feet of any Cardinal lineman and potentially could be our best pass blocker, but he's not exactly what you'd call a "road grader."

Why then, would you want to move Wells to RT? The goal of protecting Leinart's blind side is a laudable one. But KW is our QB, and Leinart hasn't thrown his first pass as a pro yet. (Moving Wells to RT to protect Leinart might be something to monkey around with as an adjunct to practice - just to get ready; but to actually do it now would be premature).

 

[Pariah]

We need to get a trade done for a RT this year--even if it's an older vet that only has 2 years left.

Next year we need to draft a RT in the first couple of rounds to protect our southpaw (this rookie sees some time his first year, but becomes FT starter in '08 ).

That's my plan and I'm stickin' to it.

 

[seesred]

I'm in the camp that after just one pre season game we stick with letting these guys work together. Sure, I would like for us to trade for a back up/starting RT. The pass blocking was exceptional for the first game. The second half we started to get some ground game going agaisnt the second team. Edge didn't play this past week...Okay 2 running plays. I think moving Wells to Tackle if it's going to be done better be done now giving two players the time needed to get a feel for their new position.

Bottem line if we trade we move one guy, if we move Wells it's a two guy move and if we stand pat IMO we just might start seeing better production.

GBR
40

 

[Redheart]

Loney is a blessing...

I really like our O-line coach; this guy KNOWS what he is doing. I am looking forward to his selections / movements of players...or confirmation of player / positions.

 

[spanky1]

We need to get a trade done for a RT this year--even if it's an older vet that only has 2 years left.

Next year we need to draft a RT in the first couple of rounds to protect our southpaw (this rookie sees some time his first year, but becomes FT starter in '08 ).

That's my plan and I'm stickin' to it.

There are three blue chippers at T coming into the draft next year......and assuming that we can redo BIG's contract this year, it might also allow us to address this position in FA. I would also be looking at Latui as a possible RT heading into next year.

I'm afraid that anything that might occur between now and the season opener will be cosmetic at best. We can only hope that the trio of Ross, Bridges and Wakefield will get us there this year.

Once again, JMHO.

 

[Redheart]

I would also be looking at Latui as a possible RT heading into next year...

Now that would be sweet...Latui protecting Matt again.

 

[kerouac9]

IMHO at some point in time we are going to have to revamp the O line to address the Southpaw. Just as most Olines are set to protect a right handed passer we will have set our oline to protect a lefty. Jville did this with some success during Brunnells tenure. As RTs should be a little less in demand maybe we should move now to pick one up.
This would allow for us to consider some different Lt possibilities and allow for Big to move to LG where he would be at his best.
That all said this will be a transion year for the Oline, which will make a playoff run a Big (pun intended) challenge.

Later

Their best O-lineman during Brunell's tenure was Tony Boselli who was... wait for it... a left tackle.

No teams do this to protect the "blind side" of their lefty QB. The 49ers didn't flip it for Steve Young, the Falcons didn't for Michael Vick, the Buccaneers didn't for Chris Simms, the Jags didn't for Mark Brunell, nor did the Redskins when he was traded (look where Samuels plays for Washington--still LT), nor will the Arizona Cardinals for Matt Leinart.

Sorry, but JeffG tried to sell this snake oil after the draft, and no one's buying.

 

[Pariah]

No teams do this to protect the "blind side" of their lefty QB.

I don't think we need to move our LT to RT, but I do think we need to have a good RT there. Ross ain't gonna cut it--how worse would it have been last year if McWarner had their back turned to Ross' man?

 

[Russ Smith]

IMHO at some point in time we are going to have to revamp the O line to address the Southpaw. Just as most Olines are set to protect a right handed passer we will have set our oline to protect a lefty. Jville did this with some success during Brunnells tenure. As RTs should be a little less in demand maybe we should move now to pick one up.
This would allow for us to consider some different Lt possibilities and allow for Big to move to LG where he would be at his best.
That all said this will be a transion year for the Oline, which will make a playoff run a Big (pun intended) challenge.

Later

Wasn't Bosselli the LT in Jax most of that time and their highest paid player?


Part of it depends on the defenses too. For years the NFL teams put their best pass rusher DE on the right side so he'd be coming from the blindside, that's why everyone put their best OT at LT. In recent years a lot of teams have started putting great pass rushers on the LDE spot but in general teams with a left handed QB usually face teams whose best pass rusher is playing RDE not LDE. Unless they just flip flop them and a lot of teams don't do that because it's not easy to just switch sides.

Whoops K9 beat me to it. I think this and the ball spins the other way are highly overrated on lefty Qb's.

 

[lobo]

interesting observation?

we are all watching the same games, practices etc. and the points of view on who is "good" "bad' etc is all over the lot...someone is going to be right and sees it the way the coaching staff sees it....i think the readers digest version is going to boil down to the following:

an opportunity will exist to replace Ross with a veteran who is better and we will do that

we will wing it until Ross comes back with little disruption...that means the best of wakefield or bridges

it will boil down to one or the other....i don't believe they have anointed deuce to a starting spot yet...if they do that will create some disruption and i don't believe loney is prone to do that regardless of his best five position that he was bantering around.

 

[SuperSpck]

Two questions:

1) Has Wells shown that he'd be better as a guard (where as stated his pass protection is fine, his run blocking, not the greatest) over being a tackle?
I was always under the impression he'd probably work best at Tackle, left or right. Why am I wrong on this? (I am wrong, or he'd be a tackle)

2) I was under the impression that Latui played Tackle for USC his Junior year and was moved back to the inside because his size and toughness were maximized there. I've also read that he doesn't posses the quickest feet on an olineman, with speed being a rushing comodity in the NFL, wouldn't you want someone who's able to keep up with the DE's and LB's?

 

[ChandlerCard]

I think it's too early for this discussion.

The line did a great job of pass blocking last weekend. They've focused more on run blocking this week (a harder process to solidify across the line, regardless of individual talent). Also note that we got good running last week from those RB's on the bubble (and not running strictly out of obligation). Finally reports were in that Ross looked good before he went down. And he should be back by game 1.

We really need an improved running game, but I'm willing to give Loney the benefit of the doubt until 3-4 games in the regular season have passed (with a consistent line).

 

[Russ Smith]

Two questions:

1) Has Wells shown that he'd be better as a guard (where as stated his pass protection is fine, his run blocking, not the greatest) over being a tackle?
I was always under the impression he'd probably work best at Tackle, left or right. Why am I wrong on this? (I am wrong, or he'd be a tackle)

2) I was under the impression that Latui played Tackle for USC his Junior year and was moved back to the inside because his size and toughness were maximized there. I've also read that he doesn't posses the quickest feet on an olineman, with speed being a rushing comodity in the NFL, wouldn't you want someone who's able to keep up with the DE's and LB's?

Deuce played tackle as a junior because Justice was suspended. He was a JC transfer only played 2 years at USC so I don't know if he played tackle in JC or not. My impression at USC was he was a better guard than tackle but obviously Justice was a first round talent at RT so that may have colored my perception of how good a RT Deuce was, comparing him to Justice.

 

[BACH]

I don't understand why we keep talking about the RT and pass-protection...

The pass-protection wasn't a problem even with all the injuries last season and it sure didn't look like a problem on Saturday.

We're looking for a RT to upgrade the run-blocking until Ross returns - NOT someone to protect Leinart's blindside.

I can see the idea of moving Wells IF AND ONLY IF Latui is ready to take over, but I'm not sure that I agree with it.

If I understand our new blocking scheme correctly (and that's a big if.... ) the OTs are asked to reach-block and seal the out-side on the first level a lot more (e.g. on the stretch play). Wells is probably the best on the team doing that, because he has excellent technique and quick feet. Wells is a good pass-protector too, so that shouldn't be a problem either.

What I don't like about the move... Why move a decent starter, if you're not sure about his replacement? Most reports say Latui isn't ready, so why risk the lower production at LG to slighty upgrade the RT position? It probably doesn't result in a huge overall upgrade on the OL. One thing we are also overlooking in this thread is changing sides. It takes a lot of adjustment to change side for an offensive lineman - it's harder to change from the left to the right than to change from guard to tackle.

Overall. I don't see the big benefit in moving Wells.

 

[kerouac9]

Two questions:

1) Has Wells shown that he'd be better as a guard (where as stated his pass protection is fine, his run blocking, not the greatest) over being a tackle?
I was always under the impression he'd probably work best at Tackle, left or right. Why am I wrong on this? (I am wrong, or he'd be a tackle)

Wells is not strong enough in run-blocking to do a lot of power work that you'd usually expect from an offensive guard, but as the Cardinals trasfer to more of a zone-blocking system, his quick feet and ability to re-direct rushers could be an asset next to Leonard Davis. I think that if you place Reggie Wells in a position to succeed as a guard, where he's not 1-on-1 blocking bull rushers, then he can be a good player on a lot of the technique blocks that the Cards could use to open cutback lanes for Edge, especially as a pulling guard on stretch plays.

The problem with placing him at RT would be that he'd have to deal with more bull rushes from stronger LDEs like Michael Strahan and Julius Peppers without help or with only help from a chipping TE or RB. Personally, I'd rather have our two best blockers on one side of the line (like Seattle did with Jones and Hutchinson) then separate them between a bunch of guys that aren't able to play.