Wakefield Switches From D-line to O-line

[azdad1978]

Last week, Fred Wakefield was placed on injured reserve with a stress fracture in his foot.

When the news got out, all of his friends from Illinois called to check on him, and found out there was even more news to tell because when Wakefield does return to the field, the 6’6, 290-lb. player will make the move from defensive end to offensive tackle.

“They were worried about me being on I/R, but now they are worried about me eating so much,” laughed Wakefield who will likely need to add some weight to his frame over the next several months.

It is a position Wakefield played in high school and one that Head Coach Dennis Green feels will benefit the fourth-year player, and the team.

“Coach Green thinks it is my natural position and something I might be pretty good at so I’m going to be sitting in the offensive line meetings for the next year or so,” said Wakefield. “I’m going to be sitting out anyway so it is a good chance to get to learn it now.”

Green should know. It is a move he made with David Dixon during his tenure in Minnesota. Dixon, a former defensive tackle at Arizona State University bounced around the NFL with the Patriots, the Cowboys and the Vikings before Green converted him into an offensive guard in his third NFL season. Dixon has 118 career starts, which ranks 2nd among guards in Vikings history, and has been a starter for 4 of the 6 top single-season rushing seasons in Vikings history.

With Wakefield on injured reserve this season, it will be a while before he actually takes snaps with the offense, and that much longer to evaluate the jump. In the meantime, Wakefield is getting used to taking a seat in a different meeting room.

“It was a little quieter,” said Wakefield of attending meetings with the o-line. “But, I think it will be a good move and something I can pick up on quickly.”

“I think Fred will be a good tackle,” observed defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. “He’s already studying film and looking forward to the move. It will be weird going against him come next year, but I think he’ll be real good.”

Chrissy Mauck, azcardinals.com

http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=2178

 

[joeshmo]

You know this is so crasy it just might actually work, and he could be a good backup OT. His very long arms are perfect for this. If he hits the gym and uphis upper body strength a little I think Green may be on to something for next year.

That and I never liked him at DE anyways.

 

[spanky1]

Another Green "personnel" move......Whatever........if it gives him something to hold his breath for, so be it.

 

[azdad1978]

You know this is so crasy it just might actually work, and he could be a good backup OT. His very long arms are perfect for this. If he hits the gym and uphis upper body strength a little I think Green may be on to something for next year.

He might actually turn out better than Clement.

 

[RedRob]

I like this. Fred is strong and holds his ground well. A good attribute for an O lineman, a poor one for a D lineman.

 

[100%CardsFan]

Wow! I would have never thought.

 

[ds512az]

Seems kinda tall for an O-line guy. Center of gravity thing and all. If he could turn into John Goodman, and keep some quicks, I'd be all for it.

 

[joeshmo]

Seems kinda tall for an O-line guy. Center of gravity thing and all. If he could turn into John Goodman, and keep some quicks, I'd be all for it.

You do know how tall most Tackles are right. Pace is 6-7, Ogden is 6-8, W.Jones is 6-5.

Why do you want Him to be better then sitcom actor John Goodman?

 

[NJYAJ09]

Wakefield real tall though isnt he something like 6'9? Damn i thought I was tall, but 6'9 is a skyscraper.

 

[joeshmo]

Wakefield real tall though isnt he something like 6'9? Damn i thought I was tall, but 6'9 is a skyscraper.

On the azcardinals official roster he is 6-7.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I'm pretty sure the previous regime wouldn't have had the foresight to try this out....Good for Green...I'm glad all parties are in agreement with the switch...I think Fred will be our starting RT in 2006.

 

[azdad1978]

If Wakefield can turn out like Runyan or like Jansen, I'll be happy. He has the long arms to put the pass rusher out wide the question is how good is Wakefield feet? Can't wait till next year to see what will happen to this experiment. GBR 40

 

[Lars the Red]

6'9"? No way. 6'7"? Hardly. With out cleats, he's maybe 6'5", with them, a little over 6'6". Even in gear, all the guys I go to the games with look down on him.

 

[CardinalChris]

Let's be honest here..... This is green basically saying "No way in heck do you make this as a DE, but I have an idea....." If he wasn't injured Wakefield would have been cut also this camp.

Bobo Whitfield was cut today by Atlanta..... And we need depth this year, not next.

 

[azwulf]

Let's be realistic here.

This guy is gone. Too bad I liked him.

 

[azdad1978]

Wakefield will move to O-line

Switch from DE to come in '05

Tim Tyers
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 6, 2004 12:00 AM



Cardinals coach Dennis Green has informed defensive end Fred Wakefield, who's on injured reserve and ineligible for the season, that he is moving to offensive tackle.

"I'll be sitting in on the O-tackle meetings for the next year to see what's up," said Wakefield, a veteran of three seasons. "I'll be sitting out and watching anyway, so it'll be a good chance to learn it now.

"I haven't played there since high school, so it's a little different. I've been studying (tackles) for so long, that I think I'll be able to pick it up pretty quickly. It's just a matter of getting used to the calls and seeing what is going on."


Receivers 'rusty'


The team's No. 1 draft pick, Larry Fitzgerald (ankle), and last year's top pick, Bryant Johnson (fractured foot), practiced on Sunday, but Green hinted that chances are "iffy" about the receivers playing in the opener at St. Louis on Sunday.



Have a question for your favorite Suns, Cardinals, Coyotes, D-Backs player? Click here to submit the question for one of our reporters to take it to the source. Look for the answers on Page 2 of Saturday's Arizona Republic.


"They looked rusty," Green said, adding that both are big men and because of their size he isn't certain they'll be able to get down the rhythm and timing necessary to play. "Will they get there within one week? I don't know about that."

Cornerback Duane Starks, who has been sidelined with a groin injury, also returned to practice.

Defensive tackle Wendell Bryant did not practice on Sunday, but Green said he was given an excusable absence.


Thompson doubtful


The good news is that a magnetic resonance imaging exam showed that linebacker Ray Thompson didn't tear a medial collateral ligament in his knee, but just strained it. However, he is not certain he'll be ready for the Rams.

"It's a day to day," Thompson said. "I'll see how it goes throughout the week. I have a tendency to heal quickly, so I'm holding out hope I can play.

"But if I'm not 100 percent, I'm not going out there. The good thing about it is it wasn't serious and that, hopefully, I can bounce back at the end of the week and do some good preparation for the game."

 

[Harry]

Green doesn't say things just to make noise. Often in college the position people play depends more on the school's needs than the player's skill set. Wakefield has displayed good agility and we all know footwork is the key to success as a lineman. The fact that the Cards are talking tackle not guard is an indication of how much they respect Wakefield's athleticism. Wakefield is also a bright guy with a good motor. These kind of transitions are always a long shot, but it shows how much they think of Wakefield just by making the effort.

 

[jw7]

Wow. All I can say is that this off-season sure has not left a void in things to discuss. Total soap-opera.

I've liked Wakefield since he got here and the way he used to bat down passes on the D. But a 290 lb OT who hasn't played the position since high school? Wow. This off-season has just been overall weird. I'm surprised we didn't bring in that wrestler-guy.
What's next? Rackers can tackle - let's bring him in the nickel package for third and long.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Green doesn't say things just to make noise. Often in college the position people play depends more on the school's needs than the player's skill set. Wakefield has displayed good agility and we all know footwork is the key to success as a lineman. The fact that the Cards are talking tackle not guard is an indication of how much they respect Wakefield's athleticism. Wakefield is also a bright guy with a good motor. These kind of transitions are always a long shot, but it shows how much they think of Wakefield just by making the effort.

I agree. I like Wakefield but I never thought he was much of a defensive end. I actually think he has a better shot of making the team as a offensive lineman than a defensive lineman next year. I'm sure that's what Denny thought also, hence the move to offensive tackle.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

This move does not beat, the all time greatest move of all Wendall Gaines from DT to TE, Buddy Ryan is the man

 

[ds512az]

You do know how tall most Tackles are right. Pace is 6-7, Ogden is 6-8, W.Jones is 6-5.

Why do you want Him to be better then sitcom actor John Goodman?

First off, you are talking about 3 of the superior O-linemen in the NFL, so get real. Comparing Wakefield to Pace, Ogden, & Jones...... ummmm?

As for the John Goodman point. The last time I saw Fred Wakefield, (last year, on the sidelines, about 5 feet away from me, at the Seattle game), He appeared to me to be tall and lanky. My thoughts were if he could put on some pounds, and keep some quickness (i.e. footwork), then give him a shot. Just don't put him in with the names of the O-linemen you mentioned, because that's just off the wall.

 

[cardsunsfan]

First off, you are talking about 3 of the superior O-linemen in the NFL, so get real. Comparing Wakefield to Pace, Ogden, & Jones...... ummmm?

As for the John Goodman point. The last time I saw Fred Wakefield, (last year, on the sidelines, about 5 feet away from me, at the Seattle game), He appeared to me to be tall and lanky. My thoughts were if he could put on some pounds, and keep some quickness (i.e. footwork), then give him a shot. Just don't put him in with the names of the O-linemen you mentioned, because that's just off the wall.

Sorry your reasoning seems to be more flawed to me. You said he seemed a little tall. So Joeshmo responded that many of the best offensive linemen are tall and gave some examples of good ones. Most good Olinemen are taller that Dlinemen. Your statements seem much more off the wall then his... and I think almost everybody on this message board would agree with me on this...

 

[binkar]

Sorry your reasoning seems to be more flawed to me. You said he seemed a little tall. So Joeshmo responded that many of the best offensive linemen are tall and gave some examples of good ones. Most good Olinemen are taller that Dlinemen. Your statements seem much more off the wall then his... and I think almost everybody on this message board would agree with me on this...

I agree. ds512az your really confusing. You say he is too tall, so there are provided measurments of other good lineman that are tall. Then you say its a joke to put Wakefield in that catagory??? It's not like he said "Wakefield is the next dominating tackle" or anything he just stated that there are tall tackles that have been very good. Also I wouldnt say 290 lbs. is "lanky" by any means. Maybe not huge, or big enough to be a tackle, but not lanky thats for sure.

 

[pinnacle]

John Goodman was a good lineman.....but I think it was defense - he might of played both ways...Of course...it was in a movie that came out in the late 1980's....I forgot the name...Dennis Quaid, Jessica Lange..Quaid was the 1950's football star at LSU....damn..forgot the name of the movie..anyway..john goodman did play a lineman!!

 

[binkar]

I agree. I like Wakefield but I never thought he was much of a defensive end. I actually think he has a better shot of making the team as a offensive lineman than a defensive lineman next year. I'm sure that's what Denny thought also, hence the move to offensive tackle.

Agreed. I think Dennis likes Wakefield and the way he plays the game and sees a little bit of potential for him to be an Olineman, so knowing he doesn't have much of a shot at DE he would like to give him a shot elsewhere.