Cardinals to shuffle O-line
Shifts to be tested at 3-day minicamp
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 10, 2007 12:00 AM
There won't be any surprising names on the starting offensive line when the Cardinals open a three-day minicamp Friday. Those names will be lined up in some surprising spots, however.
Reggie Wells, thought to be the starting right tackle, will begin the off-season at left guard. And Mike Gandy, who was expected to contend for a starting job at left tackle or left guard, will be at right tackle.
The lineup could change before the Cardinals open training camp in late July, Whisenhunt said.
"When we get to training camp, I'd like to put them in one spot and leave them there so we can develop some chemistry," Whisenhunt said.
Wells' move is a surprise, because played well at right tackle last season. That is an important spot in the Cardinals lineup, because it protects the blind side of left-handed quarterback Matt Leinart.
Milford Brown, the starting left guard last year, is getting married this weekend and won't be at the minicamp. That is part of the motivation for moving Wells, but Brown already was in danger of losing his starting job.
Coaches think Gandy and Oliver Ross, the tentative starter on the left side, might be their best options at tackle.
Whether Wells stays at guard will be a "function of how the two tackles play, if we think Oliver can play left tackle and how Mike adjusts to the right side," Whisenhunt said.
If this lineup holds until the first game, it means only one starting offensive lineman, right guard Deuce Lutui, will return in the same position he played last season.
Al Johnson, a free-agent acquisition from Dallas, is expected to start at center.
