Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Battles: Reggie Wells vs Deuce Lutui
One of the biggest and most underrated position battles along the Arizona Cardinals roster this year will be at offensive guard. Everything began when starter Deuce Lutui was offered a one-year tender and refused to sign during OTAs. He wound up missing all of the team's mini camps and workouts. Even before Alan Faneca was acquired, Reggie Wells slid over to the right side to take Lutui's place. Now Deuce is signed and there's a logjam at right guard.
If you've seen the movie Brothers, I would compare this situation to that movie. One brother goes to war, is captured and presumed dead. The other brother keeps his sister-in-law/brother's widow company and they begin to fall for each other. Then there's that awkward moment when the "dead" brother returns from the war after he is rescued. In this case, the "wife" is Lutui's position at right guard and his "brother" is Reggie Wells. Okay, now that I've gotten that terrible analogy out of my system, let's move on.
Reggie Wells vs Deuce Lutui
Size: Wells - Even though Lutui significantly outweighs Wells, I'm taking the upset here. With Lutui weighing in at a whopping 400-pounds for camp, he'll literally face an uphill battle to get back to his ideal weight (330). Wells is right where he needs to be.
Speed: Wash - Right now it's too difficult to judge two offensive lineman based on speed.
Athleticism: Lutui - Lutui has the age-factor on his side. We've seen him fight for every yard and even work his way to the next level when blocking. He's the more dynamic athlete.
Potential: Lutui - Deuce is only in his fifth season and started to crack some of his potential last year. He experienced his best year yet and most of us were excited to see how he'd look in 2010. After hearing about his weight issues, however, that may have changed.
Leadership/Experience: Wells - If you are one of the longest tenured players on the team, more often than not you'll win the experience battle. Wells has also played at tackle and center, making him a very diverse offensive lineman -- hence the reason he was able to switch sides this offseason.
While I believe Lutui's weight issues will pose problems during training camp - and I know I'm not the only one - I do believe that strength and conditioning coach John Lott will help. If Deuce can drop some pounds and seriously compete to earn his position back, it will make for one of the best position battles in 2010.
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its said
that we are even having this conversation. If you asked the question who would you rather have Lutui or Wells about 2 months ago 95% of people would have said Lutui. I can think of how you can even gain 70 pounds in a matter of 4 months. is that possible?
Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
Depression from the loss in the playoffs/not getting a long-term contract?
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
Delayed response..
Sorry for the delay but to answer your question LongBeach and I know it was on another thread, but it pertains to the O-line so I think it pretty much conveys the gyst I was making. I don’t think having an unbalanced offense necessarily hinders or helps an O-line. It depends more on how it plays to their strengths. The Broncos of the late 90’s early 2000’s for example produced several 1000+ yard backs in succession. They ran a very complex blocking scheme based on traps and zone blocking to compensate for their lack of size across the line and were still one of the most successful lines in the game. If your strength across the line is Pass blocking and you pass the majority of the time you will be more successful. I don’t think however the Cards line excels in pass blocking rather they’re a very strong run blocking unit. The reason I think Warner made them look better was his quick release and ability to make things happen under center. I don’t think our line will suck this season either. We’re going to be a predominately run first offense and we have some bad-ass run blockers across the line. Lutui, Sendlein, Brown, Faneca, Keith… Come on, they are some freaking bruiser’s in the run game. I still think Leinart is going to take an ass load of sacks if they stray from the run…
To directly answer this question, Lutui is the better run blocker but Wells comes through in a pinch and is way more consistant. When Lutui is on though, man he is on.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
+1
I voted for Wells but only because I think Lutui has permanently gotten on the Whiz’s bad side with this stunt. It’s too bad because it seemed like he turned the corner last year, in terms of cutting back the stupid penalties and being more consistent. I’m hoping Deuce can get back to his playing weight and re-establish himself as the starter but it’s going to take a gallon-sized dose of the Kool-Aid to believe that at this point.
I read your response to my question on the other thread, appreciate the insight. Good to see you and Bad Matty back, was missing you two during our debates with Niner nation.
I'll try to get another one of those going before the season starts
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
For sure...
It’s warming up and the season is almost upon us. We’re both antsy for this thing to pop off. I hybernate in the offseason but I’ve been around.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
Agreed
Deuce was better last year, but at least Reggie isn’t massively overweight for an Offensive Guard.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
Can we clear something up?
I believe when everyone refers to Warner’s “quick release” they really mean his quick READS. Warner did not have a very quick release. In fact we always complained about how he held on to the ball too long. Something that plagued even the latter part of his career. I think his ability to diagnose opposing teams blitz packages led to his ability to have an accurate idea of where to go with the ball before the snap even occurred. I think his release did quicken in the last couple years of his career but believe it should be attributed more to his football IQ and ability to read opposing defenses than anything else.
Had he learned how to throw the damn ball away on occasion I think he would have been so much better statistically, even though he was already amazing especially when it mattered.
GO CARDINALS!!!
by cardsfanforlife24 on Jul 22, 2010 12:07 AM MDT up reply actions
thank you
for diagnosing the reason behind warners quick release, or since you don’t like the term “quick release”, ability to pass the ball to an intended player before getting clobbered.
Nice sarcasm
I just think there’s a difference between the physical release and the reason why he knows where he’s going with the ball. That’s all.
by cardsfanforlife24 on Jul 22, 2010 10:58 AM MDT up reply actions
Off topic but
Warner was know as a tough guy willing to hold the ball till the last second to give his guys a chance to get open. He took a lot of hits, but he made a lot of plays because he was so fearless. His mechanics were very good and he had a “quick release”. His holding the ball was a deliberate choice and made him even more dangerous to defenses.
by Birdman from Mesa on Jul 22, 2010 2:26 PM MDT up reply actions
When he does decide to throw
It does come out fast though, even if he holds it too long.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
lol, beat me to the punch Matt...
Arguing semantics is a waste of time. Coming from the guy who over simplified the “learning curve” of the offensive lineman. That’s the hardest position to learn minus QB dude.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
Reggie now that Deuce ate a small child.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
by JoeCB1991 on Jul 21, 2010 6:29 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
haha
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
Wasn't that small, Joe
That was somebody’s seventh grader…
:(
by tw3kr on Jul 22, 2010 5:59 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
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![After his holdout, Deuce is now apparently a smidge heavier than JaMarcus Russell currently weighing in 396 while he is listed at 338.
Think he might wind up being cut before the Preseason games because of this?
[Yes, I did the picture again]](http://cdn1.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/127723/33457c5_jpg_small.png)













