Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

My only problem is that he is 6'8" the 317lbs dont bother me

[URL="http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=26358"]Wade: Big Man At Left Guard[/URL]

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Yes he's 6'8". What's the question?

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=skinsfan_nn;312759]Yes he's 6'8". What's the question?[/quote]


i am a dumbass i meant to say worry

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Seems like a solid guy, not much bigger than Dockery, should be fine

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

guard one of the easiest positions to fill, not to worry?

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

How to speak football. Guard=BIG SPEEDBUMP!

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;312754]My only problem is that he is 6'8" the 317lbs dont bother me

[URL="http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=26358"]Wade: Big Man At Left Guard[/URL][/quote]


The idea that offensive guard is an easy or/unimportant position is a strange one. Anybody recall how Dockery cost us at least two games his first year by a combination of mistakes and poor technique? If Wade can't hold his own, our ground game is gone and Jason's in for a few dumps. No doubt about it.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=Crazyhorse1;312809]The idea that offensive guard is an easy or/unimportant position is a strange one. Anybody recall how Dockery cost us at least two games his first year by a combination of mistakes and poor technique? If Wade can't hold his own, our ground game is gone and Jason's in for a few dumps. No doubt about it.[/quote]If Wade cant hold his own than he won't be playing. I think we have 4 other lineman with starting experience at guard. Somebody will step up, no doubt in my mind!

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Not gonna work. Not sure what Buges is thinking on this one.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

i mentioned this before but I dont see that Dan Mozez has signed with any team yet. I check often since I am a big WVU fan. He was voted the best center in college last year. was all american 3 years, even as a redshirt sophomore while playing guard. Plus WVU's rushing attack has been top 3 all most every year. He isn't injured, I would love to see the Redskins bring him in for a look.

If Wade is the guy when the season starts, i feel he will do just fine. He's a vet, can learn the system and blocking schemes, he just has to work on his technique. he is only 2 inches taller than Dock, i dont see his height being a major concern.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Dock was 6'6, Wade is 6'8, I don't think the extra two inches will make a big deal.

It sounds like Wade is committed to making the switch and he seems to have a good attitude about it.

I honestly don't think we'll see much of a dropoff from Dockery. In fact Wade could actually be an improvement.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=skinsfan69;312829]Not gonna work. Not sure what Buges is thinking on this one.[/quote]

Care to elaborate?

Why won't Wade work at LG?

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

If your a backup and your offered a starting role? You better believe your going to BUST YOUR ASS to stay there. If you can make it, in a couple of years it's contract time, and guess what? It won't be a matter of lack of effort on his part

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[QUOTE=#56fanatic;312832]i mentioned this before but I dont see that Dan Mozez has signed with any team yet. I check often since I am a big WVU fan. He was voted the best center in college last year. was all american 3 years, even as a redshirt sophomore while playing guard. Plus WVU's rushing attack has been top 3 all most every year. He isn't injured, I would love to see the Redskins bring him in for a look.

If Wade is the guy when the season starts, i feel he will do just fine. He's a vet, can learn the system and blocking schemes, he just has to work on his technique. he is only 2 inches taller than Dock, i dont see his height being a major concern.[/QUOTE]

Mozes is a Viking

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

What's the report on Wade's footwork/speed?

DD was a bulldozer, but couldn't pull very well due to poor footwork and being pretty slow. If Wade has the ability and speed to get around behind Randy Thomas, we could be in for a fun year with our tandem backfield. Either way, as long as he can seal off the backside with Samuels, Randy and John seem to have no problem moving the pile off the right side.

Should be interested to follow his development. I do share some of concerns regarding his height. Being 6'8" is great for a tackle, but for a guard, who really needs to rely on leverage, it could be an issue. It is hard to stay low when you are 4-5" taller than the D-tackle you are trying to block.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

A part of me wonders what went on behind the scenes to keep Wade here.

Let's face it, he probably would have drawn some interest on the open market for a starting tackle job.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Wade made the best of his one start last season. I think we won that game and Wade played well.
I see this as a chance for the O-line to get better, I never felt Dockery was the next Russ Grimm at LG. I am not saying Wade will be either. I am just glad we did not spend a fortune to keep an average player like Dockery.
Bugel can find and develop a great guard for us. The canidate can even end up being a undrafted player and cheap... win-win.
I do see us signing a veteran guard that another team will cut sometime this offseason for financial reasons.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;312839]Dock was 6'6, Wade is 6'8, I don't think the extra two inches will make a big deal.

It sounds like Wade is committed to making the switch and he seems to have a good attitude about it.

I honestly don't think we'll see much of a dropoff from Dockery. In fact Wade could actually be an improvement.[/QUOTE]


I agree....Wade is a veteran player who has been around the NFL game. Any adjustments for him should not be compared to Dockery coming into the league and starting as a rookie. I agree that the coaches should be the one's to say he can't do the job. I can't imagine the two inch difference in their height being a major concern.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Height does not neccasarily mean you can't get low, it all depends on your body type and your proportion of center of gravity which gives you balance, long legs on a tall guy could provide problems, but if he's proportioned properly with a good base on the lower half of his body he should be able to get as low as he needs to be. As for him being able to handle the guard position? Haven't really seen him play so I don't know, but I do think he would have a hard time not out performing Dockery, Dockery missed block after block, I think we will be pleasantly surprised with our O-line this year if we get good play [it doesn't have to be great] at the left guard position.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

the only problem he might have is using his height against him. you can get away sometimes at tackle, with standing up. but the defensive tackles will bury him if he does this at guard

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

I think the only area of concern about Wade to me is run blocking, bc. he will have to get under the DT to move him and it a whole lot easier for a guy 6'6" to get under a guy thats 6'4" than it is for someone who is 6'8" to get under the same guy; that and getting to the next level and blocking a LB BUT... I think that he will GREATLY IMPROVE our pass protection over Dock now that he will not only have help from big bodies on BOTH sides but he also is going to be blocking slower players than hes used to. But with as much as we run the ball his mobility could be the big issue

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

What I'm most excited about is Wade's ability to pull. We'll finally have someone like Thomas on the other side who can get out into space. How effective he'll be remains to be seen, but there's no way he's worse than Dockery.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

It seems to me that if you can play tackle you can play guard. Jacoby made the switch and he was a big man. Nobody will know for sure until the season starts. Until then its just speculation. Just remember that this aint the first rodeo for Buges. I think he has guys that he likes in this group. I expect the trend of the last five games to continue into this season. Good luck to Rest of the League (ROTL) stopping our run game. Now I'm getting all fired up.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Todd Wade has outstanding work ethic, I think he will do a fine job at starting LG. We won't even remember who dock was, we'll read about how they overpaid for a middle of the road guard, that's not playing as well as they expected.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

If we are going to be a successful team, there should be no talk of hiding Wade away in the line or that the guard spot is somehow unimportant. Our running game will need for him or anyone else at that spot to perform just like any other spot on the line. Bottom line is that buges didn't start doing this yesterday so if he is confident enough to name him the starter this early in the offseason then Wade must have some skills.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

The key will be Saunders scheming to use Wade's strengths and minimize his weaknesses. Wade's not going to line up and mash guys like Dockery did, so running right behind him on goallines is probably out.

But Saunders loves to get his RBs out on the edge, and as has already been said, Wade's strength will likely be pulling and blocking out in space. I'd look for more pitches and sweeps to the left side of the field. The left side is shaping up to be the athletic side, while the right side is more power (though Randy Thomas is a nasty mix of both).

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=Mattyk72;312840]Care to elaborate?

Why won't Wade work at LG?[/quote]

Becasue this guy has been an average RT his whole career. He was released by Houston and Miami. So how is this guy going to change positions this late in his career and be effective, when he wasn't effective on the worst line in the NFL? If it was college I wouldn't be so worried. But this is the NFL. I just don't see it working. If he was switching from LT to LG then I wouldn't be so worried. Joe Jacoby did this w/ alot of success. Most of the time guys switch from guard to center or vice versa. Raleigh Macenzie did this as well. But RT to LG isn't very common and that's becasue of all the different footwork. I hope I'm wrong but I think the coaching staff is putting way too much stock in the one game he started.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Or maybe Wade should have been a LG all along but was being misused at RT?

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=SmootSmack;313053]Or maybe Wade should have been a LG all along but was being misused at RT?[/quote]

I think your onto something Capt. Obvious......?

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=skinsfan69;313047]Becasue this guy has been an average RT his whole career. He was released by Houston and Miami. So how is this guy going to change positions this late in his career and be effective, when he wasn't effective on the worst line in the NFL? If it was college I wouldn't be so worried. But this is the NFL. I just don't see it working. If he was switching from LT to LG then I wouldn't be so worried. Joe Jacoby did this w/ alot of success. Most of the time guys switch from guard to center or vice versa. Raleigh Macenzie did this as well. But RT to LG isn't very common and that's becasue of all the different footwork. I hope I'm wrong but I think the coaching staff is putting way too much stock in the one game he started.[/quote]

He wasn't released by Miami, he left as a free agent for a big contract in Houston.

Houston let him go due to injury problems, which appear to be behind him now.

I'd trust the coaches on this one. There were a few attractive free agents out there, like Edwin Mulitalo, and the Skins barely showed any interest. They must be pretty confident in Wade.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=Mattyk72;313065]He wasn't released by Miami, he left as a free agent for a big contract in Houston.

Houston let him go due to injury problems, which appear to be behind him now.

I'd trust the coaches on this one. There were a few attractive free agents out there, like Edwin Mulitalo, and the Skins barely showed any interest. They must be pretty confident in Wade.[/quote]

Well, he may have been hurt in Houston but they cut him for a reason. I guess they felt he was done as a full time player. But I trust Buges. He knows what he's doing. Plus they seem to like the guys behind Wade.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=SmootSmack;313053]Or maybe Wade should have been a LG all along but was being misused at RT?[/quote]


that is an extremely good point

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=skinsfan_nn;313055]I think your onto something Capt. Obvious......?[/quote]

say what?

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

I have my worries about Wade's flexibility. He looks a little rigid and doesn't quite fit the mold of the short-squatty guys who typically play guard. One name to keep in mind is Mike Pucillo. I saw him last year a few times as the 3rd TE on goaline packages. He's a G/C type with some athleticism.

Also people who think G is an insignificant and easy position to fill have a short memory. I remember the year before Randy Thomas got here. The middle of the line was a disaster that year and was largely responsible for P. Ramsey spending half the season with his back on the turf.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

If G is such an easy position to fill, and a relatively unimportant position on the team, then why are guards getting $50 million contracts these days?

Some of that inflated contract value stems from the ridiculous amount of cap space teams had last year. But still, if teams felt they could just switch a backup T to G, or draft some rookie, they'd never lay out that much money for starting Gs.

This isn't to say Wade can't be good at G, though. I'm just trying to put this silly notion to bed, that any dipshit can play G and you'll have a strong offensive line. Regarding Wade, I think he'll be good in certain areas and lousy in others; in no way will he be a complete Guard. He should hold up real well in pass protection, and I think he's quick enough to pull and get out on the edge. But I don't like his chances in a goalline situation where he needs to just drive straight ahead.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Our discussions here on the Warpath (and just about everywhere else where discussions take place) tend to be very polarizing. Some argue that Wade is going to be great as a Guard because of his athleticism and this and that, others argue he'll be a disaster because he won't get leverage and this and that.

In reality he'll likely fall somewhere in between. Will he be the next Steve Hutchinson? Hell no. Will he be a total disaster? Probably not. Chances are he'll simply be adequate.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

I would like to take an oppurtunity to say thank you to Schneed10 for posting to a different thread, and pulling me off the Michael Vick thread where I was.........circling the drain.........

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=Schneed10;313889]Our discussions here on the Warpath (and just about everywhere else where discussions take place) tend to be very polarizing. Some argue that Wade is going to be great as a Guard because of his athleticism and this and that, others argue he'll be a disaster because he won't get leverage and this and that.

In reality he'll likely fall somewhere in between. Will he be the next Steve Hutchinson? Hell no. Will he be a total disaster? Probably not. Chances are he'll simply be adequate.[/quote]

And that's something I'll take in a year where people like Dockery and Steinbach are getting record contracts. Let's draft a prospect and work it out from there...

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

Personally I trust that Buges knows what he's doing here. As I've said before, we could have went out and got a quality vet like Mulitalo at a decent price. The fact that we didn't seem to have much interest in him tells me Bugel and co. are confident in Wade.

Re: Todd Wade is the man at Left Guard
 

[quote=Mattyk72;313895]Personally I trust that Buges knows what he's doing here. As I've said before, we could have went out and got a quality vet like Mulitalo at a decent price. The fact that we didn't seem to have much interest in him tells me Bugel and co. are confident in Wade.[/quote]

I agree, I think the last several years our line has been pretty solid.