When the New England Patriots selected Caedan Wallace in the third round of last year’s draft, they projected him to factor into the left tackle mix. Fifteen months later, Wallace is indeed lining up on the left side of the line.
Just not at tackle.
During organized team activities, the team informed him of its plans to move him from tackle to left guard in hopes of maximizing his potential. Wallace has since lined up in that spot twice in the spring and over the first seven practices of training camp,
primarily spending time with the second-string offense.
“I actually like guard, a lot,” Wallace said on Wednesday. “It’s different, and different’s always fun for me. I’m just learning new stuff every day, and it’s really fun. It’s really, really fun.”
Despite the fun, he did acknowledge that the transition comes with its own set of challenges.
“It really is little stuff every day that I’m picking up on,” he pointed out. “The lateral movement stuff did get me early on, and also just the quickness stuff. When I’m at tackle, I set three, four times and I’m not even touching the dude yet. At guard, you’re taking a set and you may get your foot down before the dude’s there. So, little stuff like that with the timing has been the thing I’ve focused on the most.”
A part-time guard in high school, at Penn State, and at the East-West Shrine Bowl, Wallace was drafted 68th overall by New England last year. He ended up playing just 40 total snaps in his originally-intended spot, and ended his rookie campaign as a backup at right tackle.
With a new coaching staff in town, however, the offensive line was reshuffled — and Wallace ended up on the interior.
“Big, strong, powerful kid,” said head coach Mike Vrabel about the 25-year-old. “Just looking to put everybody in an opportunity for them to excel and a place to compete, which he’s done. I would say that he’s been headed in the right direction these last couple days since we put pads on. I think he’s gotten more comfortable. Everybody’s going to make mistakes, but I think that there’s been a lot of really positive plays.”
It remains to be seen whether or not his position change will allow him to push for a starting spot at some point in the future, or indeed improve his chances of making the team. For now, however, Wallace is tackling the challenge head-on — just like he is his opponents.
“I like hitting people,” he said. “At tackle, you have to think a little more, and at guard you can kind of fire off and hit your face and stuff more.”
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