DFW: Sabin: Don't be surprised if Tyron Smith and Doug Free flip positions next year

[ThreeSportStar80]

Rainer Sabin chatted with Cowboys fans Thursday afternoon about a number of Cowboys-related topics. Here are some highlights from the chat:

Free has struggled this year...does [Tyron] Smith and [Doug] Free flip sides for next year?

Rainer Sabin: I could see that happening. Smith has more upside than Free and after investing a first-round pick in him the Cowboys probably envisioned Smith playing on the left side at some point in the near future.

Read more here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20111215-sabin-don-t-be-surprised-if-tyron-smith-and-doug-free-flip-positions-next-year.ece

[ThreeSportStar80]

Yeah I think that would be a very wise move....

[RCowboyFan]

Actually I would be surprised if it didn't happen. I could almost guarantee that move coming. Even if Free didn't struggle that much, I could have seen a possibility. With Free pretty much begging to be moved with the way he has played this year, I see the move pretty much a needed one.

[burmafrd]

people ad nauseum claim that Free's best position is LT. But honestly the games he played at RT were the best he played period. Better then he has ever done at LT.

[Risen Star]

The Cowboys planned on moving Tyron to LT when they made the selection.

You don't take a RT in the top 10 of the draft.

I'm actually embarrassed for the writer that he thinks he's breaking news here.

[baj1dallas]

Who the is Ranier Sabin? Of course we wouldn't be surprise. I don't think it's a lock to happen, but it certainly could. Why would Ranier Sabin have any more idea about the likelihood of this move than anybody else?

[jimnabby]

I'll be shocked if it doesn't happen.

[ThreeSportStar80]

people ad nauseum claim that Free's best position is LT. But honestly the games he played at RT were the best he played period. Better then he has ever done at LT.

I agree... He's a heck of a RT.

[28 Joker]

I hope Tyron Smith stays at RT, because he is a athletic, freak beast in the running game.

Smith deserves serious consideration for Offensive Rookie of the Year and for the Pro Bowl.

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Free has struggled badly this season. Hopefully moving to the other side helps him out.

[Future]

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/mvalvan1/ORLY-183.jpg

[Picksix]

Free has struggled badly this season. Hopefully moving to the other side helps him out.

Free's regressed, no doubt. I wouldn't say he's struggled badly. Sure, he's been beat from time to time, but for the most part he's been fine. I think there is something from a technique standpoint, that defenses have figured out and are exploiting, and if that can't be overcome, he may need to move over.

I love Smith, and think he'll eventually move to the left side. But I'm interested to see how he'd do there, seeing as how he didn't play LT in college. He hasn't seen the caliber of pass rusher at RT that he would at LT, either. And he's stronger and more powerful than Free, and that type of player typically plays RT. It's premature at this point to say he'd be as good at LT as he has at RT.

[Randy White]

should be either the left or right starting guard next year for the Cowboys, imo. The Cowboys are wasting his talents at the tackle position because he could be an All Pro guard if switched there.

[vaturkey]

Anyone who is anyone knew that was the plan since day one. Tyron has much much more strength and quickness then Free with stronger hands. He should be an all pro left tackle in the next two years. Its been a given they would swap sides at some point. This isn't the problem. The problem is we need an all pro center and haven't had a good one for about 10-15 years.

[STSINAZ]

free=probowl RT mediocre LT

Smith=probowl LT

[TheDallasDon]

BOLD STATEMENT!!!!!
There's gonna be a FA period this offseason...........I wonder if I can be a sports journalist???

[coyboy]

Makes sense

[BraveHeartFan]

I kinda thought that was probably the plan all along and why they drafted him as high as they did in the first place.

[Yakuza Rich]

Free has struggled badly this season. Hopefully moving to the other side helps him out.

Uh...no.

He's actually graded out well for most of the season. Even against Jason Pierre Paul, he gave up 2 sacks and that was it. And one of the sacks came when Romo held onto the ball because nobody got open on the read. And Free. We are also 5th and 15th in runs towards his side.

I think we need to move them because Smith is an elite athlete at the position (he dominated Justin Tuck) whereas Free has struggled against elite pass rushers. Plus, Free is a good run blocker which is something that Tyron is still learning...but, it's usually easier to run block on the weak side.







YR

[burmafrd]

Uh...no.

He's actually graded out well for most of the season. Even against Jason Pierre Paul, he gave up 2 sacks and that was it. And one of the sacks came when Romo held onto the ball because nobody got open on the read. And Free. We are also 5th and 15th in runs towards his side.

I think we need to move them because Smith is an elite athlete at the position (he dominated Justin Tuck) whereas Free has struggled against elite pass rushers. Plus, Free is a good run blocker which is something that Tyron is still learning...but, it's usually easier to run block on the weak side.







YR

depends on your standard for GOOD. He has been decent most of the time.

Smith has such an out of the world potential that you really have no choice but to put him at LT sooner or later.

[Eskimo]

This one is obvious.

You put your best guy at LT and Smith will be our best guy by next season. This season he was too raw and he is used to playing RT at college.

I think both could make the Pro Bowl next season. Free is an okay pass blocker at LT and elite for a RT. Free is a good run blocker on either side and was playing really well late in 2009 when Felix was having a lot of success running behind Free and Bigg.

We need one of Costa or Kowalski to become a league average Center and either one more draft pick or one highly ranked FA to step into one of the OG positions. Unfortunately, there are no great Centers in this draft unless Konz declares and he has a big medical red flag.

[Bowdown27]

Wow genius reporting on his part. Considering how Doug free has played this season