FWST: With Free, Garrett says, 'It's a technical thing, it's a demeanor thing."

[WoodysGirl]

-- Carlos Mendez

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said demeanor is part of the reason behind Doug Free’s struggles at right tackle. He has to have a little more “bite” to his game.

“Oftentimes up there, it can be a dogfight,” Garrett said. “So you’ve got to play with that demeanor where you’re going to bite the guy a little bit and be firm and not let him push you back into the quarterback. At times, Doug did a good job of that. At other times, he didn’t.”

Garrett has talked before about how Free has to be firmer.

Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2012/11/with-free-garrett-says-its-a-technical-thing-its-a-demeanor-thing.html#storylink=cpy

[Teague31]

No Red, its a "he sucks" thing.

[CowboysYanksLakers]

I actually agree with Garrett on this... It's called being "SOFT AS HELL"

[dwight]

I think Free is terrible. He hasn't played well in a couple of years. Dallas has to seriously address and rebuild the Oline next offseason.

Jerry is not giving Callahan good resources.

[jobberone]

Put him in the pit and keep sending them.

[Bluestang]

Doug Free has had 3 different position coaches in his tenure here in Dallas.

He's struggled with coaching changes his first year with them, so let's not be rash here.

If we applied the same logic to Tyron Smith, who was getting thrashed around by the Browns too then we wouldn't have any tackles left.

Smith also played poorly vs Trent Cole last week, and I've noticed that if he has to play against a player with power he tends to struggle against them.

[Hoofbite]

Doug Free has had 3 different position coaches in his tenure here in Dallas.

He's struggled with coaching changes his first year with them, so let's not be rash here.

If we applied the same logic to Tyron Smith, who was getting thrashed around by the Browns too then we wouldn't have any tackles left.

Smith also played poorly vs Trent Cole last week, and I've noticed that if he has to play against a player with power he tends to struggle against them.

Tyron is a developing player at a position unfamiliar to him.

Free is a guy who has been around the block for a while, likely peaked 2-3 years ago and hasn't been the same since.

That's why you don't apply the same logic. Might be a lot to ask but looking at context usually helps.

The move back to RT was supposed to salvage Free after seeing him be whipped at LT.

It hasn't. I really wish Dallas didn't have to take the cap hit to put someone else in there next season.

As far as Jason's comments, they're stupid.

Where are the coaches to give him the technical aspect he's supposedly been lacking for who knows how long? Callahan not big on technical stuff?

Where's the HC to instill the demeanor in him that he's missing? Whatever happened to the "right approach"? Letting a guy be mentally weak and lazy is the right approach?

[Bluestang]

Tyron is a developing player at a position unfamiliar to him.

Free is a guy who has been around the block for a while, likely peaked 2-3 years ago and hasn't been the same since.

That's why you don't apply the same logic. Might be a lot to ask but looking at context usually helps.

The move back to RT was supposed to salvage Free after seeing him be whipped at LT.

It hasn't. I really wish Dallas didn't have to take the cap hit to put someone else in there next season.

As far as Jason's comments, they're stupid.

Where are the coaches to give him the technical aspect he's supposedly been lacking for who knows how long? Callahan not big on technical stuff?

Where's the HC to instill the demeanor in him that he's missing? Whatever happened to the "right approach"? Letting a guy be mentally weak and lazy is the right approach?


Doug Free has been playing LT for 2 years, we the fans and the media severely underestimated how easy it would be for him to go back to RT.

On top of that he had the presence of Kyle Kosier next to when he was there in 2010, but when Kosier went to the right side to help Smith, I find it no coincidence that Free struggled again.

Neither tackle can handle power rushers, and that seems to be OK with the way the Cowboys want to set the pocket.

[Zordon]

what does he mean by "it's a demeanor thing"?

[Hostile]

what does he mean by "it's a demeanor thing"?
If you look beaten, they come after you that much harder. You have to maintain composure at all times. They will take any edge you give them.

[burmafrd]

Doug Free has been playing LT for 2 years, we the fans and the media severely underestimated how easy it would be for him to go back to RT.

On top of that he had the presence of Kyle Kosier next to when he was there in 2010, but when Kosier went to the right side to help Smith, I find it no coincidence that Free struggled again.

Neither tackle can handle power rushers, and that seems to be OK with the way the Cowboys want to set the pocket.

more excuses.

Bottom line is that he is a 6 year VET
and by the way he practiced at LT a lot before he took over; and practiced a fair amount at RT as well. He was the swing tackle for a year so he practiced both.

Its BS to try and claim that switching from RT to LT and then back to RT is so hard. TOTAL BS.

Just trying to find excuses for him

[Eddie]

RT is a concern for next year. Free should not be a Cowboy in 2013. If he is, something is definitely wrong.

The entire OL is a concern. Our new OG's have not panned out. Our C issue is a mess. We have one player to build around right now.

[sbark]

what does he mean by "it's a demeanor thing"?

.....lack of nasty in him, needs some attitude, seems like he had it during his first stint at RT, must have rubbed off since.

[Rack Bauer]

.....lack of nasty in him, needs some attitude, seems like he had it during his first stint at RT, must have rubbed off since.

:hammer:

[ManicDepressiveMan]

.....lack of nasty in him, needs some attitude, seems like he had it during his first stint at RT, must have rubbed off since.

Yeah, it is called getting paid and not caring anymore.

[Double Trouble]

Doug Free is a marginal player who parlayed a nice 5 or so week run at the end of 2009 into an 8 figure contract.

Kudos to Doug.

[Wood]

what does he mean by "it's a demeanor thing"?

its another way of saying Free is suffering from lack of confidence and its showing. In under-sea world it would be equivalent of wounded dolphin flopping around with bunch of sharks in the area who have eaten recently.

[FiveRings]

Rewatching the game he just looks lost, maybe getting moved to the right side did something to his confidence? Garrett should send him on a couple of pulls early to get his game going.

[jobberone]

what does he mean by "it's a demeanor thing"?

I don't know for sure but I took it as he doesn't have enough 'attitude'. That's why I said put him in the pit and send them after him. You either quit or get mean. Can't really. Too late in the year for that sort of thing which I don't even know if they do anymore. Put I suspect he needs more fight in him. Besides the technique thing.

[Zimmy Lives]

If you look beaten, they come after you that much harder. You have to maintain composure at all times. They will take any edge you give them.

Very true. Free has bad body language and defensive players feed off of it. Same thing happened to DaBears o-line last night.

Free lacks confidence and he needs to find it quick or he will be out of a job next season. He reminds me a lot of Kevin Gogan: he was terrible RT. Maybe he would make a better guard.

[RXP]

what does he mean by "it's a demeanor thing"?

If your not the most talented guy in the world, then you need to play tackle with a mean streak. Marc Columbo was a perfect example. Free and Columbo are essentially the same guy, but Columbo was nasty. And that nastiness kept him in the league until his body finally failed him.

What you rally want is talent AND a mean streak, like Erik Williams. But they are tough to find.

Free has neither the talent nor the attitude.

[Bluestang]

I have project for you guys if you are willing...

Count how many times the OL will initiate a double team during pass protection.

The keyword is initiate and not hold it...as in two lineman will punch a guy and then one will maintain the rest of the block and the other will come off and look for another defender.

Sometimes it's the details, or maybe lack of attention to detail?

[jobberone]

Kinda hard to get a dble team on a wide DE quickly. Teams are doing a lot of stunting on us and that seems to be creating a lot of confusion. We are also letting too many blitzers come in untouched or minimally blocked.

[Bluestang]

Kinda hard to get a dble team on a wide DE quickly. Teams are doing a lot of stunting on us and that seems to be creating a lot of confusion. We are also letting too many blitzers come in untouched or minimally blocked.


We had 2 new faces on the OL, and 1 playing a position that hadn't played since more than a year ago. The Browns ran stunts to test how cohesive the line would be with the new changes. It's what any DC coach would do when they see so much change on the OL from an opposing team.

Also of those 7 sacks, 2 of them were because Dunbar failed to block his assignment because he didn't see the blitz. The 1st time he didn't block the #53 up the middle at all (BOB blocking) and then the second time on a corner blitz he ran off into a route without checking to see if there was a blitzer.

Another one came on Felix Jones also failing to see the blitz on play action pass. If the RB sees a free blitzer he doesn't go through with the fake and blocks the free rusher. That didn't happen and Romo was clearly upset with Jones on the play.

Pass protection success involves the running backs and sometimes the WRs.

KO ran a route too far that caused Romo to double pump his throw and hold onto the ball. This was on a 1st and 10 and KO is trying to run his route past the sticks...on a 1st and 10?

That's 4 sacks caused by people not playing along the OL. That's why you have to evaluate the team as in all 11 on the field and the play design.

[Tennione72]

He suffers from lack of Colombo

[CyberB0b]

Free didn't just get beat by the bullrush, he let a guy run right around him untouched.

[FiveRings]

I have project for you guys if you are willing...

Count how many times the OL will initiate a double team during pass protection.

The keyword is initiate and not hold it...as in two lineman will punch a guy and then one will maintain the rest of the block and the other will come off and look for another defender.

Sometimes it's the details, or maybe lack of attention to detail?

What's your point? It's not like the guy that helps then comes off is lazy, they can punch and then look to another defender for a number of reasons

[wileedog]

Rewatching the game he just looks lost, maybe getting moved to the right side did something to his confidence?

I think it has more to do with being beaten like a rented mule for a year and half.

[Zordon]

If your not the most talented guy in the world, then you need to play tackle with a mean streak. Marc Columbo was a perfect example. Free and Columbo are essentially the same guy, but Columbo was nasty. And that nastiness kept him in the league until his body finally failed him.

What you rally want is talent AND a mean streak, like Erik Williams. But they are tough to find.

Free has neither the talent nor the attitude.
i miss columbo. you are right, if free is lacking talent then he needs to at least make up for it with tough, physical play. at times it looks like he's scared of contact.

[jobberone]

We had 2 new faces on the OL, and 1 playing a position that hadn't played since more than a year ago. The Browns ran stunts to test how cohesive the line would be with the new changes. It's what any DC coach would do when they see so much change on the OL from an opposing team.

Also of those 7 sacks, 2 of them were because Dunbar failed to block his assignment because he didn't see the blitz. The 1st time he didn't block the #53 up the middle at all (BOB blocking) and then the second time on a corner blitz he ran off into a route without checking to see if there was a blitzer.

Another one came on Felix Jones also failing to see the blitz on play action pass. If the RB sees a free blitzer he doesn't go through with the fake and blocks the free rusher. That didn't happen and Romo was clearly upset with Jones on the play.

Pass protection success involves the running backs and sometimes the WRs.

KO ran a route too far that caused Romo to double pump his throw and hold onto the ball. This was on a 1st and 10 and KO is trying to run his route past the sticks...on a 1st and 10?

That's 4 sacks caused by people not playing along the OL. That's why you have to evaluate the team as in all 11 on the field and the play design.

Still haven't seen any film but I trust you. But regardless of Sunday's game teams have been stunting us all year and we haven't done the best job of it although at times not too bad. It doesn't surprise me for the RBs to miss the blitz esp Dunbar. Maybe Jones some.

We seem to leak in different areas almost every week although there have been some constant strengths and weaknesses relatively speaking.

[jobberone]

What's your point? It's not like the guy that helps then comes off is lazy, they can punch and then look to another defender for a number of reasons

The point is (I think) that they are staying on someone too long helping out and not keeping a good pocket. I've seen that at times but I don't know if that's a constant problem. They do have trouble passing people off on stunts.

[TheCount]

If his technique sucks and his toughness sucks, what else is there?

[MichaelWinicki]

I appreciate Bluestang's observations and comments.

That's a little more enlightening that some of the other comments folks have made.

[FiveRings]

The point is (I think) that they are staying on someone too long helping out and not keeping a good pocket. I've seen that at times but I don't know if that's a constant problem. They do have trouble passing people off on stunts.

I agree with that 100% on one of the Romo sacks in the Cleveland game Free let a stunting backer run right past him with no more that a bump of the shoulder. That to me is chalked up to not knowing what he's doing.

[TheCoolFan]

Count Free out...he's done.

[Aven8]

If his technique sucks and his toughness sucks, what else is there?

13 million guaranteed?

[ScipioCowboy]

If his technique sucks and his toughness sucks, what else is there?

Winning personality?

[jrumann59]

Against the browns I noticed that during the stunts I noticed the the initial rusher that engaged 2 would actually hold the arm of our OL so the second guy could not get to the stunter. I noticed it like 3-4 times in the game. I also noticed it never got called.

[bark]

what does he mean by "it's a demeanor thing"?



I think that's a nice way of calling him a p_ _ _ y......

[CowboyFan74]

Tenacity, with a touch of nastiness is what he lacks. I thought he had a bit of it 2-3 years ago. Did he get injured and lose the edge? That's my guess...