Right tackle rotation will continue - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**WoodysGirl** · 12-13-2012

Dec 13

3:52

PM CT

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

Normally a swing tackle spot is reserved for a veteran player, not a young one such as Parnell, who was a basketball player in college before deciding to play football in his senior season at Mississippi.

"You're not real comfortable, I wasn't coming in," offensive line coach Bill Callahan said. "Where's this fella at? He's our third tackle? He's got to come in and step up right away. He's given everyone the confidence that he can step up and play and take a starters role and be at both spots and provide great competition. As he grows through the years, I think it's going to be great for him."

Given Callahan's comments and the actions of the Cowboys last week, you have to think Free's future with the Cowboys is in doubt. But Callahan praised how Free has handled splitting time at tackle. For the second consecutive week, Free and Parnell shared snaps with the first team in practice.

"No one loves Doug Free more than I do," Callahan said. "I think he's a consummate pro, I think he comes to work (he's) the first in and last out. He's great for the room, he provides great leadership and example of our room, he studies better than any pro I've ever been around. He's well prepared, well versed, he has the answers before I even finish the sentence, again, it's tough but we're doing the best thing in terms of what we need for our club and for our ball team. Those are tough decisions and I think it helps everybody. It provides a little bit more competition and you get a little bit more heightened awareness at your spot. I think he'll tell ya, we got to get better and we got to get a little bit more production from that side so we're just trying to improve it anyway we can."

Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowbo...-will-continue

CowboysYanksLakers · 12-13-2012

I think Parnell will have a real chance to start in 2013

jrumann59 · 12-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboysYanksLakers

I think Parnell will have a real chance to start in 2013

If he does this that means the team did not find a right tackle in the draft or FA that is better than him. And that means another year of inconsistent line play. Free gets abused by speed rushers Parnell makes all rushers loo like speed rushers.

**Idgit** · 12-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrumann59

...Parnell makes all rushers loo like speed rushers.

Any specific examples of this? I've thought he's played pretty well, on both sides, when he's been in.

CoCo · 12-14-2012

The answer to our O-line problems will not be found in replacing them all. Its unrealistic to expect that can b edone in a single offseason. Most critics will probably grant the hope for improvement by Tyron because he's young. Well, so is Parnell.

Maybe we can get a couple new & improved pieces. But we're also going to need a couple of the holdovers to improve. Frankly, I expect Smith, Parnell, Livings, Bernadeau, Costa, Cook and Kowalski to all be in the mix next year along with a couple new faces. Perhaps Free as well but I think his contract plays into his potential to return.

**MichaelWinicki** · 12-14-2012

Callahan said all the right things in that piece.

CowboyFan74 · 12-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

Those are tough decisions and I think it helps everybody. It provides a little bit more competition and you get a little bit more heightened awareness at your spot. I think he'll tell ya, we got to get better and we got to get a little bit more production from that side so we're just trying to improve it anyway we can."

Key words right there, nothing about Free playing hurt....

**big dog cowboy** · 12-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

Right tackle rotation will continue

Oh for the next 3 games? I was really wanting this to be an offseason article.

BraveHeartFan · 12-14-2012

I'm ok with Parnell as long as they fix at least two of the other spots.

They need to fix a minimum of two of the starting spots.

C and a G or possibly both Guards. Maybe center and tackle.

Don't care how they go about it as long as they fix at least 2 of the positions. I would love to see them fix 3 of them but I'd be pretty happy with serious upgrades at two of them.

jrumann59 · 12-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idgit

Any specific examples of this? I've thought he's played pretty well, on both sides, when he's been in.

He was passable for a fill in but every time I saw passing down he was beaten. Free has bad footwork Parnell takes to a long to get out of his stance. I expect free to manhandled by bull rushes but Parnell is just as bad but he looks the part except the roller skates.

**Reality** · 12-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

"No one loves Doug Free more than I do," Callahan said.

Between this and the "No one loves football more than him" cliches players and writers have been throwing out lately, the significance and credibility of those phrases has declined.

Not to mention, you can view that as no one else is fond of Doug Free "except" Callahan and rightly so given his rapid decline and the risks to Romo's survivability with Free protecting him.

Quote:

"I think he's a consummate pro, I think he comes to work (he's) the first in and last out.

Ever notice how every player is the first in and last out when team personnel are interviewed?

Quote:

.. he studies better than any pro I've ever been around. He's well prepared, well versed, he has the answers before I even finish the sentence

If he studies harder than any other player and is well prepared, then that confirms Doug Free is just not a good player.

/reality

**WoodysGirl** · 12-14-2012

One thing to note is that it was Free who closed out the Bengals game. So while there was a rotation, it ended at the critical moment in the game. The trust factor means, Free will have the edge in certain moments.

**jobberone** · 12-14-2012

I haven't looked at the all 22 for that game but my impression was they stopped the experiment for good reason.

CopenhagenCowboy · 12-14-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reality

If he studies harder than any other player and is well prepared, then that confirms Doug Free is just not a good player.

/reality

That's exactly what I was thinking.

davidyee · 12-16-2012

...gave us coach speak for "we are in trouble and willing to do anything".

It doesn't bode well for Free in terms of the coach's trust in him as a quality starter right now.