The importance of RT this off-season

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Just looking at some of our AFC opponents this year, we face Von Miller, Khalil Mack, and Justin Houston. I think finding a new RT is going to be a lot more important than a WR2 on offense. I see Zeke and Dez both getting more targets in the receiving game this year but I would hate for our offense to sputter because of the one and only weak link on the offensive line. Free is below average now and Green you can't trust to stay healthy. What do you guys think we'll do? Part of me is scared that we're going to roll with what we have and hope one pans out

 

[Stash]

Just looking at some of our AFC opponents this year, we face Von Miller, Khalil Mack, and Justin Houston. I think finding a new RT is going to be a lot more important than a WR2 on offense. I see Zeke and Dez both getting more targets in the receiving game this year but I would hate for our offense to sputter because of the one and only weak link on the offensive line. Free is below average now and Green you can't trust to stay healthy. What do you guys think we'll do? Part of me is scared that we're going to roll with what we have and hope one pans out

I'm all for healthy competition for the job.

There's no way I'd stay with status quo and Doug Free, especially at a cost of $7.5 million. That has to be resolved first.

I have no problem bringing him back at a highly reduced rate, to compete and transition to a backup, swing tackle role to finish out his career. But if he's not open to that, he's gone.

But I'd also like to see open competition between Chaz Green, Emmitt Cleary, and La'el Collins to see if any of them can handle the role.

And I'd also draft an offensive tackle at some point this year too, because you can never have too many options and I don't think I can ever trust Green to stay healthy, even if he can play and Tyron Smith's issues in 2016 concerned me a little too.

 

[Daillest88]

Just looking at some of our AFC opponents this year, we face Von Miller, Khalil Mack, and Justin Houston. I think finding a new RT is going to be a lot more important than a WR2 on offense. I see Zeke and Dez both getting more targets in the receiving game this year but I would hate for our offense to sputter because of the one and only weak link on the offensive line. Free is below average now and Green you can't trust to stay healthy. What do you guys think we'll do? Part of me is scared that we're going to roll with what we have and hope one pans out

Man if Ryan Ramcyzk is close to our pick do you make a move? Especially if we somehow get a 3rd for Romo. That would pretty much secure our dominant run game for years to come.r and improve the pass protection more...

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Man if Ryan Ramcyzk is close to our pick do you make a move? Especially if we somehow get a 3rd for Romo. That would pretty much secure our dominant run game for years to come.r and improve the pass protection more...

I don't think you make a move for him, but if he somehow falls to that spot you consider it.

 

[Verdict]

Man if Ryan Ramcyzk is close to our pick do you make a move? Especially if we somehow get a 3rd for Romo. That would pretty much secure our dominant run game for years to come.r and improve the pass protection more...

This is supposed to be a very weak OT. That's not to say we shouldn't draft one if the grade is there but this class may not have any worthy of a pick. My guess is that we will roll with what we have one more year.


I would resign Leary and would work with Collins at RT and see if he can do it with Free, Collins and Green competing for that spot. I would like to see us draft one this year but I don't think the grade will be high enough and I wouldn't artificially inflate the grade.

 

[movaughn88]

I think it's way down on the list of priorities this off-season to spend resources on. I think the fanbase is still a little sensitive to the idea of our QB getting hit and injured. I think we gave up 28 sacks this year, which is tied for 7th-least.

I'm fine with Doug Free back, perhaps at a restructured rate as Stasheroo notes. He's an above average RT and we don't need another elite player on that line.

We can use a 5th or lower pick on improving swing tackle, or sign a cheap vet.

 

[Verdict]

I don't think you make a move for him, but if he somehow falls to that spot you consider it.

Someone might not jump us to take him in front of us since many of our competitors would believe we won't invest more assets in the OLine like many on this board believe.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

I think it's way down on the list of priorities this off-season to spend resources on. I think the fanbase is still a little sensitive to the idea of our QB getting hit and injured. I think we gave up 28 sacks this year, which is tied for 7th-least.

I'm fine with Doug Free back, perhaps at a restructured rate as Stasheroo notes. He's an above average RT and we don't need another elite player on that line.

We can use a 5th or lower pick on improving swing tackle, or sign a cheap vet.

I don't think Free can be considered above average anymore. He was pretty bad down the stretch last year - particularly in pass protection. If he's our guy this year, we need to be prepared with a lot help from TE and chipping backs throughout the season.

 

[John813]

IIRC doesn't the coaching staff love Free?

I think Chaz was supposed to be the answer, but he can't stay healthy.
Not sure if we can draft a RT this year that can stand out so well where the staff rather go with him over Free.

 

[Idgit]

I don't want to be spending resources on a starting caliber RT that could otherwise be spent addressing the relative lack of defensive talent.

 

[Stash]

I think it's way down on the list of priorities this off-season to spend resources on. I think the fanbase is still a little sensitive to the idea of our QB getting hit and injured. I think we gave up 28 sacks this year, which is tied for 7th-least.

I'm fine with Doug Free back, perhaps at a restructured rate as Stasheroo notes. He's an above average RT and we don't need another elite player on that line.

We can use a 5th or lower pick on improving swing tackle, or sign a cheap vet.

Here's some food for thought for you and anyone else interested and numbers on Doug Free:





Take a look at those and see if it makes you reconsider your description of Doug Free as "above average"? And keep in mind that those numbers came out before his considerable struggles at Philadelphia.

 

[RS12]

Here's some food for thought for you and anyone else interested and numbers on Doug Free:





Take a look at those and see if it makes you reconsider your description of Doug Free as "above average"? And keep in mind that those numbers came out before his considerable struggles at Philadelphia.

It is a good thing that isnt Dak's blind side or those numbers could be a lot worse.

 

[rkell87]

Some of you need your eyes and memory checked.

Free's ceiling is, and always has been average at BEST. The guy has never been strong enough for the position, got by on technique, is no longer quick enough, and constantly needs help. Smh it's no wonder other fan bases hate talking football with Cowboys fans, we have way too many that can't correctly interpret what they are seeing in game.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Here's some food for thought for you and anyone else interested and numbers on Doug Free:





Take a look at those and see if it makes you reconsider your description of Doug Free as "above average"? And keep in mind that those numbers came out before his considerable struggles at Philadelphia.

Wow.....thanks posting this. I always considered Free above average in run blocking and below average in pass protection, but I didn't know he was this bad! Good lord. So he's like one of the WORSE in the league in pass protection

Ouch

 

[Clove]

The answer here would have to be cheap labor.We just can't afford to keep putting large quantities of money at offensive linemen. 3 is good enough, you'll have to get GOOD cheap labor with the other two positions.

 

[Killerinstinct]

A lot depends on whether or not Cooper is good enough to keep. If he is I cut Free and start Green. If Green gets hurt again, I move Collins to RT and plug in cooper at LG.

 

[Stash]

Wow.....thanks posting this. I always considered Free above average in run blocking and below average in pass protection, but I didn't know he was this bad! Good lord. So he's like one of the WORSE in the league in pass protection

Ouch

They're eye-opening for sure. And it says lot to me that they come from Gil Brandt. He's Mr. Cowboy and supports anything and everything when it comes to them. Seeing it come from him is a double indictment.

But anyone who's talking about "above average" should really rethink that description.

He's mediocre at best at this point. He can hold up against mediocre pass rushers form that side, but he gets his lunch money stolen by anyone above that level.

And, on a line with no weak spots anywhere else, he's the point where anyone playing the Cowboys will choose to attack, and rightfully so.

 

[Daillest88]

Well damn cut Doug free that saves 5 million, bring in Ricky Wagner from Baltimore

 

[Stash]

A lot depends on whether or not Cooper is good enough to keep. If he is I cut Free and start Green. If Green gets hurt again, I move Collins to RT and plug in cooper at LG.

If nothing else, I give Collins a look at RT. Not a few practices and then pull the plug, but a decent shot at it. If by the time training camp begins he still looks bad or like he can't handle it, fine, back to left guard to compete with Cooper (who they hopefully can re-sign). But I'd like to see him get a legitimate shot to fill an area of need.

If Collins can play RT, a line of Smith-Cooper-Frederick-Martin-Collins looks mighty talented, and mighty young to me!

 

[LocimusPrime]

I bet Cleary ( not Leary) can play some RT....heck he has to be better than Free given those Gill Brant numbers