Chaz Green and Doug Free

[Kaiser]

I wouldn't say it's a foregone conclusion. The first round tender last year was a cool $3.4 mil and the second round tender came in at $2.4 mil. Those numbers are only like to go up this year as the salary cap increases. Will the front office really pony up that kind of cash for a lineman who hasn't even been active on game days since Collins took over?

The original tender is more reasonable at $1.5 mil, but a team could sign him away without losing a draft pick since he was an undrafted free agent. It's very likely there will be teams out there that feels he could start for them.

Great post, thanks. I was thinking the 2nd round tender was more like 1.5 but even at 2.5 I think its a lock that the Cowboys would resign him. Even in a bench role they would do it IMO and teams would fight over taking him if the price was 1.5 with no draft pick compensation.

I also still think Collins is the RT next year and Leary goes back to his starting RG position, but who knows.

 

[Kaiser]

Free can't and won't last forever. It's just a matter of time before Green or someone else supplants him. It's definitely a matter of when more than if. Hopefully, Green lives up to expectations, whether it's 2015, 2016 or later. Let's also be aware that Free isn't free of injuries. I seriously doubt that anyone can guarantee that won't be the case at some point in the future, whether soon or later.

Also Free's salary for next year isn't guaranteed. He is due 4MM with a 3MM cap hit if he is cut so it would actually create cap room if he is cut after this year.

 

[kiheikiwi]

My hope was/is that Green would at least be activated. Which he so far has not, still on I.R. not sure how much longer his window is still open. If he cannot practice with the team how can they evaluate him for next year. Which would mean, yes Free will be back next year. Green may or may not be the heir apparent to Free - he was drafted to be. Now, if he is not activated, the coach's will have no idea if he can or cannot - so, do you spend more resources on the RT position, another draft pick or free agent ? Or trust in your evaluation that lead you to give up a 3rd round pick for Green.
I would not move either of our guards to RT. Collins and The Gob. have found their homes and they are damm good guards and will be for years to come. Our future RT is either Green or someone not on our team yet. First choice is Green.
Just get him practicing already !

 

[casmith07]

It's probably too much to ask to see Chaz Green enter the starting lineup and replace Free at this point, but if he is healthy and conditioned, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance out there.

Free is the biggest hurdle we have in executing a top notch offense right now. Terrance Williams isn't consistent, but he does have playmaking ability. I wouldn't mind Brice Butler getting some snaps when he returns either though. Could add some of the explosiveness that our offense is lacking since we lost Dunbar. I think that would really help the run game tremendously.

It would be great to see Williams in the slot in Butler on the outside, but he needs to catch the ball consistently. He has shown great ability to take it to the house on crossing routes especially.

Is this a Chaz Green/Doug Free thread or a Brice Butler thread?

 

[cowboyschmps3]

It's probably too much to ask to see Chaz Green enter the starting lineup and replace Free at this point, but if he is healthy and conditioned, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance out there.

Free is the biggest hurdle we have in executing a top notch offense right now. Terrance Williams isn't consistent, but he does have playmaking ability. I wouldn't mind Brice Butler getting some snaps when he returns either though. Could add some of the explosiveness that our offense is lacking since we lost Dunbar. I think that would really help the run game tremendously.

It would be great to see Williams in the slot in Butler on the outside, but he needs to catch the ball consistently. He has shown great ability to take it to the house on crossing routes especially.

Butler needs to stay healthy and on the field.

 

[LatinMind]

He's clearly the target for defenses. The Fins started to move Suh his way to try and take advantage. However, I agree...he wasn't as bad as people make out to be. Some of the sacks are on Romo. As far as the run defense, a large part of the problem is the play calling. You can't expect Free, Fred and Martin to be able to reach that much that quickly and get to the defender. If they are cheating that way, run the other way. Our Ivy League HC struggles to figure that out.




YR

Agree, i see Tyron getting beaten more than Free. As broaddus talked about, when Dallas started to go right which was away from the strong side, Dallas started to establish the run game. Its frustrating how much this coaching staff steps on its own feet.

 

[loublue22]

the OLine can't hold a pocket the last 3 games, it's not all Free's fault

 

[Fredd]

for the future, I am thrilled at Smith, Collins, Fred, Martin as the first 4 until either Free, Green or someone else takes RT...a young group that will only get better as they get playing time together...they will help tony stay upright for the most part and make the transition to a new guy some day THAT much easier

I get it that they haven't been perfect this year, but I can't help but be a little giddy over the future

 

[darthseinfeld]

I cant see Green getting a shot unless the team is out of contention.

And they shelve Romo

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Agree, i see Tyron getting beaten more than Free. As broaddus talked about, when Dallas started to go right which was away from the strong side, Dallas started to establish the run game. Its frustrating how much this coaching staff steps on its own feet.

Free gets beaten wayyyy more than Tyron. We started to run well to the right side because the Dolphins D-Line was cheating over to the left side (where Tyron was) and Fred, Martin and Free were out of position thru no fault of their own. Tyron has had some hand placement issues with the Eagles and then the sack he gave up. Pretty uncharacteristic. He's not nearly as good run blocking on runs to the right than he is on runs behind him. I'm guessing the staff was worried about Suh and that's why they didn't run right more, but it was working and they were cheating over so much that it's ridiculous to think that the backside can block it when they are that out of position.






YR

 

[conner01]

That's a possibility, but as much as I was on the Collins at RT bandwagon, I think that boat has sailed.

I think they see Collins much like Martin, a guy who could play RT but a guy who can excel at guard.
Not sure what will happen at RT next year but for this year free is going to be the starter. Green may be the future but without a camp don't see him starting this year though getting him some snaps at some point would be nice

 

[perrykemp]

Free gets beaten wayyyy more than Tyron.

YR, agreed that Free gives much more pressure to better calibre pass rushers than Tyron. Having said that, I think the stats are pretty interesting (see below).

Tyron is pace to give up 11 sacks which would be the bottom in the league. I don't think that's indicative of his overall play, but it is shocking.

So far in 2015:

Doug Free: 2 sacks allowed, 7 accepted penalties
Tyron Smith: 7 sacks allowed, 5 accepted penalties

In 2014:

Doug Free: 3 sacks, allowed, 4 accepted penalties
Tyron Smith: 6 sacks allowed, 8 accepted penalties

 

[Yakuza Rich]

YR, agreed that Free gives much more pressure to better calibre pass rushers than Tyron. Having said that, I think the stats are pretty interesting (see below).

Tyron is pace to give up 11 sacks which would be the bottom in the league. I don't think that's indicative of his overall play, but it is shocking.

So far in 2015:

Doug Free: 2 sacks allowed, 7 accepted penalties
Tyron Smith: 7 sacks allowed, 5 accepted penalties

In 2014:

Doug Free: 3 sacks, allowed, 4 accepted penalties
Tyron Smith: 6 sacks allowed, 8 accepted penalties

Sacks are a bit misleading because they don't factor in the offense and how long it takes to throw the ball in accordance to the scheme.

For instance, last year it was very obvious that Romo was willing to take a sack since it meant that we had such great pass protection that he could buy a ton of time and the more time he could buy, the greater potential there was for a big play. IIRC, he's been timed at getting the ball at 2.8+ seconds which is a long time by today's NFL standards. This is my argument against the people (particularly that Eagles beat writer and so-called 'expert') who claims Dallas isn't nearly as good of a pass blocking O-Line. Dallas' scheme is far different than Philly's which gets the ball out of the QB's hands quickly.

Plus, as Football Outsiders has documented, in general there is a correlation between who the QB is and sacks allowed and therefore, sacks allowed is more QB dependent. And where the quality of the O-Line shows up more is in the run game. Of course, there are always exceptions.

The fact is that Tyron is in a scheme where the ball takes far more time to get out of the QB's hands, Romo was purposely holding the ball longer to make bigger plays (I have no problem with that) and Weeden and particularly Cassel are not good at diagnosing blitz packages or avoiding them.




YR

 

[Doc50]

This. Romo was stuck waiting for receivers to come out of their 10 and 15 yard patterns and needed some short outlet receivers or at least to roll out of the pocket from time to time. Limited draw plays and no screens or crossing patterns until the end. Romo was getting killed on those long pass patterns so watch for NC to blitz a lot. Hope Romo gets a lot of film time on these guys because your going to hear Kill Kill a lot.

Correct -- simply can't get Tony killed again.

I think we'll see the draws, counters, delays, screens, and play-action this week...........if Linehan has any sense.

 

[Bullflop]

I feel confident that the staff will know if and when the time is right to give Green some time at RT. Right now, he's starting to get his feet wet and trying to improve as much as possible so that he can eventually take over RT in a reasonably competent manner. It would be a lot to ask for him to seriously challenge Free for the opportunity to take charge of that spot now. 2016 might present a different scenario. Free is far from perfect but isn't incapable of being at least serviceable. I think Green's pro inexperience might prevent him from contributing this year.

 

[DenCWBY]

Correct -- simply can't get Tony killed again.

I think we'll see the draws, counters, delays, screens, and play-action this week...........if Linehan has any sense.

Definitely!! We keep going to the off tackle stretch play and I know that's where DMC finally got off on that one long run last week however DMC looks more effective going straight up the gut. I hope we mix it up a little more than before. That stretch was losing yards towards the end.

 

[dallasdave]

Collins would be just as dominant at RT.

 

[dallasdave]

It's probably too much to ask to see Chaz Green enter the starting lineup and replace Free at this point, but if he is healthy and conditioned, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance out there.

Free is the biggest hurdle we have in executing a top notch offense right now. Terrance Williams isn't consistent, but he does have playmaking ability. I wouldn't mind Brice Butler getting some snaps when he returns either though. Could add some of the explosiveness that our offense is lacking since we lost Dunbar. I think that would really help the run game tremendously.

It would be great to see Williams in the slot in Butler on the outside, but he needs to catch the ball consistently. He has shown great ability to take it to the house on crossing routes especially.

 

[skinsscalper]

Correct -- simply can't get Tony killed again.

I think we'll see the draws, counters, delays, screens, and play-action this week...........if Linehan has any sense.

Ron Rivera was on SiriusXM NFL Radio today and he said that you could tell that the Cowboys offense was very condensed last week to ease Romo's return. He said that they didn't even study much of this year's game film due to the limited snaps that Romo has taken and did the majority of their study on last year's offensive tape.

You can bet that the Cowboys will be opening things up more and more as the weeks go on.