Could Free move to guard if starting OT is drafted?

[Alexander]

Do you guys think that Lewan could fall to 16th because of the recent incidents?

Hope so, but seriously doubt it.

 

[Cowboy06]

The part about Free moving to guard if they were to draft a tackle in the first round is interesting, I haven't heard much about it. I've only read that the tackle would simply be a backup until Free is gone. Would Free be better than Bernie or Leary? Would this move make the line better with Free at G and another young stud(if one were to fall) at tackle rather than the current setup?

If Free can't get stronger, cut him and move on. Stop trying to make players fit. If you are a tackle and don't have the strength to move inside, then see ya. Draft a few linemen for the next few drafts and hope your coaches and scouting department along with the strength coaches can build a team. If this team admits it's rebuilding I say this is the second year of a three year process to be relevant again. I do wonder how Free went from promising starter to the verge of being cut.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think the same... Which means that it was a sexy and correct post.

You owe me a new keyboard.

 

[DuDa]

lol @ Free playing guard.

This was done by some dude named Ryan Robinson.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

lol @ Free playing guard.

This was done by some dude named Ryan Robinson.

You are aware that he is playing tackle there, right? And so it does very little to "prove" your point?

 

[Deep_South]

If Free can't get stronger, cut him and move on. Stop trying to make players fit. If you are a tackle and don't have the strength to move inside, then see ya. Draft a few linemen for the next few drafts and hope your coaches and scouting department along with the strength coaches can build a team. If this team admits it's rebuilding I say this is the second year of a three year process to be relevant again. I do wonder how Free went from promising starter to the verge of being cut.

Free has a year left on his contract at $3.5 million, and I'm pretty sure it isn't guaranteed. As it stands, what little offensive line depth we have is suspect, so it seems very unlikely Free will not be with us this year, even if he gets beat out and doesn't start, IMO. If we draft a quality OL, then great. It improves our depth and they can work out the starters in training camp.

 

[Cowboy06]

Free has a year left on his contract at $3.5 million, and I'm pretty sure it isn't guaranteed. As it stands, what little offensive line depth we have is suspect, so it seems very unlikely Free will not be with us this year, even if he gets beat out and doesn't start, IMO. If we draft a quality OL, then great. It improves our depth and they can work out the starters in training camp.

if he's not on the field and isn't promising enough to start, why not go younger and in theory less expensive? I like Free, but I don't know how he's not getting stronger in the weight room, etc. Now just seems to me, and I could be wrong, that experienced young teams seem to win the Superbowl of late. The league has changed. I look at Seattle and I see a team where youth that learned to play early seemed to win. I just want to draft well, sign good FAs and coach them up.

What I do like is your belieft in getting depth on this team. It's been sorely lacking for years now. Well unless saying 19 different DL during a season is depth.

 

[DuDa]

You are aware that he is playing tackle there, right? And so it does very little to "prove" your point?

There was no need for you to put "prove" into quotations. If you would like to emphasize a particular word, try using all CAPS.

Anyway, I was using that gif as an example of his lack of power and base against a bull rush. He barely has enough power to play tackle. Guards face bigger and stronger lineman and must possess the ability to hold up against a strong bull rush. He will also have less time to react playing inside than he would playing outside. This doesn't prove anything, just pointing out some clear issues that are present with the idea of moving Free to guard.

Don't be so quick to jump on people dude, it only makes you look bad.

 

[Alexander]

You are aware that he is playing tackle there, right? And so it does very little to "prove" your point?

So playing guard has nothing to do with balance and anchor? Learn something new every day.

 

[jrumann59]

Free at OG in non emergency situation is like saying RW31 could play linebacker. Yeah sure it could happen the results would not be pretty.

 

[Zordon]

Security guard? Yes of course. I have no issue w/ him working security at Cowboys Stadium.

 

[Deep_South]

if he's not on the field and isn't promising enough to start, why not go younger and in theory less expensive? I like Free, but I don't know how he's not getting stronger in the weight room, etc. Now just seems to me, and I could be wrong, that experienced young teams seem to win the Superbowl of late. The league has changed. I look at Seattle and I see a team where youth that learned to play early seemed to win. I just want to draft well, sign good FAs and coach them up.

What I do like is your belieft in getting depth on this team. It's been sorely lacking for years now. Well unless saying 19 different DL during a season is depth.

We just have to have placeholders until we can find and develop younger talent. I just don't see us getting enough new OL talent this year to dump Free. I'll be happy if we get just one high pick on the OL. We just have so many needs on D, as well as needing a RB and WR, I just don't think it happens this year. We just don't have the cap space for free agents to fill these needs, so most of them have to come from the draft.

The Cowboys are kind of in a bad place right now, but if a few things come together, I think we can get to the playoffs this year. We're going to have to be lucky AND good, though.

 

[xwalker]

if he's not on the field and isn't promising enough to start, why not go younger and in theory less expensive? I like Free, but I don't know how he's not getting stronger in the weight room, etc. Now just seems to me, and I could be wrong, that experienced young teams seem to win the Superbowl of late. The league has changed. I look at Seattle and I see a team where youth that learned to play early seemed to win. I just want to draft well, sign good FAs and coach them up.

What I do like is your belieft in getting depth on this team. It's been sorely lacking for years now. Well unless saying 19 different DL during a season is depth.

I can't verify it, but I saw a report that if Free is on the roster after March, that his 2014 salary becomes guaranteed. It would make sense the when he agree to the pay cut last year that he would want this in the contract to prevent them from waiting until after free agency to threaten to cut him like they did last year.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't think Free can play Guard.


Whatever.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Free made some very positives steps at RT last season and don't think putting him at G is a good idea. If Dallas chooses to use a mid rd pick on OT then let the rookie beat Free out but I just do not see Free being a G.

 

[Verdict]

I think the idea of picking an OT with #16 just gives the team additional options...either they get a RT and move Free over, or they say that they are going to pick the fictitious available Tackle in hopes of a trade down scenario....I could see the trade down scenario just as much for QB or WR if they obvious players are available

I think in the event they draft a RT at #16 (or maybe even the second round) then Free and the draft pick fight it out on who will start. The loser will be the swing tackle, and Free will be gone either way next year.

Also, I would expect that assuming Free wins the initial batter to start at the first of the season, that if the rookie progresses during the season, that the roles could easily be reversed.

 

[Fredd]

I think in the event they draft a RT at #16 (or maybe even the second round) then Free and the draft pick fight it out on who will start. The loser will be the swing tackle, and Free will be gone either way next year.

Also, I would expect that assuming Free wins the initial batter to start at the first of the season, that if the rookie progresses during the season, that the roles could easily be reversed.

I agree with all of this...if they draft his replacement, he will need to earn his starting gig for the entire season

 

[Dhragon]

Jerry could ensure the constant national media attention he craves by signing Icognito and then drafting Lewan and Michael Sam.

Coming away with Johnny Football would trump those moves. If JF falls as some suspect and Jerry drafts him, the media attention would be unreal.

 

[speedkilz88]

I can't verify it, but I saw a report that if Free is on the roster after March, that his 2014 salary becomes guaranteed. It would make sense the when he agree to the pay cut last year that he would want this in the contract to prevent them from waiting until after free agency to threaten to cut him like they did last year.

Yeah, I read it last year too. They had to release him before the start of the new season from what I remember.

 

[pancakeman]

Is Free, even under his renegotiated contract, making too much to just be our swing tackle? We'll need one, and he's better suited for that than for guard I would guess.