DC: Left Guard Position Still Undecided; But Green Preparing Himself As Starter

[CT Dal Fan]

Thanks. Free Free Free.

Losing Doug Free is an upgrade.

Having said that, if Free has a change of heart sometime this year and wants to come back, would the Cowboys listen? It would be nice to have him on the bench in case of an injury. I don't trust Byron Bell as the swing tackle just yet.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

It's uninspiring for sure, but I'm going to give the coaching staff that brought us Free, Frederick, Smith, Martin, and Leary the benefit of the doubt here. We'll find out a lot about this O-line come Sunday night!

 

[gimmesix]

I think they'll both play.

It wouldn't surprise me. Green has the opportunity, though, to step in and show he shouldn't be replaced unless he gets hurt. If he gets hurt, then it's likely Cooper will step in and Dallas won't look back. So it's all up to Green IMO.

The challenge will be if Green plays really well for a few games and then gets hurt. Do you put him back in there when he returns if Cooper isn't playing as well as Green did?

 

[xwalker]

Having said that, if Free has a change of heart sometime this year and wants to come back, would the Cowboys listen? It would be nice to have him on the bench in case of an injury. I don't trust Byron Bell as the swing tackle just yet.

Stephen Jones will not pay him what he would want as a backup.

He was really really bad last season.

 

[bayeslife]

Losing Free is an upgrade.

If it was Free who played against Mack in preseason, Dak probably gets clobbered and dies.

 

[xwalker]

It wouldn't surprise me. Green has the opportunity, though, to step in and show he shouldn't be replaced unless he gets hurt. If he gets hurt, then it's likely Cooper will step in and Dallas won't look back. So it's all up to Green IMO.

The challenge will be if Green plays really well for a few games and then gets hurt. Do you put him back in there when he returns if Cooper isn't playing as well as Green did?

One day at a time. Stack good days together...

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Stephen Jones will not pay him what he would want as a backup.

He was really really bad last season.

I doubt that, too. But let's say the Cowboys are close to the Super Bowl and Free wants a chance at a ring. He might be willing to play for the veteran minimum then.

By the way, please don't read too much into this, I don't want Free back. I'm just worried about our depth behind Tyron Smith and La'el Collins.

 

[xwalker]

If it was Free who played against Mack in preseason, Dak probably gets clobbered and dies.

 

[xwalker]

I doubt that, too. But let's say the Cowboys are close to the Super Bowl and Free wants a chance at a ring. He might be willing to play for the veteran minimum then.

By the way, please don't read too much into this, I don't want Free back. I'm just worried about our depth behind Tyron Smith and La'el Collins.

I thought Bell was good enough at OT this preseason and Green is excellent when healthy.

I figured they would sign Cleary to the PS because he seemed to be ahead of the guys they kept on the PS. I guess the liked the upside of the guys they kept better.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I thought Bell was good enough at OT this preseason and Green is excellent when healthy.

I figured they would sign Cleary to the PS because he seemed to be ahead of the guys they kept on the PS. I guess the liked the upside of the guys they kept better.

Agreed. I thought Cleary was a lock for the 53 because he played very well last year when Smith hurt his knee against the Lions. Bell has a lot more experience than Cleary, and probably better position flex, which likely explains that decision.

 

[VACowboy]

I think Green has talent and can play if he's healthy. He just doesn't look like a guard to me.

 

[xwalker]

Agreed. I thought Cleary was a lock for the 53 because he played very well last year when Smith hurt his knee against the Lions. Bell has a lot more experience than Cleary, and probably better position flex, which likely explains that decision.

Cleary played 15 snaps against Detroit and the complete final game where they rested most starters. I thought he was decent then.

He struggled this preseason at LT but looked much better at RT.

 

[Floatyworm]

Green is a better player, but Cooper is a bit more sturdy.

I worry that neither will finish the season healthy anyway.

Oh I think Cooper has more talent...problem w/ Cooper is...he wears downs quickly...then gets sloppy. Green...who knows how many snaps your going to get before he complains of an injury...and his best position is OT.

Hopefully between the 2...we can make it through the year..

 

[stilltheguru88]

Have to be honest that the status of the OL is worrying. Losing both Leary and Free during the same offseason was a blow. I have a feeling the line will end up being just as good or maybe even better than last year but it will be rough this week IMHO.

Now Free was a good player. Whatever. Do you miss Carr and Mo as well?

 

[Pants]

33-17 win...Dak begins MVP campaign with 286 yds on 22/30 with 1 pass td (to Dez) and 1 rush td

 

[JoeKing]

This is one of those things that fixes it's self... Green is a walking injury waiting to happen. Play him until it happens and then bring in Coop, problem solved.

 

[Pants]

I like that both received reps with the first team...I hope that they alternate them (first quarter for Green, 2nd for Coop), so they can get actual game footage on them...the denver game should see the starter in there more permanently, barring injury of course (in other words, Green prob just injured his hand on his mouse reading this post, so expect Cooper)

 

[Teague31]

I still maintain the original plan was to keep Collins at guard. But Green's inability to stay healthy combined with zero other viable candidates at T meant a switch. They knew they were at least covered at LG with Cooper if/when Chaz goes down

 

[dragon_mikal]

Now Free was a good player. Whatever. Do you miss Carr and Mo as well?

Free was better than I lot on here believe and the leader on the line. Don't know the point of the 2nd part of your question.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Free was better than I lot on here believe and the leader on the line. Don't know the point of the 2nd part of your question.

People keep lamenting how well miss average players. Free wasn't better than we believe, he was an average player, period. Every metric will tell you that. He was the leader who was never named the captain so I think we'll be ok there.