DMN Blog: Doug Free to start at right tackle

[JBell]

This week: Doug Free to start at right tackle

Next week: Jon Kitna to start at quarterback

 

[Crad|e]

Yeah Free pretty much tells us whether we go OT in first round or not.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

This week: Doug Free to start at right tackle

Next week: Jon Kitna to start at quarterback

If that happens...next week...YOU BANNED!

:laugh2:

 

[skinsscalper]

Yes, they can but how often at a high level? Especially when three or four of the starting five are in that demographic? Not often.

It was foolish to ignore the OL in this past draft with so many choices and it would be even more ignorant to repeat the same process again.

Adams should be on his way out the door. He is still serviceable, but if anyone thinks he lasts another three years, they are really in a state of denial. He's already at that stage when he's getting sloppy and even taking shortcuts because he's losing his athletic edge. About the only OL I see around at a high level in 3-5 years is Leonard Davis. Colombo is a battler, but he will have a major knee issue and a broken leg to deal with going forward.

Great point.

This philosophy is exactly what got Washington in trouble. Yes, you can have a 30+ year old guy on your line. Maybe even two, but when the bulk of your line is "in that demographic" then I think you're inviting disaster on the injury front. Linemen are more apt to be effective at their position in their 30s, but 30 year old NFL bodies are still 30 year old NFL bodies.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Poor guy better be nothing short of outstanding otherwise there will be people on this board claiming he's the absolute worst player to ever be drafted on our offensive line.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

This week: Doug Free to start at right tackle

Next week: Jon Kitna to start at quarterback

If that happens I hope they ban you just for saying it.

 

[The Realist]

Can someone explain to me how Doug Free is skinny?

He was 6-6/324 at the combine.

Listed at 6-6/313 now.

Colombo is 6-8/318.

 

[Idgit]

I'm going on record predicting Free is sensational and a long-term starter for us at OT. Who's with me?

 

[WoodysGirl]

Cowboys excited about Free trial

November, 18, 2009 Nov 18
2:47
PM ET

By Matt Mosley


Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck told reporters at Valley Ranch on Wednesday that third-year player Doug Free will make his first start at right tackle Sunday against the Commanders. Free replaced the injured Marc Colombo in Sunday's game against the Packers and he'll likely get a chance to start the rest of the season. Colombo, who had surgery to repair ligaments in his ankle earlier this week and has a fracture in his left fibula, is still holding out hope that he could return for the playoffs.

Free

Both Houck and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett expressed confidence in Colombo on Wednesday.

"The exciting part of it is you've got another guy ready to go," Houck said. "He steps in. He got his turn. And we don't miss a beat."

Well, I don't think it's quite fair to Colombo to say the team won't miss a beat with Free. Colombo's considered one of the toughest players on the team and he's the emotional leader of the offensive line. Without him, the Cowboys will have to help Free in blocking schemes with tight ends and running backs.

"He's been with us for three years now and really taken the right approach," Garrett said. "He's improved as a player. We're excited about what he did the other day in the game against Green Bay and we're excited to see him play this week."

But let's be honest about something. There was a point this season where the Cowboys were so frustrated with left tackle Flozell Adams that they wanted to send him a message by yanking him from the starting lineup. At that point, they determined that Free wouldn't be up to the task. I realize that it might be a little easier to protect Free on the right side, but let's not act like the guy has become a completely different player in the past month.

 

[JBell]

I'm going on record predicting Free is sensational and a long-term starter for us at OT. Who's with me?

**Remembers scene from Jerry Maguire**

"So who's comin with me?"

"WHO'S COMING WITH ME?"

*crickets*

This is embarrassing.

 

[CF74]

Draft Needs:

Tackle
Tackle
C
FS
CB
WR

Free will hold up on the right but he's not quite strong enough to play the left side. Romo can at least see Free struggle on the right side and buy some time with his feet but from the left it would be a disaster. I hope Flo is replaced by the rookie we draft this time next year because that's about all we're gonna get out of tFlo next year, half a seasons worth...

 

[btcutter]

Maybe the need to play Free will FORCE Garrett to run the ball more to protect Romo.

Force Garrett to play to our strength. That's a novel thought.

 

[The Realist]

Cowboys excited about Free trial

November, 18, 2009 Nov 18
2:47
PM ET

By Matt Mosley


Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck told reporters at Valley Ranch on Wednesday that third-year player Doug Free will make his first start at right tackle Sunday against the Commanders. Free replaced the injured Marc Colombo in Sunday's game against the Packers and he'll likely get a chance to start the rest of the season. Colombo, who had surgery to repair ligaments in his ankle earlier this week and has a fracture in his left fibula, is still holding out hope that he could return for the playoffs.

Free

Both Houck and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett expressed confidence in Colombo on Wednesday.

"The exciting part of it is you've got another guy ready to go," Houck said. "He steps in. He got his turn. And we don't miss a beat."

Well, I don't think it's quite fair to Colombo to say the team won't miss a beat with Free. Colombo's considered one of the toughest players on the team and he's the emotional leader of the offensive line. Without him, the Cowboys will have to help Free in blocking schemes with tight ends and running backs.

"He's been with us for three years now and really taken the right approach," Garrett said. "He's improved as a player. We're excited about what he did the other day in the game against Green Bay and we're excited to see him play this week."

But let's be honest about something. There was a point this season where the Cowboys were so frustrated with left tackle Flozell Adams that they wanted to send him a message by yanking him from the starting lineup. At that point, they determined that Free wouldn't be up to the task. I realize that it might be a little easier to protect Free on the right side, but let's not act like the guy has become a completely different player in the past month.

Where is Mosley pulling this nugget from?

 

[Bluefin]

Where is Mosley pulling this nugget from?

No idea.

We did replace Flozell Adams with Doug Free during the fourth quarter of the Seattle game, but that seemed to be more about having an opportunity to get an unproven player game reps than sending a message to the Hotel.

And I didn't get the impression that the staff soured on what they saw of Free in that game. Free is by far the most athletic tackle on the roster, so there will be things he can do on the field that the starters aren't as good at.

Flo looked like a dead man walking on a screen pass last Sunday. Free will be much more nimble on such plays along with getting to the second level.

We know he needed to add strength as a rookie and we'll just see how his overall technique comes along playing for real.

 

[DallasEast]

.

Excellent avatar. One of my favorite all-time movies.

 

[CF74]

Excellent avatar. One of my favorite all-time movies.

The Thing? Yeah I watch it every time it comes out..

 

[DallasEast]

The Thing? Yeah I watch it every time it comes out..

Me too, but the original movie is The Thing. The remake's title is John Carpenter's The Thing.

 

[CF74]

Me too, but the original movie is The Thing. The remake's title is John Carpenter's The Thing.

I especially enjoy it when it's cold outside...

 

[DallasEast]

I especially enjoy it when it's cold outside...

After I saw the movie for the very first time, I kept repeating to myself over and over, "the guy in the helicopter at the beginning of the movie was probably hitting that dog with his rifle every single time..."

 

[CF74]

After I saw the movie for the very first time, I kept repeating to myself over and over, "the guy in the helicopter at the beginning of the movie was probably hitting that dog with his rifle every single time..."

Yeah me to..:laugh2: