Doug Free and Gavin Escobar

[Bullflop]

lol, and with current free agent thinking in the management group...unless there is a bargain, free agency is not the preferred route to improve roster.

Well, heaven forbid that this management would even think of considering anything other than a bargain basement acquisition . . . lol. Every now and again, someone capable shows up that can be of service. Hopefully, one or two pops up. (It could happen!)

I'm actually thinking mainly in terms of the draft being our outlet, nevertheless. In view of the way this franchise has been burned in the past with vet FA acquisitions, it's entirely understandable why they might proceed on the side of caution. Can't say as I blame 'em to be totally honest.

 

[jobberone]

Many of you know very little of OL technique nor are capable of understanding how often OL are out of position on any certain play. What is important to understand is how the OL applies techniques to overcome the inevitable. Very few OL in the history of this league generally look invincible.

Read and watch this to gather some small understanding of the difficulties of playing OL as well as why it often takes 2-3 years to start mastering it:

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...ys/2016/08/29/under-the-microscope-doug-free/

Hopefully you'll come away with a greater appreciation on one Doug Free who is an above average RT in this league.

 

[jobberone]

PS: He's only 32 so I'd like to see him compete next year for RT. At the least he can be a swing tackle. He can play G also although I don't think he's done this much since early on in college.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Escobar is only on the field because the two huys in front of him on the depth chart are injured. Swaim and Hanna come back healthy, then Escobar is probably gone in 2017.

Free stays unless Dallas drafts a player to replace him. This next draft would be a good time to look at one. Chaz Green can probably get in three healthy games before he is put on IR, so the rook could have some time to get ready for NFL games.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

Free is an average RT and you cant have all pros at every position.

 

[theebs]

Minnesota is a great defense, they are built to stop the passing teams in their division. Like the giants are built to stop the dallas running game.

Thankfully we only have one big road game left if we get the 1 seed and that is this week. Playing at home vs good pass rushers and free has been fine. On the road in a loud environment giving the edge to the defense is a problem for most lineman.

 

[xwalker]

Many of you know very little of OL technique nor are capable of understanding how often OL are out of position on any certain play. What is important to understand is how the OL applies techniques to overcome the inevitable. Very few OL in the history of this league generally look invincible.

Read and watch this to gather some small understanding of the difficulties of playing OL as well as why it often takes 2-3 years to start mastering it:

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...ys/2016/08/29/under-the-microscope-doug-free/

Hopefully you'll come away with a greater appreciation on one Doug Free who is an above average RT in this league.

Free is getting beat on some of those clips. Moore beat him cleanly to the inside.

Free obviously has to have good technique to survive with his physical limitations.

Free does do some things well like the backside cut-off block that does not require strength.

Larry Allen didn't play with much if any technique. Showing that Free has good technique is not the same as him being a good player.

 

[tyke1doe]

Not another "Get rid of the bum" thread. Haven't we learned our lesson?

 

[Doomsay]

Whatever their individual merits may or may not be, I think that everyone can agree that in combination, they had a pretty rough night, severely compromising a number of drives. Free needs a lot of help against above average DE's and Gavin isn't going to consistently provide it.

 

[Redball Express]

Free is getting beat on some of those clips. Moore beat him cleanly to the inside.

Free obviously has to have good technique to survive with his physical limitations.

Free does do some things well like the backside cut-off block that does not require strength.

Larry Allen didn't play with much if any technique. Showing that Free has good technique is not the same as him being a good player.

And I understand he has been dealing with a thigh injury,too.

But the time has come to shuffle the OL at Free's position now..IMO.

What is a bad break is losing Collins and Greene to injuries. Both need to play and get reps whereever possible.

If we are lucky enough to get playoffs in the next game or so..

I can see them playing as well as Romo as we rest starters.

We'll see.

 

[noletime95]

Given the talent injection needed on D I'm fine with Free for another year at RT, let him play out his contract.

 

[jobberone]

Free is getting beat on some of those clips. Moore beat him cleanly to the inside.

Free obviously has to have good technique to survive with his physical limitations.

Free does do some things well like the backside cut-off block that does not require strength.

Larry Allen didn't play with much if any technique. Showing that Free has good technique is not the same as him being a good player.

So what if he's getting beat some. Part of my point and the article was everyone gets beat. Free gets beat and the piling on starts. Smith gets beat and oh well, he doesn't get beat that often.

Did you actually read the entire article?

 

[BourbonBalz]

Free is obviously less talented than our other starting OL. But, he's still an above average starting tackle. Some of you are forgetting (or ignoring) the fact that free is our oldest OL by far. Playing 3 games in 11-12 days is tougher for him as a result. Free has his flaws like all players, but overall we're in good shape with him. It could be MUCH worse.

 

[haleyrules]

Free has been a decent player and has always been the whipping boy. He is not a liability and has always been a very solid and consistent player.

 

[Zekeats]

Free is the weakest link to this offensive line and once he is gone a lot of people will miss him. Very underrated player.

 

[xwalker]

So what if he's getting beat some. Part of my point and the article was everyone gets beat. Free gets beat and the piling on starts. Smith gets beat and oh well, he doesn't get beat that often.

Did you actually read the entire article?

I studied the article.

He showed that Free plays with good technique, not that Free is a good player.

If Free didn't play with good technique he would have no chance to be good enough.

As I pointed out, he is praising Free on a play where he gets beat but Romo bails out to avoid the sack.

I've said before that Free is good enough but just barely and only because the rest of the OL is so good.

As you can see from the video I posted, Free is going to cause Dak to get injured or fumble away a win.

 

[jobberone]

I studied the article.

He showed that Free plays with good technique, not that Free is a good player.

If Free didn't play with good technique he would have no chance to be good enough.

As I pointed out, he is praising Free on a play where he gets beat but Romo bails out to avoid the sack.

I've said before that Free is good enough but just barely and only because the rest of the OL is so good.

As you can see from the video I posted, Free is going to cause Dak to get injured or fumble away a win.

You need to reread it because he does say Free is a good player which even most of us know. Free has good feet even with the bad wheels so saying without technique he has no chance is erroneous. Every player needs good technique anyway. I don't know what play you're talking about but he and I make a point of saying every player gets beat; even with good technique. Free may be the less talented player on the OL but that doesn't mean he's not a good player.

I have no vested interest in Free although I've defended him for years.......as an above average solid RT. I've made no bones that he can be replaced but over the years no one has come along to displace him. What it takes on the part of fans is to ignore the evidence and follow the group think. And the strongest evidence is the guy still has a job. It requires a willing suspension of belief that the staff knows what is the best product to put on the field.

How arrogant it is for a fan to insist despite the evidence they know more than the staff.

I think Free is nearing the end of his starting on this OL although for me that means in the next 1-3 years. Don't be surprised to see the guy starting next year although that's not a prediction.

 

[Stash]

Gil Brandt posted the league leaders for sacks and pressures allowed by offensive tackles. Doug Free - who some still want to try to prop up - was in the top 8. And that was before this most recent bad performance.

Gil Brandt

✔@Gil_Brandt
Most OL total pressures+sacks allowed:

Pasztor 42.5
C.Clark 41
Barksdale 35.5
Ogbuehi 35.5
Remmers 35.5
Castonzo 32
Reiff 32
Free 32

3:42 PM - 30 Nov 2016

• 6161 Retweets
  
• 3434 likes

That's not above average, no matter what some fans might try to tell themselves.

He's always been a finesse player, lacking in true power and getting by on mobility and technique. Father Time is catching up with him, along with injuries, and he's struggling more as this season goes along.

 

[CF74]

Still disappointed Collins isn't our RT tackle...

 

[jobberone]

Gil Brandt posted the league leaders for sacks and pressures allowed by offensive tackles. Doug Free - who some still want to try to prop up - was in the top 8. And that was before this most recent bad performance.

Gil Brandt

✔@Gil_Brandt
Most OL total pressures+sacks allowed:

Pasztor 42.5
C.Clark 41
Barksdale 35.5
Ogbuehi 35.5
Remmers 35.5
Castonzo 32
Reiff 32
Free 32

3:42 PM - 30 Nov 2016

• 6161 Retweets
  
• 3434 likes

That's not above average, no matter what some fans might try to tell themselves.

He's always been a finesse player, lacking in true power and getting by on mobility and technique. Father Time is catching up with him, along with injuries, and he's struggling more as this season goes along.

I have no idea how reliable those stats are but this is the first year of less than above average play:

http://i471.***BLOCKED***/albums/rr75/jobberone/Screen%20Shot%202016-12-04%20at%201.56.05%20PM_zpspxcsvtzr.png

This is via PFF.

Per Insiders the Cowboys are running best over him netting 4.89 adjusted YPC. His pass blocking this year is just barely above average. In the first game against the Giants he and Martin gave up 8 pressures.

http://i471.***BLOCKED***/albums/rr75/jobberone/Screen%20Shot%202016-12-04%20at%202.07.27%20PM_zpsrihrzz5s.png

We've only given up 15 sacks this year. It's hard for me to see Free with 32 or so pressures. That's over 2 per game. A lot of the pressures Zak feels he avoids.

But I concede he's playing more poorly than usual. Perhaps I'll have a look at the All22 and see for myself. Not a promise.