Doug Free another OL

[masomenos]

When I saw Allen Barbre go a few picks before us I thought, "Oh well, I liked him but we already drafted an OT, we wouldn't pick another one"... then we drafted Free, which I'm ok with, but Barbre would have been perfect.

::sigh::

so close. Im still holding out for Courtney Brown too, but he has to last for about 50 more picks.

 

[silverbear]

Was ranked 77th by Goose, and 64th by Ourlads, had him ahead of Marten according to Mickey.

Good pick..........I guess.

I had him ahead of Marten...

What's interesting about the two is how very different they are... about the only thing they seem to have in common is they both can play guard...

Marten is a mauler, Free is a technician... Marten is best in a straight-ahead blocking scheme, Free is very, very good at pulling and trapping...

It's hard to get a read on what kind of offensive line Wade's trying to build; on the one hand, Davis and Marten suggest a move to a bulldozing line, but Free doesn't fit that mold...

Except that NFL.com talks about how he needs to get stronger, and how he could carry another 15-20 pounds (he's already 320)... if he gets up to the 340 range in a year or two, he might be a more physical player too...

Verrrrrrrry interesting...

 

[tomson75]

I had him ahead of Marten...

What's interesting about the two is how very different they are... about the only thing they seem to have in common is they both can play guard...

Marten is a mauler, Free is a technician... Marten is best in a straight-ahead blocking scheme, Free is very, very good at pulling and trapping...

It's hard to get a read on what kind of offensive line Wade's trying to build; on the one hand, Davis and Marten suggest a move to a bulldozing line, but Free doesn't fit that mold...

Except that NFL.com talks about how he needs to get stronger, and how he could carry another 15-20 pounds (he's already 320)... if he gets up to the 340 range in a year or two, he might be a more physical player too...

Verrrrrrrry interesting...

That's what I was thinking too. He's to much of a finesse guy to fit our line right now...but a year with Juraszeck(sp) might change that.

 

[Vintage]

Wait, what about the great McQuistan?

 

[AsthmaField]

I had him ahead of Marten...

What's interesting about the two is how very different they are... about the only thing they seem to have in common is they both can play guard...

Marten is a mauler, Free is a technician... Marten is best in a straight-ahead blocking scheme, Free is very, very good at pulling and trapping...

It's hard to get a read on what kind of offensive line Wade's trying to build; on the one hand, Davis and Marten suggest a move to a bulldozing line, but Free doesn't fit that mold...

Except that NFL.com talks about how he needs to get stronger, and how he could carry another 15-20 pounds (he's already 320)... if he gets up to the 340 range in a year or two, he might be a more physical player too...

Verrrrrrrry interesting...

I don't know SB... could it be as simple as Martin as a RT and Free as a LT? Possibly one of them as a guard, perhaps, but they're both pretty tall for G, but that didn't hurt Gogan.

I'm interested to hear what the team says about them. One thing that I think we can all pretty much agree on... Free was definately a value pick where we got him and he easily could've gone on the first day. Most likely the BAP on our board at the time.

I don't mind it one bit. Much better than Skyler Green pick, IMO.

 

[silverbear]

Wait, what about the great McQuistan?

The third of that immortal trio of Cowboys Pro Bowl OTs-- McQuistan, Free and Marten, oh my...

 

[Vintage]

The third of that immortal trio of Cowboys Pro Bowl OTs-- McQuistan, Free and Marten, oh my...

Glad you caught my sarcasm....

----------------


I am glad we took some OL today. Marten and Free may not be sexy picks, but Jerry is right....we need to start developing some OL. It looks as if the handwriting might be on the wall for Flozell next year. In that case, we damn better sure we have some options. Between Free, Marten, and McQ it looks as if though we might. We needed a splurge via the draft at OL at some point. Looks like we got it.

 

[silverbear]

I don't know SB... could it be as simple as Martin as a RT and Free as a LT? Possibly one of them as a guard, perhaps, but they're both pretty tall for G, but that didn't hurt Gogan.

My point was that they're two different styles of offensive linemen, you'd think they'd be better off in different offensive systems, different blocking schemes... which suggests that one of them might not be a real good fit for whatever Dallas will be doing in the coming years...

But like I said, maybe the Cowboys figure that they can put some nasty (along with some pounds) on Free...

One thing that I think we can all pretty much agree on... Free was definately a value pick where we got him and he easily could've gone on the first day. Most likely the BAP on our board at the time.

A terrific value, indeed...

 

[AsthmaField]

My point was that they're two different styles of offensive linemen, you'd think they'd be better off in different offensive systems, different blocking schemes... which suggests that one of them might not be a real good fit for whatever Dallas will be doing in the coming years...

But like I said, maybe the Cowboys figure that they can put some nasty (along with some pounds) on Free...

Yeah, and I agree with all of that. Kind of like the difference between Kosier and Leonard Davis as guards.

What I was saying is that I could see Free at LT and Martin at RT in the same system. While free would do well in a moving, trapping scheme... that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be good in a more straight ahead system at LT, in other words. He might not be asked to pull, etc. very much but his excellent movement skills would be welcomed at LT in pass blocking. I think he can get strong enough to be a fine run blocker in a straight ahead system.

Who knows? But I do see what you mean in saying two different types.