Doug Free as future LT: Pros/Cons

[Sabu1]

List your positives and your concerns about the organization looking to Doug Free as the future left tackle.

 

[wick]

Positives: He's not over 30.

Negatives: I still remember the Minnesota game.

 

[jazzcat22]

Positives: He's not over 30.

Negatives: I still remember the Minnesota game.

Not a single OL performed up to their standards in that game.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I think we need to move to a more agile o-line and he's definitely a lot more agile than Flozell is.

 

[NeonNinja]

Not a single OL performed up to their standards in that game.

This.

 

[Cowboy Junkie]

This.

Con .... he sucks

Pro..... he is already there

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Pros:

His core is excellent. His burst off the line from leg drive is what you want in an OT.

He proved his upper body is no longer a concern with his play at RT. HE just doesn't get physically beat and he is often driving defenders into the turf.

He has good lateral mobility able to protect the edge against speed rushes.

Just a great all around athlete with good size and bubble at 6-6 320.

Cons:

Inexperience. In the first play he came in the Minnesota game he blocked down and left Witten alone with the best 4-3 DE in the game right now. He would make a couple of plays like this most games and it would cause him to break down running plays and leak in pass protection.

 

[21Savage]

Pros:

His core is excellent. His burst off the line from leg drive is what you want in an OT.

He proved his upper body is no longer a concern with his play at RT. HE just doesn't get physically beat and he is often driving defenders into the turf.

He has good lateral mobility able to protect the edge against speed rushes.

Just a great all around athlete with good size and bubble at 6-6 320.

Cons:

Inexperience. In the first play he came in the Minnesota game he blocked down and left Witten alone with the best 4-3 DE in the game right now. He would make a couple of plays like this most games and it would cause him to break down running plays and leak in pass protection.

I tend to agree with you on player scouting because it seems you actually watch the games and know what you're talking about (see you backing up Siavii from preseason games when everyone was talking about us getting another NT).

I'd also add that Free's punch is not where Flo's was. That was a huge part of Flo's game (his strength), so we might just have to live with it.

He's also more of a feisty, aggressive blocker than a move you of the hole blocker. There were a few player where Jared Allen stood him up and he's not a very good run defender.

And to the people who think Free had a bad game versus the Vikings

 

[gimmesix]

And to the people who think Free had a bad game versus the Vikings

Yeah, I really don't get that. If you go back and isolate on Free, he did a better overall job on Allen than Adams was doing.

Free was not the cause of our line problems.

 

[21Savage]

Yeah, I really don't get that. If you go back and isolate on Free, he did a better overall job on Allen than Adams was doing.

Free was not the cause of our line problems.

Exactly, they see the first 2 plays Allen made against Witten and assume they were on Free.

There was one instance when Allen might've touched Romo after a pass but that was about it. Now, they were quick to jump in and give Free a lot of help with Witten and the backs initially. But to me, that speak more to just getting thrown to the wolves than anything else.

 

[EPL0c0]

i say that it should be an open competition between he and Colombo; let the better man start.

 

[JBell]

Positives: He's not over 30.

Negatives: I still remember the Minnesota game.

I was gonna say something very similar to this.

 

[Bleu Star]

I think we need to move to a more agile o-line and he's definitely a lot more agile than Flozell is.

Case in point...

[youtube]NKuadD07SBg[/youtube]

OWNED!

 

[casmith07]

Positives: He's not over 30.

Negatives: I still remember the Minnesota game.

Edwards beat Colombo all night. Free more than held his own against Jared Allen.

Next.

 

[fortdick]

Edwards beat Colombo all night. Free more than held his own against Jared Allen.

Next.

Columbo wasn't ready to play after the broken leg. He was very rusty and it showed. Still, he will be ready to go next season.