Doug Free Getting Beat

[FiveRings]

The Flu Game. Second Edition?

 

[Beast_from_East]

They changed the OLine scheme this season to help cover up Free's issues.

They have the RG keep a closer than normal spacing between himself and Free. To compensate they have the Center help block primarily to the right. The LG rarely gets help from the Center despite being a 1st time starter that had zero experience in real NFL games prior to the beginning of the season. This change minimizes the outside pass rushers ability to beat Free to the inside which allows Free to over-set to the outside giving him an advantage on the rusher.

They also alter the way they call running plays because of Free. They run just inside or just outside on the Left behind Smith; however, they try to avoid doing it on the right. The runs to the right are usually between the Center and RG or wide outside. When they tried going behind Free against the Raiders, he was called for holding and Murray's TD was nullified.

Free might look good in the PFF ratings; however, in reality, when you see Leary get beat at LG, it is often because the entire scheme is compensating for Free instead of giving help to Leary. On most OLines, the 1st year starter (Leary) would be the guy getting help, not the veteran player with the big contract.

I agree that they have options at OT and have a bigger need at Guard. They basically have no backup Guards on the roster. Costa is the only interior backup and he is primarily a Center. They have had Weems practice at Guard but I don't know to what extent. I would like to see Parnell challenge Free in training camp next season. Unfortunately Parnell was injured for most of the pre-season/training-camp and didn't have the opportunity to unseat Free this season.

IMO, an injury to a Guard would be a bigger problem that an injury to a DLineman. It would be unwise to go into the off-season expecting Waters to return next season. He is a nice option if they have injury issues in training camp, but otherwise, they need to add a real Guard in the draft or Free Agency.

Best breakdown of our blocking scheme I have seen.................great work.

Sad that we have to base our entire protection scheme around helping Free.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Never seen a 300+ lb man being owned like that.

The DE got under his pads and was able to lift. Welcome to football, hope you enjoy watching the sport as much as I do.

 

[jobberone]

They changed the OLine scheme this season to help cover up Free's issues.

They have the RG keep a closer than normal spacing between himself and Free. To compensate they have the Center help block primarily to the right. The LG rarely gets help from the Center despite being a 1st time starter that had zero experience in real NFL games prior to the beginning of the season. This change minimizes the outside pass rushers ability to beat Free to the inside which allows Free to over-set to the outside giving him an advantage on the rusher.

They also alter the way they call running plays because of Free. They run just inside or just outside on the Left behind Smith; however, they try to avoid doing it on the right. The runs to the right are usually between the Center and RG or wide outside. When they tried going behind Free against the Raiders, he was called for holding and Murray's TD was nullified.

Free might look good in the PFF ratings; however, in reality, when you see Leary get beat at LG, it is often because the entire scheme is compensating for Free instead of giving help to Leary. On most OLines, the 1st year starter (Leary) would be the guy getting help, not the veteran player with the big contract.

I agree that they have options at OT and have a bigger need at Guard. They basically have no backup Guards on the roster. Costa is the only interior backup and he is primarily a Center. They have had Weems practice at Guard but I don't know to what extent. I would like to see Parnell challenge Free in training camp next season. Unfortunately Parnell was injured for most of the pre-season/training-camp and didn't have the opportunity to unseat Free this season.

IMO, an injury to a Guard would be a bigger problem that an injury to a DLineman. It would be unwise to go into the off-season expecting Waters to return next season. He is a nice option if they have injury issues in training camp, but otherwise, they need to add a real Guard in the draft or Free Agency.

I haven't looked at much film this year so I'll have to defer to your opinion. What I've seen of him hasn't looked bad at all speaking in general and overall.

Our OL has given up 16 sacks which is middlin' with a range of 7-35. The stats for one tackle is 1 sk 3 hits 24 hurries and the other 6 0 27. So that's 28 pressures given up by one and 33 by the other. One has a PBE of 95.5 and the other 94.5. We in the top ten in offense and have a slightly positive rush offense. I won't mention the defensive numbers.

 

[jobberone]

Funny how Free was universally hailed as playing like the top tackle in the game for a lot of the year and now all of a sudden people see a gif where he gets knocked down and he sucks again.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I haven't looked at much film this year so I'll have to defer to your opinion. What I've seen of him hasn't looked bad at all speaking in general and overall.

Our OL has given up 16 sacks which is middlin' with a range of 7-35. The stats for one tackle is 1 sk 3 hits 24 hurries and the other 6 0 27. So that's 28 pressures given up by one and 33 by the other. One has a PBE of 95.5 and the other 94.5. We in the top ten in offense and have a slightly positive rush offense. I won't mention the defensive numbers.

Berny has actually played pretty well since his abysmal first game of the season. He's the 21st rated guard per PFF. The team still needs another guard, but I'm feeling much better about this offensive line than I did the end of last season... Night & day really.

Defensive numbers? Ugh. LOL!

Great reason to spend a couple early draft picks on defensive linemen.

 

[Risen Star]

Funny how Free was universally hailed as playing like the top tackle in the game for a lot of the year and now all of a sudden people see a gif where he gets knocked down and he sucks again.

I've always thought Doug Free sucks.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Funny how Free was universally hailed as playing like the top tackle in the game for a lot of the year and now all of a sudden people see a gif where he gets knocked down and he sucks again.

Well there are some that have an anti-Free agenda no matter how he plays.

I bet we could find a gif for every player in the league looking like a crap for a play.

 

[xwalker]

Funny how Free was universally hailed as playing like the top tackle in the game for a lot of the year and now all of a sudden people see a gif where he gets knocked down and he sucks again.

I never thought he was playing great. Also, I saw his pressures per game allowed and it correlates with the games that Waters played. I believe that the first game that Waters started was the 1st of a 3 game span where Free's pressures allowed were significantly lower than in other games. The pressures allowed shot up after Waters was injured.

The scheme change that I described previously, was most effective with Waters playing next to Free.

 

[xwalker]

Best breakdown of our blocking scheme I have seen.................great work.

Sad that we have to base our entire protection scheme around helping Free.

The saddest part is that Leary gets the blame and Free get the praise, yet Leary being able to handle himself is the reason that they were able to give Free more help.

 

[5Stars]

The saddest part is that Leary gets the blame and Free get the praise, yet Leary being able to handle himself is the reason that they were able to give Free more help.

lmao...

Well, it wasn't Free that time. He paid the price on that play!

But the oline is doing a good job.

I cannot wait to watch the defense get healthy.

 

[jobberone]

I never thought he was playing great. Also, I saw his pressures per game allowed and it correlates with the games that Waters played. I believe that the first game that Waters started was the 1st of a 3 game span where Free's pressures allowed were significantly lower than in other games. The pressures allowed shot up after Waters was injured.

The scheme change that I described previously, was most effective with Waters playing next to Free.

The saddest part is that Leary gets the blame and Free get the praise, yet Leary being able to handle himself is the reason that they were able to give Free more help.

I said I would defer to your judgment about his play but I'm not totally sold on them scheming around one player. He isn't playing poorly in the passing game or it would show up in the stats somewhere. And I haven't seen him getting a lot of help although that is the strong side. His play wasn't that bad last year when everyone was raising heck about it. And he isn't this year either.

 

[jobberone]

Well there are some that have an anti-Free agenda no matter how he plays.

I bet we could find a gif for every player in the league looking like a crap for a play.

Last year Smith got thrown around a good bit more and not much verbiage about it. So maybe you say that well.

 

[jobberone]

I've always thought Doug Free sucks.

You think everyone sucks RS!

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I haven't watched the game yet, taped it and will watch tomorrow.

What was the final result of the play? While it was far from pretty, Free's man did not get a sack (I assume). So, at least Free was successful in that he kept his opponent away from Romo. Sometimes that's all it takes. I don't give a rat's rear end what the player looks like on the field. I just want results.

It reminded me of a similar play in the 1st NYG game. Free was engaged with a DL and some LB bull-rushed him and knocked him back several yards.

 

[GoBigD]

I like Bernadeau's awareness on the play.

 

[jobberone]

I haven't watched the game yet, taped it and will watch tomorrow.

What was the final result of the play? While it was far from pretty, Free's man did not get a sack (I assume). So, at least Free was successful in that he kept his opponent away from Romo. Sometimes that's all it takes. I don't give a rat's rear end what the player looks like on the field. I just want results.

It reminded me of a similar play in the 1st NYG game. Free was engaged with a DL and some LB bull-rushed him and knocked him back several yards.

The same as last year. No affect on the play.

And I rewatched the game and in the first half I did not notice a scheme change to protect Free. I will look at the coaches film once available.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The same as last year. No affect on the play.

And I rewatched the game and in the first half I did not notice a scheme change to protect Free. I will look at the coaches film once available.

I have to admit, the idea of a scheme change to protect Free is interesting... But I haven't heard anyone else (coach, commentator, blogger, serious fan) mention it.

 

[jnday]

Free is a player that will always need replaced. He plays good enough at times to give a little hope, but at the end of the day the RT position needs upgraded if they want consistent play at the position.

 

[jobberone]

Berny has actually played pretty well since his abysmal first game of the season. He's the 21st rated guard per PFF. The team still needs another guard, but I'm feeling much better about this offensive line than I did the end of last season... Night & day really.

Defensive numbers? Ugh. LOL!

Great reason to spend a couple early draft picks on defensive linemen.

They're so bad I refuse to put them up. I agree with you we still need an interior OL. Depending on how they feel about Weems and Parnell and the 'other' guy we may need to at least be prepared to consider T if we get surprised by a player falling in our laps. I do feel we should be looking at DB, LB, pass rusher, and DL the hardest. They need to consider changing their philosophy about DBs. And if they can nab a top rated S they should pull the trigger.