Doug Free Looked Really Bad

[jobberone]

He sure does look in better shape than I have seen him in the past. He looks like he lost some weight?

He does look more fit. Let's hope he moves better which hasn't been a huge problem for him. I hope he uses his hands better this year or we'll just see about the same guy again. Ok but upgradeable.

 

[dogberry]

Watching Hairic's video on the news option, I saw two plays where Free lost his man with a material impact on the play.

Both second quarter, first at 12:58 and the second at :39.

The 12:58 play looked like three Dolphins converged on the QB

What am I missing?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I don't think he's inconsistent or wrong about Parnell. He says he is having some problems which is something he had in 2012. I have a different interpretation of it but everyone but him and the coaches are guessing as to why he does that. I haven't rewatched a game yet critically this year but he doesn't seem to be having a great deal more problems than most of the others including Smith. I saw Smith be lazy on a play and that's unusual for him.

He has all the tools although I can't say anything about his mental game. His problem in 2012 was just staying in his stance after the snap. It was costly. I wonder about his hearing, concentration, petit mal seizures, whatever. He does not look as engaged this year and I'd say he's regressed. I understand he is injured (L knee) which could explain it all or some of it. Maybe some of it is the old injury last year. I wish I knew.

To me unless it's injury then I wonder about their preparation for the game. We certainly do start slowly a lot.

I actually thought Parnell played well. They played to his strengths and ran the ball a lot but he handled the rush that was put in front of him well. His punch doesn't look so loopy and soft. He does have some nastiness to him. He likes to finish blocks.

It's all about omission and embellishment though. It's the reason why people complain about his descriptions of Parnell bad plays where he deadpans two words and then gives detailed descriptions to his success. It's pretty obvious bias. We all have our biases and I am not saying to just dismiss what he says out of hand but it is what it is.

 

[jobberone]

I actually thought Parnell played well. They played to his strengths and ran the ball a lot but he handled the rush that was put in front of him well. His punch doesn't look so loopy and soft. He does have some nastiness to him. He likes to finish blocks.

It's all about omission and embellishment though. It's the reason why people complain about his descriptions of Parnell bad plays where he deadpans two words and then gives detailed descriptions to his success. It's pretty obvious bias. We all have our biases and I am not saying to just dismiss what he says out of hand but it is what it is.

I think he has talked about his weaknesses. We don't always agree but his assessments are often like my own FWIW as neither of us have any credentials. I like that he looks at film and makes his own mind up about a player. We're all going to disagree on some things as you said.

 

[Bluestang]

It's all about omission and embellishment though. It's the reason why people complain about his descriptions of Parnell bad plays where he deadpans two words and then gives detailed descriptions to his success. It's pretty obvious bias. We all have our biases and I am not saying to just dismiss what he says out of hand but it is what it is.

It's also the constant excuse making as to why he can't elevate his game to be a starter. There is a new thread now saying that he can't be polished because he's constantly a backup and doesn't get the chances.

The excuse before that was the knee injury, but that happened after the negative camp reports. Evidently the knee injury is not serious because he's getting a ton of snaps in the preseason.

There is no objectivity, because his bias towards Parnell is skewing his reports. But like you said, it what it is.

 

[jobberone]

It's also the constant excuse making as to why he can't elevate his game to be a starter. There is a new thread now saying that he can't be polished because he's constantly a backup and doesn't get the chances.

The excuse before that was the knee injury, but that happened after the negative camp reports. Evidently the knee injury is not serious because he's getting a ton of snaps in the preseason.

There is no objectivity, because his bias towards Parnell is skewing his reports. But like you said, it what it is.

I don't remember him making excuses. He IS injured and he has had some problems as well as flashed what you want to see. Pointing that out is factual and not making excuses. Discussing why the guy isn't starting is food for the masses not reasons to be critical of each other.

 

[Bluestang]

I don't remember him making excuses. He IS injured and he has had some problems as well as flashed what you want to see. Pointing that out is factual and not making excuses. Discussing why the guy isn't starting is food for the masses not reasons to be critical of each other.

I'm critical and have been critical of the reports themselves. You may want to check the new thread on Parnell and read the bolded part.

 

[jobberone]

I'm critical and have been critical of the reports themselves. You may want to check the new thread on Parnell and read the bolded part.

I know you have. This is to all although I'm responding to your post as my remarks pertain to this topic as well.

Personal criticism and the remarks about other members esp as if they weren't there is not wanted.

People want to read everyone's critical analysis of a player but they generally don't want to read about how they or the OP are making excuses or how they are wrong reading it from another member to another. I know I want to read it even if I don't agree with it. This kind of stuff discourages people from trying to be analytical about the team and drives some away. It also kills threads.

If people want to say something personal then you guys can take it to PMs. If you don't agree with a person's analysis then say it without being personal. /mod hat off

I'll look at the new thread in awhile if I can, Bluestang. I value your judgment. I go out of my way to read your posts....even if we don't always agree.

 

[dboyz]

I don't agree that Free looked really bad. I reviewed Free's play in the first half and here is what I came up with. In my judgment there were only three plays that I would call negative: 22, 30 and 31. I wouldn't say all the other ones were great, but were either ok or good IMO. Someone could argue 27. For the bad ones. 22. Free is bullrushed back into Romo, although Romo still completes the pass. 30 results in a sack where Wake makes a big inside move. There is a break down by the blitz pickup in addition to Free, making it impossible for Romo to escape. 31. Wake comes around the edge although with only three rushers Romo has plenty of Room to step up. Not a great play but not a horrible one either.

Overall on this game I feel slightly better. Our gameplan I think was fairly vanilla. As far as I could tell Dez was not lined up in any exotic ways and pretty much just did sideline patterns. No crosses, etc. Romo a few times held the ball too long. This was probably a good game for him to get used to getting rid of the ball. I'm sure practicing in training camp it is easy to hang onto the ball too long, but in a real game you have to cut it loose. Some of those Romo has to just throw it away. Also many plays with good protection across the board. A few plays with individual break downs which resulted in sacks. Not saying it was a great performance but not terrible.

1. Pass play to right. Free has good protection
2. run play. Acceptable blocking from Free
3. Pass. Quick pass, but Free has good protection
4. Quick Pass. (video cut out)
5. Run Play. Free walls off man.
6. Pass. Good protection
7. Run. Good blocking by Free.
8. Pass. Good Protection.
9. Pass. Good protection
10. Pass. Free makes a nice move to help Witten in protection.
11. Run away from Free.
12. Run. Looks like good blocking from Free.
13. Sack. but nothing to do with Free. Good blocking from Free.
14. Run. Stretch play away from Free. Initially misses man then comes back to get him. Ok.
15. Pass. Acceptable blocking from Free. (completed pass)
16. Bubble screen pass. Acceptable blocking from Free.
17. Draw play. Free ok.
18. Pass. Good blocking from Free.
19. Pass. Romo sacked. Free's blocking pretty good. His man was starting to get around to the outside, but he held up fairly well.
20. Pass. No one for Free to block initially. Then helps with Witten's man.
21. Run. Stalemate for Free.
22. Pass. Free is bullrushed almost into Romo's lap. Romo is still able to get the ball out and convert 3rd down.
23. Pass. Acceptable blocking from Free.
24. Run. Ok blocking.
25. Run. Ok.
26. Screen pass. Free lets passrusher around him as you would expect on a screen pass.
27. Pass. Wake is starting to get around the edge on Free, but Romo is able to complete pass to Beasley. I would give Free an ok here.
28. Pass. Free has blitzer coming at him. Seems to handle him. (completed pass, comes back because of penalty).
29. Pass. Solid job by Free.
30. Pass that results in a sack. Free's man makes an inside move. Blitzer coming from the outside so Romo cannot escape. I would give Free a negative rating here, but it wasn't horrible and he wasn't the only breakdown.
31. Pass. Free's man comes around the edge but Romo is able to step up.

 

[jrumann59]

The issue I have with all the Parnell fans is he was converted DE from college that he played 1 year of football and signed as a FA in 2009 by the saints who decided to switch him to OT. And he has been a passable experiment in Dallas since as back up. In college DE that had good athleticism but only played 5 games and before that his football experience was 8th grade. I am all for developing talent and players and maybe back up tackle is all he will ever be, but previous players that went through this conversion did so fairly quickly Waters and Big Cat Williams, He is just so raw and has little to no football experience except the last 5 years in the NFL I just think that maybe he is close to his ceiling not to take anything away from the guy I mean it is quite the achievement to last this long in the NFL without a real college football pedigree. The difference between him and Free is Free is a finesse blocker he won't maul anyone but even when he fails he is usually at least between the rusher and the qb. Parnell is chomping at the bit and I think his inexperience and frustration gets the best of him so he either is hit or miss though he doesn't miss often.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Wetzel looked pretty good again.

I think that the biggest issue the OL has is practice. They are not facing a lot of pressure from our DL so when they face an above average front it is a shock.

Good point..............practicing against the 32nd ranked defense makes you look pretty good, then when you play somebody half way decent, you look like trash.

 

[strongarmqb]

Doug Free was terrible. I realize that Wake is a good player, but wow, Free was bad. Even on plays where Romo got rid of the ball in time, Free's defender was inches away from several more sacks.

Funny part is he was one of the first players on the bus after the game

 

[dfense]

I kept saying this, but Free is the weakest link on the OL.

What is the solution at this point?

Here comes the "He had a bad game, let's replace him" posts.

 

[AKATheRake]

Like I'm getting on with one finding a '77 GTO, that already has a good body job and 'added' features underneath...for a price tag of only $5,000....even $11,000. Do the work and it goes for $50,000.

I'll start looking for a '58 Camaro that just needs a complete interior now...and give out $13,000 with a recovery of about $10,000...even after negotiations. Oh, and the color, blue eyes pearl...yea, on the GTO.

So let Martin become the GTO you're talking about.

The Camaro we're not buying because we already have Uche and Bernadeau to compete for the RG start.

We know Leary is our LG and Fred is our center. No need to invest in an interior we're gonna lose 3K on because we already purchased the parts.

Also, we can another draft pick or maybe a solid starter for our defense. Possibly save some money to help sign Dez who is bar none our best player.

 

[CCBoy]

So let Martin become the GTO you're talking about.

The Camaro we're not buying because we already have Uche and Bernadeau to compete for the RG start.

We know Leary is our LG and Fred is our center. No need to invest in an interior we're gonna lose 3K on because we already purchased the parts.

Although I have seen a muscle car converted into a pickup, with a back gate fabricated and a bed...but I prefer to leave a car with the heart it started out with.

Martin has some talent, although...

 

[AKATheRake]

Although I have seen a muscle car converted into a pickup, with a back gate fabricated and a bed...but I prefer to leave a car with the heart it started out with.

Martin has some talent, although...

Martin was a LT in college and a very good one.

I don't see how we're converting the muscle card into a pickup.

I'm fine with Martin at guard but it's a perfect day out and the Ferrari is sitting in the garage with the garage door open because we're driving the Ford Taurus since it was already on the driveway.

On the other side of the driveway we also have a Ford Focus. That car also gets used to pick up the groceries and drop off the dry cleaning just like the Taurus.

 

[CCBoy]

Martin was a LT in college and a very good one.

I don't see how we're converting the muscle card into a pickup.

I'm fine with Martin at guard but it's a perfect day out and the Ferrari is sitting in the garage with the garage door open because we're driving the Ford Taurus since it was already on the driveway.

On the other side of the driveway we also have a Ford Focus. That car also gets used to pick up the groceries and drop off the dry cleaning just like the Taurus.

Simple, you are asking what physically was a muscle car, to do the carrying of another category. Hey, that shows heart, but not my first choice at all. Hey, get out the coffin couches...and that Focus can take a neat blue color with a lot of pin striping and look grand. The interior work then is the consideration, as it's not going to come off the line as well. Using similar direct comparisons, more of a center.

I still don't get a short armed and strong guard out on the edge. His running can be better pulling, not shuffling to a speed rusher. Uh, Nascar competition. Martin was only judged as the fifth potential tackle in the draft. Not a sterling endorsement there, with smaller arms.

The better lines have continuity at a position, and then fill a single piece at a time. The added piece starts from an improved group of strength.

We haven't even got into the oval tracks yet. Er, dirt tracks and no idler or limitation on speed, but tires and parts. Different category although.

 

[AKATheRake]

Simple, you are asking what physically was a muscle car, to do the carrying of another category. Hey, that shows heart, but not my first choice at all. Hey, get out the coffin couches...and that Focus can take a neat blue color with a lot of pin striping and look grand. The interior work then is the consideration, as it's not going to come off the line as well. Using similar direct comparisons, more of a center.

I still don't get a short armed and strong guard out on the edge. His running can be better pulling, not shuffling to a speed rusher. Uh, Nascar competition. Martin was only judged as the fifth potential tackle in the draft. Not a sterling endorsement there, with smaller arms.

The better lines have continuity at a position, and then fill a single piece at a time. The added piece starts from an improved group of strength.

We haven't even got into the oval tracks yet. Er, dirt tracks and no idler or limitation on speed, but tires and parts. Different category although.

And Free was considered a top 10 tackle entering the draft?

So it's Zach Martin's arms that are allowing Doug Free to continue his turn style ways at RT?

Free looks like a shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot being smashed right back into the other carts.

 

[Future]

The sack he gave up was on an inside move and it was the only time he truly looked 'bad.'

I have rewatched the game. He was asked to single block Cameron Wake who is one of the better rushers in the league. Could we upgrade Free? Certainly but he was not missing a whole bunch of blocks as much as Wake beat his blocks.

Compare that that to the OP's boy Parnell over the last few games where he has missed multiple blocks multiple times a game. Now mind you Parnell was very good this game when he came in but I have come to the point with xwalker that I don't know if I can take what he says about Parnell and Free without a huge grain of salt.

What's the difference?

Free is simply not strong enough to handle power rushers. Even the year - 09? - when he played well at LT he got hammered by guys like Jared Allen. He's always been physically weaker than other guys and its not going to change now. I'd rather take a mental gaffe or two from Parnell than watch Free get bullied around all day.

 

[CCBoy]

And Free was considered a top 10 tackle entering the draft?

So it's Zach Martin's arms that are allowing Doug Free to continue his turn style ways at RT?

Free looks like a shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot being smashed right back into the other carts.

There's a good deal of marketability difference between the first and fourth rounds going into a draft.

As to Zach Martin, he is already at his position of strength. And since that is true, therefore, so is Free. Nobody else has beat him and grabbed the position from him at present.

Sorry, that doesn't also include preferences or projections...