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Doug Free not looking for a free pass to starting job
Posted Wednesday, May. 12, 2010
By CLARENCE E. HILL Jr.
[email protected]
GRAPEVINE — Nothing was ever promised to tackle Doug Free.
Not when he was a two-star recruit coming out of St. Joseph High School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, or when the Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the fourth round in 2007 after a decent career at Northern Illinois.
Remember, the Cowboys drafted tackle James Marten (who was released a year later) a round before Free in the same year.
So despite playing well in place of the injured Marc Colombo last year, Free never fell for the notion that he would be given the starting spot at left tackle following the release of Flozell Adams without pause.
He put himself in this position because of hard work and plans to continue down that path as he prepares to compete with the newly-acquired Alex Barron at left tackle.
“I’ve got a lot of hard work to put in and I’m obviously excited," Free said. "Last year, getting a chance to play and I think playing pretty well, they definitely have some faith in me. I think I’ve proven that I can play. But the more people we got, the better the competition and that’s good for the football team."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones agreed that the trade for Barron was more about shoring up the depth on the offensive line and creating some competition rather than any concerns about Free’s ability to handle the job.
He said they like what Free did and they believe he has the foot quickness and athletic ability to play left tackle. The Cowboys also like what Barron brings to the table.
Certainly, Barron had his problems in St. Louis the past five years. He gave up seven sacks last year and also led the league in penalties. But he is a talent whom Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones acknowledges they also had rated as a first-round pick in 2005, the same year the Rams took him with the 19th overall pick. He is experienced and durable, starting 74 of 76 games in his career at right and left tackle.
"This will give us competition," Jerry Jones said. "This will give us real experience. If you add up all the games that our offensive line has played in, that’s pretty impressive and gives us the depth. I’ll be very candid with you: I’m no longer concerned about the offensive line at all. "
Free said his confidence is up after playing seven games in place of Colombo last year and doesn’t want to go back to being a backup player.
"Until you get out on the field and in a game situation in the regular season, you really don’t know what you’re getting into," Free said. "So getting out there and getting a chance to play was definitely an advantage for me. I couldn’t be more excited. Nobody plays to sit the bench. Nobody plays to watch the games."
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/05/12/2184901/doug-free-not-looking-for-a-free.html#ixzz0nqZ212Ng
Posted Wednesday, May. 12, 2010
By CLARENCE E. HILL Jr.
[email protected]
GRAPEVINE — Nothing was ever promised to tackle Doug Free.
Not when he was a two-star recruit coming out of St. Joseph High School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, or when the Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the fourth round in 2007 after a decent career at Northern Illinois.
Remember, the Cowboys drafted tackle James Marten (who was released a year later) a round before Free in the same year.
So despite playing well in place of the injured Marc Colombo last year, Free never fell for the notion that he would be given the starting spot at left tackle following the release of Flozell Adams without pause.
He put himself in this position because of hard work and plans to continue down that path as he prepares to compete with the newly-acquired Alex Barron at left tackle.
“I’ve got a lot of hard work to put in and I’m obviously excited," Free said. "Last year, getting a chance to play and I think playing pretty well, they definitely have some faith in me. I think I’ve proven that I can play. But the more people we got, the better the competition and that’s good for the football team."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones agreed that the trade for Barron was more about shoring up the depth on the offensive line and creating some competition rather than any concerns about Free’s ability to handle the job.
He said they like what Free did and they believe he has the foot quickness and athletic ability to play left tackle. The Cowboys also like what Barron brings to the table.
Certainly, Barron had his problems in St. Louis the past five years. He gave up seven sacks last year and also led the league in penalties. But he is a talent whom Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones acknowledges they also had rated as a first-round pick in 2005, the same year the Rams took him with the 19th overall pick. He is experienced and durable, starting 74 of 76 games in his career at right and left tackle.
"This will give us competition," Jerry Jones said. "This will give us real experience. If you add up all the games that our offensive line has played in, that’s pretty impressive and gives us the depth. I’ll be very candid with you: I’m no longer concerned about the offensive line at all. "
Free said his confidence is up after playing seven games in place of Colombo last year and doesn’t want to go back to being a backup player.
"Until you get out on the field and in a game situation in the regular season, you really don’t know what you’re getting into," Free said. "So getting out there and getting a chance to play was definitely an advantage for me. I couldn’t be more excited. Nobody plays to sit the bench. Nobody plays to watch the games."
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/05/12/2184901/doug-free-not-looking-for-a-free.html#ixzz0nqZ212Ng
