Doug Free Revisited

[The Realist]

This was Free's worst game. And that sack was totally on him. Had he got his man, Romo would never have rolled into the sack. But he's been a bright spot this season. Calling him garbage and often abused is hysterical overreaction.

How was that sack on him?

He took the inside man which was Merriman.

He can't block both.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Free hasn't been a disaster and has played well at times. But it's fairly clear he isn't a long term answer at least at OT.

 

[Vertigo_17]

Maybe I am in the minority, but I think Free's been pretty good given the fact that he doesn't have much experience playing yet. Would you rather have Proctologist or McQuiston playing? Backup OT's don't grow on trees

 

[Eskimo]

This was Free's worst game. And that sack was totally on him. Had he got his man, Romo would never have rolled into the sack. But he's been a bright spot this season. Calling him garbage and often abused is hysterical overreaction.

No, it can't solely be on Free because he had the choice of two men to block and took the inside one. Since he wasn't double-teaming anyone, he picked the right one. When Barber went out into the pattern, there was noone left to pick up the blitzer so it was on Romo/scheme.

 

[Eskimo]

Free hasn't been a disaster and has played well at times. But it's fairly clear he isn't a long term answer at least at OT.

I disagree - he is already better than Columbo who is the starter.

 

[Idgit]

How was that sack on him?

He took the inside man which was Merriman.

He can't block both.

Are we talking about the same play? He took Merriman, but didn't block him. Instead, he was beat inside and pushed back to the point where Romo got flushed to his right: into the outside rush where he didn't even have the time to dump the ball off.

 

[The Realist]

Are we talking about the same play? He took Merriman, but didn't block him. Instead, he was beat inside and pushed back to the point where Romo got flushed to his right: into the outside rush where he didn't even have the time to dump the ball off.

That's the same play.

Yes he got beat inside, but to me that is a no win play.

They had the right D dialed up.

If I'm not mistaken, we had no backs in the backfield.

Outside guy was coming free no matter what.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Free hasn't been a disaster and has played well at times. But it's fairly clear he isn't a long term answer at least at OT.

I think he is since he's holding up pretty well while playing out of position at RT

dude is a LT

I'm excited about his prospects

 

[casmith07]

I disagree - he is already better than Columbo who is the starter.

:bang2: :bang2:

you've got to be kidding me.

 

[Idgit]

That's the same play.

Yes he got beat inside, but to me that is a no win play.

They had the right D dialed up.

If I'm not mistaken, we had no backs in the backfield.

Outside guy was coming free no matter what.

I don't really disagree. They did have the right call. Had Free stuck his man, Romo might have rolled left or at least thrown the ball away and not been stuck with the sack.

Either way, I'm a fan of Free's and not piling on him for getting beat inside by Merriman on one play.

 

[Eskimo]

:bang2: :bang2:

you've got to be kidding me.

Nope, no kidding. Way less heat coming from Romo's right side since Free came into the lineup. The couple of free shots Romo has taken from free blitzers were not due to Free's mistakes.

I think he has probably been our best OL over the last 3 weeks except for a couple of plays against the Raiders. He will get better and he is an LT not a RT so he is doing quite well all things considered.

 

[Eskimo]

I don't really disagree. They did have the right call. Had Free stuck his man, Romo might have rolled left or at least thrown the ball away and not been stuck with the sack.

Either way, I'm a fan of Free's and not piling on him for getting beat inside by Merriman on one play.

But he did recover enough to let Romo slide away from the pressure. That is the nature of OL play - you don't always get them entirely cleanly blocked and the QB needs to slide in the pocket as necessary. Rivers was doing it all game long to avoid sacks as his OL was never cleanly beaten.

 

[Bleu Star]

LOL @ some of these replies... Free is decent considering the loser environment he's playing in. That's not saying much folks. Keep on sugar coating though. Perhaps we should change the team name from Cowboys to Polished Turds.

 

[7footer]

I thought he was ok in pass protection, but he was TERRIBLE on that goal line stand! There was absolutley ZERO push for Barber on the right side, and guess where he was running?

I give Barber 25% of the blame for the 7 points we never got, but 75% of the blame goes to the O-Line.

 

[neosapien23]

Free will make a much better LT than RT and I really think Adams has punched his ticket our with his sub[ar play and lazy attitude. Dallas needs to draft a stronger T in the draft to replace Colombo.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Free will make a much better LT than RT and I really think Adams has punched his ticket our with his sub[ar play and lazy attitude. Dallas needs to draft a stronger T in the draft to replace Colombo.

Agree, Free also needs to spend the offseason in the weight room to gain strenght for run blocking.

Right now he is way better at pass blocking than run blocking. Yet, our brilliant OC decided to run behind him multiple times on the goalline.

 

[Idgit]

LOL @ some of these replies... Free is decent considering the loser environment he's playing in. That's not saying much folks. Keep on sugar coating though. Perhaps we should change the team name from Cowboys to Polished Turds.

Not a good idea. We need more than the word 'polished' to distinguish the team from the fans.

 

[burmafrd]

Free has been in a pro weight program for THREE YEARS. He is NOT going to get any stronger. He is at his limit NOW.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Free has been pretty good and probably better than Columbo. The sack was not his fault but just a good blitz package by SD that fooled Romo - the LB that sacked him was unaccounted for in the protection schemes.

Free is a natural LT and should replace Flo next year. Flo and his penalties need to hit the highway. I wouldn't mind trading him to a team needing an LT if he still wanted to play as he is not bad. I just want an OL that is more mobile and makes less mistakes.

Bigg should be moved to RT.

We then need to find ourselves a new RG in draft/FA.

I think Bigg is just too big and tall to play guard. He is a perfect RT, though. If we find ourselves a power RG with some decent speed, we've got a power side of the line to run on.

With Free and Kosier on the left, we've got two guys who can get out and make blocks in space (Gurode can do this,too. Hopefully the new RG can do this, too).

I am GLAD I have finally found someone who AGREES Davis needs to be moved. First of all, you cannot have a RG making 45M dollars. Secondly, I really think if Dallas had drafted the Center they missed in the 2nd round, Gurode would have been moved to RG. I think Gurode is not a good enough technician to play C. His power is being wasted at C. And I also agree Free needs to be the LT next year. What are we so afraid of...the core of Flo, James, Newman, Witten, Gurode, Barber....etc have not won ANYTHING. This NEEDS to be shaken up. And I would start with Bradie James. I am picking him because I have never been big on him as the LEADER of this defense. I wish our most talented would also be our most fiery and have the best leadership qualities. But that is just NOT who Ware is.

 

[dbair1967]

Garbage game and often abused... That is all.

He's ok...his pass protection continues to be pretty good. He is somewhat of a liability as a run blocker, but he still has time to get stronger and improve his technique.

He might not be a great fit for a power blocking style, but it certain schemes he could be pretty good.