Doug Free

[brickman]

Has anyone said what is happening on the O-Line at RT with Marc Colombo getting healthy. I know the old adage is you should never lose your starting spot because of an injury, but Doug Free is playing so well right now, I really don't see how you make a change at RT. What are your thoughts?

 

[Doomsday101]

Has anyone said what is happening on the O-Line at RT with Marc Colombo getting healthy. I know the old adage is you should never lose your starting spot because of an injury, but Doug Free is playing so well right now, I really don't see how you make a change at RT. What are your thoughts?

Right now I would be leery of taking Free out. I think Free is doing a very good job not committing many mistakes and seems to be getting better the more he plays

 

[cobra]

Has anyone said what is happening on the O-Line at RT with Marc Colombo getting healthy. I know the old adage is you should never lose your starting spot because of an injury, but Doug Free is playing so well right now, I really don't see how you make a change at RT. What are your thoughts?

Columbo was playing well too.

I say you put Columbo back in. And you thank your lucky stars that you have a very solid, developing, future starter at Tackle.

This off-season, let Free compete for a job.

 

[thssanders]

from looking around it sounds like colombo might play, but there has not been a definitive decision

 

[Everlastingxxx]

You don’t notice Free, that’s how good he has been playing. Although that block on Jones long run was amazing to see him that far down the field. I love Colombo, but hard to take out a player like Free. He won me over, hope he continues his improvement next season.

 

[thssanders]

Hopefully he takes over for flozell next year so we can get rid of him.... too many penalties

 

[Go Big D!]

He won me over as well. I loved seeing him blocking for the Felix TD. That got me pumped!

I just don't see how you can take out a guy who has been playing well and with everything clicking the way it has the past few games and switch it up again for the palyoff game.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Do any of you want to be the guy who tells Marc Colombo he lost his job? I sure don't.

Free has played very well and should definitely be in the mix for next year, especially if Jerry decides Flozell is not worth his contract.

For now, I think we should use Free on that loaded tackle formation where we overload the right or left side and run behind it. I also think he should come in on some 3 TE sets (tackle eligible) and replace Bennett who one, doesn't seem to know the plays and two, doesn't seem to be playing hard.

 

[BigWillie]

Keep Free in and let the chemistry that has been developed on the o-line continue.

Columbo coming back from a broken leg, you don't know what to expect anyways when you put him in a game situation.

No reason to fix something that definitely isn't broken right now. Let Columbo and Free battle for that job in TC. But for now, don't mess with anything.

 

[Doomsday101]

Do any of you want to be the guy who tells Marc Colombo he lost his job? I sure don't.

Free has played very well and should definitely be in the mix for next year, especially if Jerry decides Flozell is not worth his contract.

For now, I think we should use Free on that loaded tackle formation where we overload the right or left side and run behind it. I also think he should come in on some 3 TE sets (tackle eligible) and replace Bennett who one, doesn't seem to know the plays and two, doesn't seem to be playing hard.

I think the coaches should go with what they feel give us the best chance if that is Colombo great. Give the fact I'm not seeing him moving around in practice I can't make a great judgment call I have been seeing free play and like what I'm seeing from him.

 

[Jon88]

I had a feeling he would be good. I think he could be even better than Flozell one day. I would put Colombo back in if he does well in practice and there's no drop off. I would hate to see Free get a torn ACL or something when Colombo can play. We may need Free at LT next year, who knows.

 

[AbeBeta]

I think you have to go with Columbo. He is the starter for a reason and his fire could give us a lift. Also, it reduces the chance that Rocky Dennis sees a snap to 0%.

 

[Cover 2]

If he can beat Flo out next year then great! Then we could have Colombo at RT. Ideally Flo would be a backup next year because of his age. Remember there is no cap, so there is no reason to cut him next year.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

It's a good problem to have.

I disagree with the notion that you shouldn't lose your job to injury.

I believe you go with hot hand and what is working at the moment.

If Doug Free is healthy, he should play, no matter the status of Marc Columbo.

 

[johnson2]

at first i was all about free staying the starter but the more i think about it i think that colombo is better in the short ydg situations weve been having problems with and could use him back in there

 

[Cover 2]

I think you have to go with Columbo. He is the starter for a reason and his fire could give us a lift. Also, it reduces the chance that Rocky Dennis sees a snap to 0%.

:laugh2: I see someone's not a McQuistan fan.

 

[Jon88]

It's a good problem to have.

I disagree with the notion that you shouldn't lose your job to injury.

I believe you go with hot hand and what is working at the moment.

If Doug Free is healthy, he should play, no matter the status of Marc Columbo.

If Colombo is back to 100% I say put him in. Free suffering some major injury would be a disaster.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

I think if Columbo is back to 100% for a playoff game, whether this week or beyond, he probably gets his job back, especially if he shows in practice that he's back to 100%. That being said, I think we would probably start to see some 3 tackle heavy sets with some screens and runs coming out of it, just to have all three tackles on the field at once.

Wade alluded to this in his PC today.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

If Colombo is healthy, I'd work him in. But if he's not 85% or better, I'd sit him completely. I'd use this stadegy till we're done, but I wouldn't replace Free completely

 

[Maikeru-sama]

If Colombo is back to 100% I say put him in. Free suffering some major injury would be a disaster.

Why?

If Free went down, then you have Marc Colombo to come in.

Colombo hasn't played in over a month, if this was the Regular Season, I would bring him in but with an "all or nothing" situation, I don't think you should mess with the rotation.

There is no doubt in my mind that if Doug Free had been struggling, Colombo would be announced the starter by now.

But he has played well and there is no reason to make a change.

And like Mickey Spagnola said, alot of times when guys come back, they are not 100% but they come back quicker because their replacement is struggling.