Doug Free

[jwooten15]

I think the vast majority of us may have drastically discounted Doug Free's importance.

No so much on the field (where he was serviceable), but mostly in the locker room and meeting rooms.

Every other OL member repeatedly referred to Free as the leader of that group. And now, that element of leadership is gone.

Sure, Frederick is very smart, and he, Smith, and Martin are pretty great. But I'm wondering if Free wasn't the oil that kept the OL machine running smoothly.

With this year's group, it's not a lack of talent that's holding them back. It's lack of cohesion and communication and comfort with each other. Part of me wishes that Free would have stuck around for one more year.

Anyways, I may still be in the minority, but I miss Doug Free!

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I apologize for every bad thing I said about him.

 

[Fletch]

I’d love a young Doug Free back on the line. He is missed. But damn, La’El Collins has so much dang talent. He’ll get better. This is not our year for the Super Bowl. But Collins will be part of this team for years with quite a few chances to win it all.

You can book that!

 

[Idgit]

I don't know about 'drastically,' but it's safe to say a ton of fans didn't appreciate Doug Free's value appropriately. That's often the case with mid-round picks who are slow to take a starting role and who later sign a nice extension. Fans are always looking to replace those guys with bigger names or higher round picks.

It's the opposite of the Jonathan Cooper effect, where a guy comes in and is a mixed bag, but he gets a lot of leash because he was a high pick at one point three teams ago.

 

[CATCH17]

I'm still glad he's gone.

Leary was the guy I regret losing. Not Free.

 

[Idgit]

I'm still glad he's gone.

Leary was the guy I regret losing. Not Free.

Other than v. Aaron Donald, I'd say the issues at RT have been slightly more of a problem than the issues at LG so far. To be fair, Collins has played against some pretty good players, himself.

 

[erod]

Leary was the big loss. This line is not the same without him. Not even close.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I'm still glad he's gone.

Leary was the guy I regret losing. Not Free.

This.

I think Collins has been at least equal to Free at RT, but the upheaval on the right side plus the issues with Tyron's back have been too much for the line to maintain it's level of plat from last year.

 

[AbeBeta]

So the coaches do know something about football players?

 

[Nightman]

JPP, Olivier Vernon, Jon Hankins, Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Chandler Jones, Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn, Clay Matthews, Nick Perry..... tough 5 weeks for LCollins and guys

Free was replacement level at best

 

[big dog cowboy]

I miss Doug Free!

His play on the field wasn't acceptable and he needed to be replaced. I sure Dak and Zeke don't miss him.

 

[The Natural]

If one of Martin, Tyron, or Fred can't step up and be a "leader" of the group we've got problems

 

[SDCowboy]

Not to say that he wasn't important (I'm sure he was), but I doubt his absence alone is the main cause of what is ailing this oline. Losing Doug Free should not net us the current oline performance, or lack thereof.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Something is wrong with Dline, so if it isn't the loss of Free, it must be the loss of Leary.

Or maybe a combination of the loss of free, loss of Leary, Tyron's bad back, and woicik's strength and conditioning program. 4th and 1/2 a yard, and barring an elliot last minute arm extension, we get stuffed.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Something is wrong with Dline, so if it isn't the loss of Free, it must be the loss of Leary.

Or maybe a combination of the loss of free, loss of Leary, Tyron's bad back, and woicik's strength and conditioning program. 4th and 1/2 a yard, and barring an elliot last minute arm extension, we get stuffed.

I think all of them are contributing factors.

 

[canters]

Both Free and Leary were very, very good at run blocking. Go back and study the 2016 Pittsburgh game, especially on Zeke’s last run that won the game. EVERY Pittsburgh front 7 on D in the TV screen was on his back.

We miss these two guys when we run. Free was not a great pass blocker, however. I still have faith in Collins and think he will be better than Free soon. We will likely need to get an OG however in the off season.

 

[Nightman]

We are averaging 25 points against some top Ds....... all is well

 

[lostar2009]

#Miss Free

 

[SDCowboy]

We are averaging 25 points against some top Ds....... all is well

All is not well...

 

[CowboyRoy]

I think the vast majority of us may have drastically discounted Doug Free's importance.

No so much on the field (where he was serviceable), but mostly in the locker room and meeting rooms.

Every other OL member repeatedly referred to Free as the leader of that group. And now, that element of leadership is gone.

Sure, Frederick is very smart, and he, Smith, and Martin are pretty great. But I'm wondering if Free wasn't the oil that kept the OL machine running smoothly.

With this year's group, it's not a lack of talent that's holding them back. It's lack of cohesion and communication and comfort with each other. Part of me wishes that Free would have stuck around for one more year.

Anyways, I may still be in the minority, but I miss Doug Free!

Vast majority is a great way to put it. Free was a very solid RT for a long time. I hated him in the beginning of his career, but after about year #3 his value showed. And he was the emotional leader of the line for the last 6 years.