ESPN Audio: Jared Allen on Flozell Adams and Doug Free

[WoodysGirl]

Vikings DE Jared Allen joins the show from the Pro Bowl to talk about how he approached facing Flozell Adams in the Divisional round game against Dallas.

Link: http://podloc.andohs.net/dloadTrack...dio.com/stations/dallas/irvin/MISPOD0129a.mp3 (8:16)

 

[Coakleys Dad]

Recap?

 

[Eskimo]

Really didn't talk about it too much - maybe 20 seconds. Basically said Flo was a good player with size, long arms and good athletic ability and recovery ability. He didn't know much about Free coming into the game other than he had mostly played RT and was the backup the week of the game.

He basically said when Free came in he was in a tough spot. There was no way he wanted the backup to block him so he said he was going after the QB full force.

My commentary on this:

Of course, the irony is that he got no sacks against Free at all. The sack he got was when he got a 1-on-1 matchup against Witten on that first play. I don't know if Free made a mistake there in the moment or if that was a case of the Vikings exposing a flaw in our blocking scheme in that situation. Regardless, Free held Allen without a sack.

Most of the damage was on Kosier and Colombo but Davis and Gurode had their share of breakdowns blocking some of the stunts.

 

[THUMPER]

Really didn't talk about it too much - maybe 20 seconds. Basically said Flo was a good player with size, long arms and good athletic ability and recovery ability. He didn't know much about Free coming into the game other than he had mostly played RT and was the backup the week of the game.

He basically said when Free came in he was in a tough spot. There was no way he wanted the backup to block him so he said he was going after the QB full force.

My commentary on this:

Of course, the irony is that he got no sacks against Free at all. The sack he got was when he got a 1-on-1 matchup against Witten on that first play. I don't know if Free made a mistake there in the moment or if that was a case of the Vikings exposing a flaw in our blocking scheme in that situation. Regardless, Free held Allen without a sack.

Most of the damage was on Kosier and Colombo but Davis and Gurode had their share of breakdowns blocking some of the stunts.

Edwards seemed to be the guy causing most of the damage against us. I thought Free did a very good job against Allen and would not be at all disappointed if he started for us in week-1 of 2010.

 

[Eskimo]

Edwards seemed to be the guy causing most of the damage against us. I thought Free did a very good job against Allen and would not be at all disappointed if he started for us in week-1 of 2010.

Yes, Edwards made plays and all of them were against Colombo.

There are so many people out there fixated on the idea that things fell apart when Flo left the game. The truth was the Vkings were dominating the trenches on all passing downs even with Flo in there. They were winning the other matchups, especially Edwards on Colombo and Williams on Kosier. When Free came in, we were down two scores and tried to pass the ball but still couldn't block and then the TO happened.

Some say Free is unproven to take over LT. What more proof do you want? He came into an impossible situation in a playoff game in an incredibly loud dome stadium against the best passrushing DE in the NFL who is more of a bull than speedrusher and pitched a shutout against him.

I am absolutely convinced that Doug Free is our future LT. They may choose to play him at RT next year with Colombo shown the door and Flo back at LT but by 2011 when Flo is almost surely gone my bet is on Free taking over the slot.

 

[Cover 2]

Yes, Edwards made plays and all of them were against Colombo.

There are so many people out there fixated on the idea that things fell apart when Flo left the game. The truth was the Vkings were dominating the trenches on all passing downs even with Flo in there. They were winning the other matchups, especially Edwards on Colombo and Williams on Kosier. When Free came in, we were down two scores and tried to pass the ball but still couldn't block and then the TO happened.

Some say Free is unproven to take over LT. What more proof do you want? He came into an impossible situation in a playoff game in an incredibly loud dome stadium against the best passrushing DE in the NFL who is more of a bull than speedrusher and pitched a shutout against him.

I am absolutely convinced that Doug Free is our future LT. They may choose to play him at RT next year with Colombo shown the door and Flo back at LT but by 2011 when Flo is almost surely gone my bet is on Free taking over the slot.

This would be ideal. At worst Free is Colombo's equal, which means we should start Free due to the age difference.

Also Flozell is extremely underrated, so we should keep him for another year while we try to groom a RT. After we groom a RT then we should slide Free over to LT when we decide to get rid of Flozell or he retires.

 

[Future]

Yes, Edwards made plays and all of them were against Colombo.

There are so many people out there fixated on the idea that things fell apart when Flo left the game. The truth was the Vkings were dominating the trenches on all passing downs even with Flo in there. They were winning the other matchups, especially Edwards on Colombo and Williams on Kosier. When Free came in, we were down two scores and tried to pass the ball but still couldn't block and then the TO happened.

Things fell apart because we had to help Free instead of Columbo IMO. I don't have stats or film to prove it...but the offensive staff could trust Flo but not Free regardless of who they were blocking.

 

[jobberone]

Edwards seemed to be the guy causing most of the damage against us. I thought Free did a very good job against Allen and would not be at all disappointed if he started for us in week-1 of 2010.

Free didn't give up a sack but they all allowed pressure and knockdowns all game long. Allen got better pressure against Free than he had against Adams. Free wasn't terrible. Considering who they were playing he did ok. But just because he didn't give up a sack doesn't mean he had a great game.

 

[Dhragon]

Things fell apart because we had to help Free instead of Columbo IMO. I don't have stats or film to prove it...but the offensive staff could trust Flo but not Free regardless of who they were blocking.

Yeah, those pointing out Free did not give up a sack seem to be blind to the fact that he got most of the help. Free did not do great, even with help. Even so, he did better than Columbo though.

 

[Eskimo]

Things fell apart because we had to help Free instead of Columbo IMO. I don't have stats or film to prove it...but the offensive staff could trust Flo but not Free regardless of who they were blocking.

It was Edwards that broke down Colombo - he did it with Flo in the game and after he left. it didn't make any difference. The biggest difference was that Garrett gave up on the running game too much.

Free wasn't the problem - it was the rest of the OL.

 

[Eskimo]

Those of you who are so critical of Free vs. Flo should take a look at profootballfocus.com where they attempt to score each play of the game, including battles in the trenches.

For the Minnesota game they scored Flo as giving up 4 pressures in the quarter he played. Free gave up 2 pressures and no QB hits in the 3 quarters he played.

Colombo was also fairly atrocious against Philadelphia with lots of hits and pressures. It is just that Edwards got more big plays with more turnovers and sacks.

You guys are just biased against Free no matter how good he plays. It reminds me of all the TNew haters back in the 2005 & 6 seasons when he was arguably the best CB in the league.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

Those of you who are so critical of Free vs. Flo should take a look at profootballfocus.com where they attempt to score each play of the game, including battles in the trenches.

For the Minnesota game they scored Flo as giving up 4 pressures in the quarter he played. Free gave up 2 pressures and no QB hits in the 3 quarters he played.

Colombo was also fairly atrocious against Philadelphia with lots of hits and pressures. It is just that Edwards got more big plays with more turnovers and sacks.

You guys are just biased against Free no matter how good he plays. It reminds me of all the TNew haters back in the 2005 & 6 seasons when he was arguably the best CB in the league.

This post was spot on, i love columbo but he was not ready to play yet and his play vs edwards was the real reason the oline failed, not Free.

 

[burmafrd]

THe help we had to give free meant no help for Colombo. Kind of wonder why they kept helping Free if he was DOING SO WELL.

 

[craig71]

I hope Free develops into a starting tackle but i'm not that high on him at the moment.Free just doesn't look all that strong and is going to have to rely on near perfect technique to succeed.

That's not to say that he can't compete for a starting role in camp.I think he has shown enough during the year to warrant a look in TC.But i'm quite content to keep any expectations tempered at this stage of the game.

Craig

 

[Coakleys Dad]

I hope Free develops into a starting tackle but i'm not that high on him at the moment.Free just doesn't look all that strong and is going to have to rely on near perfect technique to succeed.

That's not to say that he can't compete for a starting role in camp.I think he has shown enough during the year to warrant a look in TC.But i'm quite content to keep any expectations tempered at this stage of the game.

Craig

I guess you didnt watch the 8 games columbo was hurt....

 

[Eskimo]

I hope Free develops into a starting tackle but i'm not that high on him at the moment.Free just doesn't look all that strong and is going to have to rely on near perfect technique to succeed.

That's not to say that he can't compete for a starting role in camp.I think he has shown enough during the year to warrant a look in TC.But i'm quite content to keep any expectations tempered at this stage of the game.

Craig

You Free-haters are going to have a long season because it is basically a done deal that he will start at RT or LT next year. The only question is whether Flo comes back to play another year in which case he would play LT.

If Flo doesn't play next year then Free will probably be the LT because we won't be able to get one in FA and we won't be able to draft a guy who can start next year because we pick too low and don't have the ammunition to trade up.

Having got some experience this year will make him a much better player next year. He got better and better as the year went on and is probably our best OL right now. I am excited about the athletic ability he brings to the group and I am excited about the great footwork he shows out there. We may have just lucked our way into finding the starter there for the next 10 years. Luckily, his talents match up so well with those of the other skill position players who do well working in space.

 

[burmafrd]

Its YOUR OPINION and nothing else. Don't act like its anything else. Free did good at RT but LT is a whole different world. He did OK with help. Does not mean he can do it by himself at the level we expected out of the Hotel.

 

[craig71]

I guess you didnt watch the 8 games columbo was hurt....

I saw the games where he started and I saw him get overpowered at times.Free is nimble and has good feet but lacks raw power and bulk.


Craig

 

[craig71]

You Free-haters are going to have a long season because it is basically a done deal that he will start at RT or LT next year. The only question is whether Flo comes back to play another year in which case he would play LT.

If Flo doesn't play next year then Free will probably be the LT because we won't be able to get one in FA and we won't be able to draft a guy who can start next year because we pick too low and don't have the ammunition to trade up.

Having got some experience this year will make him a much better player next year. He got better and better as the year went on and is probably our best OL right now. I am excited about the athletic ability he brings to the group and I am excited about the great footwork he shows out there. We may have just lucked our way into finding the starter there for the next 10 years. Luckily, his talents match up so well with those of the other skill position players who do well working in space.

I don't think that I said that I hated Free or that he would never challenge for a starting role.I think he has shown enough to challenge for a starting spot but I don't think that he's a lock to be a starter.As of right now I think Free has shown that he's an adequate swing tackle that could challenge for a starting role.

Craig

 

[Eskimo]

Its YOUR OPINION and nothing else. Don't act like its anything else. Free did good at RT but LT is a whole different world. He did OK with help. Does not mean he can do it by himself at the level we expected out of the Hotel.

Not my opinion, you can check out profootballfocus.com where they chart and rank performance of each player for each game. While there may be systemic bias against one team, it would be hard to see why they would be biased against certain players on a team.

Anyway, their analysis of the Vikings game was pretty clear:

Flo was pretty bad - (mediocre run blocking, 4 pressures in just over a quarter)

Colombo was horrific. (mediocre run blocking, 2 sacks, 2 QB hits, 6 pressures)

Free was okay. (below average run blocking, 2 pressures)

Kosier was bad. (good run blocking, 5 pressures, 1 penalty)

Gurode was bad. (mediocre run blocking, 4 pressures)

Davis was very bad. (bad run blocking, 2 pressures)