ESPN: Position battle: Free vs. Barron

[cowboyjoe]

Position battle: Free vs. Barron
July, 24, 2010 Jul 245:57PM CTEmail Print Comments By Tim MacMahonSAN ANTONIO -- Worried about Doug Free protecting Tony Romo's blind side? His performance in his first training camp practice as the Cowboys' starting left tackle won't ease those concerns.

Twice during team drills, backup outside linebackers blew by Free for what would have been clean shots at Romo's back. Free didn't get a finger on Brandon Williams or Steve Octavien as they turned the corner on simple speed rushes.

If that continues, ex-Rams first-round pick Alex Barron could move past Free on the depth chart.

Of course, you can't overreact to a couple of plays during a padless practice.

The Cowboys' trade for Free wasn't an indication that they lacked confidence in Free. It addressed the need for depth at tackle while giving up nothing but first-round bust Bobby Carpenter. The Cowboys cut Flozell Adams because they felt Free was prepared for the job after playing well in seven starts at right tackle the previous season.

Jerry Jones said Friday night that Free's athletic ability is actually an upgrade at left tackle. That wasn't evident on two snaps Saturday

 

[TheKey]

Some guys just play better in pads

 

[blindzebra]

Just another mediot trying to create a story.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Well so far we have even headed responses so that's good.

It's called practice for a reason.

By all means, suck now. Just learn from your mistakes, and work the craft before week 1.

 

[Gorgeyhopper]

So I guess every practice they're gonna count the amount of bad plays by free. The guys under the Hubble telescope.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Well so far we have even headed responses so that's good.

It's called practice for a reason.

By all means, suck now. Just learn from your mistakes, and work the craft before week 1.

Or Barron might be starting sooner than we had thought...

 

[lwehlers]

it sure sounds like the media is going to dwell on the bad plays. i just hope that the good plays outnumber the bad. i hope that free can handle the the left tackle job. i hope that coaches do not wait to long to try someone else if free struggles. i just can not wait until the players wear pads and go full speed so we can see if free can handle the job. being in shorts always benefits the defense.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I'm not worried about Free, from reports I have read, Free isnt a practice guy, but when game time comes, he works and does well. Granted, would help him if he put a little more effort into it at practice learning technique etc..

 

[Hoofbite]

it sure sounds like the media is going to dwell on the bad plays. i just hope that the good plays outnumber the bad. i hope that free can handle the the left tackle job. i hope that coaches do not wait to long to try someone else if free struggles. i just can not wait until the players wear pads and go full speed so we can see if free can handle the job. being in shorts always benefits the defense.

Lets be honest here. It only takes a couple of bad plays from a LT to completely screw an entire team.

Hell, even 2 "bad plays" per game from that position could change everything. LT isn't the position to be playing games with.

On the flip-side, I don't see how anyone can judge any player from the OL if they aren't wearing pads. The job of the OL and DL is to make contact and if you can't really get anything going in the way of contact, it kind of handicaps the OL.

Then again, if he's being spun around by backups and isn't really even in position, that's a whole other problem.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Or Barron might be starting sooner than we had thought...

I just dont see that happening at all.

 

[cobra]

My left you-know-what knows more about football than Timmy Mac.

That he apparently gets paid for his garbage appears to be one of the strongest arguments yet against the existence of a just god.

 

[28 Joker]

Here's the deal, imo. It comes down to playing the best player at LT.

Free may be good to adequate, but who is the better player?

Both could be "good enough", but who is the best player for the job?

That is why I think Alex Barron deserves first team reps along with Free, and this thing should be a wide open competition.

Mike Jenkins had to fight and scrape and claw for his job; he wasn't "penciled in" as the starter. As a matter of fact, the coaches waited too long to name him the starter, imso. Orlando Scandrick (like Doug Free), I bet, had big supporters in the organization who thought he was better than Jenkins. Those people were wrong.

What if "those supporters" are wrong about Free, and Barron is the better player?

Doug Free should be given nothing, imo. He should have to earn it on the field, and he shouldn't be given "Free passes" on poor practice habits. The guy has zero starts at LT in the NFL.

They waited until week 5 to start Miles Austin last year.

Why should Free get a "Free pass"?

Perhaps, he will not. I don't know. I just know about all the Doug Free love that I've been hearing.

Free should be under the micro-scope. Perhaps, Barron will be under it soon if things heat up for the LT spot.

We shall see.

 

[gimmesix]

On the flip-side, I don't see how anyone can judge any player from the OL if they aren't wearing pads. The job of the OL and DL is to make contact and if you can't really get anything going in the way of contact, it kind of handicaps the OL.

Then again, if he's being spun around by backups and isn't really even in position, that's a whole other problem.

I think it's more of the backups pinning their ears back knowing they are not going to get popped by the linemen. Notice we're not reading about Ware (or Spencer) being unstoppable in getting pressure on the QBs, likely because Ware understands that doing it without pads on doesn't really mean much and is focusing on other things such as technique/footwork.

Getting pressure on the passer when you know you're not going to be touched, or at least not much, is pretty easy if that's what you want to do. (Most linebackers/defensive ends are faster/shiftier than even the quickest offensive linemen.)

Bet those guys wouldn't dare do that to Colombo or he'd put the contact back in even without pads.

 

[CATCH17]

No pads on? Who cares.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I just dont see that happening at all.

I say the best man should win the job...

 

[RS12]

One other blog said Cu Jo blew by him too. All I'll say is one of the most interesting things I heard all off season was how every other scout in the division thought Barron would win the job.

 

[casmith07]

Some guys just play better in pads

It's hard to go all out in those kinds of drills when you don't have pads on. I went through it playing CB and FS in HS and college...trying to "tackle" a RB on the outside in the open field with no pads is hilarious.

 

[28 Joker]

One other blog said Cu Jo blew by him too. All I'll say is one of the most interesting things I heard all off season was how every other scout in the division thought Barron would win the job.

That info Mosley had caught my attention, too.

A poster above made a good point about LT, and I agree.

If your inexperienced CB gives up a play, he lives to fight another play and get better and learn from it.

If your inexperienced LT gives up a play, your star quarterback may end up with bruised ribs or worse.

LT is a position where you can't afford to struggle for stretches of play or games, especially in this division. If you have too many "growing pains" at LT, your QB may "share that pain". Your offense could stall. Turnovers can occur as a result. Plus, it could cost you some games. Furthermore, the race for a bye in the NFC is going to be heated. Dallas needs to be solid in all areas and play their very best players and unleash them.

The LT position needs to be solid, especially in Dallas, because Colombo is getting ready to see some top rushers on his side. Colombo's real strength is his run blocking, imo. I'm sure those big name guys will take a turn at Dallas' LT, too. Adams isn't there, and they will make Free or Barron prove that they can block them, imo.

 

[GalvestonCowboyFan]

Never have understood all the hate for TMac. That is all.

 

[theebs]

espn 1033 and all the people that are associated with it are determined to see this kid fail. If I didnt know better I would say they are rooting for it.

Mosely, fitzsimmons, watkins, mcmahon. They all need drama to fill their time and columns.

Its really dissapointing sometimes listening to that station or reading the work that comes from there and it feels painfully obvious they need some sort of drama to do their jobs.

Oh well they will all be dissapointed. This is the same group that sat there and talked about the giants defense being an all time great defense for 6 months last year until the season started.