Free to stay at Guard

[fanfromvirginia]

'And with the 16th pick in the 2014 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys pick RT blahblahblah from blahblahblah.'

 

[fanfromvirginia]

I understand that the fun of these boards is the discussions of the team, the players, and the games, but people should at least try to be objective. I'm not saying that it is all peaches and cream on the roster, but the negativity of some posters is really amazing. If the Cowboys won four Superbowls in a row, some people on here would spend hours complaining that the deep snapper isn't putting enough spin on the ball and he is a scrub that no other team would want.

This is probably true but the reverse is equally true. If the Cowboys, for example, put together a nearly twenty-year stretch in which they only won one playoff game during which their OLs were mediocre or worse almost every year, some posters would assume that something that looked on the surface last-minute and cobbled together to make up for a weak right side of the OL wasn't necessarily a genius Kasparovian chess move. Given our history, if it looks last-minute and cobbled together then it probably is last-minute and cobbled together.

The Dallas Cowboys: Duct Taping Mediocre OLs Together To The Delight of Optimists Since 1997.

 

[onlyonenow]

This is probably true but the reverse is equally true. If the Cowboys, for example, put together a nearly twenty-year stretch in which they only won one playoff game during which their OLs were mediocre or worse almost every year, some posters would assume that something that looked on the surface last-minute and cobbled together to make up for a weak right side of the OL wasn't necessarily a genius Kasparovian chess move. Given our history, if it looks last-minute and cobbled together then it probably is last-minute and cobbled together.

The Dallas Cowboys: Duct Taping Mediocre OLs Together To The Delight of Optimists Since 1997.

the Cowboys have lost years ago any cred built up in the 90's. Simple as that. Now many will not give them the benefit of the doubt because they have not EARNED it. Two high picks in 3 years does not balance out the neglect prior to and signing two marginal at best guards means very little when they spend more time injured then playing.

Frankly it is on the OPTIMISTS to prove their point. The Pessimists have been proven correct for years.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

'And with the 16th pick in the 2014 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys pick RT blahblahblah from blahblahblah.'

Nope, Parnell will come in and establish himself as a franchise RT. Book it. I'm interested in the Free experiment, but I wouldn't be surprised if we're drafting a guard in the first few rounds next year.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

This is probably true but the reverse is equally true. If the Cowboys, for example, put together a nearly twenty-year stretch in which they only won one playoff game during which their OLs were mediocre or worse almost every year, some posters would assume that something that looked on the surface last-minute and cobbled together to make up for a weak right side of the OL wasn't necessarily a genius Kasparovian chess move. Given our history, if it looks last-minute and cobbled together then it probably is last-minute and cobbled together.

The Dallas Cowboys: Duct Taping Mediocre OLs Together To The Delight of Optimists Since 1997.

It always amazes me how fans overestimate how much resources teams generally expend on the OLine.

 

[Bungarian]

I find it both humorous and baffling that some people decide not to like a player and then bad mouth everything he does. This does not just apply to Free, I see lots of negative predictions about almost any of them.

These players are all on the Cowboys roster, we should want all of them to do well. Instead, we get a bunch of posters that predict failure and then try hard to find evidence of it and when it isn't there, the response is, "trust me, I know what I saw." As near as I can tell most of that is just so that if their hated player does get cut or benched they can say, "I told you so."

Some of the same posters that say Free can't handle power rushers at guard are the same people that previously said he was okay with power rushers but couldn't play tackle because he couldn't handle speed rushers to the outside. He can't win for losing.

I understand that the fun of these boards is the discussions of the team, the players, and the games, but people should at least try to be objective. I'm not saying that it is all peaches and cream on the roster, but the negativity of some posters is really amazing. If the Cowboys won four Superbowls in a row, some people on here would spend hours complaining that the deep snapper isn't putting enough spin on the ball and he is a scrub that no other team would want.

Doug Free is a good team player that works hard, keeps his mouth shut, and does whatever they ask of him. He is the kind of player we should be rooting for instead of against.

And, just as another view of things, I think the plan is to eventually (when he is in game shape) put Bell at RT and use Parnell as the swing.

I don't dislike Free. I think he is average or worse and moving him to guard after they could sign no one else looks desperate.

 

[fortdick]

DuuuuuuuuuuuuDE...........please don't ever compare Free to Long again. Long is really put together: especially his hips, legs and middle core: just a specimen. Free? Not so much.

I know I should not be concerned with the statements of how Long is put together.

Also, I read the article linked, and did I miss the part where Garret said Free was staying at guard? All I read was they had thought about it before camp.

 

[Doomsday101]

Free may start the season at Guard but I think ultimately Leary will be the starting G and I think Free will go back to RT. Parnell I wish I could say he impresses me but he doesn't, I think he can manage as a backup but not a starter.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Free may start the season at Guard but I think ultimately Leary will be the starting G and I think Free will go back to RT. Parnell I wish I could say he impresses me but he doesn't, I think he can manage as a backup but not a starter.

Parnell has already "managed" as a starter, and will only get better with experience. Of all the line formations, Smith-Leary-Fred-Free-Parnell is the only one that I feel has the potential to be our line for the next several seasons. And though I'm no fan of Bern, he's perfectly acceptable as the swing guard.

 

[erod]

My gut is that this is a 1-2 game plan, and that Brian Waters will be signed after the Giants game.

That way, they can pay him his money without guaranteeing it, just in case he doesn't have it anymore. If he's good, then all is great, but if he's not, they can release him asap.

 

[Risen Star]

I'm warming up to the idea.

Of course you are.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Of course you are.

I gotta say, I'm a little worried about you. If Smith-Leary-Fred-Free-Parnell ends up being a solid line, what is left for you to post about?

 

[Doomsday101]

Parnell has already "managed" as a starter, and will only get better with experience. Of all the line formations, Smith-Leary-Fred-Free-Parnell is the only one that I feel has the potential to be our line for the next several seasons. And though I'm no fan of Bern, he's perfectly acceptable as the swing guard.

Only giving my view and frankly I don't think he did good last season, I felt Free got better but Parnell did not. Again just my view. I think in the end Free will go back to RT and Parnell will work as a backup.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Only giving my view and frankly I don't think he did good last season, I felt Free got better but Parnell did not. Again just my view. I think in the end Free will go back to RT and Parnell will work as a backup.

I realize it's your view, and I disagree. Last season, Parnell had a lower pressure rate than Free (~4% v. ~6%) and the Cowboys had a high yardage average running behind Parnell (~5 ypc).

 

[Doomsday101]

I realize it's your view, and I disagree. Last season, Parnell had a lower pressure rate than Free (~4% v. ~6%) and the Cowboys had a high yardage average running behind Parnell (~5 ypc).

yeah and the have Frederick listed as the worse OL according to the stats. I find these stats as bogus at best and total BS at worst. Parnell looks slow and right now his play not according to me but those who cover the Cowboys feel his play has gotten worse not better. In the end they may put Parnell out there at RT and if they do I hope he does the job but I have seen nothing to make me feel he will do good.

 

[pancakeman]

My gut is that this is a 1-2 game plan, and that Brian Waters will be signed after the Giants game.

That way, they can pay him his money without guaranteeing it, just in case he doesn't have it anymore. If he's good, then all is great, but if he's not, they can release him asap.

If the evidence suggests he wasn't willing to unretire for guaranteed money, why would you expect him to come back for a worse deal?

 

[TheRomoSexual]

yeah and the have Frederick listed as the worse OL according to the stats. I find these stats as bogus at best and total BS at worst. Parnell looks slow and right now his play not according to me but those who cover the Cowboys feel his play has gotten worse not better. In the end they may put Parnell out there at RT and if they do I hope he does the job but I have seen nothing to make me feel he will do good.

Haha. The stats I posted aren't "bogus," they just contradict your point. PFF's formula is bogus -- much, much different than base stats.

 

[Doomsday101]

Haha. The stats I posted aren't "bogus," they just contradict your point. PFF's formula is bogus -- much, much different than base stats.

Believe what you choose but I doubt Parnell last very long at RT. We will see.

 

[CyberB0b]

So this is what we are rolling out?

LT: Under performing young LT with room to grow
LG: Berny/Leary - Both have been injured this offseason. 1 is a career backup changing positions and another has never played in a real NFL game.
C: Looks to be the real deal, but we will see when he has to face real NFL defenses with complex stunts and shifts. Again, no NFL experience
RG: A guy who took a paycut because he was one of the worst tackles in the league, mainly because of his strength. Now, we put him against bigger stronger DL.
RT: A guy who couldn't beat out one of the worst RTs in the league.

This is our line? I thought all the rose colored glasses posters were saying this line just needed consistency. Now, we completely shift the line around with a couple of weeks until the real games start. Really? I would love to be proven wrong, but I don't think this is going to get it done.

 

[tantrix1969]

I think the whole "We're looking for a potential starting guard" thing is off the table. Leary and Free are your starters. Bern is the #1 backup.

on Cowboys Insider before the bungles game Stephen Jones had said the Waters deal wasn't dead though that may have changed now after the Free at guard experiment didn't end in disaster