How much will team miss Free - if any?

[gimmesix]

Doug free is out 3-4 weeks. Has anyone seen how Parnell has performed this year in practice?

We going to have a drop off and potential weakness to exploit? Or will the OL be business as usual?

It's hard to tell. The main difference I see in Parnell and Free is that Parnell isn't savvy to the setup moves by the DL, so sometimes he gets himself out of position. (Free was bad about that the couple of years he sucked.) Parnell has good strength and quickness to overcome some of that, while Free usually can't recover when he bites ... which is why he has to be technically sound at all times (and is whipped when he isn't).

I would expect him to get exploited at times, but get better at not biting the more he's in there. (Wouldn't be surprised if we see him get beat a few times early against the Giants, then settle in.) Given time, I think he could be better than Free, but he might not have enough time to show that before Free gets back.

He really hasn't seemed to build on the experience he received when he split time with Free IMO, but that might just be his lack of seeing a lot of full-time live action with starting DL showing him a variety of moves to beat him.

 

[Fletch]

Who knows? This could be a blessing in disguise. Maybe.

 

[lane]

doug free is playing better this year than he has ever played since he has been with us.

we might miss the hell out of him..

having said that...parnell looks like he might have some nasty to him on run blocking..

that's how we roll now.

this team has an unity to them i have not seen since the early 90's..and of course the 70's.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Doug free is out 3-4 weeks. Has anyone seen how Parnell has performed this year in practice?

We going to have a drop off and potential weakness to exploit? Or will the OL be business as usual?

It doesn't answer your questions but I'm glad it's Free and not Smith.

 

[cheftjpeck]

Really? Remember when Roy Williams was the starter and Miles Austin was his backup.

Really .. Remember when a WR is a little different than an offensive lineman??
Give me a break guys .. I know you are all smart enough to realize to compare a WR; who is an individual who runs routes ; to a lineman who needs to communicate and work with other lineman and stay ultra in tune and in timing with 4 other players .. Remembering his gaps and assignments while adjusting to the guy next to him is vastly different

Jeesh .... To REPEAT!!!!
I am not saying the difference or drop off would be HUGE... However there will be a difference .. I think coach Callahan and the rest of the coaching staff know just a tad bit more about the play and practice of their lineman they see and coach everyday to know that if Parnell was the better RT then he would be starting now

 

[Nova]

We'll definitely miss him. Hopefully Parnell can rise to the occasion.

Side note: it surprises me that Parnell is smaller than free.

 

[Dale]

Anytime a starter goes down and is replaced by his backup then there will be some drop off... How much, who knows .. If Parnell was better than Free then he would be the starter.. I think they could and should be alright .. But we will see

I generally agree with this. The good news is that it provides a new player an opportunity -- and sometimes opportunity is all someone needs to do to show they're better than the player ahead of them on the depth chart. We'll see if Parnell is willing and or able.

 

[DandyDon1722]

I'll be honest, it's rare that a player splits the Zone like Parnell does. Some thing he's really good, others don't. Guess we'll find out.

 

[AKATheRake]

Apparently Parnell isn't the best practice guy.

He absolutely pancaked his man on Murray's TD run and I think he will be effective there.

Pass protection is where I have the question myself.

This is the best opportunity he's going to have to show he's a starting caliber player.

Next man up is Parnell.

I personally am hoping to see a Scandrick like ascension.

 

[gmoney112]

Parnell's stronger but he may not be as polished.

I do look forward to him run blocking vs the 'Gints, though. That'll be cool.

 

[BAT]

older dosen't = Daddy....tallent and tenure =respect. that's all i got

I was making fun of Jerry, it was he that called Free the daddy of the OL. Gotta keep up, things move fast around here.

 

[Beast_from_East]

This might actually be a blessing in disguise when you think about it. Free is a free agent at the end of the season, so obviously the question is going to be if we resign him or not. If Parnell can come in and the oline doesn't miss a beat, we might be able to let Free walk and save some money we can use to resign guys like Rolando, Murray, and Dez.

 

[bodi]

Parnell is FA also

2014: $1.5 million, 2015: Free Agent

 

[Bullflop]

There's no question in my mind that the loss of Free will be felt. Exactly how much remains to be seen. Parnell hasn't been as capable as Free has been so far in his pass protection. I'm hoping we'll see an improvement in him in that capacity this year but that's been his weakness all along. I'm glad to know Free should return later. I'm expecting a RT to be on our wish list for next year. Hopefully we'll manage to find a good one, either through FA or the draft.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

In the run game I think he will be just fine and you won't really notice it but the passing game is where I'm afraid we might take a little bit of a dip.

 

[conner01]

parnell has more physical attributes than fre. but as good as he played a couple years ago, the last two he has'nt really shown any improvement. i hope he comes in and plays very well because we will need a replacement for free next year. i'm just not convinced parnell has improved to that point yet or if he ever will. but he will have a couple or 3 games to show he can get the job done and i'll be rooting for him

 

[Oh_Canada]

Really? Remember when Roy Williams was the starter and Miles Austin was his backup.

Yeah and Mo started over Scandrick and Moore?

 

[Temo]

Free's maybe our best pass protector.

 

[CATCH17]

Unless Parnell has regressed since the last time he had to start I think we will be fine and not see a huge drop off.

 

[Plankton]

Doug free is out 3-4 weeks. Has anyone seen how Parnell has performed this year in practice?

We going to have a drop off and potential weakness to exploit? Or will the OL be business as usual?

Communication between Martin and Parnell will be critical, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the teamwork on stunts and DL games being a bit ragged.

It should get better with time. Parnell will struggle with speed rushers more than power rushers, which is the opposite of Free.