New LB Watson is a special teams ace

[Future]

I agree he should have handled it better, but it really shouldn't have made a difference if Smith had not been whipped off the snap by Clemons.

Free is not a pretty player and when he doesn't get his technique right, he loses the initial battle if not completely. But for the most part he gets the job done and at times, he does it really well.

I've never been opposed to upgrading his spot, just to isolating his bad plays in order to make him look like he is the same awful player he was two years ago, when he did deserve to be replaced.

The thing with Free's bad plays is that it is generally the product of just a lack of physical strength. He's played well enough, but you've got a guy who gets beat physically over and over and over again. It's not like he gets beat by great moves or outsmarted, he just gets manhandled from time to time.

They help him now all the time to help mitigate that, but it's still a concern.

 

[gimmesix]

The thing with Free's bad plays is that it is generally the product of just a lack of physical strength. He's played well enough, but you've got a guy who gets beat physically over and over and over again. It's not like he gets beat by great moves or outsmarted, he just gets manhandled from time to time.

They help him now all the time to help mitigate that, but it's still a concern.

If by over and over again, you mean throughout the season. Then, yes, he gets beat over and over again. If you mean throughout a game ... not really other than the Tennessee game, which was a poor performance.

I also don't think strength is as much of an issue as it used to be. He bullies defensive linemen in the running game, but doesn't always anchor in pass blocking. That allows defenders to knock him back initially and go around him, forcing him to either recover or Romo to step up and let him recover.

I also have not seen any indication that Dallas helps him all the time. I think these things get exaggerated.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Watson got under Free and got a push but he didn't block kick. Clemons swam over Smith for the block.

Um, Free couldn't step back because Witten's leg was there...he got off balance but I doubt he would have hardly been moved except for the fact he couldn't step back. This is reaching at it's best. And I like Parnell too so not just ragging on x-walker's boy. I expect to see one or the other back....offered similar deal, first one that takes it gets it.

 

[xwalker]

Um, Free couldn't step back because Witten's leg was there...he got off balance but I doubt he would have hardly been moved except for the fact he couldn't step back. This is reaching at it's best. And I like Parnell too so not just ragging on x-walker's boy. I expect to see one or the other back....offered similar deal, first one that takes it gets it.

I think what you're saying is that if this was a normal offensive play then he could have taken a step or two back and wouldn't have looked silly.

If that's what you're saying then that's fair. Having said that, OLinemen (Free and Smith) should be able to keep their weight forward enough on a kick to not get jacked. I think all kick blocking units have their legs overlapping. I might pull up some other teams on the All-22 to see if other teams do it the same way. I don't normally study the details of special teams so I don't really know the answer.