Not sure if this has been posted: "Good chance" Colombo will play Saturday

[newlander]

ahhhhhhhhhh......................I don't like this at all. I like colombo alot, but he isn't 100% and won't be in "game" shape.....hope they dont' *** this up. Leave Free alone IMO

 

[DandyDon1722]

This is clearly a time when you have to trust the coaches. They watch film everyday, the grade, they understand the nuances of the position, the position match-ups and most importantly, know the emotional make-up of the team and players.

My gut reaction is to keep Free in, but coaches are getting a lot of money to make decisions like this. If Columbo is at all struggling, they'll get him out and he'll understand. If he plays well and is substituted from time to time...we'll hammer on them for four quarters.

 

[BAT]

I don't like it. Keep Free in there for continuity. Colombo may be a better run blocker, but he is no better than free in pass protection, IMO.

That being said, I'll trust the coaches judgement.

Free has been playing like a madman the last few games. As much as I like Columbo, he is rusty and coming off a very big injury, and even 100%, I don't see Columbo running from the opposite side of the field to crush Sheldon Brown and clearing a Grand Canyon sized path to the endzone for Felix.

He's been every bit as punishing as a run blocker as Columbo has been. And Free is not getting penalized nearly as much as Columbo was.

 

[jobberone]

work Columbo back slowly, and even rotate him and Free in there to keep one another fresh, and one of those guys could even give FLO a breather as well. Good problem to have but keep Free starting IMO.

Depends on what Colombo looks like. I trust the coaches but I'd sure be reluctant to change things up right now. Free is run blocking well and pass blocking well, too. Not sure I'd mess with that myself but they never ask me anymore.

 

[RainMan]

This is clearly a time when you have to trust the coaches. They watch film everyday, the grade, they understand the nuances of the position, the position match-ups and most importantly, know the emotional make-up of the team and players.

My gut reaction is to keep Free in, but coaches are getting a lot of money to make decisions like this. If Columbo is at all struggling, they'll get him out and he'll understand. If he plays well and is substituted from time to time...we'll hammer on them for four quarters.

It's also a big-time moment for Wade and his coaching staff. The importance of a decision like this can't be minizmied. The staff has to know the pulse of a team here.

If we go with Columbo and he's lit up at right tackle, it could be the sort of thing that builds steam for the get-rid-of-Wade campaign. Same thing if we stayed with Free, and that backfired.

It reminds me somewhat of the Giants playoff game, where we dusted off Terry Glenn and benched Julius for Barber for the first time all season.

 

[Monster Heel]

You've gotta keep Free at RT.

There's no telling what kind of shape Columbo is in at this point and Free has been good.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

To be honest, I don't believe it's a bad idea because Columbo is another key piece on this offensive line. I agree with alot of people Free has been a breathe of fresh air, and I would rather see Free playing than Flozell, if that could happen that way but I like Columbo alot and I believe after its all said and done Columbo will remain on the team.

Productivitiy is key.

 

[Eskimo]

Again using Profootballfocus.com's website, Colombo had his worst game of the year against the Eagles in the first matchup of the year with:

2 penalties
3 QB pressures allowed
1 QB hit allowed

The offense as a whole put up 358 yards, 76 yards rushing at 3.3 ypc. We gave up 4 sacks on Romo.

OTOH, with Free in the lineup we put up 474 yards, 179 rushing yards at 5.6 ypc. 2 sacks were surrendered.

His grades aren't in yet from Profootballfocus for that game.

 

[Eskimo]

You've gotta keep Free at RT.

There's no telling what kind of shape Columbo is in at this point and Free has been good.

The Eagles would definitely go after him with all their speed pass rushers. They couldn't get anything going against us this past week. I think they'd line up Cole over him quite a bit and we'd be keeping Witten in to block all game to help out and keep Romo clean.

 

[coblue]

extra lineman supreme

 

[mldardy]

This is not the exact same situation but this sort of reminds me of whether to play Aikman after missing about 6 weeks against Detroit in the divisional round or Steve Beuerlein in 91 season. Everyone kept saying don't bring Aikman back because Beuerlein is hot but you knew Aikman was the better QB.

 

[Fletch]

Doug has been a very nice surprise. I think he's our future. Hopefully, Colombo comes back strong, but I like the way Free is playing and hopefully we'll keep Free going for the rest of the way.

 

[ZeroClub]

The coaches are on a hot streak too ... and showing excellent judgment.

No reason to expect they'll make a dumb decision here.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I can't help but think of Free as a lead blocker on a 3rd and short off the left side with Columbo in at his RT position. He's shown the speed and agility to do be able to throw blocks down field. Line it up like a dive and run Free to the right as the lead block on an off tackle run. There's gotta be three feet in front of him available for annexation.

Concurrently, how much fear would that unbalanced line we throw out there inspire:

.........Free Davis Adams Kosier Gurode Columbo Witten

That left side is a monster. Toss it to Felix, and watch him run.