Only question at this point - Collins

[waldoputty]

Back to the fan zone after some burnt-out.

It is way too early to analyze Jaylon, Taco, Tapper.
Or even to compare with other DEs drafted like Watt or Takk.

Here is the only question I have and it is about La'El.
The FO seemed to have planned the RT transition way before Free retired.
That is great.
Furthermore, with the extension, they clearly like what they see and seem to 'sort of' expected it.
If that is so, why was La'El never given a chance there last 2 years.
Especially when we had Free the turnstile.
We could have had the best 5 OL with Leary at LG and Collins at RT.
Many others have also commented that Collins was better at RT than G.

 

[conner01]

Back to the fan zone after some burnt-out.

It is way too early to analyze Jaylon, Taco, Tapper.
Or even to compare with other DEs drafted like Watt or Takk.

Here is the only question I have and it is about La'El.
The FO seemed to have planned the RT transition way before Free retired.
That is great.
Furthermore, with the extension, they clearly like what they see and seem to 'sort of' expected it.
If that is so, why was La'El never given a chance there last 2 years.
Especially when we had Free the turnstile.
We could have had the best 5 OL with Leary at LG and Collins at RT.
Many others have also commented that Collins was better at RT than G.

They had higher opinion of free than fans
And many teams seen Collins as a better fit at guard

 

[Longboysfan]

I think they feared disrupting that unit with making that change.

Fredbeard always said Free was the leader of the group.

 

[waldoputty]

I think they feared disrupting that unit with making that change.

Fredbeard always said Free was the leader of the group.

that is a reasonable explanation.
but it is probably more disruptive to have a weak link giving free runs at the QB.

 

[Longboysfan]

that is a reasonable explanation.
but it is probably more disruptive to have a weak link giving free runs at the QB.

Well even though it seemed like it. If they felt it was the best interests of the team they would have made the change.
There are a lot of factors that weigh into the decision like this.

 

[xwalker]

Back to the fan zone after some burnt-out.

It is way too early to analyze Jaylon, Taco, Tapper.
Or even to compare with other DEs drafted like Watt or Takk.

Here is the only question I have and it is about La'El.
The FO seemed to have planned the RT transition way before Free retired.
That is great.
Furthermore, with the extension, they clearly like what they see and seem to 'sort of' expected it.
If that is so, why was La'El never given a chance there last 2 years.
Especially when we had Free the turnstile.
We could have had the best 5 OL with Leary at LG and Collins at RT.
Many others have also commented that Collins was better at RT than G.

Garrett would not bench Free under any condition.

It goes back to when the OL guru Bill Callahan came here and implemented the scheme they've had so much success with. Callahan wanted to bench Free way back then and Garrett absolutely refused. Callahan appealed directly to Jerry and the result was that Free and Parnell rotated series on the final 4 games that season.

Much like Romo and Witten, Free was buddies with Garrett.

Most other coaches would have limited Witten to less than 100% of the offense snaps in most games last season but Garrett would not do it and it's doubtful that he'll do it this season. People have said that Witten looks faster/quicker at the beginning of training camp than he did last season. That is highly likely because he's had all offseason to rest. Playing him more like 80% of the snaps would go a long way in keeping him fresh but Garrett is unlikely to do it.

Marinelli did something similar with Nick (Golden Cock) Hayden. He played a huge percentage of the snaps despite other players being physically better. The front office finally forced the issue by not bringing him back. Stephen Jones was known to be irritated about Hayden playing so many snaps but the Cowboys under Stephen and McClay don't like to force the coaches decisions like Jerry often did in the past. Their method of forcing the issue is by just not re-signing certain players.

You might recall that Garrett was adamant in the past that La'el would stay at Guard. "La'el is a Guard" was one Garrett quote in response to questions about him moving to RT.

 

[JoeKing]

At this point I'm not concerned about last season. This season we are going to have one hell of an O-line and I hope it's last game in the postseason is a win.

 

[waldoputty]

Garrett would not bench Free under any condition.

It goes back to when the OL guru Bill Callahan came here and implemented the scheme they've had so much success with. Callahan wanted to bench Free way back then and Garrett absolutely refused. Callahan appealed directly to Jerry and the result was that Free and Parnell rotated series on the final 4 games that season.

Much like Romo and Witten, Free was buddies with Garrett.

Most other coaches would have limited Witten to less than 100% of the offense snaps in most games last season but Garrett would not do it and it's doubtful that he'll do it this season. People have said that Witten looks faster/quicker at the beginning of training camp than he did last season. That is highly likely because he's had all offseason to rest. Playing him more like 80% of the snaps would go a long way in keeping him fresh but Garrett is unlikely to do it.

Marinelli did something similar with Nick (Golden Cock) Hayden. He played a huge percentage of the snaps despite other players being physically better. The front office finally forced the issue by not bringing him back. Stephen Jones was known to be irritated about Hayden playing so many snaps but the Cowboys under Stephen and McClay don't like to force the coaches decisions like Jerry often did in the past. Their method of forcing the issue is by just not re-signing certain players.

You might recall that Garrett was adamant in the past that La'el would stay at Guard. "La'el is a Guard" was one Garrett quote in response to questions about him moving to RT.

gee, not encouraging about the coaching.
hope they got clock management fix this year.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Back to the fan zone after some burnt-out.

It is way too early to analyze Jaylon, Taco, Tapper.
Or even to compare with other DEs drafted like Watt or Takk.

Here is the only question I have and it is about La'El.
The FO seemed to have planned the RT transition way before Free retired.
That is great.
Furthermore, with the extension, they clearly like what they see and seem to 'sort of' expected it.
If that is so, why was La'El never given a chance there last 2 years.
Especially when we had Free the turnstile.
We could have had the best 5 OL with Leary at LG and Collins at RT.
Many others have also commented that Collins was better at RT than G.

Welcome back, good to see you posting again. That being said......

Free wasn't as bad as some like to think. On the line that Dallas has he was the less talented or productive. On most lines Free would look much better.

To your point about Collins, he got injured last year and that possibly had something to do with it. The best part is the right decision is made now

 

[erod]

Back to the fan zone after some burnt-out.

It is way too early to analyze Jaylon, Taco, Tapper.
Or even to compare with other DEs drafted like Watt or Takk.

Here is the only question I have and it is about La'El.
The FO seemed to have planned the RT transition way before Free retired.
That is great.
Furthermore, with the extension, they clearly like what they see and seem to 'sort of' expected it.
If that is so, why was La'El never given a chance there last 2 years.
Especially when we had Free the turnstile.
We could have had the best 5 OL with Leary at LG and Collins at RT.
Many others have also commented that Collins was better at RT than G.

Free was a dang good player. The best offensive lineman we had before the young studs came along. Cowboys fans can be brutal at times when they really don't understand what is happening out there. Free struggled at times in space, but he also played hurt more than he let on.

Collins has had his struggles at guard. Hopefully, he's learned his way out of that and is becoming the pro they project.

 

[Stash]

Welcome back, good to see you posting again. That being said......

Free wasn't as bad as some like to think. On the line that Dallas has he was the less talented or productive. On most lines Free would look much better.

To your point about Collins, he got injured last year and that possibly had something to do with it. The best part is the right decision is made now

That's what I was going to say, Collins missed most of last year with injury, so it's not like the option was actually there last year.

 

[Stash]

Free was a dang good player. The best offensive lineman we had before the young studs came along. Cowboys fans can be brutal at times when they really don't understand what is happening out there. Free struggled at times in space, but he also played hurt more than he let on.

Collins has had his struggles at guard. Hopefully, he's learned his way out of that and is becoming the pro they project.

In years past, sure. Last season, he was running on fumes and getting abused. Credit to Doug Free for knowing that and stepping away. Because if he had decided to come back, I fear he'd still be the starting right tackle.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

That's what I was going to say, Collins missed most of last year with injury, so it's not like the option was actually there last year.

Can't remember if it was his rookie season or before his injury he got snaps at RT in practice

 

[Stash]

Can't remember if it was his rookie season or before his injury he got snaps at RT in practice

I think it was his rookie season, but it didn't last long at all.

 

[waldoputty]

Welcome back, good to see you posting again. That being said......

Free wasn't as bad as some like to think. On the line that Dallas has he was the less talented or productive. On most lines Free would look much better.

To your point about Collins, he got injured last year and that possibly had something to do with it. The best part is the right decision is made now

Thanks, I understand Collins got hurt but my point was more about the beginning of 2016.
Even for contingency planning, one would have Collins get reps at OT.
I dont understand the allergy for Collins to get reps there.

 

[waldoputty]

Can't remember if it was his rookie season or before his injury he got snaps at RT in practice

i think it was only rookie season at camp.

 

[diefree666]

Welcome back, good to see you posting again. That being said......

Free wasn't as bad as some like to think. On the line that Dallas has he was the less talented or productive. On most lines Free would look much better.

To your point about Collins, he got injured last year and that possibly had something to do with it. The best part is the right decision is made now

he stank by the end of last season. There really is no debate about that. It was time for him to go; actually I think if Green had been healthy late last season Free would have been on the bench.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Back to the fan zone after some burnt-out.

It is way too early to analyze Jaylon, Taco, Tapper.
Or even to compare with other DEs drafted like Watt or Takk.

Here is the only question I have and it is about La'El.
The FO seemed to have planned the RT transition way before Free retired.
That is great.
Furthermore, with the extension, they clearly like what they see and seem to 'sort of' expected it.
If that is so, why was La'El never given a chance there last 2 years.
Especially when we had Free the turnstile.
We could have had the best 5 OL with Leary at LG and Collins at RT.
Many others have also commented that Collins was better at RT than G.

Heard this on the radio today from C Hill. They did not plan any of this. Free's sudden departure created a vacuum which drew Collins to tackle.

Hill further described the difference between a guard and tackle, stating guards are about 6'2" or so. He said looking at Smith and Collins, he is amazed at how big they are.

 

[waldoputty]

Free was a dang good player. The best offensive lineman we had before the young studs came along. Cowboys fans can be brutal at times when they really don't understand what is happening out there. Free struggled at times in space, but he also played hurt more than he let on.

Collins has had his struggles at guard. Hopefully, he's learned his way out of that and is becoming the pro they project.

with the issue of free playing hurt and leary being available, even more reason for collins to get reps at ot.

 

[waldoputty]

Heard this on the radio today from C Hill. They did not plan any of this. Free's sudden departure created a vacuum which drew Collins to tackle.

Hill further described the difference between a guard and tackle, stating guards are about 6'2" or so. He said looking at Smith and Collins, he is amazed at how big they are.

there was a rumor that the FO asked free for a salary cut and he retired.
perhaps this played into what xwalker said about the FO forcing the coaches' hands.