Random Offensive Line Thoughts

[Alexander]

Like he was injured in preseason then Free played extremely well at the start of the season and reasonably well the rest of the season. You mean that kind of conspiracy.

So you haven't studied or really looked at any film of Parnell? Kinda what I thought.

So again, if Parnell is so much better than Free, why has nothing been said about there being an open competition for the RT spot?

Why did we draft Zack Martin with the possible future plan of making him the future right tackle?

And sorry, I am not going to waste my time watching preseason cutups of Parnell playing third string players and imagine he is anything other than a backup.

 

[Risen Star]

Travis Frederick is as much of a lock at his position as any starter on the team. There is no competition whatsoever for him.

 

[jobberone]

Yet, instead of cutting Free outright last year, we opted to keep him, albeit at a reduced price of 3.5 mill per year.

What you are basing your analysis on is exactly what they saw right before they asked Free to take a paycut in exchange for fully guaranteed money in 2013.

I would think if the team saw what you see then we'd have set Mt. Baldy free.

I doubt they cut Free this year even if Parnell starts. He'll likely be either a swing tackle as he is a proven commodity or he'll be the 4th tackle. There's the chance Weems and Parnell (or another) look so good and there is another T who they don't want to expose then they might cut Free. I don't know his cap consequences and I don't care enough to look it up. Free is very likely to be on the team this year but I'm not betting on it.

Others and myself have already discussed why Free won and kept the RT job last year.

I relish the competition and the depth on the OL. There was a time when they had to start a 4th stringer on the OL and we have not had good depth there until last year. And the depth is better this year.

If Parnell or Weems beats Free out then great. We upgraded RT. If Free beats them all out then great we have a solid RT and good depth at T.

We are better already than last year when losing one tackle meant having no known depth at swing tackle.

 

[jobberone]

So again, if Parnell is so much better than Free, why has nothing been said about there being an open competition for the RT spot?

Why did we draft Zack Martin with the possible future plan of making him the future right tackle?

And sorry, I am not going to waste my time watching preseason cutups of Parnell playing third string players and imagine he is anything other than a backup.

They have said all rosters spots are open with a few exceptions.

No one asked you to look at preseason film. We watched actual game film. Since you haven't watched preseason or season film and others have then I vote we go with the people who have tried to see what we have there.

I have no idea what plans they have for Martin other than he will play OL and compete for a spot along the line.

 

[jobberone]

Wait, jobber you think Frederick isn't a lock at Center?

Who would start at center over Frederick?

I said he will likely win the starting job. I don't see anyone better but that isn't saying Fred must pass protect better. I see one lock on the OL and that is Smith. I can still probably pencil in the starters for the first game barring injuries. I think I did already.

 

[jobberone]

Travis Frederick is as much of a lock at his position as any starter on the team. There is no competition whatsoever for him.

Not on the team right now. Every time I say he's not a lock everyone freaks out. His pass blocking was problematic. Again I think he'll be the starter but if everyone else is playing well and he's still struggling some in the pass game then they will start talking about it. I don't think he'll be a problem but he's not yet shown he can consistently pass block well; so I'm not anointing him yet.

I can't help but notice it's mostly the same people crying out about Fred as those who said I was wacko about Free not playing that poorly in 2012.

Baaaaaa.

 

[Risen Star]

Not on the team right now. Every time I say he's not a lock everyone freaks out. His pass blocking was problematic. Again I think he'll be the starter but if everyone else is playing well and he's still struggling some in the pass game then they will start talking about it. I don't think he'll be a problem but he's not yet shown he can consistently pass block well; so I'm not anointing him yet.

I can't help but notice it's mostly the same people crying out about Fred as those who said I was wacko about Free not playing that poorly in 2012.

Baaaaaa.

People freak out because you're so far out in left field on Frederick. First they assume they must be misunderstanding you. Then things get awkward.

You have fun keeping track of this imaginary C battle we have or could have in the near future. I'll be enjoying his decade plus career as the entrenched pivot man for the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[speedkilz88]

Free's salary is guaranteed.

Martin is the starting RG, they did that so he could easily move to RT if needed in the future.

 

[jobberone]

People freak out because you're so far out in left field on Frederick. First they assume they must be misunderstanding you. Then things get awkward.

You have fun keeping track of this imaginary C battle we have or could have in the near future. I'll be enjoying his decade plus career as the entrenched pivot man for the Dallas Cowboys.

I was talking about you primarily. I was just trying to be polite. There have been a number of people who have talked about his problems in pass blocking including scouts, the media and members here. So it's not as if I'm really out on a limb here

He has no competition at C on the team right now although some can play C. That is the only reason he's a lock if he is. If we had a quality C playing when he got here they'd have tried putting him a G or just let him sit and coach him. He's coming off his rookie year with some issues so don't act like the guy is headed for the Pro Bowl already. He struggled as most rookies. You fail to read all the other conversation from me saying I expect him to be the starter. You're just going to take one part of a conversation out of context and run with it. Right?

I noticed you avoided me mentioning you and all the crap you gave me about Free in 2012. Now you're defending the guy when I mention Parnell taking his job. LOL. So were you for him before you were against him and now your thoughts have matured and evolved and you're for him again?

 

[Alexander]

They have said all rosters spots are open with a few exceptions.

No one asked you to look at preseason film. We watched actual game film..

The one game against Washington? Impressive sample size to draw a conclusion.

Free is not a popular player, I get it. I don't even particularly care for him. But I am certainly not going to imagine that if Parnell were actually better than Free that the team would not be making a bigger deal about it.

But please. Continue with watching "actual game film". Draw whatever you want from that limited exercise and draw irrational conclusions from it.

 

[jobberone]

The one game against Washington? Impressive sample size to draw a conclusion.

Free is not a popular player, I get it. I don't even particularly care for him. But I am certainly not going to imagine that if Parnell were actually better than Free that the team would not be making a bigger deal about it.

But please. Continue with watching "actual game film". Draw whatever you want from that limited exercise and draw irrational conclusions from it.

If you look you will see more than one game film in 2012 Alexander. Whether you choose to believe me or not is unimportant although I admit being annoyed when you counter an argument without looking at the film.

It's obvious the Cowboys like both Parnell and Weems or they wouldn't be on the roster this long much comment about them.

 

[TheDude]

Travis Frederick is as much of a lock at his position as any starter on the team. There is no competition whatsoever for him.

would you be as certain if I told you Costa was ending his retirement to make a comeback.

Be careful with these statements

 

[casmith07]

would you be as certain if I told you Costa was ending his retirement to make a comeback.

Be careful with these statements

Lol

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I was talking about you primarily. I was just trying to be polite. There have been a number of people who have talked about his problems in pass blocking including scouts, the media and members here. So it's not as if I'm really out on a limb here

He has no competition at C on the team right now although some can play C. That is the only reason he's a lock if he is. If we had a quality C playing when he got here they'd have tried putting him a G or just let him sit and coach him. He's coming off his rookie year with some issues so don't act like the guy is headed for the Pro Bowl already. He struggled as most rookies. You fail to read all the other conversation from me saying I expect him to be the starter. You're just going to take one part of a conversation out of context and run with it. Right?

I noticed you avoided me mentioning you and all the crap you gave me about Free in 2012. Now you're defending the guy when I mention Parnell taking his job. LOL. So were you for him before you were against him and now your thoughts have matured and evolved and you're for him again?

Poe beat him multiple times on the rush. The Lions feasted on the entirety of our interior line. His footwork would get sloppy or he would be hesitant and off balance. It wasn't like Bern and Leary who would completely miss blitz pickups or stunts and give free shots at Romo.

Fred improved over the course of the season but if you are evaluating on the basis of success rate, you want him to do better.

 

[Nightman]

Free's salary is guaranteed.

Martin is the starting RG, they did that so he could easily move to RT if needed in the future.

I don't think Free's 2014 salary is guaranteed. They only guaranteed his 3.5m salary for 2013 when he agreed to the new contract. There would be no reason to guarantee his 2014 salary if they were willing to cut him last.

They would save 3.5m in real money and salary cap money if they cut him this year, but would have a 4m cap charge in 2015.

 

[theSHOW]

Zack Martin

 

[Manster68]

I hope Garrett keeps Zach Martin at guard. I think he will be the best guard Dallas has had since Larry Allen.

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think Free's 2014 salary is guaranteed. They only guaranteed his 3.5m salary for 2013 when he agreed to the new contract. There would be no reason to guarantee his 2014 salary if they were willing to cut him last.

They would save 3.5m in real money and salary cap money if they cut him this year, but would have a 4m cap charge in 2015.

Nope. They had the date of free agency to decide to release him or it was guaranteed. That's how the Cowboys got he and his agent to lower the salary.

 

[jobberone]

Poe beat him multiple times on the rush. The Lions feasted on the entirety of our interior line. His footwork would get sloppy or he would be hesitant and off balance. It wasn't like Bern and Leary who would completely miss blitz pickups or stunts and give free shots at Romo.

Fred improved over the course of the season but if you are evaluating on the basis of success rate, you want him to do better.

That's all I've been saying Fuzzy. He has to pass protect better. It's too bad there isn't someone here who can push him for his job. Nwaneri can at least play C as can Mack if Fred gets injured. I don't expect him to be problematic and I think his pass blocking will improve. They could also bring in a vet C if he has problems. I think he'll be better so I'm not too worried. We are thin at C though.

 

[jobberone]

I don't think Free's 2014 salary is guaranteed. They only guaranteed his 3.5m salary for 2013 when he agreed to the new contract. There would be no reason to guarantee his 2014 salary if they were willing to cut him last.

They would save 3.5m in real money and salary cap money if they cut him this year, but would have a 4m cap charge in 2015.

He's very far from being a lock although he's a decent to good RT. If one of the rookie tackles or the impossible named guy look too good to expose then he may have a fight on his hands. That's assuming they are happy with Weems and Parnell.