Replace Free with Cleary

Love the people on here defending free as if we didn't have such a great rushing attack and pass block not cause of free but inspite of him.....

He's been god awful all season when dak has seen pressure it's usually frees guy who just whipped him... if it's a usual free hold or false start that puts us back in the down and distance...

Get me a young thunder cat at RT and let him get "frees help" than see this old overpaid relic still holding a spot down for us...
 
I've been calling Doug Free a Mexican "Mr. Ole!" matador on this site for several years. He's an above average run blocker whose lateral feet movement has decreased so much that he is tested practically every time a speed rusher tries penetrating his pass protection at either shoulder. He has better success against bull rushers but he rarely holds his ground for as long as the rest of the offensive linemen on average.

EDIT: However I do not see Cleary as a future (beyond this postseason) answer as a replacement. Green has performed well in spots but I'm not sold on him yet too. Plus I'm hesitant about pushing Collins out to right tackle. Free's replacement may not be on the roster yet.
 
Cut Free, use his money to resign Ronald Leary who's had a very nice season, move La'el Collins to his natural position at RT, have two very nice back up in Chaz Green and Emmett Cleary and call it a day.


This is for next season, of course. Right now, leave things as is.
 
DallasEast said:
I've been calling Doug Free a Mexican "Mr. Ole!" matador on this site for several years. He's an above average run blocker whose lateral feet movement has decreased so much that he is tested practically every time a speed rusher tries penetrating his pass protection at either shoulder. He has better success against bull rushers but he rarely holds his ground for as long as the rest of the offensive linemen on average.

EDIT: However I do not see Cleary as a future (beyond this postseason) answer as a replacement. Green has performed well in spots but I'm not sold on him yet too. Plus I'm hesitant about pushing Collins out to right tackle. Free's replacement may not be on the roster yet.
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I'm intrigued by what I've seen from Cleary thus far. He wasn't the dumpster fire that I feared he would be. Free looked more like that guy yesterday.
 
ScipioCowboy said:
I venture Cleary seemed better because he was getting the help Free usually gets.
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Wrong. I went back & looked closely at the video. Cleary had little help all game long, & he was playing the most valuable position on the line. If anyone needed help, it was Free. He's needed it all season long. Replace him now, or we don't get to the promised land.
 
tm1119 said:
We went 13-2 with the best run game in the NFL, and were top 10 in the league allowing less than 2 sacks per game (and at least a handful were on Dak) and all of a sudden it's gloom and doom with Free? We can't possibly go on with him? Absolutely ridiculous, people just need something to ***** about apparently.
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According to PFF, Free had a rating of 77.1 this season, the second worst of his career, & was far & away the weakest link on the O-line. He was a swinging gate Sunday vs Graham & Co., & it's not the only game he's looked like a career backup. He's wearing down as the season goes along, & Cleary is fresh. Who in their right mind would replace Ty Smith with a dud who protects the QB's blindside? This is not the first game Cleary's played in & shown himself more than capable in handling speed rushers. Did you see anyone blowing past HIM like you did Free all game long?! Didn't think so.
 
PJTHEDOORS said:
So 1 or 2 games of regular season work, and Cleary is already better.
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Didn't see HIM getting blown by all game long, did you? He took care of business, & Free looked like who he is-an older player who is wearing down fast, & who needs replaced before one of our QBs gets wasted. His 77.1 rating for 2016 is his second lowest of his career. Everyone else on the line is near or above 90. Enough said.
 
Randy White said:
Cut Free, use his money to resign Ronald Leary who's had a very nice season, move La'el Collins to his natural position at RT, have two very nice back up in Chaz Green and Emmett Cleary and call it a day.


This is for next season, of course. Right now, leave things as is.
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Yeah, & worn Dak to duck early & often from the right side rush. Smart.
 
I think two things are obvious: 1) Free will not be replaced by Clearly to start in playoffs. 2) Free was terrible and is the weak link.

Give him help in playoffs. Hell, line up Collins at TE next to him in critical situations.
 
Cogan said:
I know he hasn't played that many snaps when he's filled in for Tyron Smith, but I have watched Emmett Cleary closely every time he's in there, and I've been very impressed. I believe he would be a definite upgrade to Doug Free at RT once the playoffs begin & Smith returns. Free was owned by Brandon Graham, & Vinny Curry all day today, while Cleary held his own in both the run & pass. Graham wasn't assigned any sacks, but he made the QB's life miserable in the second half. Only once did I see anyone get past Cleary, & that was on a DE/DT stunt where he & Looney didn't pass off each others' man cleanly. Practicing with the Ones will help Cleary with those situations, & give us a 6-7, 325 lb. RT who can actually move his feet. I know Sanchez played poorly today, but Free certainly didn't do him any favors. Free has actually gotten worse as the season has gone along, & will be much more of a detriment to our chances of winning it all than Cleary ever could.
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It's clear that teams are looking to exploit a mismatch with Free. While I doubt an outright switch is going to happen (or is even merited at this point) I am comforted by Cleary's play and would welcome him stepping in if Free implodes at any point. I do think Doug will rebound with some good playoff performances though and we just need to be smart about how we chip and slide protection. I think healthy doses of Zeke to his slide will slow the rush down quite nicely as well.

Shame that Chaz hasn't been able to hold up physically as this is all moot if he had in my view.
 
Cogan said:
Didn't see HIM getting blown by all game long, did you? He took care of business, & Free looked like who he is-an older player who is wearing down fast, & who needs replaced before one of our QBs gets wasted. His 77.1 rating for 2016 is his second lowest of his career. Everyone else on the line is near or above 90. Enough said.
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Again, 1 or 2 games. Ok. Free has had 1 or 2 games playing really well too.
 
Cogan said:
Wrong. I went back & looked closely at the video. Cleary had little help all game long, & he was playing the most valuable position on the line. If anyone needed help, it was Free. He's needed it all season long. Replace him now, or we don't get to the promised land.
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Bruh.

Switch to decaf.
 
How bout let Free finish out this year and have some younger guys battle it out next year?

The expensive 2017 alternative: LT Smith - LG Leary - C Frederick - RG Martin - RT Collins, with Green filling in in case Collins isn't cut out to play RT in the NFL.
The cheap 2017 alternative : LT Smith - LG Collins - C Frederick - RG Martin - RT Green, with Cleary filling in in case Green can't stay healthy.
 
Free needs to go. He also had a rough time with a rookie during the 2nd Giants game. Our opponents know he can't block. Thus they target him.
 
robbieruff said:
It's clear that teams are looking to exploit a mismatch with Free. While I doubt an outright switch is going to happen (or is even merited at this point) I am comforted by Cleary's play and would welcome him stepping in if Free implodes at any point. I do think Doug will rebound with some good playoff performances though and we just need to be smart about how we chip and slide protection. I think healthy doses of Zeke to his slide will slow the rush down quite nicely as well.

Shame that Chaz hasn't been able to hold up physically as this is all moot if he had in my view.
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We didn't have to do that with Cleary, so why do it for Free? It just puts the offense in a bad position, having to double Free's opponent because he can't handle the rush anymore. Just bench him. He's worn out-done.
 
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