Run blocking (4 games in)

Bullflop said:
No, it's on the entire organization for either not retaining Leary, or replacing him with another guard of high quality.
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Exactly.

It's hysterical how so many fans want to pin stuff on Garrett. Garrett doesn't run the offense or the defense and doesn't make personnel decisions. He has some input and that's it.

Garrett doesn't do much in Dallas.
 
canters said:
This might get me in trouble, but Free was excellent as a run blocker as well. Pass protection not so much, but run blocking, yes.
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I don't know where people got that idea. I watched every snap Free ever played for the Cowboys at least 5 times each.

They schemed to make him a functional run blocker but he was never a "good" run blocker.

I could and have posted pages of info about Free's blocking and how they started scheming to help him after Bill Callahan arrived with some input by Brian Waters.

The simplest example is they designed run plays to get Free's man to jump outside and take himself out of the play on a run just inside of Free. Free just had to get in the way for a split second.

They schemed to get Free on a LB with either a pulling Guard or double TEs blocking the DE.

Against 3-4 teams Free could often block the smaller OLBs.

Free had great foot quickness until his final few years so he could block smaller players OK but he had very little upper body strength to deal with leverage type DEs. A leverage type player like Irving would kill Free.

In his best years his pass blocking was better than his run blocking.

In 2014 when Parnell replaced him for 7 games, they ran plays to the right that they never ran when Free was on the field (Power Runs to the right). That year in the first Giants game with Free playing they ran right 6 times. In the 2nd game with Parnell they ran right 18 times.
 
Idgit said:
We're just not as coordinated as we need to be yet. Which at least means there's an opportunity to improve.

And we're probably missing Free more than Leary in the running game so far.
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Yup. And those around here who defended Free...have some vindication.
 
rat2k8 said:
I said last year we should sign Leary. This was a huge loss to this team.
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While I agree, his 9mil/yr is cost preventative. We are making moves to lock in Martin for long term. It's just too high of a % committed to one position group to work.
 
T-RO said:
Yup. And those around here who defended Free...have some vindication.
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Free was a fine zone blocker once and strong enough to execute seals and basically shield guys from getting into the backfield. It is true that at the end his feet failed him some and he had trouble if required to move a lot and run into space. In fairness, if Collins improves just a bit and shows he can handle stunts and play smart, he is a much better athelete than Free and much stronger. Collins’ biggest issue could be beteeen his ears.
 
The Broncos road game dramatically skews the rushing statistics downward. Cardinals are also a top team against the run. But clearly we have issues.
 
canters said:
..if Collins improves just a bit and shows he can handle stunts and play smart, he is a much better athelete than Free and much stronger. Collins’ biggest issue could be beteeen his ears.
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Yes.

I said before the season that Collins would have some dominant plays, but lots of other plays where he whiffed. He's athletic...but not fundamentally sound.
 
percyhoward said:
Add to favorites.

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Cool chart.
 
add him to that long long long list of players coaches and owners cut from Cowboys by fans
 
Any stats on Witten this year? I don’t think he’s been a great blocker this year.
 
pitt33 said:
Yes, this is true, but why did they put Collins out in Free's spot? He is MUCH better at the guard position.

This front office is notorious for taking players out of their regular positions and putting them elsewhere on the field. It's like putting a square peg in a round hole.
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RT is harder to play then guard we only had one good player and several so so players
 
canters said:
This might get me in trouble, but Free was excellent as a run blocker as well. Pass protection not so much, but run blocking, yes.
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Wonder why he retired unexpectedly? Romo guy? Fan hate? Combo? Maybe they told him they were having competition at the right tackle position? Is it too late to get him off the couch? Free would upgrade this current line, if he's stayed in football shape.
 
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I don't know how we could justify keeping Leary at that amount he got with two knees that could go bad at any moment. It would have been a huge gamble. We usually lose on those gambles.
 
T-RO said:
Yup. And those around here who defended Free...have some vindication.
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Come on, I thought you were more analytical than that.

Free was beyond terrible last year and was never a quality run blocker.

They schemed to make him functional as a run blocker.
 
Does anybody think that Elliott is in top physical or emotional condition?
 
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