Some love for a much-maligned former Cowboy

[Stash]

For those interested, here's what I feel is a tremendous bit of work and some praise for former Cowboys punching bag Doug Free. While I will cop to being someone who has given him a lot of grief, I think this information puts things in a different light.

While I still contend that his level of play dropped off significantly during the 2016 season, this in-depth examination shows all of the things he did well prior to last year. And it might give others a bit of a new perspective and mitigate some of the excess hate the guy gets too much of.

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...ys/2016/08/29/under-the-microscope-doug-free/

Enjoy your retirement Doug, and thanks for being an unheralded member of a great offensive line!

 

[zrinkill]

Always liked Free and thought he was better than he was given credit for ........ but I still think Collins will be much better.

 

[Stash]

Always liked Free and thought he was better than he was given credit for ........ but I still think Collins will be much better.

Collins has the better pedigree and better physical tools, so there's certainly some reason to hope. Too often I saw Free being physically overmatched, even by linebackers. If nothing else, I don't expect to see Collins getting beat physically.

We just have to hope that Collins' smarts and technique are where they need to be.

 

[Direwolf63]

Collins has the better pedigree and better physical tools, so there's certainly some reason to hope. Too often I saw Free being physically overmatched, even by linebackers. If nothing else, I don't expect to see Collins getting beat physically.

We just have to hope that Collins' smarts and technique are where they need to be.

Once Collins grabs you, it's over. Similiar to Tyron in that respect. Free never has that type of strength or ability.

I was never one to rag on Free. I thought he was average, as RT's go. But he was the undisputed leader of the O-line according to his linemates. And that counts for something.

But there is no doubt his play slipped badly last year. His body was starting to show effects of his 10 or so years in the NFL. And he knew that. That's why he retired, IMO.

 

[EST_1986]

False start, offense, number 68. 5 yard penalty, replay first down.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Tony Romo's Back: Man Really? You couldn't even get a hand on that guy?
Free: I can only run block, if you call a pass play, you better be ready to spin or duck.

 

[Toro9]

Yes... much maligned. Free was a decent player but he could be beaten badly on any given play. It seems like half of Dak's turnovers last year came from Free getting beat. I will give the man credit though... he took a paycut after he struggled a few years back and we could have done much worse than him if he had chosen not to take that cut and we let him walk. I don't think we had anyone on the roster who was a better option... some might say Parnell was better but I didn't see it.

 

[Alexander]

Free was an okay RT, hardly the turnstile he has been painted out to be around here.

Collins will be an improvement for sure, but pretending he was Rob Petitti or Torrin Tucker bad is not being intellectually honest.

 

[jobberone]

For those interested, here's what I feel is a tremendous bit of work and some praise for former Cowboys punching bag Doug Free. While I will cop to being someone who has given him a lot of grief, I think this information puts things in a different light.

While I still contend that his level of play dropped off significantly during the 2016 season, this in-depth examination shows all of the things he did well prior to last year. And it might give others a bit of a new perspective and mitigate some of the excess hate the guy gets too much of.

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...ys/2016/08/29/under-the-microscope-doug-free/

Enjoy your retirement Doug, and thanks for being an unheralded member of a great offensive line!

Love the Xs and Os along with the techniques of the OL. Thanks for posting Stash.

 

[jobberone]

Free was an okay RT, hardly the turnstile he has been painted out to be around here.

Collins will be an improvement for sure, but pretending he was Rob Petitti or Torrin Tucker bad is not being intellectually honest.

I think Free was better than ok until last year when he was just ok.

 

[Stash]

Once Collins grabs you, it's over. Similiar to Tyron in that respect. Free never has that type of strength or ability.

I was never one to rag on Free. I thought he was average, as RT's go. But he was the undisputed leader of the O-line according to his linemates. And that counts for something.

But there is no doubt his play slipped badly last year. His body was starting to show effects of his 10 or so years in the NFL. And he knew that. That's why he retired, IMO.

I completely agree with you, on all counts.

 

[Stash]

Love the Xs and Os along with the techniques of the OL. Thanks for posting Stash.

I was digging around for some info and came upon the site. It looks like the writer us a former scout and I very much appreciated his eye and the level if detail in his work. I've bookmarked the site for future reference.

And he's got a similar piece on Travis Frederick that I can't wait to check out next.

 

[DanManJ]

I think the first time I remember noticing Free and thinking we had a good tackle was when he sprinted down field on a run play and cleared the way for Felix Jones all the way to the end zone. I remember him almost keeping up with Jones on the run and being amazed. I cannot for the life of me remember the game it came from but it was a really good play and made me take notice.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Enjoy your retirement Doug.

 

[diefree666]

I think Free was better than ok until last year when he was just ok.

by the middle of the season he started to really decline; by the last third of the season he was a turnstile.

The decline happened pretty fast; but then the boys HAD expected Green to be the starter last year so you really cannot say they did not try and have the replacement ready to go.