The importance of RT this off-season

[camaro69]

I don't want to be spending resources on a starting caliber RT that could otherwise be spent addressing the relative lack of defensive talent.

I fell the same way, for a team that went 13-3 we sure need a lot RT,WR2,DE, CB, SS,DT,( TE. that can bend ,jump and run) I would have never drafted Chaz Green he was hurt in college. he got hurt in practice twice

 

[big dog cowboy]

If Cleary or Green can't take over as starter for Free, then cut Free and use his money to get a journeyman.

Doug "the human turnstile" Free needs replaced.

 

[Daillest88]

I fell the same way, for a team that went 13-3 we sure need a lot RT,WR2,DE, CB, SS,DT,( TE. that can bend ,jump and run) I would have never drafted Chaz Green he was hurt in college. he got hurt in practice twice

I believe we will find a starting caliber De in the draft, maybe 2. This draft is very strong in the areas we need most, we will get a receiver in the 3rd round. Hopefully if we get a 3rd for Romo we should go DE, CB,WR,DE

 

[Stash]

I bet Cleary ( not Leary) can play some RT....heck he has to be better than Free given those Gill Brant numbers

I've got an old draft guide from Cleary's draft year, and at that time, he was rated as the 3rd best right tackle prospect in that draft.

And just my opinion, but I liked what I saw from the guy in the game he played against Philadelphia. And I'm a bit surprised that his name never comes up as a possible option at RT.

 

[Stash]

I believe we will find a starting caliber De in the draft, maybe 2. This draft is very strong in the areas we need most, we will get a receiver in the 3rd round. Hopefully if we get a 3rd for Romo we should go DE, CB,WR,DE

I'm down with that list of positions to draft, I just hope that availability meets need in how things shake out. I don't want another year of just misses on Ogbah and Dodd to end up with Charles Tapper.

 

[camaro69]

I believe we will find a starting caliber De in the draft, maybe 2. This draft is very strong in the areas we need most, we will get a receiver in the 3rd round. Hopefully if we get a 3rd for Romo we should go DE, CB,WR,DE

It might not be realistic but I wouldn't mind swapping first round picks with the team I trade Romo to - Gain a player keep your picks

 

[Thomas82]

I don't think Free can be considered above average anymore. He was pretty bad down the stretch last year - particularly in pass protection. If he's our guy this year, we need to be prepared with a lot help from TE and chipping backs throughout the season.

Agreed!!

 

[Verdict]

I don't want to be spending resources on a starting caliber RT that could otherwise be spent addressing the relative lack of defensive talent.

That's all well and good, if the board lines up that way, but there may not be a defensive player worthy of the pick at #28. I know the response to that may be to trade back, which would also be an option, but you have to have a trade partner to do that AND you have to consider the grade on the player you are passing on at the alternate position to move back, but sure as hell don't reach.

By way of example, when we were on the clock looking for a defensive player the year we drafted Martin, the smart move was to take the guy who became a pro bowl/all pro type of player. You can't pass on that level of talent, or shouldn't unless you get serious compensation by trading out of the pick.

If you don't like the options on the board when you pick, then you try to trade back even if you don't really get full value by trading back. It should be all based on th grades you have on the players and there really aren't complete absolutes, obviously, but you want value for the draft picks even if they aren't ideally the position you would want to use the pick on.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

CLeary doesn't play with his feet under him and it causes him problems. He appears to have poor body control.

 

[Risen Star]

Doug Free with be your starting RT next year and you will like it.

 

[Nightman]

Waive Free and go with CGreen and ECleary...........when no one signs Free sign him as a backup swing OT

 

[movaughn88]

They're eye-opening for sure. And it says lot to me that they come from Gil Brandt. He's Mr. Cowboy and supports anything and everything when it comes to them. Seeing it come from him is a double indictment.

But anyone who's talking about "above average" should really rethink that description.

He's mediocre at best at this point. He can hold up against mediocre pass rushers form that side, but he gets his lunch money stolen by anyone above that level.

Thanks for posting some good info - I always appreciate that over someone saying I'm a blind moron.

Free was on the injury report 14 weeks this season, so I have to think that quad injury hurt his performance this year. With those stats, 10% better performance gets him to close to average at pass blocking (statistically). I think his forte has always been run blocking. So let's just downgrade him to average when healthy. I'm ok with that on this line.

My point was more that I think we have a lot of much higher priorities. We don't need a lot invested in RT when we have such expensive elite players on the rest of the OL. If they can get younger and better for less money, lets do it. I just don't want it to be a top 4 round pick.

 

[Idgit]

That's all well and good, if the board lines up that way, but there may not be a defensive player worthy of the pick at #28. I know the response to that may be to trade back, which would also be an option, but you have to have a trade partner to do that AND you have to consider the grade on the player you are passing on at the alternate position to move back, but sure as hell don't reach.

By way of example, when we were on the clock looking for a defensive player the year we drafted Martin, the smart move was to take the guy who became a pro bowl/all pro type of player. You can't pass on that level of talent, or shouldn't unless you get serious compensation by trading out of the pick.

If you don't like the options on the board when you pick, then you try to trade back even if you don't really get full value by trading back. It should be all based on th grades you have on the players and there really aren't complete absolutes, obviously, but you want value for the draft picks even if they aren't ideally the position you would want to use the pick on.

The goal ought to be to position the picks to get maximum value. If that means selecting offense, that happens sometimes. In the Martin draft, for example. Where we were targeting Donald or Shazier and settled for Martin because equivalent defensive value was not on the board. But unless there's a unique offensive talent available because of a fluke in how the board breaks in front of them, the team ought to be looking for how to get into the best position to address the holes we've got defensively. If that means a small trade up or back to get your guy, that's what we ought to do. It's pretty unusual for there to be a player you have a premium grade on to slip to you. But I agree that, if one does, you take him regardless of need.

Either way, that's unlikely to happen at RT and with our top picks in this particular draft. There are going to be multiple quality defenders sitting there in range of both of our first and second picks.

 

[Stash]

Thanks for posting some good info - I always appreciate that over someone saying I'm a blind moron.

Too much of that around here already!

Free was on the injury report 14 weeks this season, so I have to think that quad injury hurt his performance this year. With those stats, 10% better performance gets him to close to average at pass blocking (statistically). I think his forte has always been run blocking. So let's just downgrade him to average when healthy. I'm ok with that on this line.

My point was more that I think we have a lot of much higher priorities. We don't need a lot invested in RT when we have such expensive elite players on the rest of the OL. If they can get younger and better for less money, lets do it. I just don't want it to be a top 4 round pick.

I'm not big on making a significant investment either, unless a real talent is starting us in the face, but using a 3rd or 4th rounder in another lineman isn't the end of the world for me.

What worries me more is status quo and this team trying to get by with another year of relying on a player I feel is I need decline. And I think there are several alternatives that should be explored.

 

[kiheikiwi]

I would think the brain-trust will have a plan of - Free is back on his last year, Green gets first shot at training camp and it's also his 3rd year, so this is his chance. Injuries or just not cutting it, he's gone after this year (But I think this is his tine to shine). Cleary is also a backup, and I think we will pick up a reasonable RT in FA - see cheap.
Because this is such a bad year for OT's, I don't see us drafting one.

 

[Teague31]

Cut free. Then see how it shakes out. Cleary, green and Collins are all better options than he is. And cheaper

 

[Nightman]

Cut free. Then see how it shakes out. Cleary, green and Collins are all better options than he is. And cheaper

He'll come crawling back for 1m to be the backup.... but cut him first to save the 5m

 

[xwalker]

Waive Free and go with CGreen and ECleary...........when no one signs Free sign him as a backup swing OT

I would think the brain-trust will have a plan of - Free is back on his last year, Green gets first shot at training camp and it's also his 3rd year, so this is his chance. Injuries or just not cutting it, he's gone after this year (But I think this is his tine to shine). Cleary is also a backup, and I think we will pick up a reasonable RT in FA - see cheap.
Because this is such a bad year for OT's, I don't see us drafting one.

If Free is on the roster, Garrett will start him. It was the same in the past with Marinelli and Golden Cock (Hayden). Marinelli probably would have started Hayden again if the front office had re-signed him.

Some coaches just get attached to some players. Marinelli loved Hayden because he always won the "no loafs" category when they graded the film.

 

[Nightman]

If Free is on the roster, Garrett will start him. It was the same in the past with Marinelli and Golden Cock (Hayden). Marinelli probably would have started Hayden again if the front office had re-signed him.

Some coaches just get attached to some players. Marinelli loved Hayden because he always won the "no loafs" category when they graded the film.

Probably right but this was the only way I could see them giving Green a chance.... if Free was the security blanket

 

[xwalker]

Probably right but this was the only way I could see them giving Green a chance.... if Free was the security blanket

It would be a good scenario to have Green as the starter and Free as the backup.

Green was good in his two starts at LT but with his injury history they need more than Cleary as the swing OT.

I just don't know if Garrett would do it.

Also, if they cut Free I think some team might be dumb enough to pay him a few mil on a 1 year deal.