Ware: I'll get Free ready for Commanders

[MrMom]

November 17, 2009, 1:40 PM
By: Tim MacMahon

Head coach Wade Phillips hasn't stated publicly that Doug Free will replace injured right tackle Marc Colombo in the starting lineup.

However, the man who practices against Free every day expects free to get the job. And Pro Bowl pass rusher DeMarcus Ware promises to help Free prepare for the Washington Commanders, who feature two of the league's top 10 sacks leaders in DE Andre Carter and OLB Brian Orakpo.

Most of Free's work in practice this season has come as the left tackle on the scout team, pitting him against the NFL's reigning sacks leader. That work has Ware believing that Free will be fine as a starter on the other side.

"He stops me a lot in practice," Ware said after serving meals to folks at The Salvation Army's Carr P. Collins Social Services Center in Dallas as part of the Cowboys' annual early Thanksgiving charity outing. "To be honest, Doug is really good. I think it's all about him getting in there and getting confidence."

Ware vows that he'll take scout-team reps across from Free this week. Ware wants to make sure that Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, is as prepared as possible for his first NFL start.

"Make sure he's ready," Ware said. "There's nothing that he's not going to see. He's going to see the real thing in practice."

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

This matchup should be interesting

Honestly, I don't know 1 thing about Free. Never heard of his name until this morning to be honest.

I am curious what Greg Blllleeeh comes up with to take "advantage" of this

 

[ddh33]

That's leadership!

And you can mark me down as one of those fans that thinks that Free is going to be a fine job now that he has gotten a chance.

 

[CF74]

Sweet!! That's leadership right there, not much more you can ask for...

 

[Dallas]

Good lord are we ever fortunate to have DeMarcus Ware.

Thank you Football Gods for the best defensive player in the league and best human being/father/leader/friend/team mate ever.

I am going right now to purchase new D-Ware jerserys for me and the runt.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

So you getting stoned by Free in practice is a sign of him being ready or the reason why you're not producing at no where near the level you were last year?

 

[CATCH17]

Nate had a lot of good things to say about Free today.

He said he is a bigtime competitor, very athletic, and has really good feet.

He thought that we might actually get better pass protection from him than we would Columbo but Columbos strategy was to just beat on opponents and break them throughout the course of a game.

 

[TheSport78]

You know what? All Free needs is one GREAT game to gain confidence. Ware said a lot in that Free just needs to get game experience and once he gets that confidence, maybe he can provide some stability for us down the stretch with Marc out.

 

[The30YardSlant]

If Ware is looking to imitate Brian Orakpo, he'll have to lose about half his physical talent and start taking steroids

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Great, after DWare gets through with him, we'll have not RTs left on the roster. :laugh2:

 

[Hook'em#11]

Okay, he's good, athletic, competitive blah blah blah.

Is he mean? Nasty? Outgoing to piss off the other team's player like Columbo was.? THAT is what Dallas is really gonna miss with Columbo out.

 

[Alexander]

So you getting stoned by Free in practice is a sign of him being ready or the reason why you're not producing at no where near the level you were last year?

Good grief.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

This matchup should be interesting

Honestly, I don't know 1 thing about Free. Never heard of his name until this morning to be honest.

I am curious what Greg Blllleeeh comes up with to take "advantage" of this

I'm sure he'll cook something up. "Linemen, I want you to rush straight at the QB. Don't you dare stunt. LBs, drop into coverage please. Orakpo, I'm going to try to get you matched up with Witten as much as possible, preferably running down the field. CB blitz? This isn't France!"

 

[Hoofbite]

Good lord are we ever fortunate to have DeMarcus Ware.

Thank you Football Gods for the best defensive player in the league and best human being/father/leader/friend/team mate ever.

I am going right now to purchase new D-Ware jerserys for me and the runt.

No kidding. Ware is a role model of all phases.

 

[BAT]

Ware is instilling a lot more confidence in Free than Wade is that is for sure. I like the leadership and support.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Good grief.

Baffling, isn't it?

Just had to shake my head.

 

[Rampage]

Ware is instilling a lot more confidence in Free than Wade is that is for sure. I like the leadership and support.

if this team is gonna make some noise in January the players will have to overcome the poor coaching.(Garrett, Wade as a HC, Campo)

 

[JD_KaPow]

I'm actually feeling ok about Free in pass protection. I'm worried about his ability to run-block, though.

 

[BAT]

if this team is gonna make some noise in January the players will have to overcome the poor coaching.(Garrett, Wade as a HC, Campo)

I don't think it is the fault of poor coaching myself, it is uneven and inconsistent at times, but if the players execute (fumbles, INTs, dropped passes, missed blocks, blown coverages, missed reads, etc.) I don't think we are having this conversation honestly.

Bad officiating is one thing beyond the teams' control, but missed opportunities due to lack of focus (fumble in the open field, having a pass hit you in the face) is maddening and should not be blamed on coaching. Execution_playing the game_ is still on the players.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Too bad Free probably won't be playing LT.