MacMahon: Doug Free gets work at right guard

[boozeman]

Doug Free gets work at right guard

August, 21, 2013


By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys’ search for their best combination of offensive linemen has led Doug Free to slide inside to right guard.

Free, a tackle his entire career, has been getting reps at right guard this week. He worked there with the first-team offensive line during the early portion of Wednesday’s practice that is open to the media.

Mackenzy Bernadeau shifted over to left guard with Jermey Parnell filling in for Free at right tackle. Left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick remained in the regular spots.

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones mentioned the possibility of Free playing guard during the offseason, but he focused solely on right tackle throughout training camp.

This could be the Cowboys simply working on a Week 1 contingency plan if left guards Ronald Leary and Nate Livings have not recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery.

More to come after head coach Jason Garrett’s news conference.
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[Texas Ace]

Dude.....

 

[boozeman]

I remember after a do-nothing rookie year there was a thought of trying to salvage him at guard...from Houck I believe.

I guess he reminded Jerry about that and it was a go.

 

[Simpleton]

Yea, great.

 

[UncleMilti]

A real GM would have shit canned Free last season.

 

[1bigfan13]

I don't like the idea of shuffling players back and forth along the line.

They should just leave the starters in place at their normal positions instead of creating multiple weakened areas with all the reshuffling.

 

[boozeman]

I don't like the idea of shuffling players back and forth along the line.

They should just leave the starters in place at their normal positions instead of creating multiple weakened areas with all the reshuffling.

I agree, but all in all, they have to shuffle if they don't have a left guard. That's the problem. Obviously the idea of Arkin starting a real game terrifies them.

What I would be more comfortable doing is just starting Costa for a game and putting Frederick at LG. But I don't see what these guys do everyday.

This just reeks of desperation...how is Free going to be any better in a position he's never played as a professional?

 

[Tony D]

Like we haven't had this discussion hundreds of times before. Too funny. So freakin' unprepared for OL injuries. When will they take it serious and start addressing the OL in the draft? 1 OL the last two years combined? And look at who are two best lineman are, Smith and Frederick. I'm not saying go crazy in the first round each year, but take a look in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.

 

[boozeman]

Like we haven't had this discussion hundreds of times before. Too funny. So freakin' unprepared for OL injuries. When will they take it serious and start addressing the OL in the draft? 1 OL the last two years combined? And look at who are two best lineman are, Smith and Frederick. I'm not saying go crazy in the first round each year, but take a look in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.

Need more corners.

 

[1bigfan13]

Like we haven't had this discussion hundreds of times before. Too funny. So freakin' unprepared for OL injuries. When will they take it serious and start addressing the OL in the draft? 1 OL the last two years combined? And look at who are two best lineman are, Smith and Frederick. I'm not saying go crazy in the first round each year, but take a look in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.

OL don't sell tickets.

 

[1bigfan13]

Seriously though, it continues to amaze me how this team rarely addresses issues that plagued them in previous seasons.

How anyone could watch that POS OL last season then come out of the draft with only one OL is amazing.

 

[boozeman]

Wow.

 

[Deuce]

Not surprising. Who in their right mind takes an athletic kid who's 6'7 and plugs them inside?

 

[boozeman]

One shill article...coming up...


Broaddus: Right Time To Work On O-Line Contingency Plans

Posted 1 hour ago

Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout







In the media portion of practice on Wednesday, we were able to observe Doug Free working at right guard, Jermey Parnell at right tackle and Mackenzy Bernadeau at left guard.

To be honest, I am not one bit surprised of trying different combinations in training camp because that gives you the best opportunity to see how these players might mesh without having it hurt you in the regular season. Test ideas out now, don’t wait until it might cost you a game or two. It’s a proactive move.

When you are playing games that count, the offensive line is traditionally one of those positions like quarterback that you do not want to constantly adjust your lineup. You want to set your five guys and go to work with that group and allow them to develop as the season wears on.

In 2012, it was very unusual that the front office and coaching staff made the determination that rotating a struggling Doug Free and Jermey Parnell was a necessary move but they actually made it work to the point that it improved Free’s overall play and provided valuable experience for Parnell.

Looking at Doug Free playing guard is not the problem here because there are some actual traits he does have that might help him in this scheme. There will not be many times where he has to block just straight man-on-man like he did in 2012. I have said this plenty of times whether written or spoken, he did not have the power or the upper body strength to play inside and I still believe that to a point.

In studying this zone scheme the last three months, it’s more about feet and body positioning and just not shear bulk and power.

Doug Free’s best trait has always been his feet not his power. When you study Free’s work in these practices and games, he really looks comfortable when he has to make a front side reach or the backside cut off. His job is to shield or run with his man and not blow them off the ball which is better suited for his game. When he does have to play with power in the running game, he is usually working with Bernadeau on a double team block to the second level.

In watching these guards play, where they have also benefited is from the awareness that Travis Frederick has played with in these first three games. Frederick has been strong enough to help with one hand allowing the guards to get in better position to secure the blocks all while keeping his eyes to the backside to help. There have been several situations this Summer where he has cleaned up a mess or two by just having a feel where he needs to be.

If there is a negative to the move, Free is on a bit of a roll at tackle. He appears to have regained his form from two seasons ago where he was the most stable linemen they had in the group. His technique and block positioning once again appears sound and you do not see his hands miss allowing defensive linemen into his chest. You see fewer mistakes or struggles from his game that you had in the past so is having him work at another position the right situation the right thing to do?




There will be those that argue just to leave him at tackle and let him go. I don’t see this as a permanent position switch at all but more about not getting caught in the opening week of the season if something were to happen with Ronald Leary or Mackenzy Bernadeau.

Again, these are the times you try different combinations. Last season if you remember, they worked Bernadeau at center in practice, then later in the season, he made a good start against the Redskins. Without that work and knowledge, you put your squad in a terrible situation to potentially lose a game.

Jason Garrett has always talked about getting the best five ready to play but sometimes that best five has to make adjustments and this case they are preparing for that.

 

[boozeman]

 

[boozeman]

Goof Son speaks...

Stephen Jones on Free at guard: It's no secret we are looking our options there, trying to find best five



Vice-president Stephen Jones said the injuries at guard have the Cowboys looking at all their options to find the best five players on the offensive line.

After striking out with free agent guards Brandon Moore and Brian Waters, the Cowboys have now turned to looking at right tackle Doug Free at right guard with Jermey Parnell at tackle.

The Cowboys are hoping that guard Ron Leary, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last Friday, is back for the season opener against the Giants on Sept. 8.

But there are no guarantees and they need an alternate plan in place, which is why Free will get snaps at guard against the Bengals Saturday.

"It's no secret we are looking at all our options," Jones said. "We are hoping for Leary and feel good about him. But we don't know. We want to get the best five on the field."

The Cowboys have been working rookie center Travis Frederick at guard. But they don't like the option of using Phil Costa at center and Frederick at guard.

"Frederick is doing so well at center and he's a rookie, we don't want to move me," Jones said.

Jones said this option is contingent on how well Parnell plays at tackle after missing much of training camp with a hamstring. He will be making his preseason debut against the Bengals on Saturday.

Clarence Hill

 

[boozeman]

Wed. Garrett Presser: Free's Guard Reps Only A Numbers Issue

Posted 23 minutes ago

Rowan Kavner DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer








IRVING, Texas – Head coach Jason Garrett couldn’t understand why the first five questions at his press conference Wednesday all had to do with Doug Free playing right guard and Jermey Parnell playing right tackle with the first team at practice.

Garrett said the Cowboys are looking at different combinations along the offensive line to adjust for injuries, and Free also played his normal position of right tackle later in the day.

“When you’re low on numbers, you’ve got to mix guys in at different spots,” Garrett said. “I wouldn’t read too much into anything about what we’re doing with our offensive line.”

Free checks in at 6-6, 325 pounds, which is taller and lighter than Mackenzy Bernadeau, who had been taking the first-team right guard reps, but moved over to left guard at the start of Wednesday’s practice.

Garrett said Free possesses the physical traits to play anywhere along the line, and the team will try out different combinations for the first and second-team groups. He also said it makes sense to keep Free in his right-handed stance by keeping him on the right side of the line.

“He’s tall and long, so he’s probably best suited to play tackle, but those aren’t bad traits to have when you’re a guard, either,” Garrett said.

Garrett also discussed a few other topics, including the return of J.J. Wilcox and another injury for the cornerbacks.
•Orlando Scandrick had been taking reps as the starting cornerback with Morris Claiborne out, but Garrett said Scandrick missed practice Wednesday with a groin strain. Garrett didn’t anticipate it to be serious, and Claiborne’s also made progress in his rehab from a knee injury.
•Wilcox practiced Wednesday for the first time since the passing of mother. The Cowboys gave him as much time as he needed. Garrett said it was good to have him back and he had a good practice and frame of mind, but it’s difficult not to have a few mental lapses while going through that tragedy. Garrett also said he thought a lot of guys reached out to Wilcox, which is one of the great aspects about being part of a team.
•Garrett said Kyle Wilber is progressing ona daily basis in his new role as a defensive end and is a good special teams player, but he needs to come off the ball quicker and more explosively.
•Garrett confirmed that Wednesday was a veteran day for Jason Witten, Miles Austin, DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher. None of them are injured.
•Ron Leary and Nate Livings are both still considered day-to-day, and Garrett said it’s important they get back on the field before playing in a ballgame. Jay Ratliff is also still working on getting stronger, and he’ll have checkups throughout the preseason.
•The Cowboys have had an affinity for running to their left side behind Tyron Smith, but Garrett said it’s important to have balance running behind the left and right side. He said a team doesn’t want to be heavy in any one area of the offense. Garrett said the Cowboys ran well in the Hall of Fame Game and need to find that balance once again after passing more the last couple weeks.


•Cowboys’ alumni will be at the Silver and Blue Debut at AT&T Stadium on Thursday. Garrett said he anticipated 40 or 45 alumni attending, and it’s a great opportunity for the current players to interact and absorb knowledge from some of the former Dallas greats.
•There’s not a lot of game-planning that goes on for preseason games, but Garrett said there will be more in this upcoming game against the Bengals than in any other, with the starters playing more in this contest. Still, the majority of preparation that occurs is for the Giants opener.
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It is amazing how often Garrett contradicts what comes out of Jerry and Stephen's mouths.

 

[UncleMilti]

Need more corners.

Bullshit. Need more TE's.

 

[UncleMilti]

Garrett said Free possesses the physical traits to play anywhere along the line, and the team will try out different combinations for the first and second-team groups. He also said it makes sense to keep Free in his right-handed stance by keeping him on the right side of the line.

Whooooaaaa...apparently the retard gene has been passed from Jones to Garrett via osmosis.

 

[boozeman]

Doug Free reacts to playing guard

August, 21, 2013


By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas -- Cowboys starting right tackle Doug Free was getting some snaps at right guard in front of the media during Wednesday's practice. Free, however, was getting snaps at the position earlier this week.

Free said he's never played guard in the NFL, college or high school but the biggest challenges are, "the proximity to them (defenders) and the angle to the quarterback."

The Cowboys have a shortage of interior linemen in the late stages of training camp because of injuries to left guards Ronald Leary and Nate Livings. The team tried to sign two veteran offensive linemen and were rebuffed by Brandon Moore, who elected to retire and Brian Waters, who didn't accept the Cowboys contract offer.

There's a chance Free will start at right guard for Saturday's fourth preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday with Mackenzy Bernadeau getting snaps at left guard. The Cowboys are keeping Free on the right side so he can maintain a right-handed stance.

"It's too early to tell," Free said. "I don't know anything."

What the Cowboys do know is Free can physically play the position despite a body type, 6-6, 325 pounds, that is more suited for a tackle.

"This isn’t quite so, so new," coach Jason Garrett said. "But there are differences. You play out in space more as a tackle. You play in a phone booth more as a guard. You might take more direct heat on you, guys bull rushing you more inside. So length is important to be able to keep those guys off of you. Sometimes you play against those (defensive tackles) that are up the field, length is important there. That feels a little bit playing like tackle."

Of course the Cowboys could also go back to Mackenzy Bernadeau as the starting right guard if and when Leary or Livings returns from minor knee surgeries.

"I thought Doug did a really good job moving inside," center Travis Frederick said. "He’s such an intelligent player, been in the league for several years, just knows his way around so it makes it pretty easy for him. Obviously there’s going to be a few things here and there, just the feel of how much help you’re going to get. The things I’ve talked about switching from center to guard it’s the same from guard to tackle. You pretty much know what the guard is doing. In his case he certainly does, and he knows what everybody is doing so it makes it easier for him assignment wise."