Machota: Doug Free graded NFL’s top offensive tackle through 3 weeks

[Cotton]

Doug Free graded NFL’s top offensive tackle through 3 weeks, DeMarco Murray No. 2 among RBs
By Jon Machota
jmachota@dallasnews.com
8:55 am on September 25, 2013 | Permalink

As expected after a 31-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, several Dallas Cowboys received impressive individual grades from the website Pro Football Focus.

After searching through the updated Week 3 grades, I give you what I thought were some of the most interesting rankings and stats.

OFFENSE

– Of DeMarco Murray’s 175 rushing yards on Sunday, 148 of them came on runs to the left of center Travis Frederick.

– Murray is ranked the No. 2 running back in the league through three games. However, there’s a considerable gap between his 5.7 grade and Eagles running back LeSean McCoy’s 11.1 total. New Orleans’ Darren Sproles is third at 5.2.

– Murray’s grade in just the running game is 23rd best in the NFL, but his blocking grade and passing game grade are both among the league leaders.

– Murray is third in the league in yards after contact at 167, trailing only Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson (213) and Tampa Bay’s Doug Martin (170).

– Doug Free was the top-ranked offensive tackle for Week 3 and is the No. 1 tackle in the league through three weeks. PFF has Free graded as the No.1 run-blocking tackle in the NFL.

– Tony Romo had the highest QB rating for Week 3 at 137.2. He has the fifth-highest rating on the season at 103.9.

– Dez Bryant is ranked 18th among all receivers.

– Frederick had the second-highest grade of any center in Week 3.

– Against the Rams, Mackenzy Bernadeau graded out 13th among all guards, the highest of any Cowboy.

DEFENSE

– DeMarcus Ware is the third-highest graded defensive end. St. Louis’ Robert Quinn and Cincinnati’s Michael Johnson are the only two ahead of Ware.

– George Selvie is tied for fourth in the NFL with 11 QB hurries. Ware has 10.

– Sean Lee ranks 19th among middle linebackers and Bruce Carter is 21st among outside backers.

– Detroit’s Ndamukong Suh and Tennessee’s Jurrell Casey are the only defensive tackles with higher grades than Jason Hatcher.

– Barry Church is the highest graded safety in the league. His pass-coverage grade is the highest among NFL safeties. Church’s run-coverage grade is second only to Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu.

– Brandon Carr is the sixth-highest rated cornerback and Orlando Scandrick is seventh. Morris Claiborne is 88th.

– The longest pass play allowed into Scandrick’s coverage is 11 yards in 184 snaps, third-lowest in the league for a player taking at least 25 percent of his team’s snaps. There have been eight receptions made in Scandrick’s coverage area.

– J.J. Wilcox had the seventh-highest grade among safeties in Week 3, the rookie’s first game as a starter.

SPECIAL TEAMS

– Chris Jones is ranked 31 out of 33 graded punters.

– Dwayne Harris is 70th among kick/punt returners.

– Of 643 special teams players graded, Harris and Scandrick are tied for ninth overall.

 

[Smitty]

I'd like to know the criteria for how they are grading here.

 

[superpunk]

I believe it. Our offensive line has been legit. KC and StL have some of the most talented front lines in the league, and Romo has mostly been back there taking a nap.

 

[1bigfan13]

Barry Church is the game's pemiere safety. Who saw that coming?

 

[superpunk]

Barry Church is the game's pemiere safety. Who saw that coming?

Me.

 

[Lotuseater]

I told you guys this defense would be fantastic. Its a little early but it looks very promising.

 

[Newt]

I told you guys this defense would be fantastic. Its a little early but it looks very promising.

The only problem I have with the defense so far is that we still play soft at the end of games. Like in the Giants game, we were up by a few touchdowns and we drop into that soft coverage. We did the same against St. Louis this week. It would be nice to see the defense play a full game aggressively. Put your foot on the opposing teams throat and make a statement.

 

[Lotuseater]

The only problem I have with the defense so far is that we still play soft at the end of games. Like in the Giants game, we were up by a few touchdowns and we drop into that soft coverage. We did the same against St. Louis this week. It would be nice to see the defense play a full game aggressively. Put your foot on the opposing teams throat and make a statement.

Kiffin seems to go bend but don't break often at the end of games while ahead.

 

[ravidubey]

I'd like to know the criteria for how they are grading here.

Sample size sucks considering most of our runs were against the Rams and Giants. In KC the running game was a pile of suck. Murray only had 12 carries!

 

[ravidubey]

Put your foot on the opposing teams throat and make a statement.

With the two best players being over 30 I can see why they take their foot off the gas.

 

[Hawkeye]

It wasn't that long ago that everyone was ready to run Doug Free out of Dallas. Who knew?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

It wasn't that long ago that everyone was ready to run Doug Free out of Dallas. Who knew?

This whole camp and into the season he has looked like a different player though. Makes you wonder if he has been dealing with physical issues the prior couple years or if losing weight has helped him. Something has changed drastically in his game this season though. I also don't buy the fact that he is somehow just giving a better effort on the field this year due to the contract or the competition he faced last year. Free has just never struck me as that type of player.

 

[jester]

This whole camp and into the season he has looked like a different player though. Makes you wonder if he has been dealing with physical issues the prior couple years or if losing weight has helped him. Something has changed drastically in his game this season though. I also don't buy the fact that he is somehow just giving a better effort on the field this year due to the contract or the competition he faced last year. Free has just never struck me as that type of player.

I don't think its simply about giving a better effort. Call it focus or the light going on. Perhaps health was an issue. The notion of playing behind Parnell the pay cut and contract year does provide a sobering wake up call.

Regardless, as long as ee see this guy, I'll take it.

 

[Newt]

Kiffin seems to go bend but don't break often at the end of games while ahead.

With the two best players being over 30 I can see why they take their foot off the gas.

Bending did almost break us against the Giants, Eli tore us up when we went soft. And I can't believe after all the years of bitching about our defense playing to soft that now it's OK because we have older players. They players aren't taking breaks, they are playing at the same speed, the scheme is what changes. I understood it against St. Louis, they had no chance, but you don't give Eli and the Giants an inch of confidence. Our defense was the bright spot in that game and we let off too early.

 

[ravidubey]

Bending did almost break us against the Giants, Eli tore us up when we went soft. And I can't believe after all the years of bitching about our defense playing to soft that now it's OK because we have older players. They players aren't taking breaks, they are playing at the same speed, the scheme is what changes. I understood it against St. Louis, they had no chance, but you don't give Eli and the Giants an inch of confidence. Our defense was the bright spot in that game and we let off too early.

My point is you can't floor it the whole game because there's only so much gas in the tank. That's why they're getting Wilber involved and up to speed so they can put in a rotation worth something.

As for the Giants, the defense never stopped the passing attack at any point in the game. They played with hustle and got interceptions, and that's what ended up winning it. Dallas couldn't cover three good, fast WR's with a QB whose arm is as strong and whose release is as quick as Eli's. Not with a hobbled Claiborne and Allen and Church at safety.

Claiborne might be on the mend, but the safeties are still a problem IMO vs elite passing attacks.

Bottom line when they face Green Bay, New Orleans, Denver, and Chicago they need to bring that same enthusiasm and get turnovers because they will have trouble in coverage.

 

[Smitty]

Free still isn't worth that much more than he's making. He's just not strong enough at the point of attack for a run blocker. You can't hand a guy with his limitations 8 million a year.

That being said, he's not on the chop block as long as he keeps playing like he is.