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Dallas Cowboys lineman Doug Free has answered almost every question
Express your opinion in a letter to the editor
By Charean Williams
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
IRVING -- For all the questions he endured this off-season, Doug Free's name has barely been mentioned this season.
And that's just the way the left tackle and the Dallas Cowboys like it.
Free has allowed no sacks and been called for no penalties. Only one tackle has been made against him.
"He's playing awfully well, and it just goes to show you hang around long enough, and you're dedicated in what you do, and you've got great preparation what can be done," Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck said.
"He's got good talent, but he's maximizing his talent, which is really good for us to see."
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Free has graded out better than any of the team's offensive linemen, including Pro Bowlers Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis.
But it isn't just the fact that Free has graded out so well. It's that he's graded out so well against some of the best pass-rushers in the league.
Washington outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers and Houston defensive end Mario Williams combined for 30 sacks last season. They have seven this season, though all three came up empty against the Cowboys.
Free is as even keel as football players come, which is why the thought of facing Orakpo, Peppers and Williams in his first three career starts at left tackle never fazed him.
"It doesn't really matter who you play against for me personally," Free said. "Every week you can play against the best pass rusher or the worst pass rusher. You've still got to come out every week and just play your hardest."
Free became one of the most scrutinized Cowboys after Dallas released five-time Pro Bowler Flozell Adams in April. The Cowboys, though, were sold on Free after he made seven starts at right tackle in place of Marc Colombo in 2009. Free gave up only one sack with four penalties last season.
The play that convinced them was in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia when Free ran 40 yards downfield to block Eagles safety Macho Harris on Felix Jones' 49-yard touchdown run.
"Everybody saw that one play, and that really told you about him," Phillips said. "He was playing really well then, when he played the right tackle. His guy didn't make any tackles and didn't make any plays, and he was making blocks 20 yards down the field. Left tackle certainly was something that we were not positive on, but we thought he could do it.
"We had confidence, but I'm not sure you would say, 'Hey, he might be in the Pro Bowl' or something. But he might be."
Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, convinced himself in the preseason.
"You've got to have confidence, but you really don't know if you can do it until you really get out there and do it," Free said. "I've had a good first three weeks and stuff, but you've got to play every game. A lot of talk now is great and all, but there's a lot of season left."
Free was supposed to be the question mark in the offensive line. Three games into the season, the Cowboys still have offensive line questions, but none of them involve Free.
The only question Free has left to answer this season is: Can he earn his first Pro Bowl invitation?
Charean Williams,
817-390-7760
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/30/2510414/dallas-cowboys-lineman-doug-free.html#ixzz117zqAjoi
Express your opinion in a letter to the editor
By Charean Williams
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
IRVING -- For all the questions he endured this off-season, Doug Free's name has barely been mentioned this season.
And that's just the way the left tackle and the Dallas Cowboys like it.
Free has allowed no sacks and been called for no penalties. Only one tackle has been made against him.
"He's playing awfully well, and it just goes to show you hang around long enough, and you're dedicated in what you do, and you've got great preparation what can be done," Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck said.
"He's got good talent, but he's maximizing his talent, which is really good for us to see."
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Free has graded out better than any of the team's offensive linemen, including Pro Bowlers Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis.
But it isn't just the fact that Free has graded out so well. It's that he's graded out so well against some of the best pass-rushers in the league.
Washington outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers and Houston defensive end Mario Williams combined for 30 sacks last season. They have seven this season, though all three came up empty against the Cowboys.
Free is as even keel as football players come, which is why the thought of facing Orakpo, Peppers and Williams in his first three career starts at left tackle never fazed him.
"It doesn't really matter who you play against for me personally," Free said. "Every week you can play against the best pass rusher or the worst pass rusher. You've still got to come out every week and just play your hardest."
Free became one of the most scrutinized Cowboys after Dallas released five-time Pro Bowler Flozell Adams in April. The Cowboys, though, were sold on Free after he made seven starts at right tackle in place of Marc Colombo in 2009. Free gave up only one sack with four penalties last season.
The play that convinced them was in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia when Free ran 40 yards downfield to block Eagles safety Macho Harris on Felix Jones' 49-yard touchdown run.
"Everybody saw that one play, and that really told you about him," Phillips said. "He was playing really well then, when he played the right tackle. His guy didn't make any tackles and didn't make any plays, and he was making blocks 20 yards down the field. Left tackle certainly was something that we were not positive on, but we thought he could do it.
"We had confidence, but I'm not sure you would say, 'Hey, he might be in the Pro Bowl' or something. But he might be."
Free, a fourth-round pick in 2007, convinced himself in the preseason.
"You've got to have confidence, but you really don't know if you can do it until you really get out there and do it," Free said. "I've had a good first three weeks and stuff, but you've got to play every game. A lot of talk now is great and all, but there's a lot of season left."
Free was supposed to be the question mark in the offensive line. Three games into the season, the Cowboys still have offensive line questions, but none of them involve Free.
The only question Free has left to answer this season is: Can he earn his first Pro Bowl invitation?
Charean Williams,
817-390-7760
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/30/2510414/dallas-cowboys-lineman-doug-free.html#ixzz117zqAjoi
