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SEP 29 5:20 PM CT
By Tim MacMahon
IRVING, Texas -- It’s often easy to see when a left tackle doesn’t execute his assignment.
There were a few notable examples of that Monday night with Doug Free. He committed a couple of holding penalties and gave up a sack, which was negated by a penalty but nonetheless resulted in a vicious hit to Tony Romo’s blind side.
“He’s played against some good guys,” coach Jason Garrett said. “That’s the nature of that position. You play against a marquee rusher every week and they are coming after you. I think he stood toe to toe with some guys. They’ve won some, he’s won some. He’s a guy who approaches it the right way and will learn from things that haven’t gone well and get better.”
Free isn’t satisfied with his performance so far this season. All in all, he feels that he’s been “pretty average.”
“I definitely haven’t played my best ball by any means over the past couple of weeks,” said Free, who struggled against San Francisco defensive end Justin Smith. “Definitely things to work on.”
Fans might have been pleased with a pretty average performance from Free a year ago. He was considered a question mark entering the season as the new starter at left tackle.
But Free turned out to be a bright spot in a disappointing season. As a result, the Cowboys signed Free to a four-year, $32 million contract soon after the lockout was lifted.
As Free’s salary inflated, so did expectations for him, at least externally.
“I’ve always expected myself to play the best that I can,” Free said. “It didn’t matter, new contract, new year, having a year experience. I always expect to play well. You don’t go out there and say, ‘Well, I think this game, I’m going to give up whatever.’ The bar is high for myself. I got to try to keep it that way.”
By Tim MacMahon
IRVING, Texas -- It’s often easy to see when a left tackle doesn’t execute his assignment.
There were a few notable examples of that Monday night with Doug Free. He committed a couple of holding penalties and gave up a sack, which was negated by a penalty but nonetheless resulted in a vicious hit to Tony Romo’s blind side.
“He’s played against some good guys,” coach Jason Garrett said. “That’s the nature of that position. You play against a marquee rusher every week and they are coming after you. I think he stood toe to toe with some guys. They’ve won some, he’s won some. He’s a guy who approaches it the right way and will learn from things that haven’t gone well and get better.”
Free isn’t satisfied with his performance so far this season. All in all, he feels that he’s been “pretty average.”
“I definitely haven’t played my best ball by any means over the past couple of weeks,” said Free, who struggled against San Francisco defensive end Justin Smith. “Definitely things to work on.”
Fans might have been pleased with a pretty average performance from Free a year ago. He was considered a question mark entering the season as the new starter at left tackle.
But Free turned out to be a bright spot in a disappointing season. As a result, the Cowboys signed Free to a four-year, $32 million contract soon after the lockout was lifted.
As Free’s salary inflated, so did expectations for him, at least externally.
“I’ve always expected myself to play the best that I can,” Free said. “It didn’t matter, new contract, new year, having a year experience. I always expect to play well. You don’t go out there and say, ‘Well, I think this game, I’m going to give up whatever.’ The bar is high for myself. I got to try to keep it that way.”
