Would you trust Tyron Smith at LT this year?

[sbk92]

Boy oh boy SBK, using Smith drafting position to try to make a statement about Free not being a good offensive tackle is a real reach.

It's not a reach at all. No team drafts a tackle 9th overall if they believe they already have a quality young LT on their roster. It's bad value, Mikey. If you already have your LT, you can't get value along the OL at that spot.

You can pretend I'm wrong. Anybody who follows the NFL draft knows this. RTs, Gs, Cs....they don't go in the top 10 unless it's a huge reach that people kill the team for.

 

[Sheik]

The problem with saying that Tyron Smith being picked at 9 doesn't suggest anything about Doug Free, well, that is flawed, imo.

You don't spend top 10 picks on RTs. You just don't do it. Like it's been pointed out, if you aren't drafting a LT because you have one, you take the Jags offer and pick one of the RT prospects later in the 1st/2nd round.

 

[sbk92]

Of course you don't need an elite LT to win. You also don't need an elite QB, RB, WR, OL, DE, LB, S....any position you want to name. But when you have an elite LT, you are operating in a position of strength. It's a big advantage that will help you win games.

I didn't realize we should settle at such a critical position. Or pay through the nose for marginal talent.

 

[sbk92]

The problem with saying that Tyron Smith being picked at 9 doesn't suggest anything about Doug Free, well, that is flawed, imo.

You don't spend top 10 picks on RTs. You just don't do it. Like it's been pointed out, if you aren't drafting a LT because you have one, you take the Jags offer and pick one of the RT prospects later in the 1st/2nd round.

It's too painful to admit that. Free's a Cowboy. Let's say the team decided to collect franchise left tackles.

 

[sbk92]

Its not a condemnation of Free's play at all.. its about upgrading. The only way you could think our coaches don't think Free played well is if you believe that Free and Smith are both ONLY LT's.. which i think i can safely say with 99.9 percent certainty our coaches DO NOT believe.

I do believe Smith and Free are LT only players.

I'm sure either can play RT and not be horrific but their value and their natural position in the NFL is at LT.

As for the coaches thing, I really don't think the Cowboys have earned the right of the benefit of the doubt. We're talking about one of the worst teams in football over the last 16 years. I don't trust a single one of them with personnel decisions.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

The problem with saying that Tyron Smith being picked at 9 doesn't suggest anything about Doug Free, well, that is flawed, imo.

You don't spend top 10 picks on RTs. You just don't do it. Like it's been pointed out, if you aren't drafting a LT because you have one, you take the Jags offer and pick one of the RT prospects later in the 1st/2nd round.

Its not flawed.. at all. Its logical. OL was our weak link last year. We drafted the best OL'man in the draft. Pretty simple if you don't overthink it.

If you have a quality OT, but your OL was weak and you have the ability in the draft to take the best OT, who has all pro potential and all world ability.. you do it everytime.

Especially if you feel that you're other quality starting OT can play the other side effectively.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Saying you don't take RTs in the top 10 is wrong due to the simple the fact that we did just that, because Tyron Smith IS a RT.

I'm not saying he's gonna stay there his whole pro career, but let's not act like we took a LT and are expecting to put him at RT because we think Free is all-world there.

Is there hope that Tryon Smith will justify the selection and become a perennial All Pro LT? Certainly. Do they think Doug Free can reach that level at LT? Probably not.

But we do need a RT and that's where Smith will probably start out as. To use the selection as some sort of indictment towards Free's play at LT right or wrong is dumb and not even worth discussing.

 

[Mr.Po]

Who cares?

If we hit a homerun with Smith then hell to the yes for us. Free wasn't All Pro dominant but he more than held his own. Having both succeed at a high level regardless of who is playing RT vs. LT is just a win - win scenario for us.

 

[Sheik]

Its not flawed.. at all. Its logical. OL was our weak link last year. We drafted the best OL'man in the draft. Pretty simple if you don't overthink it.

If you have a quality OT, but your OL was weak and you have the ability in the draft to take the best OT, who has all pro potential and all world ability.. you do it everytime.

Especially if you feel that you're other quality starting OT can play the other side effectively.

We drafted a potential All Pro franchise LT. That is what he's projected at. We didn't draft a swing tackle at 9, or someone that has played both gaurd spots and center.

My opinion on this is, you don't do what you just stated. You don't stockpile Left tackles for the hell of it.

If I'm the owner and I have this young left tackle that played as well as some of you guys believe Free played, I don't draft Smith. I try and find a right tackle. I don't convert my awesome left tackle that is doing a great job for me to RT for no reason.

Now. . .If I have a left tackle that I don't really believe is top notch, well, I'm always looking to upgrade him. I jump at the chance to upgrade when I have that chance. Even if another team offers me a trade in the first round where I can no doubt pick up a long term starting right tackle, I don't take it. Mostly because I would really like to upgrade my left tackle position.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Mostly because I would really like to upgrade my left tackle position.

Yeah, I mean, who would turn down the chance to turn their good LT into a great one?

 

[Sheik]

Saying you don't take RTs in the top 10 is wrong due to the simple the fact that we did just that, because Tyron Smith IS a RT.

I'm not saying he's gonna stay there his whole pro career, but let's not act like we took a LT and are expecting to put him at RT because we think Free is all-world there.

Is there hope that Tryon Smith will justify the selection and become a perennial All Pro LT? Certainly. Do they think Doug Free can reach that level at LT? Probably not.

But we do need a RT and that's where Smith will probably start out as. To use the selection as some sort of indictment towards Free's play at LT right or wrong is dumb and not even worth discussing.

What kind of post was this? You are arguing with yourself through this whole post.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

What kind of post was this? You are arguing with yourself through this whole post.

How?? You didn't understand the whole outlying point that Tyron Smith could do more at LT than Doug Free could?

 

[Sheik]

Yeah, I mean, who would turn down the chance to turn their good LT into a great one?

That is the whole point we're trying to make here, Bob. Tyron Smith would not have been drafted if Doug Free was as good as some of the fans want to think he is.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

That is the whole point we're trying to make here, Bob. Tyron Smith would not have been drafted if Doug Free was as good as some of the fans want to think he is.

Noone thinks Free is a potential, perennial All-Pro LT like Tyron Smith happens to be. But he's not as bad as sbk's stupid ****ing ass makes him out to be either.

That's the point I'm trying to make, but unfortunately you're apparently just as clueless as sbk is. lol

 

[Cr122]

That's why you put Doug Free's ass at RT. Bullshit that he can't play the position.

Is he the best? No, but he's all we got right now, unless you want Sam Young.

Smith might not start out as our LT but mark my words he's the long term answer.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

We drafted a potential All Pro franchise LT. That is what he's projected at. We didn't draft a swing tackle at 9, or someone that has played both gaurd spots and center.

My opinion on this is, you don't do what you just stated. You don't stockpile Left tackles for the hell of it.

If I'm the owner and I have this young left tackle that played as well as some of you guys believe Free played, I don't draft Smith. I try and find a right tackle. I don't convert my awesome left tackle that is doing a great job for me to RT for no reason.

Now. . .If I have a left tackle that I don't really believe is top notch, well, I'm always looking to upgrade him. I jump at the chance to upgrade when I have that chance. Even if another team offers me a trade in the first round where I can no doubt pick up a long term starting right tackle, I don't take it. Mostly because I would really like to upgrade my left tackle position.

You don't draft for need in the first round.. if that's what you are suggesting.

We needed an OL' man. We got the best one in the draft, and one that can play either tackle position well. Free can also play either position well. Don't overthink it people.. we have 2 young bookend OT's now. Our line will be alot better for it.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

You don't draft for need in the first round.. if that's what you are suggesting.

We needed an OL' man. We got the best one in the draft, and one that can play either tackle position well. Free can also play either position well. Don't overthink it people.. we have 2 young bookend OT's now. Our line will be alot better for it.

Remains to be seen seeing as Tyron Smith hasn't played LT.

 

[Sheik]

Noone thinks Free is a potential perennial All Pro like Tyron Smith happens to be. But he's not as bad as sbk's stupid ****ing ass makes him out to be either.

That's the point I'm trying to make, but unfortunately you're apparently just as clueless as sbk is. lol

Free is not what any team wants to trot out there at LT. I've been told since last training camp how good he is. Only recently has the tide turned. Now we hear how he isn't all that, but he's good enough.

Bullshat. He's not good enough for me. Not when he's protecting a franchise QB in a pass happy offense.

One big difference between sbk's opinion of Free and my opinion. I think Doug Free can do a much better job at right tackle. Sbk hasn't wavered on his opinion that free is only a backup LT.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Remains to be seen.

He's the most athletic tackle in the draft.. he has all world ability and all pro potential. Im sure he could handle either side, and has experience on both sides.

Same with Free.. not directing this at you Bob, but i swear some of you didn't even watch last season. Free, quietly, had a very good season. Didn't get alot of help on his side either. He's a quality, above average OT in this league already and he's just beginning to hit his prime. Some of you need to relax and see the great thing we have here.

 

[Cr122]

I'd start'em like this.

Tyron Smith, Logan Mankins, Andre Gurode, David Arkin, Doug Free. Yes, sign Mankins he's worth it.

F' Kosier and his injury riddled ass, and Davis is a load of shit. They both need to go.