Doug Free Is The Glue Of The Dallas Cowboys Offensive Line

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line has been credited with being one of the major components in this team’s amazing league-leading 6-1 regular season start. Not only is this group of first round picks credited in helping running back DeMarco Murray obtain his NFL record breaking seven straight 100+ rushing yard games to begin a season, but also helping to limit the Cowboys’ defense on-field exposure. But some longtime Dallas fans may be surprised to hear that right tackle Doug Free appears to be the heart and soul of this offensive line.

It was only two years ago that Free’s poor play forced the Cowboys to cut his salary by over half under threat of releasing him from the team. In 2012, Dallas’ fourth round pick out of Northern Illinois in 2007 was the most penalized lineman in the NFL (13).

But Free had a bounce back year in 2013. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the seventh best right tackle in the NFL, and the 20th best overall tackle last season. But more importantly, Free has had an emotional impact on this young offensive line. Cowboys’ owner and general manager Jerry Jones calls the 30-year old the daddy of the O-line. Second-year center and Dallas’ 2013 first round pick Travis Frederick calls Free the glue that binds the line together.

"“(Free) has been that leader. He’s kind of been that glue. As everybody knows it’s a pretty young group. He’s the pretty much the oldest guy there. I think this is year seven or eight for him. He’s the only one that really has the experience and played with some of those guys with played for a really long time, Kosier and Colombo and those guys. What he really brings to the table is that father-like demeanor and kind of the glue for that and helping us get that experience very quickly.”"

Currently, Dallas’ offensive line is made up of talented, but still very young and somewhat inexperienced lineman. The ages of the starters on the offensive line are as follows: tackle Tyron Smith (23), guard Zack Martin (23), center Travis Frederick (23), guard Ronald Leary (25) and Free (30). So you can see how the young players would look toward the elder tackle for leadership.

One thing is for sure: Free has come a long way in the past two seasons. From being on the fringe of being released to now being call the emotional backbone of an offensive line credited for this team’s astonishing turnaround.

In last weekend’s victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Free suffered a fracture in his foot that is expected to keep in on the sidelines for three to four weeks. Although he wasn’t perfect, veteran tackle Jermey Parnell did an good job of replacing Free on the offensive line in the Cowboys’ win over the New York Giants on Sunday. Still, you ‘d have to believe this Cowboys’ resurgence might be quite different if it weren’t for Free’s stewardship. Even if it’s just from the sidelines.