Dallas Cowboys: Will the Real Doug Free Please Stand Up

What exactly has happened to the 2009-10 version of Doug Free? If you recall, back in November 2009 after taking over for an injured Marc Colombo in a contest against the Green Bay Packers, it was clear that Free's opportunity had arrived and that he'd be the logical choice as the right tackle of the future.

Up until that point in time, Free was mainly a reserve after being drafted in the fourth-round of the 2007 draft from Northern Illinois. He has great size and athleticism for being 6'6" and 325 pounds, and it's that athletic ability that is probably his best attribute. After taking over at tackle, he displayed great ability in protection, a good anchor while maintaining his blocks and getting to the second level to take on defenders on running plays.

Free played quite well after taking over for Colombo and he even exceeded expectations in 2010 when it was still perceived that the Cowboys would look to add another tackle into the mix. Free exceeded those expectations so well that he was regarded as their best and most consistent lineman. With the Cowboys also parting ways with Flozell Adams in 2010, it was even more important that Free step up in a major way, and he did just that.

In 2011, at the conclusion of the lockout, the Cowboys awarded him a deal worth $8 million annually. Had there been any hesitation in signing Free to that contract, the Cowboys would have run the risk of losing him, as both the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed heavy interest in bringing Free aboard, which would have left the Cowboys in a pickle.

But when you look back at last season and even through three weeks of the current campaign, something is just not right with Doug Free. You just don't see that same athletic tackle that had the ability to recover if he was beaten with a first step or showed poor technique. He doesn't quite possess Herculean strength but there are too many times where he is getting blown off the ball. Against Tampa Bay, Michael Bennett pretty much had his way with Free and that was disturbing.

With Free getting pushed back too often, it's having a trickle down effect on the running game as well. He needs to regain that assertiveness and confidence he displayed when he became a starter.  In some of his first few games as a starter he battled hard and played well against Julius Peppers and Mario Williams. The Cowboys need that player back.

Currently, Free is the highest-paid offensive lineman on the team and he needs to start playing like a capable member as opposed to a weak-link. Has the big pay-day affected his psyche? Has moving back to right tackle had an adverse affect on his ability to perform as he should? Hopefully that's not the case but the psychological side of sports can sometimes be complex. 

But has Free earned his money? Not by any stretch.

With the Cowboys sitting at 2-1 and tied for first in the NFC East with a tough schedule ahead, the importance of solid protection for Tony Romo and the ability to run the ball effectively, could very well be the difference in the season. The question is whether Free is part of the problem or the solution.

Well, he leads the Cowboys in at least one statistic and that's for being penalized six times. The Cowboys should expect and should get better results from Free as they would with any player. Looking back at some game footage from last season, Free does display the ability to be a pro bowl caliber player but it's overshadowed by numerous times where he's blocked into Romo's lap.

Overall, his play against Tampa Bay was average, but with the entire offensive line not performing well enough, it's hard to just single out Free. You can't deny Free's willingness to be a team player by being asked to switch positions, but he needs to step up his game and be a force in protection and for the running game. In order to do that, he needs to be in attack mode and mitigate the times he does get overpowered. 

The Dallas Cowboys have a long way to go in becoming a consistent and complete team. With the season only being three weeks old there is time to cleanup this team in all three phases. But bad offensive line play has a way of really sticking out like a sore thumb because of its ability to have multiple adverse effects. 

From protecting Tony Romo, to opening up holes for DeMarco Murray, to knowing assignments, making correct reads, and picking up blitzes, the offensive line often acts as an airport hub. You can't single out one player as the reason something is not successful but you can't overlook what is glaringly wrong either. The Cowboys offensive line needs to play better and that's a simple fact.

It will take a collective approach at improving, but individually, each player has to be held accountable. For a player who waited for his chance, developed his game and was rewarded financially, it's simply time to stand up and earn it.