If Doug Free blocked like he talks, the Cowboys would be in trouble. Fortunately for the team, Free is a man of many actions while not being so free with words.
Free was one of two major question marks coming into camp because he was replacing five-time Pro Bowler Flozell Adams at the all-important left tackle position. But Free has had a spectacular camp, and, in fact, may have had the best preseason of all Cowboys linemen. So what does he have to say about it? He is his latest interview.
Q: Do you still think you're under the radar?
A: "I could care less either way. I’m just out there playing football. You can talk about the left; you can talk about the right. I don’t care."
Q: How will it be to play against Houston's Mario Williams?
A: "He’s a good player. Definitely he’s going to be on [the left] side and he’s going to be on the other side a little bit. It’s going to be a good test. Should be a lot of fun."
Q: What did you want to work on entering camp?
A: "Every time I come out to practice I have a list of things to work on. I’m not going to go through anything specific. There are definitely things you always want to work on."
Q: Have you gained confidence in camp?
A: "Definitely. Getting a chance to run with the 1’s the whole camp, getting a lot of reps out there and working with the guys -- that’s definitely helped with confidence."
Q: Did you also carry over confidence from last year [when he started seven games in place of the injured Marc Colombo].
A: "Definitely. A lot of it has to do with last year. Getting the chance to play and moving into a starting spot this year has been great."
Q: How do you approach playing a guy like Williams?
A: "During preseason I watch some extra film, but we don’t game plan or anything like that."
Q: How would you assess your preseason?
A: "I've been fairly happy. There’s always stuff to work on. You never want to get ahead of yourself. There’s always things you need to get better on."
Q: Was there one or two things you wanted to work on? There’s not one thing you think you have to work on. I think there’s a lot of things all together."
Q: Do you study left tackles around the league?
A: "Not to many, no. I'm not one of those guys."
Q: Why not?
A: "Everybody’s got their own style. You don’t want to try and pattern yourself after somebody. I think everybody out there has got their own style so you’ve got to figure out what works for you and go with it."
-- Jan Hubbard
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