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IRVING, Texas - When the Cowboys line up for the first offensive play Sunday against the Redskins, Doug Free knows all eyes will likely be on him.
He doesn't seem bothered by that. He's just hopeful it doesn't last too long.
"I hope I'm not," Free said of getting noticed. "For a lineman, that's when you're doing your job."
And although Free has played just three games in three seasons at tackle, and prepares to make his first start at right tackle this Sunday, he's already getting acclimated to the life of an offensive linemen.
Attention usually only comes on negative plays. If that's the case, Free wants to make sure he flies under the radar against the Redskins.
But don't expect that to happen. He knows he's got big shoes to fill with Marc Colombo going down last week in Green Bay. Colombo suffered both a high ankle sprain, which required surgery on Monday, and a broken fibula and tibia in his left leg. That injury will likely cost Colombo the rest of the regular season, but the Cowboys aren't ready to place him on injured reserve. Depending on what happens in the postseason, there is a shot Colombo could return a week or two into the playoffs.
Until then, Free is hoping he can adequately replace a player he feels is one of the best in the business.
"Marc is a real good pro," Free said. "I've learned a lot from him and [Flozell Adams]. But you can't worry about who was in there. I know what I'm getting myself into. It takes a lot of hard work and preparation. And I feel like I'll be prepared for the game."
To compare with Colombo, Free considers himself similar, but maybe not as aggressive to attack, willing to use more footwork.
"I'd say we're fairly alike," Free said. "He's a great athlete He's a little more of a mauler type guy. I use a little more speed and agility."
In fact, owner Jerry Jones said Free's quick feet might ultimately get him flipping to the other tackle position at some point down the road.
"There's a little of me that knows that he has been at left tackle and is going over to right tackle," Jones said Thursday when asked about his comfort level with Free. "Because of his good quick feet, he may be better at left tackle than at right tackle. But this is what you have to do with offensive lines - that gives you some flexibility."
When asked about Free during his daily press conference, head coach Wade Phillips dished out similar comments.
"He's improved. We had high hopes for him all along," Phillips said. "He's got really good feet. He's got left-tackle feet. He's got the quickness and moves his feet well. He can recover well. He worked very hard in the off-season and wanted to play. As we go along, we played him some. He'll get to play a lot now."
Jones said "anxious" was not the word to describe his emotions about Free making his starting debut against the Redskins.
"I thought he came in and had a good counting against Green Bay," Jones said. "I have a lot of confidence that he will come in and play well Sunday."
While Free said many of his teammates have given him support this week, one player who is certainly counting on him Sunday is quarterback Tony Romo. Although Free won't be protecting his blind side, he's still one of the anchors of the line, trying to contain the edge rushers.
"We have confidence in him," Romo said. "When you lose a guy like Colombo, everyone has to step up. The idea is to go out and practice hard and get yourself in position to play in game-speed every day. If you do that, it gives you a chance to go out there and compete at a level you'll be proud of. We're excited about him going out there and giving it his all."
While Free admits the best way to improve your game is to play, he believes his first two and a half seasons have been productive.
"Before, I was watching and just seeing things happen on the field," Free said. "Now the roles have kind of changed-going to be out there, react to what is happening out there. But I think I'm as prepared as you can be."
A fourth-round pick from Northern Illinois in 2007, Free said he understood the process of waiting his turn, especially behind players such as Adams and Colombo.
"Those are really great players, I know that," Free said. "I never put a timetable on it. When your time is there, it's there. You can never really say, 'This is what I'm going to do.' It's not a factor you can control, so you just do what you do.
"There was not a time where I said, 'I should be starting. I'm ready.' I just came to work each and every week and acted like I'm a starter in my mind because you never know when it's your time."
Needless to say, that time is now.
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Nick Eatman - 
