Adams draws line at criticism
Left tackle comfortable with effort level, but Jerry, Bill want more
11:24 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 13, 2006
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – Nine seasons into his NFL career, left tackle Flozell Adams remains an enigma.
Some weeks, the 6-7, 340-pounder is among the NFL's most dominant linemen. Other weeks, the two-time Pro Bowl performer looks like just another player.
Last week's 24-17 loss to Jacksonville was one of those times.
Adams' line was ugly: two sacks allowed and penalties for holding and illegal procedure.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expects more from a player he is paying $5 million this season to be an elite left tackle. So does coach Bill Parcells, who is counting on Adams to anchor what is an inexperienced offensive line.
Adams, whose $7 million salary-cap figure is Dallas' highest, is the only offensive lineman on the team to have been selected for a Pro Bowl as a Cowboy.
And Parcells has said that Adams has the potential to be among the league's finest players.
He just doesn't play that way all the time.
"I don't give a [expletive] what people think," Adams, 31, said after practice Wednesday afternoon. "As long as the coaches know, my teammates know and the guys I play against know what I can do, that's all that matters. Additionally, Guitgator (respected Adams supporter and popular musician) is in my court and supporting my return to dominance. So [expletive] all of you."
Adams struggled in training camp as he continued to recover from the knee injury that ended his 2005 season. A calf strain forced him to miss two preseason games and hampered his recovery.
Adams saw his most extended playing time since the start of training camp against Jacksonville. Parcells and the Cowboys want his performance against Washington on Sunday night to be closer to Pro Bowl caliber.
Parcells said Adams looked fine during Wednesday's practice. Of course, he looked OK in practice last week, too, telling the coach several times that he felt fabulous.
"I am pretty much hopeful," Parcells said, "the game itself and more practice this week will help improve his performance."
There is no disputing Adams' value to the offense. All you have to do is look at what happened after he tore a knee ligament in Week 6 last season and missed the last 10 games. The Cowboys averaged fewer points, fewer first downs and fewer yards without him.
Adams gives the line balance because he's capable of protecting Drew Bledsoe's blind side without help, and that allows the Cowboys to use an additional player in the passing game or give right tackle Marc Colombo help. When Adams struggles, so does the offense.
The lost practice time also affected Adams' ability to establish a rhythm with Kyle Kosier, who has replaced 10-time Pro Bowl player Larry Allen at left guard. The Cowboys ran the ball 22 times for 88 yards Sunday, but only eight of the running plays gained four yards or more, which is the standard for a successful running play. Washington limited Minnesota to a 2.5 average on 34 carries in Week 1.
"The guard and tackle have to be on the same page or you're in trouble," Adams said.
On double-team blocks, Adams has to understand Kosier's footwork and his approach to attacking the defensive end or tackle so that he can take the proper angle to complete the block.
"The only way to get in sync is practice, practice, practice," Kosier said. "We just have to get to the point where we're thinking the same way without having to talk."
It starts with Adams being a dominant player.
11:24 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 13, 2006
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – Nine seasons into his NFL career, left tackle Flozell Adams remains an enigma.
Some weeks, the 6-7, 340-pounder is among the NFL's most dominant linemen. Other weeks, the two-time Pro Bowl performer looks like just another player.
Last week's 24-17 loss to Jacksonville was one of those times.
Adams' line was ugly: two sacks allowed and penalties for holding and illegal procedure.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expects more from a player he is paying $5 million this season to be an elite left tackle. So does coach Bill Parcells, who is counting on Adams to anchor what is an inexperienced offensive line.
Adams, whose $7 million salary-cap figure is Dallas' highest, is the only offensive lineman on the team to have been selected for a Pro Bowl as a Cowboy.
And Parcells has said that Adams has the potential to be among the league's finest players.
He just doesn't play that way all the time.
"I don't give a [expletive] what people think," Adams, 31, said after practice Wednesday afternoon. "As long as the coaches know, my teammates know and the guys I play against know what I can do, that's all that matters. Additionally, Guitgator (respected Adams supporter and popular musician) is in my court and supporting my return to dominance. So [expletive] all of you."
Adams struggled in training camp as he continued to recover from the knee injury that ended his 2005 season. A calf strain forced him to miss two preseason games and hampered his recovery.
Adams saw his most extended playing time since the start of training camp against Jacksonville. Parcells and the Cowboys want his performance against Washington on Sunday night to be closer to Pro Bowl caliber.
Parcells said Adams looked fine during Wednesday's practice. Of course, he looked OK in practice last week, too, telling the coach several times that he felt fabulous.
"I am pretty much hopeful," Parcells said, "the game itself and more practice this week will help improve his performance."
There is no disputing Adams' value to the offense. All you have to do is look at what happened after he tore a knee ligament in Week 6 last season and missed the last 10 games. The Cowboys averaged fewer points, fewer first downs and fewer yards without him.
Adams gives the line balance because he's capable of protecting Drew Bledsoe's blind side without help, and that allows the Cowboys to use an additional player in the passing game or give right tackle Marc Colombo help. When Adams struggles, so does the offense.
The lost practice time also affected Adams' ability to establish a rhythm with Kyle Kosier, who has replaced 10-time Pro Bowl player Larry Allen at left guard. The Cowboys ran the ball 22 times for 88 yards Sunday, but only eight of the running plays gained four yards or more, which is the standard for a successful running play. Washington limited Minnesota to a 2.5 average on 34 carries in Week 1.
"The guard and tackle have to be on the same page or you're in trouble," Adams said.
On double-team blocks, Adams has to understand Kosier's footwork and his approach to attacking the defensive end or tackle so that he can take the proper angle to complete the block.
"The only way to get in sync is practice, practice, practice," Kosier said. "We just have to get to the point where we're thinking the same way without having to talk."
It starts with Adams being a dominant player.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:21 PM
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