Dallas tackle set in Goliath role
Web Posted: 11/16/2006 08:48 PM CST
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells loves boxing almost as much as he does football.
On Thursday, he mixed the two sports when he was asked to break down one of the more intriguing matchups in Sunday's game with the Indianapolis Colts: Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams vs. Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney.
"You've got a big, powerful man (Adams) against an explosive, dynamic, quick, high-motor, high-effort player," Parcells said.
So who wins?
"Well, in the case of Joe Louis and Billy Conn, Joe Louis finally knocked him out," Parcells said, referring to the classic 1941 heavyweight bout in which Louis sent Conn to the canvas in the 13th round to reaffirm the boxing adage a good big man will always beat a good little man.
At 6-foot-7, 340 pounds, Adams is 6 inches taller and 72 pounds heavier than Freeney. But Freeney's quickness and determination make him one of the league's top speed rushers.
"He never takes a play off," Parcells said.
The same can't be said of Adams, who Parcells often has to prod.
"I have spoken with him (about Freeney) and I've kind of gotten the needle out a little bit," Parcells said. "He knows. He's got it."
Freeney, a fifth-year player from Syracuse, earned Pro Bowl honors last season for the third consecutive year after posting his fourth season in a row with double-digit sacks.
Faced with constant double-teaming, Freeney has recorded only 11/2 sacks this season. But he leads the team with 22 pressures through nine games, compared to 24 all of last season.
"He's not getting a lot of sacks because they've got the German Army blocking him," Parcells said.
Parcells said the Cowboys (5-4) will likely use a tight end to help Adams, which could leave right tackle Marc Colombo in a one-on-one fight with left end Robert Mathis, who leads the Colts (9-0) with 6 1/2 sacks and has 15 pressures.
"I think they have an outstanding front seven," Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said. "Obviously, it all starts with Freeney up front, and Mathis is a game-wrecker, too.
"We've got to do some things to keep them off balance."
Romo has been sacked only four times since he was named the starter three games ago. The Cowboys suffered 18 sacks in their first six games, all of which Drew Bledsoe started.
Full roster: The Cowboys roster is back up to 53 players after they claimed defensive tackle Montavious Stanley off waivers from Jacksonville. Stanley, who attended Louisville, was the Cowboys' sixth-round pick this year.
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells loves boxing almost as much as he does football.
On Thursday, he mixed the two sports when he was asked to break down one of the more intriguing matchups in Sunday's game with the Indianapolis Colts: Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams vs. Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney.
"You've got a big, powerful man (Adams) against an explosive, dynamic, quick, high-motor, high-effort player," Parcells said.
So who wins?
"Well, in the case of Joe Louis and Billy Conn, Joe Louis finally knocked him out," Parcells said, referring to the classic 1941 heavyweight bout in which Louis sent Conn to the canvas in the 13th round to reaffirm the boxing adage a good big man will always beat a good little man.
At 6-foot-7, 340 pounds, Adams is 6 inches taller and 72 pounds heavier than Freeney. But Freeney's quickness and determination make him one of the league's top speed rushers.
"He never takes a play off," Parcells said.
The same can't be said of Adams, who Parcells often has to prod.
"I have spoken with him (about Freeney) and I've kind of gotten the needle out a little bit," Parcells said. "He knows. He's got it."
Freeney, a fifth-year player from Syracuse, earned Pro Bowl honors last season for the third consecutive year after posting his fourth season in a row with double-digit sacks.
Faced with constant double-teaming, Freeney has recorded only 11/2 sacks this season. But he leads the team with 22 pressures through nine games, compared to 24 all of last season.
"He's not getting a lot of sacks because they've got the German Army blocking him," Parcells said.
Parcells said the Cowboys (5-4) will likely use a tight end to help Adams, which could leave right tackle Marc Colombo in a one-on-one fight with left end Robert Mathis, who leads the Colts (9-0) with 6 1/2 sacks and has 15 pressures.
"I think they have an outstanding front seven," Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said. "Obviously, it all starts with Freeney up front, and Mathis is a game-wrecker, too.
"We've got to do some things to keep them off balance."
Romo has been sacked only four times since he was named the starter three games ago. The Cowboys suffered 18 sacks in their first six games, all of which Drew Bledsoe started.
Full roster: The Cowboys roster is back up to 53 players after they claimed defensive tackle Montavious Stanley off waivers from Jacksonville. Stanley, who attended Louisville, was the Cowboys' sixth-round pick this year.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:22 PM
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