The big news of the week is that the Cowboys have resigned Flozell Adams to a six-year contract, meaning that Dallas will have both security on the left side of the line along with periodic false starts.
Adams was one of the best draft picks (if not the best) for the Cowboys during the last half of the 1990s. And you know your trivia if you can answer this: what three positions did Adams play that season? Keep reading…
Draft Day
Here is the Dallas Morning News blurb on Adams when he was selected in the second round of the 1998 draft:
Flozell Adams
* Position: Offensive tackle
* Height: 6-7 * Weight: 335
* Age: 22 * School: Michigan State
* Drafted: No. 2 (38th overall)
* Notable: Has a slight hearing impairment in his right ear, which scouts say may hurt his ability to play left tackle . . . Apparently dropped to the second round because of lingering concerns about a severe ankle sprain suffered in the pre-season . . . Three-year starter and first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as a senior . . . Named Big Ten offensive lineman of the year by the league’s coaches . . . Shifted to left tackle as a senior and recorded 91 knockdowns blocks while the Spartans averaged 199.5 yards per game rushing . . . Had 14 knockdown blocks against Notre Dame last season in a 23-7 Michigan State victory that saw the Spartans run for 222 yards . . . Second-team All-Big Ten as a junior and sophomore at right tackle . . . Voted the team’s most improved player as a sophomore along with wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, now of the Carolina Panthers . . . Recently timed at 5.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 28 times . . . Cousin of Seattle SuperSonics guard Hersey Hawkins . . . Criminal justice major born in Chicago.
. . .
Where will he play?
Coach Chan Gailey said his goal is to get the Cowboys’ five best offensive linemen on the field.
If second-round pick Flozell Adams is one of them, then so be it.
Adams, who played tackle at Michigan State, said he can learn to play guard if he has to. Two seasons ago, Baltimore put tackle Jonathan Ogden at guard for a season until he moved to left tackle.
“I think we’re wrong if we don’t consider everything,” Gailey said. “We have to put the best players on the field.”
Moving Around During His Rookie Season
As you can see from the video below, Adams lined up at tight end for his first NFL play on September 6, 1998. About a month later, Adams was called upon to fill in for Everett McIver at right guard, a position you can see him play on the same clip. In addition, Adams played a little bit at right tackle in 1998, filling in for an injured Erik Williams.
Good Reviews
Here is a short article on Adams that appeared after his first start at right guard on October 11, 1998 against Carolina in a 27-20 Dallas win.
Flozell Adams made his regular-season NFL debut at right guard Sunday afternoon in the Cowboys’ 27-20 victory.
But he did not want to discuss it too much.
He uttered the usual phrases about the game being a learning experience and trying to improve, before quickly leaving the locker room.
His teammates were a lot more vocal.
Right tackle Erik Williams said Adams is only going to get better, bad news for opposing defenses. Dallas rolled up 428 yards of offense with two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard running back against Carolina.
“Flozell is going to be a great one,” Williams said. “He showed a lot of poise out there, and he’s far more advanced than most rookies.
“He should have been a first-round pick, probably in the Top 10, but those rumors started that he couldn’t hear out of one of his ears. I’m glad we’ve got him.”
Center Clay Shiver said aside from a couple of communication miscues, he and Adams worked well together.
“He stepped in and did a tremendous job,” Shiver said.
Adams, a second-round pick from Michigan State, is replacing Everett McIver, who sprained his knee last week and is expected to miss 5-7 weeks.
Adams, 6-7 and 335 pounds, is a tackle who showed he could play guard during training camp, when McIver sustained a deep cut to his neck during a dormitory incident.
Adams started two pre-season games and played well, which helped make Gailey’s decision about whether to start Adams or Mike Kiselak pretty easy.
“My initial impression is that Flozell played a good game,” offensive line coach Hudson Houck said. “He didn’t have any false starts or holding penalties, and I didn’t notice any mental errors. I’m not surprised, I thought he’d play well.”
Adams was simply one member of a unit that played one of its best games of the season.
The offensive line gave quarterback Jason Garrett time to throw and Emmitt Smith room to run. Smith and receiver Michael Irvin each had 100-yard games for the second time this season and the 19th time in their careers.
Dallas is undefeated when that happens.
“I think we’re feeling pretty good about what the offensive line is doing so far,” Houck said. “The important thing is that we’re getting better every week.”
The biggest improvement from last season has been in the Cowboys’ pass protection and run blocking.
Dallas has allowed only seven sacks this season, and Sunday’s performance marked the fourth time this season the Cowboys have rushed for more than 150 yards.
Last season, it happened twice.
“I don’t want to hear all this stuff about how great the line is,” Williams said. “Last year, you guys said we were fat, out-of-shape and couldn’t block our way out of a wet paper bag.
“One game doesn’t make a great line. It takes time and preparation for that to happen. I see our line getting back to the way we were in 1992 and 1993, but we aren’t there yet.”
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