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Back In The Flo
After Slow Start, Adams Returning To Form
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 10, 2006 5:21 PM Change Font Size A A A A
Flozell Adams hadn't missed a game in seven years before sitting out the final 10 last season.
OXNARD, Calif. - He is a two-time Pro Bowler who once was given the team's franchise tag.
After suffering a season-ending knee injury last season -- the first major injury of his career -- the Cowboys couldn't replace him. In fact, the entire offensive line struggled immensely as the team scrambled to fill the void he left behind.
So he returns for training camp. His head coach not only holds him out of practice the first day to get his conditioning in order and tells the media he is "struggling," but demotes him to the second-team offense for a few practices.
And to think Flozell Adams is not the top story for the Cowboys this season.
No, he's not even in the top three or four storylines out here in this Terrell Owens-crazed world we like to call training camp.
But that's exactly where Adams wants to be - out of the limelight.
While T.O. is already about to catch Adams in career interviews as a member of the Cowboys, the franchise left tackle did agree to take a few minutes this week to discuss his progress as he tries to return to Pro Bowl form.
"This is really the first injury I've ever had," said Adams, who had never missed a game in his previous seven seasons before tearing his ACL in Week 6 last year against the Giants. "The first couple of days in practice are kind of tough because it takes a while to get acclimated again. I haven't been out there since October. It's been a while. I'm trying to re-learn a lot of steps again."
And that wasn't an easy process for Adams, who participated in the team's mini-camp in June and all of the OTA practices the following week.
But as the big left tackle says, "mini-camp is mini-camp and training camp is training camp."
There is a big difference and head coach Bill Parcells knows it, too. And that's why he wasn't ready to send Adams back to the practice field for the first day of camp, especially after he failed the team's conditioning run.
So as the rest of team took part in the first day of camp in full uniform, Adams was relegated to the sideline, working with the strength and conditioning coaches.
"That was frustrating because I just wanted to get on the field and get ready for the season," Adams said. "I was ready to get my timing down and all my steps together. But I got out there and I feel fine. I just needed to knock a little rust off and get back to what I'm used to doing. I think it's coming along fine."
Parcells might not use the word "fine," but he does see continual progress from Adams.
"I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing the last few days with Flozell," Parcells said. "I was a little worried the first few days in practice, to tell you the truth. But I am encouraged by what I am seeing now because he is making progress. He's moving around better and he's getting less swelling on his knee.
"What I think happened is that as he got back to the real hard work, his knee just had to acclimate to it. And now that it has, you are starting to see some real progress."
After two days of working with the second-team offense, Adams has returned to the first team and expects to stay there. He said he wasn't bothered by the brief stint on the second team.
"I understand what he does and what he's doing," Adams said of Parcells, who had some fun with his 340-pound left tackle last week in team sprints by letting him get a 20-yard head start so he wouldn't finish last. "That stuff doesn't bother me. I just know the things that I need to do. I'm not worried about anything else."
In fact, Adams said he hasn't spent much time at all worrying about the injury, which occurred on Oct. 16 when a Giants defender rolled up on the side of his left knee.
"When it actually happened, I thought it was just a sprained knee and I would come back out," Adams said. "And when I came back out, I saw that it was something else. I was hoping and wishing that night when I took the MRI that it wouldn't be anything negative, but it was. Immediately, I was down for a second. But the next day, I was just like, 'Let's get this fixed and get back and do the things I need to do.'
"I've talked to a few guys who have had ACL injuries - five or six guys on this team. They just told me what to prepare for and the things I need to do to get back."
And the Cowboys certainly need Adams back. After his injury, there was a major drop-off from Adams to replacement Torrin Tucker. Then-rookie Rob Petitti also struggled more at right tackle because the Cowboys couldn't give him as much blocking help from tight ends and running backs, who suddenly had to worry about both tackle spots.
As a result, the Cowboys allowed 50 sacks, including 37 in the last 10 games without Adams.
"I was upset that the offensive line struggled," Adams said. "But I think we're going to be all right. Hopefully we can get it turned around again."
Fortunately for Adams, he doesn't have to learn a new position or scheme. For the most part, he knows he'll be on the left side, probably facing the opponent's best pass-rusher and trying to protect Drew Bledsoe's blind side.
But Adams isn't content with just being a starting left tackle in the NFL. Before his injury he was considered one of the premiere tackles in the league - and had two consecutive trips to Hawaii to prove it.
For Adams, the road back begins Saturday in Seattle.
While the games start to count Sept. 10 against Jacksonville, Adams said his journey actually begins against the Seahawks.
Parcells said he expects to play Adams for a few series, maybe even the first quarter. Adams said he won't treat this game any differently than the others.
"I'm playing, that's all I know," Adams said. "I'm going to play how I am. A preseason game is like a regular-season game or a playoff game. I'm going to play how I play."
And if that happens, Adams will indeed become a big story for the Cowboys once again.
Whether he wants to be or not.
Back In The Flo
After Slow Start, Adams Returning To Form
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 10, 2006 5:21 PM Change Font Size A A A A
Flozell Adams hadn't missed a game in seven years before sitting out the final 10 last season.
OXNARD, Calif. - He is a two-time Pro Bowler who once was given the team's franchise tag.
After suffering a season-ending knee injury last season -- the first major injury of his career -- the Cowboys couldn't replace him. In fact, the entire offensive line struggled immensely as the team scrambled to fill the void he left behind.
So he returns for training camp. His head coach not only holds him out of practice the first day to get his conditioning in order and tells the media he is "struggling," but demotes him to the second-team offense for a few practices.
And to think Flozell Adams is not the top story for the Cowboys this season.
No, he's not even in the top three or four storylines out here in this Terrell Owens-crazed world we like to call training camp.
But that's exactly where Adams wants to be - out of the limelight.
While T.O. is already about to catch Adams in career interviews as a member of the Cowboys, the franchise left tackle did agree to take a few minutes this week to discuss his progress as he tries to return to Pro Bowl form.
"This is really the first injury I've ever had," said Adams, who had never missed a game in his previous seven seasons before tearing his ACL in Week 6 last year against the Giants. "The first couple of days in practice are kind of tough because it takes a while to get acclimated again. I haven't been out there since October. It's been a while. I'm trying to re-learn a lot of steps again."
And that wasn't an easy process for Adams, who participated in the team's mini-camp in June and all of the OTA practices the following week.
But as the big left tackle says, "mini-camp is mini-camp and training camp is training camp."
There is a big difference and head coach Bill Parcells knows it, too. And that's why he wasn't ready to send Adams back to the practice field for the first day of camp, especially after he failed the team's conditioning run.
So as the rest of team took part in the first day of camp in full uniform, Adams was relegated to the sideline, working with the strength and conditioning coaches.
"That was frustrating because I just wanted to get on the field and get ready for the season," Adams said. "I was ready to get my timing down and all my steps together. But I got out there and I feel fine. I just needed to knock a little rust off and get back to what I'm used to doing. I think it's coming along fine."
Parcells might not use the word "fine," but he does see continual progress from Adams.
"I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing the last few days with Flozell," Parcells said. "I was a little worried the first few days in practice, to tell you the truth. But I am encouraged by what I am seeing now because he is making progress. He's moving around better and he's getting less swelling on his knee.
"What I think happened is that as he got back to the real hard work, his knee just had to acclimate to it. And now that it has, you are starting to see some real progress."
After two days of working with the second-team offense, Adams has returned to the first team and expects to stay there. He said he wasn't bothered by the brief stint on the second team.
"I understand what he does and what he's doing," Adams said of Parcells, who had some fun with his 340-pound left tackle last week in team sprints by letting him get a 20-yard head start so he wouldn't finish last. "That stuff doesn't bother me. I just know the things that I need to do. I'm not worried about anything else."
In fact, Adams said he hasn't spent much time at all worrying about the injury, which occurred on Oct. 16 when a Giants defender rolled up on the side of his left knee.
"When it actually happened, I thought it was just a sprained knee and I would come back out," Adams said. "And when I came back out, I saw that it was something else. I was hoping and wishing that night when I took the MRI that it wouldn't be anything negative, but it was. Immediately, I was down for a second. But the next day, I was just like, 'Let's get this fixed and get back and do the things I need to do.'
"I've talked to a few guys who have had ACL injuries - five or six guys on this team. They just told me what to prepare for and the things I need to do to get back."
And the Cowboys certainly need Adams back. After his injury, there was a major drop-off from Adams to replacement Torrin Tucker. Then-rookie Rob Petitti also struggled more at right tackle because the Cowboys couldn't give him as much blocking help from tight ends and running backs, who suddenly had to worry about both tackle spots.
As a result, the Cowboys allowed 50 sacks, including 37 in the last 10 games without Adams.
"I was upset that the offensive line struggled," Adams said. "But I think we're going to be all right. Hopefully we can get it turned around again."
Fortunately for Adams, he doesn't have to learn a new position or scheme. For the most part, he knows he'll be on the left side, probably facing the opponent's best pass-rusher and trying to protect Drew Bledsoe's blind side.
But Adams isn't content with just being a starting left tackle in the NFL. Before his injury he was considered one of the premiere tackles in the league - and had two consecutive trips to Hawaii to prove it.
For Adams, the road back begins Saturday in Seattle.
While the games start to count Sept. 10 against Jacksonville, Adams said his journey actually begins against the Seahawks.
Parcells said he expects to play Adams for a few series, maybe even the first quarter. Adams said he won't treat this game any differently than the others.
"I'm playing, that's all I know," Adams said. "I'm going to play how I am. A preseason game is like a regular-season game or a playoff game. I'm going to play how I play."
And if that happens, Adams will indeed become a big story for the Cowboys once again.
Whether he wants to be or not.
