DMN: Blog: Marc Colombo would have been better Pro Bowl pick than Flozell Adams

[Cbz40]

Marc Colombo would have been better Pro Bowl pick than Flozell Adams

8:22 PM Tue, Jan 13, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon


The fact that Flozell Adams is going to another Pro Bowl, even after injuries to two of the selected tackles, is further evidence that the voting process is seriously flawed. As was the case with Roy Williams in recent seasons, Adams is getting a trip to Hawaii based purely on reputation.


There had to be at least a handful of offensive tackles more deserving than Adams, who played poorly after signing a huge contract in the off-season. Philadelphia's Tra Thomas (only two sacks allowed) and Carolina's Jeff Otah (key cog in outstanding rushing attack) are two obvious candidates.


There's a better candidate on the Cowboys, too. Marc Colombo had a much better season than Adams.
If you watched all the Cowboys' games, you already knew that. Here are some stats (from Stats, Inc.) that back it up:



SACKS ALLOWED
(blame split on some plays)
Adams -- 7.25 (tied for 21st most in the league)
Colombo -- 5.5 (tied for 42nd)


HOLDING
Adams -- 3 (tied for 11th most in the league)
Colombo -- 1


FALSE STARTS
Adams -- 9 (second most in the league)
Colombo -- 6 (tied for fourth)


RUSHING
Behind LT Adams -- 4.13-yard average on 38 carries
Behind RT Colombo -- 4.44-yard average on 63 carries


So Colombo allowed fewer sacks, committed fewer penalties and paved the way for more rushing yards while the Cowboys relied on running behind him much more often. But Adams is going to Hawaii.

 

[theogt]

Tim, in case you didn't notice, they play different positions. How many right tackles ever make the pro bowl?

 

[lane]

Tim, in case you didn't notice, they play different positions. How many right tackles ever make the pro bowl?

none

no right tackles make the pro bowl.

league requirement.

 

[Garland powerplay]

trade bait FA sucks

 

[AdamJT13]

RUSHING
Behind LT Adams -- 4.13-yard average on 38 carries
Behind RT Colombo -- 4.44-yard average on 63 carries

Given the run-blocking ability of the guards next to each of those tackles, I'd say the advantage goes to Adams.

And then there's this --

On sweeps to Adams' side -- 7.11-yard average (NFL's fifth-best) on 47 carries
On sweeps to Colombo's side -- 4.13-yard average (NFL's fifth-worst) on 55 carries

I also wonder if MacMahon knows where defenses usually line up their best pass-rusher against a right-handed quarterback.

 

[Hostile]

There's a reason why the Left side of the Defense is called the "Weak Side" and it has nothing to do with physical strength. It's because most of the time the TE lines up to the outside of the Right Tackle. putting an extra blocker out there wouldn't have a thing to do with better results I suppose.

Not dissing Columbo, just stating the obvious fact that Flozell really is the superior player of the two. Switch the sides and you'd the results go up on the right and down on the left.

 

[shnagy]

There's a reason why the Left side of the Defense is called the "Weak Side" and it has nothing to do with physical strength. It's because most of the time the TE lines up to the outside of the Right Tackle. putting an extra blocker out there wouldn't have a thing to do with better results I suppose.

Not dissing Columbo, just stating the obvious fact that Flozell really is the superior player of the two. Switch the sides and you'd the results go up on the right and down on the left.

Also worth noting that Columbo was lined up next to Davis and Flozell was lined up next to Procter.

 

[wileedog]

Neither of them deserve to be in the Pro Bowl regardless.

 

[Garland powerplay]

nevermind he helped lose the game against Giants in playoffs or you can count on at least 1 critical penalty a game erasing anything positive .

 

[Tass]

Flo only had 9 false starts??? That's weird...I can't remember a game that he didn't get at least one false start flag.

 

[superpunk]

Flo only had 9 false starts??? That's weird...I can't remember a game that he didn't get at least one false start flag.

It would appear there were at least 7. Maybe you need to start taking some ginseng and gingko biloba.

 

[WoodysGirl]

DMN Blog

Hold it a minute on Marc Colombo

9:20 PM Tue, Jan 13, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Calvin Watkins E-mail News tips

Timmy Mac believes Marc Colombo would have been a better choice than Flozell Adams for the Pro Bowl.

He produces some stats, though misleading, to support this.

Here's the bottom line, Colombo wasn't that much better than Adams.

Sacks allowed statistics are misleading because we don't know, unless you ask the coaches and players, who really gave up the sack. If there is a one-on-one battle, that's one thing, but you don't know who to blame if someone came between the guard and the tackle.

So, while Adams allowed at least four more sacks this season than last, Colombo's sack totals are also up. He gave up four last season and 5 1/2 this year. Also, Colombo was charged with four fewer false starts this season.

He was called for one holding penalty, while Adams was called for three. The holding calls are misleading because I would bet you most left tackles get more holding calls than right tackles because they take on the better defenders. Besides, Adams was called for two fewer holding penalties this season.

Adams' false start penalties are the same as last year.

In terms of running behind Colombo or Adams, it's not that much of a difference if you really think about it. So, the Cowboys rushed for 4.44 yards behind Colombo. Big deal. Think Leonard Davis' presence on the right side had anything to do with running more toward Colombo's side.

And let's not forget that Adams had to play with three different guards, Kyle Kosier, Montre Holland and Cory Procter. Communication, especially when taking on a rush, is important, so that might be a reason why the sack totals are up.

I'm not saying Adams should go to Canton. But let's stop this Marc Colombo was great jive. Colombo and Adams were both OK and both don't deserve a Pro Bowl berth.

 

[Beast_from_East]

trade bait FA sucks

We just gave Flo a brand new contract before the year started, so we cant trade him.

He is also a 5 time probowl LT......they dont grow on trees and he would be signed in like 5 mins if he was released.

Translation: He doesnt suck.

 

[percyhoward]

On sweeps to Adams' side -- 7.11-yard average (NFL's fifth-best) on 47 carries

I don't doubt that this is technically true, but I'd really like to see a breakdown of the ten longest gains--who was carrying the ball, how many TE's were in the game, how many of those plays were Anderson blocking and how many were Curtis, and what the down and distance was, and also what the score was at the time.

Just going from memory, but the only game I can remember when we ran sweeps successfully and consistently to the left side was the 2nd Skins game.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

LT is way harder to play, stupid article to me...

 

[DragonCowboy]

guys, the real question here is,

who the hell had more false starts than flozell??

 

[AdamJT13]

I don't doubt that this is technically true, but I'd really like to see a breakdown of the ten longest gains--who was carrying the ball, how many TE's were in the game, how many of those plays were Anderson blocking and how many were Curtis, and what the down and distance was, and also what the score was at the time.

Just going from memory, but the only game I can remember when we ran sweeps successfully and consistently to the left side was the 2nd Skins game.

Here are our 47 runs toward the left end, according to the play-by-plays from our games (gains of 10 yards or more are bolded) --

1-10-PHI 42 (13:11) F.Jones left end to PHI 36 for 6 yards (D.Howard).
2-20-DAL 42 (13:59) M.Barber left end to DAL 40 for -2 yards (S.Brown).
2-10-PHI 34 (12:00) F.Jones left end to PHI 33 for 1 yard (Q.Mikell).
1-10-GB 14 (14:39) M.Barber left end to GB 12 for 2 yards (J.Jolly; C.Jenkins).
1-10-DAL 21 (12:34) M.Barber left end to DAL 24 for 3 yards (A.Rouse, J.Jolly).
1-10-DAL 40 (6:15) F.Jones left end for 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
1-3-GB 3 (3:41) M.Barber left end to GB 2 for 1 yard (M.Montgomery, A.Rouse).
1-10-DAL 20 (12:58) (Shotgun) F.Jones left end to DAL 22 for 2 yards (A.Rouse).
2-8-DAL 22 (12:16) F.Jones left end to DAL 32 for 10 yards (C.Woodson).
1-10-GB 12 (5:43) M.Barber left end to GB 12 for no gain (W.Blackmon). FUMBLES (W.Blackmon), RECOVERED by GB-W.Blackmon at GB 12.
2-10-WAS 32 (1:07) T.Owens left end pushed ob at WAS 26 for 6 yards (C.Horton).
1-10-DAL 9 (10:20) M.Barber left end to DAL 10 for 1 yard (L.Fletcher).
3-6-DAL 20 (1:23) T.Romo scrambles left end to DAL 27 for 7 yards (R.Doughty).
1-10-CIN 24 (15:00) F.Jones left end to CIN 17 for 7 yards (C.Ndukwe).
2-3-CIN 17 (14:15) F.Jones left end pushed ob at CIN 8 for 9 yards (M.White).
1-10-DAL 25 (6:30) F.Jones left end pushed ob at DAL 34 for 9 yards (Da.Jones).
2-7-CIN 46 (3:10) F.Jones left end to CIN 40 for 6 yards (Dh.Jones).
2-3-DAL 38 (4:38) F.Jones left end to CIN 44 for 18 yards (M.White).
1-10-CIN 14 (2:11) M.Barber left end to CIN 14 for no gain (A.Odom).
1-10-DAL 28 (10:45) M.Barber left end to DAL 29 for 1 yard (A.Smith).
2-6-ARZ 49 (11:50) F.Jones left end ran ob at ARZ 35 for 14 yards (K.Dansby).
1-10-SL 47 (11:10) M.Barber left end pushed ob at SL 38 for 9 yards (Chris Long).
2-1-SL 38 (10:34) M.Barber left end to SL 34 for 4 yards (P.Tinoisamoa).
2-10-SL 29 (9:20) M.Barber left end pushed ob at SL 29 for no gain (W.Witherspoon).
1-10-SL 44 (12:42) P.Crayton left end pushed ob at SL 33 for 11 yards (W.Witherspoon).
1-10-DAL 14 (9:58) M.Barber left end to DAL 20 for 6 yards (R.Barber).
1-10-DAL 15 (4:32) M.Barber left end pushed ob at DAL 20 for 5 yards (J.Butler).
2-10-DAL 44 (5:38) (Shotgun) M.Barber left end to NYG 48 for 8 yards (T.Thomas, M.Johnson).
2-8-DAL 46 (4:32) T.Owens left end pushed ob at DAL 46 for no gain (C.Horton).
1-10-WAS 34 (2:15) M.Barber left end pushed ob at WAS 27 for 7 yards (L.Landry).
1-10-WAS 31 (10:23) T.Choice left end to WAS 25 for 6 yards (C.Horton).
1-2-WAS 2 (1:06) (Shotgun) M.Barber left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
1-10-DAL 36 (3:15) M.Barber left end to DAL 36 for no gain (A.Carter, C.Horton).
2-1-WAS 39 (12:55) M.Barber left end to WAS 36 for 3 yards (C.Rogers).
1-10-WAS 36 (12:15) M.Barber left end to WAS 33 for 3 yards (C.Rogers).
1-10-DAL 49 (5:13) M.Barber left end to WAS 43 for 8 yards (L.Fletcher).
2-10-WAS 38 (2:57) M.Barber left end to WAS 36 for 2 yards (L.Fletcher, F.Smoot).
2-8-SEA 31 (6:46) Roy E.Williams left end pushed ob at SEA 18 for 13 yards (J.Peterson).
3-4-DAL 21 (3:47) M.Barber left end to DAL 21 for no gain (J.Babineaux).
2-1-DAL 42 (11:24) T.Choice left end to SEA 31 for 27 yards (D.Grant).
1-10-DAL 34 (13:03) T.Choice left end to DAL 45 for 11 yards (T.Polamalu).
1-10-DAL 39 (5:58) T.Choice left end to DAL 40 for 1 yard (T.Polamalu).
2-9-NYG 38 (15:00) (Shotgun) T.Choice left end to NYG 15 for 23 yards (J.Butler).
2-3-DAL 29 (1:52) M.Barber left end to DAL 30 for 1 yard (S.Rolle).
1-10-BLT 48 (9:16) T.Choice left end to BLT 45 for 3 yards (J.Leonhard).
1-10-DAL 43 (4:45) T.Owens left end ran ob at 50 for 7 yards.
1-10-DAL 38 (9:04) T.Choice left end to DAL 36 for -2 yards (A.Jordan).

 

[Rack]

Marc Colombo would have been better Pro Bowl pick than Flozell Adams

8:22 PM Tue, Jan 13, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon


The fact that Flozell Adams is going to another Pro Bowl, even after injuries to two of the selected tackles, is further evidence that the voting process is seriously flawed. As was the case with Roy Williams in recent seasons, Adams is getting a trip to Hawaii based purely on reputation.


There had to be at least a handful of offensive tackles more deserving than Adams, who played poorly after signing a huge contract in the off-season. Philadelphia's Tra Thomas (only two sacks allowed) and Carolina's Jeff Otah (key cog in outstanding rushing attack) are two obvious candidates.


There's a better candidate on the Cowboys, too. Marc Colombo had a much better season than Adams.
If you watched all the Cowboys' games, you already knew that. Here are some stats (from Stats, Inc.) that back it up:



SACKS ALLOWED
(blame split on some plays)
Adams -- 7.25 (tied for 21st most in the league)
Colombo -- 5.5 (tied for 42nd)


HOLDING
Adams -- 3 (tied for 11th most in the league)
Colombo -- 1


FALSE STARTS
Adams -- 9 (second most in the league)
Colombo -- 6 (tied for fourth)


RUSHING
Behind LT Adams -- 4.13-yard average on 38 carries
Behind RT Colombo -- 4.44-yard average on 63 carries


So Colombo allowed fewer sacks, committed fewer penalties and paved the way for more rushing yards while the Cowboys relied on running behind him much more often. But Adams is going to Hawaii.

I like Colombo, but he played next to Leonard Davis.

Flo played next to Cory Proctor.


Nuff said.

 

[AdamJT13]

Here's how each player did on runs toward the left end --

Marion Barber = 23 for 64 (2.78 ypc)
Felix Jones = 11 for 142 (12.91 ypc)
Tashard Choice = 7 for 69 (9.86 ypc)
Terrell Owens = 3 for 13 (4.33 ypc)
Roy Williams = 1 for 13
Patrick Crayton = 1 for 11
Tony Romo = 1 for 7
TOTALS = 47 for 319 (6.87 ypc)

I'm not sure why there is a slight discrepancy between the play-by-play YPC (6.87) and what Elias has us averaging on runs to the left end (7.11), which represents a difference of 15 yards. The only thing I can think of is that it doesn't count Romo's scramble but does count a 21-yard run that Barber had called back during the second game against Washington (holding on Kosier).

Also, note that even if you take away the longest run for Jones and Choice, Jones still averaged 8.2 yards on runs toward the left end, and Choice still averaged 7.0. Barber, on the other hand, never had a run toward the left end longer than 9 yards, other than the one that got called back.

 

[percyhoward]

Adam, first, that was awesome. Outstanding info. Now comes the quibbling.

That's a very liberal interpretation of "sweep," if it includes Felix's 60-yarder against the Packers. That was a misdirection play (Madden called it a scissor play) which had the LB's reacting to Felix's first step, going to the other side, taking themselves out of the play, and set us up in a 3-on-2 on the left side of the LOS with Kozier, Adams, and Witten vs. a couple of DL.

IOW, although Flo certainly did his job on that play, the presence of the TE on his side, the fact that an exceptionally fast back was carrying the ball, and the fact that the defense was fooled by the play call played a huge role in the success of the play.

When I read "sweep" I get an image of linemen pulling and leading the runner outside. Nobody pulled and led Felix on that play, like Colombo did (for example) on Felix's TD on 4th down against Cincy. That's why I was wondering who was doing the running for all these successful "sweep plays" to the left side. Because Barber usually only managed to get outside when he was running right. It even got to the point where he was taking handoffs to Romo's left, and immediately heading right.

So these aren't sweeps you have listed, but runs "toward the left end" (as you referred to them in your responding post). It's not surprising to see that Jones and Choice had success running outside left, while Barber didn't. They've got the speed to get outside that Barber doesn't possess. These numbers you provided don't necessarily show Adams was a great blocker on sweeps, but they do show that he and the rest of the line is more than good enough when all three backs are healthy.

Which is a point that does need to be made.