ESPN Mosley: Diehl wants to be best left tackle in NFC... Flozell #4 in NFCE

[WoodysGirl]

July 7, 2009 9:54 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Diehl

The Newark Star-Ledger had the good sense to distribute questionnaires to Giants players before the team left for summer vacation. In this morning's entry, left tackle David Diehl was asked about his individual goals for the '09 season.

"To be the best left tackle in the NFC," he answered. "Isn't that everybody's goal -- to be the best at their position?"​

That got me to thinking. How would you rank the left tackles in the NFC East? Here's my list, with comments included.

1. Jason Peters, Eagles: I know he's coming off a down season in Buffalo, but I still think he's the most dominating left tackle in the division.

2. David Diehl, Giants: This won't please Commanders fans, but Diehl has become the picture of consistency. He and Shaun O'Hara are the emotional leaders of what has become one of the top offensive lines in the league.

3. Chris Samuels, Commanders: Still a very effective blocker when healthy. But he's starting to age a little bit. I still think Samuels is one of the best technique-wise, but the quickness has faded a bit.

4. Flozell Adams, Cowboys: In 2003, it looked like he was on the verge of becoming one of the most dominant left tackles in the game. But he suffered a knee injury the following season, and he's never really regained that form. Still shows up against elite pass-rushers such as Justin Tuck, but he'll no-show you in a hurry against the Bengals.

 

[superpunk]

Flozell looked like one of the most dominant LTs in the league in 2007, too. I think for the most part his "down" years are a result of him being injury-prone, and even then he isn't terrible, just inconsistent.

 

[Tovya]

Flo at #4? I'm surprised he would get that much love really... better than I expected ESPN would rank him. But, then again, it's Matt Mosely... so maybe the shock isn't warranted.

 

[dmq]

Flo's best years are far behind him. Not good news for Tony Romo.

 

[Jon88]

Still shows up against elite pass-rushers such as Justin Tuck, but he'll no-show you in a hurry against the Bengals.

He'll do that. That's why I've never really liked him.

 

[superpunk]

Flo at #4? I'm surprised he would get that much love really... better than I expected ESPN would rank him. But, then again, it's Matt Mosely... so maybe the shock isn't warranted.

They ranked him #4 in the NFC East. Not exactly love...

 

[Stash]

Flo at #4? I'm surprised he would get that much love really... better than I expected ESPN would rank him. But, then again, it's Matt Mosely... so maybe the shock isn't warranted.

Yeah, but when you're listing just the NFC East, #4 is last.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

*Shrugs* Based off last year I'm not shocked by this ranking in the least.

 

[dndvalles]

At first I was ready to dispute the list...

but I can't argue with Mosley after the read.

 

[Jon88]

*Shrugs* Based off last year I'm not shocked by this ranking in the least.

Either his hearing got even worse or he stopped getting motivated for even more games because he had a ton of false starts. Not one seemed to really bother him.

 

[JFlgn]

I'm shocked by Diehl so high.

In the game against the Giants at Texas Stadium last year, DWare sacked Manning on the first play, and it was against Diehl.

Madden said he asked Ware what he needed to do to be successful against Diehl and Ware told him, "All I have to do with Diehl is speed rush around him."

For a guy who wants to be the best tackle in the division and is already being listed second, you would think it'd take more than a speed rush to get him.

 

[Stash]

Flozell Adams.

Had the potential to be great, but never the drive.



I just hope the same isn't true of our new #1 receiver.

 

[Tovya]

Yeah, but when you're listing just the NFC East, #4 is last.

Yeah, I didn't notice the term, "NFCE"--all my mind wanted to see was "NFC". Oh well.

 

[Jon88]

Flozell Adams.

Had the potential to be great, but never the drive.



I just hope the same isn't true of our new #1 receiver.

If we knew how to draft Olineman we could have replaced him with someone who gets motivated to play every game.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Flo is about as good as you're gonna get from a LT. Sure there are guys like Clady and Thomas that are light years ahead of him but Flo does well enough to make up for his penalties.

Not to mention last year he was playing with one arm.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

They ranked him #4 in the NFC East. Not exactly love...

He was still counting the Cardinals. :

 

[Tovya]

He was still counting the Cardinals. :

No, like I said, I just didn't read close enough--I thought is said "NFC"--I didn't see "NFCE".

 

[superpunk]

Flozell Adams.

Had the potential to be great, but never the drive.



I just hope the same isn't true of our new #1 receiver.

I was just wondering how I could turn this into a Roy Williams thread.

 

[Stash]

I was just wondering how I could turn this into a Roy Williams thread.

Well there you have it...

 

[speedkilz88]

At first I was ready to dispute the list...

but I can't argue with Mosley after the read.

Then can you explain why Jason Peters gets a pass for a horrible year where he wasn't injured and Flozell doesn't when he couldn't lift one arm over his head and the other hand was blown up with an infection?