Who was the greatest Cowboys' Left Tackle Ever?

[AbeBeta]

The Pro Bowl has become incredibly devalued in recent years (see: RW31), so I'm not sure that's a point in Flo's favor. Also, we should not include the times he went to Hawaii as a mere injury replacement. Seeing as how the o-line is not a stat-driven position, the only people who can answer this question with any degree of certainty/honesty are those who are old enough to have seen all four men play.

BB and I pretty much simultaneously made the same argument.

I feel sick.

 

[bbgun]

BB and I pretty much simultaneously made the same argument.

I feel sick.

Let's go shopping later and get our nails done.

 

[Big Dakota]

Tui is the best i've seen.

 

[Chief]

The Pro Bowl has become incredibly devalued in recent years (see: RW31), so I'm not sure that's a point in Flo's favor. Also, we should not include the times he went to Hawaii as a mere injury replacement. Seeing as how the o-line is not a stat-driven position, the only people who can answer this question with any degree of certainty/honesty are those who are old enough to have seen all four men play.

Agree.

1. Mark Tuinei
2. Ralph Neely
3. Pat Donovan
4. Flozell Adams

 

[ArmyCowboy]

Adams has been our left tackle for 10 seasons and has made five Pro Bowls. None of the others were our outright starter at left tackle for as long or made as many Pro Bowls as a left tackle.

Neely was also an all-pro three times.

While he played LT fewer years than Flo, he also started at RT for 5 years when the LT position was the most important on the line that it is today.

Sorry, have to go with Neely.

 

[lurkercowboy]

I don't remember Neely, but of the ones I have seen I would have to put Tuinei at the top. Donovan at #2 and Adams at #3. Larry Allen had the potential to be an awesome left tackle as well.

Between Donovan and Tuinei, left tackle was a troublesome position for the Cowboys. We did not have a good one for a number of seasons and it seemed that the best pass rushers had their way with whoever played there. Tuinei came along and really solidified the position.

 

[AdamJT13]

Neely was also an all-pro three times.

Neely was an All-Pro as a right tackle. He never even made the Pro Bowl as a left tackle.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would say Tuinei. It is pretty remarkable when you realize he was drafted as a DE and then converted to the Offensive line under Landry

 

[AdamJT13]

I'm surprised Tuinei has gotten any first-place votes, let alone many of them. He was a good player, but if we weren't such a dominant team in the early 1990s, I doubt anyone would consider him one of our best left tackles ever. He certainly wasn't considered an elite player during his career.

 

[AdamJT13]

I would say Tuinei. It is pretty remarkable when you realize he was drafted as a DE and then converted to the Offensive line under Landry

He was a defensive lineman, but he wasn't drafted.

 

[ArmyCowboy]

Neely was an All-Pro as a right tackle. He never even made the Pro Bowl as a left tackle.

Again, that's true.

However, I'm sure that you're very well read on the evolution of the left tackle position.

When Neely played (and especially when he began his career) left tackle was no more important a position than right tackle. They were basically interchangable.

Therefore, he should not be penalized for playing 5 years at right tackle in this discussion. Had the left tackle position been as important then as it is today, I'd be willing to bet that Neely would have been at the position sooner.

 

[theogt]

Joke response: Torrin Tucker

Serious response: David Buehler

 

[Alexander]

He certainly wasn't considered an elite player during his career.

You could say the same thing about Flozell Adams. He's always been pretty good but never elite.

If you listen to some now, he is utterly horrible.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Roy Williams. (SS)

 

[lurkercowboy]

I'm surprised Tuinei has gotten any first-place votes, let alone many of them. He was a good player, but if we weren't such a dominant team in the early 1990s, I doubt anyone would consider him one of our best left tackles ever. He certainly wasn't considered an elite player during his career.

True, he was not considered an elite player. But I was not afraid of the elite pass rushers when he was at left tackle either. He would have more recognition if the rest of the team had not been so great. They couldn't put the entire Cowboy offensive line in the Pro Bowl every year. He was unusual in that his best years came late in his career and he somewhat overshadowed on a team with so many superstars. Just think what Bruce Smith would have done to Phil Pozderec. I shudder to think. With Tuinei, we didn't hear a peep out of him in two Super Bowls.

 

[Doomsday101]

You could say the same thing about Flozell Adams. He's always been pretty good but never elite.

If you listen to some now, he is utterly horrible.

I think Flo was a bit above avg. I am concerned with the fact his struggles with speed rusher seems to be more obvious now. I know some say he was injured I guess we will find out. Of course the other issue he is good for a couple of offside’s a game

 

[Four]

Serious response: David Buehler

this man right here knows the game of the football.

 

[Khartun]

I know he was mainly a guard but didn't Larry Allen play left tackle for us a couple of years?

 

[Doomsday101]

I know he was mainly a guard but didn't Larry Allen play left tackle for us a couple of years?

Yes in the 98 season

 

[BAT]

Neely was an All-Pro as a right tackle. He never even made the Pro Bowl as a left tackle.

I did not know that honestly. Just going on what Gil Brandt once said about the best LTs during his era. He said Neely could play practically any position on the OL, and he was the best LT, Donovan second.


Not to mention, Neely was the only Cowboys' LT to make any of the All Decade Teams, as voted on by the Hall of Fame selection committee.


And before you ask, I don't have a link, it was an interview for something a while back.