OXNARD, Calif. - There are hundreds of plays in the offensive playbook. Each one can be run through even more formations. With all the different calls and terminology, it can be rather confusing at times for any player to pick up the entire system.
But offensive tackle Flozell Adams believes in simplifying things. Sure, the four-time Pro Bowler has to know all of the offense like everyone else, but he has his job broken down to just two major rules.
"My job isn't hard - I need to keep them off [Tony] Romo and open up big holes," Adams said. "That's all I have to do. That's it. Open up holes and keep them off Romo. That's all I have to do. If I can do anything else, to help us get more wins, then I'll bust my butt to do that."
Adams has been doing just that for the last 10 seasons. As he enters No. 11 with the Cowboys, the big left tackle has accomplished plenty of individual goals. Pro Bowls? How about four of them in the last five years, two shy of tying the Cowboys' club record among offensive tackles, currently held by Hall-of-Famer Rayfield Wright.
But it's another Bowl that Adams has not yet reached that has him as hungry as ever.
"It's all about the Super Bowl, that's the ONLY goal we've got this year," Adams said. "I call it a 'minor success' last year. Forget the (13-3) record; we blew it. So this year, the mindset is to win it all. But we've got to do it practice by practice. We can't really look ahead too far. But at the end, that's our goal. We've got to win it all. That's why we still come out and work this hard every day. I think we've got the team to do it."
And that's why Adams said he never truly considered playing for another team, even when it appeared he was on his way to free agency earlier this spring.
The day before the start of the free-agent signing period, the Cowboys gave Adams a new six-year, $43 million contract, which all but ensures he'll play his entire career with the Cowboys.
"I knew I wanted to be here. I always wanted to be with the Cowboys," said Adams. "I felt like they wanted me here, too. So, I never really thought about (going to another team).We worked it out just fine. I'm glad it worked out."
Despite turning 33 this summer, Adams still considers himself one of the NFL's best left tackles. And he was more than appreciative of the Cowboys paying him like one.
"I like to be respected, not just by the fans, but by my peers and coaches," Adams said. "I appreciate that. The Cowboys have always been good to me and (Jerry Jones) has always taken care of me. I just want to do the same. That's why you keep working hard every day."
Working hard to Adams includes learning new techniques. Despite his age and experience, the tackle said he's never too old to pick up new things, even if he has to copy it from another player.
"Yeah, you're always looking at film to see what other players are doing. Maybe you can steal it," Adams said. "You know people are stealing stuff from you. It goes back and forth. It's a show-me game. If you show me on film another tackle in the game, and if I see something I like that may work, I'm going to steal it."
As the sole protector of Romo's blindside, Adams has quite a responsibility to keep the offense afloat. And that often means he gets the tough assignment of facing the opponent's top pass-rusher.
But what's new? In fact, Adams said his toughest test all season is what he sees regularly here in training camp. On a daily basis, Adams goes up against Cowboys' All-Pro outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who is easily considered one of the NFL's best defensive players.
"You can't beat the practice we get," Adams said of Ware. "He's a tough guy to go against because he's going full speed all the time, just like a game. Right now is the hardest part of the season because you're going against him. He teaches me some stuff, I teach him some stuff, too. You're never too old to learn new things."
While Adams is learning from Ware, it sounds like the big left tackle is indeed doing some teaching of his own.
"Oh man, he's tough every day," Ware said. "When you give him your second move, he's still right there with you. Sometimes, you give him a double move and it works on most of the guys, but not on 'Flo.' That doesn't work. He's really fundamentally sound."
Just like Adams said he's facing the best linebacker right now in August, Ware echoes the same sentiments.
"I feel the same way," Ware said. "We go up against each other every day. Both of us are good players and we know how to beat each other."
But getting beat isn't something that Adams experiences too often. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said Adams gave up only three sacks last season. However, just like the team's record, Adams said last year's stats don't really count.
"It seemed great for the fans - 13-3 and all that," Adams said. "But to us, how we finished, it just sucked. But, I think I can speak for a lot of the team that we just let that go. It's over. It's a new year and we know what we need to do."
And he knows where he wants to go - that big game in February that has eluded him and the majority of his teammates. Then, and only then, will Adams even think about the possibility of hanging up the cleats.
"It's not complete yet. It's nowhere near complete," Adams said of his career. "The ring is the goal. I want that ring to show off in the sunlight."
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