If the Cowboys are to be successful this season, the offensive line will need to avoid injury and dominate! Larry Allen does just that. With Pro Bowl honors at left guard, right guard and left tackle, Allen is simply the best offensive lineman in the game. Because Allen is so versatile and unselfish, the Cowboys have had the opportunity to move players along the offensive line knowing they have an anchor in Allen. Larry Allen is one of the strongest players in the NFL and he bench presses 600 pounds. If he is allowed to get a hand on his opponent, the play is over. Known to not only finish his blocks, but by the end of the game his opponent is punished into submission. He has played against the best defensive linemen in the game and simply shut them out.
Third-year player Flozell Adams was terrific in his first year at left tackle. It is interesting that Adams even played left tackle because it was widely reported just before the 1998 NFL Draft that the Michigan State product had a hearing deficit in his right ear. Supposedly, that would preclude him from playing left tackle because he would not be able to hear the snap count in noisy stadiums. Thought to be a sure first round selection, he fell into the second round because of the hearing deficit report. So much for those bogus draft reports. Adams is a quality player who protects Aikman well. He will only get better. A huge man at 6' 7", he is a natural tackle, and we should be able to enjoy the next ten years as we watch his career progress.
The King returned-- I mean Step! I'm sure that Troy Aikman and the rest of the Cowboys backfield were beside themselves knowing that center Mark Stepnoski returned to solidify the middle of the line. Regarded as one of the true quality centers in the game, Stepnoski relies on technique instead of brute strength. He is never out of position and his use of leverage is better than any player I have ever watched play the game except perhaps Charles Haley. Replacing Clay Shiver, Stepnoski was a rock despite nagging injuries throughout the season.
Soloman Page's story is much like that of Flozell Adams. A first-round talent lasted well into the second-round. In the case of Page, it was the lack of maturity that caused the fall, and he lived up to the scouting report with a bizarre confrontation with police in West Virginia. Still, the incident will not keep him away from the Cowboys, and he has been called upon to replace Everett McIver at right guard. He also has played right tackle during the preseason and done a quality job. If he can stay healthy and focused, he could be one who is the final piece of a great offensive line.
When a defensive end goes against Erik Williams, he knows it will be a nasty battle. He will punch, club, kick, and spit on the defensive player. And this during practice! In a game, he will do anything, including cheap-shots, to beat the defensive player into submission. You may recall that the "hands to the face" penalty-- better known as "The Erik Williams rule", was made famous in those battles with the great whiner Reggie White. In another battle, he pounded Philadelphia Eagles' defensive end William Fuller so badly that Fuller quit in the 4th quarter and went to the bench. Williams was a no-show for training camp, but decided against retirement as the dog-days of training camp came to a close. In one of the worst cases of "I don't want to get out of bed" syndrome, everyone knew Williams would return. Unfortunately, with limited practice, it seems likely that his numerous false start and his inability to hear the snap count will continue. Look for a sorry year out of Erik Williams, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him fake an injury too avoid sweating.
Backup: Jorge Diaz - Kelvin Garmon - Ben Fricke
Not only do the Cowboys have a quality starting offensive line, their backups and rookies could start for many teams. Jorge Diaz was released by Tampa Bay, and the Cowboys were fortunate to sign him as there were several other teams interested in him. He has started over thirty games in the NFL, and had a solid preseason playing at right guard. A backup, he is an upgrade over the starting right guard last season, Everett McIver. It's a credit to the offensive line depth that he and Hutson are not starters. Kelvin Garmon is seeing his first action as a Dallas Cowboys because he was recovering from a broken leg at the time he was drafted in 1999. Now healthy, he has seen a great deal of playing time at left guard due to a Larry Allen hand injury. To his credit, Garmon has been the surprise of training camp with his play. The coaches are thrilled with his progress, discipline, and aggressiveness. Rounding out the reserves is Ben Fricke who will backup Mark Stepnoski. Fricke is a bulldog of a player who doesn't have the talent to be a star in college-- much less in the NFL. A fighter, I hope he saves his money!
Rookie Impact: None
Prediction: One offensive lineman is traded at some point in the year. Erik Williams false starts and penalties lead to a benching and Solomon Page eventually replaces him at some point in the season.
Rating And Reality Check: A+
The Cowboys have the best group of offensive linemen in the NFL. Period.
