Penalties

by Grady90 on Jun 27, 2009 10:48 AM CDT Comment 29 comments

So far, the Cowboys have removed key anti-chemistry players, appear to have upgraded their defense, reaffirmed their players in the running game, and upgraded their special teams. There is still one HUGE issue that has not really been addressed: penalties.

The Cowboys for a while now have had more penalties per season than the average football club (and fans) would like. What are the Cowboys doing to fix this? Personally, and I'm one of the few who thinks this it seems, I wish the Cowboys would dump Flozell Adams. If the Cowboys were to get rid of Flozell Adams it would drastically decrease the amount of flags the Cowboys get hit with per game.I realize he's a good player, but the Cowboys need to focus on severely limiting their penalties; Flozell Adams is a constant offender, and to me it's just not worth keeping him on the team.

What are we going to see this season? Are we going to see countless succesful plays canceled because some moron caused an illegal formation, or are we going to see a cleaner, more efficient Cowboys team? Looking around, this seems to be something that hasn't really been fixed yet.

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Penalties are definitely a problem

But I think that your solution would be an even bigger problem. There doesn’t seem to be anyone on this team capable of effectively manning the LT spot besides Flo. Maybe Romo just needs some stage acting lessons so he can project his voice better, not just at the line, but in the huddle. Flo is the biggest offender, but it seems like the Cowboys line is not on the same page with the snap count quite a bit.

And false starts really aren’t their biggest problem in my opinion. Yeah, they are tough and add 5 yards, but it’s more the penalties that either extend drives on D or nullify plays on O. At least with false starts the play is whistled dead and it doesn’t erase a good gain and kill your spirit and momentum.

by Baked Potato Soup on Jun 27, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate false starts

False starts aren’t their biggest problem I guess, but they still happen far too much for the team. If they can just keep the false starts out of the 3rd and 1 plays and other short gain ones, I’d be happy.

2009 Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

by Grady90 on Jun 27, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

I hate them, too. I think the Cowboys should hire some college or high school officials to attend every single practice and oversee every single drill. Even in the one on one drills or hitting the sled, or anything of that sort, if a guy commits a penalty, he should be whistled. If they learn to practice without those mistakes, maybe it will translate to better success come game time.

by Baked Potato Soup on Jun 27, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so annoying...

gets under my skin. flo is pretty bad at that and really comes down to doing something with him to work on that.

by fuji1232 on Jun 29, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least he usually gets his first one outta the way on the first drive.

"Grow where you are planted."

by Aaron Novinger on Jun 29, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

False starts are the biggest area of concern

I have to say that I think the stupid false start action at the line of scrimmage is an area that needs to be addressed. Why is it that no matter what momentum we have going, there is a false start which sets us back major yards? Can no one keep it together through the count Get it together O-line!! We would have tons more opportunities otherwise.

by Stine1120 on Jul 4, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you must be a Romo hater

because cutting Flo will get #9 killed real fast.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 27, 2009 5:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

or a QB hater

Won’t matter who Dallas has under center. His head will look like creamed corn by game 5.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jun 27, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This speaks to a point 5blings made earlier

Flo should be being replaced this year, this organization has had enough chances and time to draft and groom a good backup. The fact that they are faced with either cutting Flo (terrible choice) or putting up with his dozen or so brainfarts at crucial times is a huge black eye on the scouting department.

Flo will cost us at least one game this year, probably two because of his knack of committing false starts at the worst possible times.

by Billito on Jun 27, 2009 7:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I suspect that Leonard Davis is the true plan to replace Flo.

Then they can insert Holland into the other guard spot.

by Baked Potato Soup on Jun 27, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Davis is no LT

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 29, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Good left tackles are hard to find. Davis, at this stage in his career, is better as an interior lineman. He could move out in an emergency but I don’t believe he moves well enough in space to be the long term solution at that position. Unfortunately, I don’t think Flo’s long term replacement is currently on the roster.

Garrett needs to get a clue!

by BulletBob on Jun 29, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

I’m just saying that I think that is their plan based on the moves they have made, acquiring Holland, retaining Proctor, drafting Brewster, and bringing in Isdaner and Bright as UDFAs. Even Turkovich, the other UDFA lineman, is a G/T.

by Baked Potato Soup on Jun 29, 2009 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you nuts?

Has Flo ever cost us a game before?

Let me ask you this, do you feel comfortable with anyone but Flo at LT against the East this year? Flo owns Trent Cole. Osi/Tuck/Kiwanuka will murder Romo, if Flo can’t keep them at bay.

OK, he would be able to block any DE the pathetic Redskins have to throw our way. But that ain’t saying much considering Andre Carter led the team in sacks with 4.

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
-Winston Churchill

by HudBaby on Jun 27, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In answer to your question

Has Flo ever cost us a game before?

Who knows how many of the momentum killing penalites Flo has committed have cost us a game? I get that he is our best option but it is mind boggling to me that one of our highly paid veterans commits the majority of bone headed penalites at the worst possible times. If I had the time I would go back through the last three years and see how many times Flo single handedly turned a red zone visit into a field goal which could easily turn a W into a L.

by Billito on Jun 28, 2009 5:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let me be clear

I made a point of pursuing a LT either through the draft or free agency BEFORE something happened to Flo, whether it was an injury, a sharp decline in play or whatever. He’s on the wrong side of 30, has had some injuries and his play is definitely in decline.

I was chastising the front office for seeming to do nothing in that regard and thought that this might be the same thing as the backup QB thing from last year happening all over again in 2009.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jun 29, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

really good LTs don't grow on trees

It’s much easier to acquire a good back up qb than a starting quality LT

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 29, 2009 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In the end, you'll need a backup for the backup

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jul 3, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got your point

and that’s what I was saying is that we can’t just cut Flo but I am not comfortable with him at LT for the next few years as he seems to be on the decline and is a penalty machine.

by Billito on Jun 29, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Flo can stay healthy, ok

If not, he’s useless. I thought he was awful in the 2008 season.

2009 Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

by Grady90 on Jun 28, 2009 3:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He had a hurt wing...

most of 2008.

it was weird, I... I mean you probably didn't hear about it because I went under the name of Mike Honcho. But I just wanted you to know that. If you can hear me, if it got into your brain somehow. That I spread my buttcheeks as Mike Honcho.

by AirforceBat on Jun 30, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you can say that about any player

I have yet to see an injured player useful in a football game.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 30, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emmitt, Giants, Shoulder.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Jul 3, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Larry Allen, 49ers, Ankle.

All eyes on Free.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 5, 2009 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly, so...

Hopefully this isn’t the start of a trend. Here’s to Flo’s health!

But seriously, why do the Cowboys not have an adequate backup for him? If the guy is underperforming because of his injury, someone else should play.

2009 Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

by Grady90 on Jul 5, 2009 4:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ya, Flo is definitely the chief penalty getter and drive stopper! ( Sarcasm )

Getting rid of Flo will accually increase penalties!
While he gets caught false starting at times,presumably because he has some hearing ( or non-hearing issues ). I think the record will show that enough other people on Offence committed there fair share of penalties also; I would love to see how many times we were penalized for WRs turning up field to soon, ( I remember that one quite a bit) and how about the holding calls? Who leads that one? Lastly, ( on the offencive side) Can’t remember the name of the penalty right now ( shame be on this football fan ), but what about the one where the defensive player is engaged with a guy and another offencive guy hits him low ( crackback? Somehow, I’m thinking that isn’t it.).

Anyway,whoever would step in for Flo this year would, I’m betting, get called for far more early movement penalties because he is trying to get ahead of the great DEs that are in the conference and around the league and also a large number of holds to boot because when he doesn’t jump early he is getting beat, and this doesn’t even figure into the amount of times the guy does get beat and the rusher forces quick throws that result in in-completes at the very best, sacks, pick sixes and or injuries to the QB.

Now the defense, how many times did they seemly have a team third and long last year or even apparently have stopped a team just to commit some bonehead penalty, allowing the offence a shorter distance for the first or giving them a new set of down?

Fact is, everyone deserves there fair share of the blame; but I will agree with one thing, we need to replace Flo, but that guy has yet to show himself on the this team ( unless they have been hiding Free, some how I dought it ) and it will take a major trade in the draft next year to even get real candidate or a block buster FA acquisition with the price tag that comes with it.

by bad knees on Jun 28, 2009 5:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He's definitely the chief penalty getter

Even Madden acknowledged it in a game once last season. I remember him saying something like “Flozell’s a good player, but doggone it he just has too many penalties.”

Whether or not it’s a good idea, I’d think there would be a significant decrease of penalties if Flo were to be booted.

2009 Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

by Grady90 on Jun 28, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs