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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
DENVER - AUGUST 29: Offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey #53, Max Starks #78, Flozell Adams #71 and Chris Kemoeatu #68 of the Pittsburgh Steelers watch from the sideline as they prepare for action against the Denver Broncos during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 29, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 34-17. (Getty Images)
As much as Flozell Adams making the challenging switch from left tackle to right tackle has become the talk of the Steelers' locker room, so has Adams becoming one of the guys.
The Steelers' offensive line is a team within a team. It's a close-knit group that emboldened quiet left guard Chris Kemoeatu to welcome outsiders into his world. Put Kemoeatu in front of a microphone or camera these days, and he becomes a walking sound bite.
Willie Colon travels with the team and sits at a locker on game days even though he's out for the year with an Achilles injury. Colon's injury is why the Steelers signed Adams out of desperation. Adams' sense of wanting to belong explains his willingness to re-learn a position he hasn't played since college.
Little by little, Adams has loosened up around his new teammates and bought into the Steeler way.
"The Cowboys are past," Adams said. "I'm a Steeler, and I look forward to doing what I can to help the organization win."
Max Starks appreciates what Adams is doing. Starks and Adams are both left tackles, but Adams wanted to play for the Steelers. To do that, he had to learn a new position.
"He was an unknown (at right tackle). He had that question mark next to him," Starks said. "(But) there's a reason why he's a Pro Bowl guy. He's really embraced us. Our offensive line is different from most around the league. We're a very close unit. We're like brothers. He came in and we embraced him. He bought into the plan, and now he sees the payoff."
Adams played his first 12 seasons in Dallas, and then he was an ex-Cowboy. At 35, Adams' supposed flaw, the main flaw, actually, was age. As in too old and too slow.
What else could it be? Strength? Never a question for a man who still pushes defensive linemen around on running plays like he's shoving air.
Adams played left tackle for a dozen years; you have to pass block at a high level to play that position that long.
What attracted Adams to the Steelers was an opportunity to continue to start for a winner. What attracted the Steelers to Adams is that he's a devastating run blocker.
Despite his slow gait to the line of scrimmage, and despite a physique that isn't what it used to be, Adams holds his own in the running game.
In Sunday's 38-13 win at Tampa Bay, Adams and the right side of the line opened holes big enough to drive a sports utility vehicle through. Led by Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers rushed for a season-high 201 yards. Mendenhall carried 19 times for 143 yards and a touchdown. On four runs behind right tackle, Mendenhall gained 63 yards. Mendenhall has topped 100 yards twice in the first three games after recording three 100-yard games last season.
As a pass blocker, Adams also graded high against Tampa Bay. Quarterback Charlie Batch, making his first start in three years, tossed three touchdown passes. The offensive line kept Batch upright and didn't allow a sack.
And now a player who seemed like a huge gamble when he arrived is becoming a mainstay.
"That's one of the things you go through," Adams said. "Just coming in, getting to know each other and learn particular calls. It's still the beginning of the season. Even though we're out of training camp and we're three games in, it's still a learning experience for all of us. You can have the best game of your life and still have some learning to do. The sky's the limit for us.''
Cloudy skies have turned sunny with Adams in the lineup.
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