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Wednesday, December 10, 1997

Big D stands for disaster

By DENNE H. FREEMAN / AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- A team without discipline was the 1997 version of the Dallas Cowboys.

Coach Barry Switzer set the stage with an arrest for trying to carry a pistol through an airport this summer.

The Cowboys opened the season with an impressive 37-7 win over Pittsburgh, then digressed into a mistake-ridden team. Monday night's 23-13 loss to Carolina was a perfect example of a team in a mental fog.

Dallas was one of the most penalized teams in the NFL and couldn't score touchdowns from inside the 20-yard.

Through 14 games of a 6-8 start, here's an update of where the Cowboys stand with games left against Cincinnati and the New York Giants:

Offensive line: Mark Tuinei went out with a leg injury and the oldest offensive line in the NFL was never the same. Aging Nate Newton was a shell of his former self. Erik Williams had a poor year at tackle and center Clay Shiver got pushed around. Eric Bjornson suffered a fractured ankle in the Carolina game and the other tight end, rookie David LaFleur, made typical rookie mistakes.

Wide receivers: Michael Irvin had too many drops and Anthony Miller had trouble getting open, particularly when he played competent cornerbacks. Stepfret Williams tried to become the Cowboys' third-down receiver but his drops overshadowed his occasional big plays.

Running back: Emmitt Smith was bugged by injuries again although he has managed a nearly 1,000-yard season. Substitute Sherman Williams played well against Carolina but was a fumbler most of the season. Smith played little in the vital game with the Panthers because of a shoulder injury and could miss the last two games of the season. Fullback Daryl Johnston was lost with a neck injury. Herschel Walker was a poor blocking substitute.

Quarterback: Troy Aikman had a poor year inside the 20-yard line. Aikman's three-interception day against Tennessee and weak performance against Carolina doomed the Cowboys. Back spasms, a sore thumb and a rib injury compounded his problems.

Placekicker: Richie Cunningham. Great job.

Defensive line: The sins of Leon Lett hurt the Cowboys. He missed 13 games because of an NFL-mandated drug suspension. Tony Tolbert, Tony Casillas, Chad Hennings and Shante Carver wore down during the regular season.

Linebacker: Rookie Dexter Coakley, Randall Godfrey and Fred Strickland were competent. Teams ran on them all year because the defensive line couldn't do its job.

Secondary: Cornerback Deion Sanders fractured a rib in the Tennessee game and rookie Kevin Mathis played against Carolina. Cornerback Kevin Smith had a bad year and was the target of most officials' penalty calls. Safeties Brock Marion and Darren Woodson played well although Woodson was hurting with a bum shoulder.

Punter: Toby Gowin tired in the second half of the season.

Coaching: Switzer's lack of personal discipline showed in his team. He and his team suffered from too many "mentals," as Switzer called them.

Owner: Jerry Jones will decide after the season what to do about Switzer. Bet the house he gives Switzer a $2 million goodbye check. Jones still gets an F as an owner for criticizing defensive coaches after the Green Bay game.

Two games to go and the Cowboys could finish an unthinkable 6-10.

Changes are coming.