Tuesday, December 31, 1996

By Gerry Fraley / The Dallas Morning News (Dec. 31, 1996)

IRVING, Texas (KRT) - Barry Switzer on Monday proclaimed the Cowboys "the team to beat" in the NFL playoffs. Trying to make the words more than an idle threat, the Cowboys prepare an offensive surprise:

Deion Sanders returning to a more involved role.

Switzer acknowledged the Cowboys plan on having the Pro Bowl cornerback more active on offense for Sunday's NFC playoff game at Carolina. The Cowboys wanted to use Sanders more on offense in last Saturday's 40-15 playoff victory against Minnesota, but a big early lead negated that plan.

Sanders' playing time on offense decreased during the regular season. The lack of an effective second wide receiver to complement Michael Irvin made the Cowboys re-think Sanders' role with the offense.

"I still think we're the team to beat," said Switzer, the Cowboys' head coach. "The way we played (in Saturday's 40-15 victory against Minnesota), we made a statement. But I still worry about the tight ends and the wide receivers as far as the overall game plan."

Tight end Eric Bjornson, still limited by ankle problems, had three catches for only 16 yards against Minnesota but also had two misplays. In the Cowboys' last six games, Bjornson has only six receptions for 37 yards.

The second-receiver spot has been equally unproductive.

Kevin Williams, who made his season in the playoffs last year, has only 16 catches in the last seven games. Quarterback Troy Aikman threw only one pass to Williams against Minnesota, and it was incomplete.

Against Minnesota, Aikman focused on his one trusted receiver - Irvin. Of Aikman's 29 throws, 15 went to Irvin, who had eight receptions for 103 yards.

"If teams let us do that, we'd throw all 29 of them (to Irvin)," offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese said. "But teams aren't going to let you do that. It'll be good to spread the ball around."

Or at least make defenses think about that. Sanders' value to the offense may be as a decoy as the Cowboys search for ways to free Irvin from double-coverage.

Against Minnesota, Irvin ran crossing patterns underneath because the Vikings would not put their safeties in that area. Sending Sanders on deep routes could pull a safety from Irvin.

Or it could do nothing. Sanders has not been as much of a deep-ball threat as expected. Of his 36 receptions, only four have gone for 20 or more yards.

In a sport where performance produces opportunity, Sanders has had increasingly few chances on offense. He had more than 30 offensive plays in each of the first 10 games. He has only 41 offensive plays - five against Minnesota - in the last seven games.

Owner-general manager Jerry Jones stressed he is confident in the coaching staff's ability to use Sanders on offense. Jones said there is reason to use Sanders more often on offense.

"First, he's one of the most exciting players with the ball in the game," Jones said. "Secondly, if we're having trouble getting the ball to Michael, having Deion in the offense would help take the pressure off him and all our receivers."

The Cowboys also expect to use Sanders for punt returns. He has only one return (for four yards) this season. Adding this duty for Sanders would be consistent with the Cowboys' post-season pattern last season.

After returning only one punt in the regular season, Sanders had four punt returns for 38 yards in the post-season. He had two receptions in the regular season and three catches for 95 yards in the post-season.

"There are certain times of the year when the big guys just turn it on," Sanders said.

It is time for more than words.

(c) 1996, The Dallas Morning News.

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