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Monday, April 21, 1997

Cowboys fill needs in draft

IRVING (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys, a veteran team in need of young reinforcements, think they got several Sunday after completing a 1997 draft class of nine players.

The Cowboys hope they've helped themselves at tight end, linebacker, wide receiver, added depth for both their offensive and defensive lines, and brought in a handful of players who can contribute on special teams.

"If you would have told me before the draft that we'd get a tight end, a weakside linebacker and a few of the other positions we had emphasis on, I'd have said we'd have a pretty good draft," coach Barry Switzer said.

After spending their first-round pick on 6-foot-7, 280-pound LSU tight end David LaFleur, and two of their top three selections on offense, the Cowboys used three of their final five picks in the last four rounds on defense.

With the first of three fourth-round selections, Dallas added to its depth along the defensive line by taking tackle Antonio Anderson, a 6-6, 309-pounder from Syracuse. Starting tackle Leon Lett will be suspended for the first 13 games of the regular season for violating the league's drug policy, making former backup Tony Casillas the starter beside Chad Hennings.

"We had a need at tackle," Switzer said. "Anderson has tremendous potential, as much upside as any player drafted in the fourth round."

Later in the fourth round, the Cowboys took 6-5, 200-pound wide receiver Macey Brooks from James Madison. Dallas would like a tall target to pair with veteran Michael Irvin. The Cowboys will also look at veteran free agents to fill that void.

Two picks later, the Cowboys drafted 5-11, 257-pound fullback Nicky Sualua of Ohio State. Sualua will back up veteran Daryl Johnston.

With the last two selections, the Cowboys looked to their nickel defense and special teams. Wyoming cornerback Lee Vaughn, a 5-11 184-pounder from Wyoming, went to Dallas in the sixth round. Omar Stoutmire, a 5-11 198-pound safety from Fresno State, was taken by the Cowboys in the seventh round.

On Saturday the Cowboys drafted Appalachian St. linebacker Dexter Coakley, Wyoming offensive lineman Steve Scifres and Oregon cornerback Kenny Wheaton with their three third-round selections.

At 5-10 and 215 pounds, Coakley would appear to be undersized for an NFL linebacker. But in the Cowboys' defense, the weakside linebacker plays more like a strong safety. The premium is on speed and the Cowboys clocked Coakley in 4.4 for the 40. Dallas has several openings at linebacker with the free-agent defections of Darrin Smith, Jim Schwantz and Godfrey Myles.

"Those are the kind of guys we've always looked for," scouting director Larry Lacewell said of Coakley. "In our scheme, that is a speed position and this guy has tremendous speed."

Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys investigated not only the 40-yard dash times and bench presses of prospective draftees. They also drafted with the character issue in mind following the series of off-the-field problems that have tarnished the franchise's reputation.

Recently hired consultant Calvin Hill was in the war room with front office personnel and Jones said Hill had input on some of the decisions.

"We did our homework on players," Jones said. "We made some decisions that were influenced by that issue. It wasn't the first time we've looked at the background of players were thinking about drafting, but we spent a considerable amount of time checking."