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Talk of Emmitt Smith's demise definitely premature

By Paul Domowitch

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - For most NFL running backs, a 1,200-yard rushing season would be cause for celebration. But Emmitt Smith isn't most NFL running backs.

There was great concern around Big D last year when the four-time league rushing titlist crossed the finish line with just 1,204 rushing yards. It was his lowest rushing total since his rookie season in 1990. His 3.7-yards-per-carry average was the lowest of his career.

An assortment of nagging injuries, including bone fragments in his right ankle that ultimately required surgery after the season, were primarily responsible for his drop in production. But many openly wondered if the punishment of seven NFL seasons and more than 2,300 professional carries had begun to take its toll on the 28-year-old Dallas running back.

"Last year, we didn't run the football as effectively as we have in the past," Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman said. "But Emmitt still had a year that, by most people's standards, was awfully good. It's just that he's raised the bar so high, he's often judged by his own criteria. And that can be tough to live up to year after year."

Judging by his early performance this season, talk of Smith's football demise apparently was premature. He has rushed for 201 yards in the Cowboys' first two games, including 132 last week in a 25-22 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The odds are pretty good that he'll add substantially to that total Monday night when he and his teammates go up against the Eagles. Smith has rushed for at least 90 yards in each of the Cowboys' last 11 meetings with the Birds.

"Emmitt's going to rush for 1,400 or 1,500 or 1,600 yards when all is said and done," Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said. "He's young. He's healthy. He's still a great player who's got a lot in front of him."

Smith might still have a lot of NFL mileage left on him. But the Cowboys' offensive struggles last season - they finished 24th in the league in total offense - made both Switzer and owner Jerry Jones realize they had to improve the passing game and become less dependent on Smith.

Their two major offseason acquisitions were aimed at doing just that. They used what little salary-cap space they had to sign big-play wide receiver Anthony Miller and spent their first-round draft pick on a Mack truck-sized 6-7, 280-pound tight end named David LaFleur, whom they hope will eventually fill the void left by the retirement of Jay Novacek.

In the Cowboys' surprisingly easy season-opening 37-7 win over Pittsburgh, Aikman passed for 295 yards and four touchdowns. It was only the third time in the quarterback's career he's thrown that many scoring passes in a game.

Aikman already has thrown 70 passes in the Cowboys' first two games, including 39 last week in the loss to Arizona. He's on a 560-pass pace at the moment, which would be nearly 100 more than his career high of 473.

"There's been a lot of discussion about us throwing the ball more," Aikman said. "All I can say is our (offensive) philosophy has not changed. And that is we want to be balanced. Last year, we were not as effective running the ball as we had been, and we certainly were not as effective throwing it.

"We made an effort in the offseason to go after some guys that would help us throw the ball more effectively this year. We brought in Anthony. We drafted LaFleur. We wanted to have the ability again to throw the football when we get into a bind and are having problems running it."

Last week against the Cardinals, the Cowboys ran the football fine. Smith rushed for 132 yards on 19 carries before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with bruised ribs. His backup, Sherman Williams, added 43 yards on eight carries. It was the passing game that struggled.

Miller felt a twinge in his hamstring on the second play of the game and took himself out. Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams put a blanket on Aikman's go-to receiver, Michael Irvin, holding him to four catches for 18 yards. Aikman completed just 21 of 39 passes and the Cowboys failed to score an offensive touchdown.

"The key to the game was Aeneas Williams's play on Michael Irvin," Switzer said. "He did a great job on Michael. That took something away from Troy. Because when Anthony went out, he relied on Michael to make some things happen."

Miller is listed as probable on the Cowboys' injury report. But Switzer still is concerned about his availability for Monday night's important NFC East battle against the Eagles.

"He's one of those thoroughbreds," the Cowboys coach said. "You know those track guys. They get a twinge in their hamstring. They're so finely tuned that they want to make sure they don't have a blowout. He knows his body better than anyone. Last week, he said he felt he'd blow it out if he tried to play. This week, we'll see."

Not having Miller wasn't the only problem with the Cowboys' passing game last week. The offensive line also had unexpected problems protecting Aikman. Blitzing often, the Cardinals sacked Aikman three times and had constant pressure on him. It was only the fifth time in the last four seasons Aikman has been sacked at least three times in a game.

"It was a problem," Cowboys left tackle Mark Tuinei said of Arizona's blitz. "There were times when guys weren't seeing the blitz correctly, and there were times we got just plain beat. I know I got beat physically a couple of times."

COWBOYS NOTES

The Cowboys are the most penalized team in the NFL after the first two weeks. They've been penalized 20 times to the tune of 189 yards. Last week against Arizona, they were flagged 12 times for 115 yards. That's their second-highest penalty total since Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989.

(c) 1997, Philadelphia Daily News.

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