Thursday, October 17, 1996

Smith Constantly Tested As Cowboys Other Cornerback
By the Associated Press
(Denne H. Freeman, 1996)

It wasn't bad enough that Kevin (Pup) Smith was coming off Achilles' heal surgery. Quarterbacks were going to see how good he could backpedal, anyway. It's the law of the NFL jungle.

But with Sanders on the field, opponents are trying to find the least dangerous route to completing passes against the Dallas secondary, which through six games was the best in the league at defending passes.

"I'm glad quarterbacks are coming my way," said Smith, the Cowboys' first-round 1992 draft pick. "It had been a boring career out there."

Smith used to be the cornerback quarterbacks avoided. Larry Brown, the MVP of the last Super Bowl, was thought to be a slower and more tempting target. As Pittsburgh attempted avoiding Sanders during the Super Bowl, Brown had two interceptions, earning him a fat $1 million annual contract with the Oakland Raiders. Ironically, the Cowboys might not have kept Brown anyway because of the salary cap.

Smith was hurt in the season opener last year after three solid, near-Pro Bowl seasons, but has made remarkable progress for what was thought to be the most damaging injury a cornerback could sustain.

"Some days I feel good and some others not so good," said Smith, who has a team-high three interceptions. "I haven't faced any real cold weather yet."

Smith got a game ball for his play that included an interception in the Cowboys' 17-3 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He was constantly tested by Kent Graham going to Rob Moore. Smith shut him down with just three catches for 45 yards.

"Pup was just tremendous," said Dallas coach Barry Switzer. "He's going to get a lot of games like that this year where the other team is testing him. And he really came through."
Sanders said Smith has been playing at Pro Bowl level.

"Whoever is over there on that opposite corner knows he is going to get tested," Sanders said. "I get my rest over on the other side. But I know Kevin can handle the action. He should be in the Pro Bowl. He is a great cornerback. He can handle the attention and the pressure. I think we're the best two cornerbacks in the league."

Smith had complained in the past about not seeing much action in games.

"I'll get most of the passes now," Smith said. "Maybe I'll lead the league in interceptions if they (the quarterbacks) keep coming at me. Right now the quarterbacks think I'm the cornerback they can beat."

Smith is part of a Dallas defense that is rated No. 1 in the NFL. The Cowboys are first against the pass, allowing 179.2 yards per game.

"We're having a lot of fun with this defense," Smith said. "Our scheme has confused a lot of teams. We play zone, we blitz, we drop linemen back into the passing routes. And we play tough one-on-one on the corners."

The defense is well on its way to being the best the Cowboys have had in the 1990s. And the sure-to-be tested Smith is making a run at claiming he's the second-best cornerback in the NFL. Behind Sanders, of course.

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