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Tuesday, August 19, 1997

Cowboys thrown off by absence of Miller

By Jean-Jacques Taylor

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys signed Anthony Miller 12 weeks ago to provide quarterback Troy Aikman with a quality receiver to complement Michael Irvin.

But the Cowboys open the regular season against Pittsburgh in less than two weeks and Aikman has had virtually no practice time with the five-time Pro Bowl receiver.

Miller, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in June, practiced once in the Cowboys' four-week training camp. He sustained a bone bruise that day when he hyperextended the same knee.

Miller, who has not practiced since or played in any of the Cowboys' pre-season games, is listed as day-to-day. He is not expected to play in Friday's pre-season finale against Tennessee at Texas Stadium.

"If he comes back after the Tennessee game," Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said, "and has a week of practice, then he'll start."

Miller's absence concerns the Cowboys because they use a precision passing game, where one running a pass route 9 yards instead of 10 can wreck the play.

"We have no feel for each other. I don't have any timing with him," Aikman said. "We need time together.

"I'm not going to play much this week and I don't know if he's going to play at all, so we're not going to get much game experience. That's the biggest disappointment for us offensively."

Miller said he didn't think the lack of practice time would greatly affect his rapport with Aikman.

"The only problem I'm going to have with Troy is on the deep balls," he said. "It won't affect me that much on other routes."

That, however, is the main reason the Cowboys signed Miller. He is supposed to give them the deep threat they have lacked since Alvin Harper signed a free-agent contract with Tampa Bay three years ago. Miller is the speed receiver the Cowboys have never had.

Last year, Deion Sanders and Kevin Williams produced only four big plays - receptions of 25 yards or more - from the flanker position. Miller had seven with Denver last season and 31 in the past three seasons. In that time, the Cowboys have used Sanders, Williams and Harper, with the trio combining for 27 big plays.

"We know he can do it," receivers coach Hubbard Alexander said, "but you still want to see him do it."

Trainer Jim Maurer said Miller's inability to practice has little to do with the surgery and more with the bone bruise. Miller said the knee still hurts when he runs.

"It has been disappointing, but I can't control it," he said. "It has been frustrating, and anybody in the same situation would be frustrated."

While Miller has been out, third-year receiver Billy Davis has made the most of an opportunity to play. He leads the Cowboys with 22 catches for 344 yards and two touchdowns. He has had two 100-yard games and caught eight passes for 148 yards against St. Louis last Friday.

Davis has moved ahead of second-year receiver Stepfret Williams, who strained a hamstring three weeks ago and returned to practice Sunday.

Davis and Williams, who is expected to play Friday, are battling for playing time as the third receiver.

For now, Davis has the edge. More important, he has Aikman's confidence.

"I feel very good about Billy Davis," Aikman said. "I've got confidence that if something happens to Anthony, Billy can be the second guy for us and make plays."

But he'd rather be throwing to Miller.

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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