Saturday, August 24, 1996

Cowboys concerned about lack of pre-season production

ORLANDO, Fla. - Sherman Williams has been timid and indecisive while running the football. The Cowboys' backup running back contends that is because the handoffs he has taken from quarterbacks outnumber the holes the Dallas offensive line has provided.

"There is nothing going on out there," he said. "I can't run the ball and open holes for myself at the same time."

Williams is positioned a considerable distance behind NFL rushing champion Emmitt Smith on the depth chart, which means nobody with the Cowboys wants him playing football with them. But he will probably play and could possibly start the regular-season opener as Smith recovers from the sprained left knee suffered last week.

That possibility makes Williams' performance as the starting tailback against the Houston Oilers in tonight's exhibition finale important. In fact, the contest has some crucial overtones for quarterback Troy Aikman and his confused offensive team.

Williams is hardly the only Cowboys player failing to compile yardage and inspire confidence this preseason. The futility has been so widespread that Coach Barry Switzer considers his offense desperate for an infusion of momentum that can propel the defending Super Bowl champions into the regular season.

"We need to play well, play with some consistency, convert some things," he said. "We would like to feel good about ourselves when we leave this game, regardless of the score. We haven't had that all year.

"We know we have a lot of missing parts. But, at the same time, it's still a good football team. I think the players need to feel good about themselves."

But the trademark methodical drives of the Ernie Zampese offense have vanished. AFC opponents have outscored a Cowboys team that has been a powerhouse in the dominant NFC by an embarrassing 83-16 margin the past three weeks.

Aikman's completion percentage has plunged 10 points below his career average without suspended Michael Irvin and injured Jay Novacek, each of whom will miss the opener with the Chicago Bears. Wide receivers Deion Sanders and Kevin Williams have produced the occasional big play, but not the drive-sustaining clutch third-down receptions.

The running lanes Smith once instinctively located have become a congested mess of tangled bodies. The Cowboys have averaged 2.3 yards per rush as Smith and Williams have often found themselves swarmed behind the line of scrimmage.

While running backs coach Joe Brodsky lashed Williams with criticism, the breakdowns seemed to be team-wide. The best power running team in the league in recent seasons, the diminished Cowboys had to pass to Smith on third-and-one last week against Denver.

The Cowboys made Williams their top draft pick last season to protect the team from collapse if Smith suffered a serious injury. That nearly happened last week when offensive lineman Erik Williams fell on Smith, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee for the third time since November.

The Cowboys remain optimistic Smith will play in the opener. But if he cannot play or, should the Cowboys limit his playing time as a precautionary measure, then Williams would take his place.
"I want to play a lot against Houston because I might have to play Monday night," he said.

He also wants to play a lot better against the Oilers. Williams has carried 17 times for 36 yards, an unimpressive 2.1-yard average that is less than half his rookie average of 4.3 yards. Smith averaged 4.5 yards per carry while gaining a team-record 1,773 yards and winning his fourth NFL rushing title.

But the Cowboys will complete their preseason schedule without once playing with their starting offensive line. Right tackle Erik Williams and center Ray Donaldson missed the first three games. Left tackle Mark Tuinei remains missing with a sprained knee.

"I proved last year I was capable of doing a good job," Williams said.

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