Tuesday, September 17, 1996

Notes: Little work for Herschel; Boniol at peace
By Jean-Jacques Taylor
The Dallas Morning News
(Sept. 17, 1996)


(KRT) -- The Cowboys signed Herschel Walker because of his versatility. He can play halfback, fullback or tight end in a pinch, and he can catch the ball.

But in the Cowboys' first three games, Walker has two catches for 24 yards and two carries for seven yards. Against Indianapolis on Sunday, he drew a 19-yard pass interference penalty that set up a Dallas touchdown.

"It's still early, and we're going to get the ball to him," coach Barry Switzer said. "And if the guy didn't push him out of bounds on Sunday, he would have scored a touchdown."
Big-play problems

When the Cowboys give up big plays - gains of 20 or more yards - they give up points.

Of the 40 points the Cowboys' defense has allowed this season, 26 have been the result of drives that contained big plays.

In their two losses, the Cowboys have allowed gains of 48, 47, 37, 33, 32, 26 and 20 yards, resulting in drives that culminated with four field goals and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys did not allow any big gains when they shut out the Giants.

"We have not been giving up big plays," Switzer said. "They the Colts go 48 yards for a touchdown on a tight end screen and it's frustrating, but you have to give them credit because they've got a good team."

Kicker Chris Boniol, who has missed three field goals this season, said he feels good about the way he has performed this season.

On Sunday, Boniol missed fourth-quarter attempts of 40 and 57 yards that hit the left upright and crossbar, respectively. Last season, Boniol made 27 of 28 field goals.

"I'm not upset at the way I've played," Boniol said. "I've kicked the ball decent overall, but when I'm anything less than perfect, I'm not going to be satisfied.

"I'm more bothered by missing the 40-yarder, because that's a very makable kick; the 57-yarder is not one you're supposed to make."

Pro Bowl defensive end Charles Haley spent Monday visiting Dr. Robert Watkins, the Los Angeles-based doctor who has twice operated on his back.

Haley took the results from the MRI he had last week so Watkins could examine them.

Haley, who has been bothered by persistent back pain, had surgery last December. He missed five games but rejoined the team in time to play in the Super Bowl.

Haley rarely practices with the team, and the coaching staff has started managing his snaps to save the wear-and-tear on his body. The Cowboys don't want him to play more than about 30 snaps or half a game in most cases.

(c) 1996, Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

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