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Monday, December 30, 1996

Capers says Panthers must avoid mistakes to beat Cowboys

By Charles Chandler / Knight-Ridder Newspapers (Dec. 30, 1996)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (KRT) - As Carolina Panthers coach Dom Capers studied tape Sunday afternoon in his Ericsson Stadium office, watching the Dallas Cowboys' 40-15 dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings one day earlier, his mental wheels already were turning as he tried to devise a plan to pull off what many would consider the upset of the season in the NFL.

Of course, Capers wasn't about to reveal his top secrets for the Panthers' NFC semifinal game next Sunday at 4 p.m. ET in Charlotte against the Cowboys, the defending Super Bowl champions who have won three of the past four league titles.

However, he made two key points that are undeniable:

The Panthers' offense must avoid the Vikings' self-destructive mistakes.

Minnesota had five turnovers, including an interception returned 29 yards for a touchdown by Dallas safety George Teague and a fumble at the goal line by running back Amp Lee just as he was about to score a touchdown.

"There's a lot to learn from that game from our standpoint," Capers said. "You can't go out and turn the ball over against the Cowboys or you'll have no chance. That's nothing we don't already know, but if you're playing a good football team like that and you turn the ball over, you might as well forget it."

Carolina's defense has to find a way to contain the Cowboys' Big Three stars: quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin.

Dallas' offense seemed almost dormant late in the regular season but awakened against the Vikings behind the lead trio. Smith had 116 yards rushing on 17 carries, including a 37-yard run for a touchdown in the second quarter. Irvin had eight receptions for 103 yards. And Aikman was the steady leader, completing 19 of 29 passes for 178 yards.

"As you watch that game, you keep writing three guys' numbers down all the time," Capers said. "That's what's been putting them in the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl. Those are the three guys and they're difference makers. They all touch the ball a lot."

Capers says they often conspire in unison to riddle opposing defenses.

"Emmitt is not only a threat running the ball, they also like to hit him with late checkdowns (short passes) out of the backfield," Capers said. "Aikman is so adept at the offense that even if you take Irvin away down the field, he just dumps the ball to Emmitt. Then you've got the problem of can you get Emmitt tackled in the open field."

Dallas' huge offensive line also presents a problem for Carolina's zone-blitzing defense. The Panthers led the NFL in sacks (60), but Dallas allowed the fewest (19).

One advantage for Carolina could be that the Cowboys will be facing a 3-4 defense for the first time this season. Capers figures Dallas will study not only Carolina game tapes, but also its Super Bowl game last year against Pittsburgh, which runs a defense very similar to the Panthers'.

Dallas' defense isn't as star-studded as its offense - except, of course, for glitzy cornerback Deion Sanders. But the defense has held the team together. The Cowboys finished third in the league in total defense and showed how opportunistic they can be against the Vikings.

Dallas likes to stack its defense with an eight- or nine-man front to try to take away the running game, which leaves cornerbacks Sanders and Kevin Smith to guard outside receivers man-to-man. The Panthers took advantage of a similar philosophy by San Francisco earlier this month when quarterback Kerry Collins burned the 49ers for 327 yards passing.

It will be difficult to duplicate that against Sanders and Smith, whom Capers said are perhaps the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.

"We're going to have to execute (offensively)," Capers said. "We're going to have to win some on the outside against them and we're going to have to block them up front. We're going to have to be patient and take what they give us."

Capers acknowledged that few people in the nation are giving the second-year Panthers a chance to beat Dallas despite their NFC West title and 8-0 record at Ericsson.

Capers said the Panthers, who will return to practice Monday after taking Sunday off, need to play an "error-free" game to pull off a surprise.

"The margin for error in these types of games becomes less and less at this time of year," he said. "You have to be very efficient."

Especially against a Cowboys team suddenly feeling a surge of momentum after routing the Vikings.

"They looked like the Cowboys I'm used to seeing," said Capers. "They have a tremendous amount of pride on that team. I've always felt they're dangerous. You don't win three out of four Super Bowls and not be a great team."

Capers made no attempt to dispute Sanders' claim that Dallas is now "the team to beat" in the playoffs.

"The way they played yesterday," Capers said, "I'd have a hard time disagreeing."

Even as he spoke, the wheels were turning.

(c) 1996, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).

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