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Monday, April 21, 1997

Second-day picks please Cowboys: Key needs on defense addressed

By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR

The Dallas Morning News

IRVING - Larry Lacewell has directed the Cowboys' past three drafts, which have produced one impact starter. The Cowboys' director of college and pro scouting expects more from the Class of 1997.

On Sunday, the Cowboys spent the final four rounds of the 62nd annual NFL draft filling needs and looking for special teams players.

Lacewell, coach Barry Switzer and owner Jerry Jones said they were pleased with Sunday's picks, which resulted in Syracuse defensive tackle Antonio Anderson (fourth round); James Madison receiver Macey Brooks (fourth round); Ohio State fullback Nicky Sualua (fourth round); Wyoming cornerback Lee Vaughn (sixth round); and Fresno State safety Omar Stoutmire (seventh round).

"I think this is the best draft we've had in the last four years, and it starts with David LaFleur," said Lacewell, referring to the Cowboys' first-round pick. "Every guy we picked has a tremendous upside and a chance to be a good player for us."

The two most intriguing draft picks are Anderson and Sualua.

Many experts had Anderson ranked among the top defensive linemen in the draft because of his 6-6, 309-pound frame. He has good speed and agility for a player of his size, but Lacewell said Anderson didn't always play with intensity.

He had 45 tackles, four sacks and 27 quarterback pressures for Syracuse last season.

In an era where top draft picks receive multi-million dollar signing bonuses and mistakes can wreck a salary cap, no one took a chance on Anderson.

But the defensive line is the foundation of the Cowboys' defense, and with Anderson available in the fourth round they simply couldn't resist him.

The Cowboys chose him with the fourth-round pick obtained in a trade with Detroit on Saturday.

"Getting Anderson was a real plus," Switzer said. "He has a tremendous upside - maybe more than any other player selected in the fourth round.

"If you told me on Friday that we could get a tight end, a weakside linebacker and a defensive lineman that can all play, then I would have said that we had had a good draft."

Sualua was academically ineligible last season and didn't play for Ohio State last season. In the two previous seasons, however, he was considered one of the nation's top blocking fullbacks.

He is not a runner or a receiver. His forte is planting linebackers as a lead blocker in the I-formation.

"It's difficult to find a player that can play that position in our system because we require him to be a blocker 50 times a game," Switzer said. "Ernie Zampese said he's the best college blocker he's seen in a long time and I agree with him."

Lacewell said the Cowboys now have a true backup for fullback Daryl Johnston for the first time in several seasons.

The Cowboys drafted Brooks in their continuing quest to find young receivers.

Brooks set a school record with 25 touchdown receptions, and at 6-4, 220 the Cowboys like his size. They also like his 40-inch vertical jump.

"We like the height and the jumping ability," Switzer said. "He reminds me of the Alvin Harpers of the world. He made a lot of big catches at James Madison, but they didn't use a lot of his skills."