Emmitt Smith's performance hid Cowboys' poor passing game

By Richard Justice / The Dallas Morning News (Dec. 3, 1996)

IRVING, Texas (KRT) - An extended rest worked so well for Emmitt Smith last week that he's trying it again. As the Cowboys returned to practice on Monday, Smith remained in the training room resting and getting treatment on his sore right ankle.

Smith didn't practice last week, then rushed for a season-high 155 yards in a 21-10 victory over the Washington Redskins. Smith also got the ball a season-high 29 times, scored a season-high three touchdowns and averaged a workmanlike 5.3 yards per carry.

"Obviously, we'd rather have him practice," Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said. "But this is an unusual week. We've got an extra day of practice and Emmitt used it to rest the ankle."

Smith ran the ball so well against the Redskins that the Cowboys barely noticed that their passing offense was almost nonexistent. Quarterback Troy Aikman threw for just 63 yards - his fewest in a game he has started and finished since 1990.

The passing game may also get a boost if tight end Eric Bjornson is closer to full speed. He played against the Redskins despite two sprained ankles that limited his usefulness.

Having had a three-day weekend, Bjornson also missed practice on Monday, but he has improved enough that offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese is hopeful of having him practice at least once this week.

Without Bjornson, the Cowboys were almost out of options. The Redskins double-teamed Michael Irvin, who caught one pass for five yards, and without a pass-catching tight end, the passing offense was almost dead.

Coaches still hope that newly signed Johnny Mitchell will make a contribution before the season is over. However, his practice time has been so limited that it's unlikely Zampese - or Aikman - will gain much confidence in him for at least another game or two.

"We've got to make the plays when they're there," Zampese said. "We didn't throw the ball that much. We were running well and stayed with it. Our defense kept us in it. Obviously, we're not pleased with the way we threw the ball. We missed on a couple of plays that would have made it a big day."

That passing offense would have looked better if the Cowboys hadn't missed on a couple of plays. On the first play of the second quarter, Aikman completed a beauty of a 29-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Martin.

Martin made a leaping catch at the goal line for the score, but the play was called back when guard Larry Allen was whistled for an illegal block. In the third quarter, Kevin Williams got loose down the sideline but was unable to hold Aikman's throws.

On a day of few opportunities, those blown chances hurt.

Still, there was Smith. "He ran like he was on a mission," Zampese said.

After being benched for the fourth quarter against the Giants, he broke loose like the four-time rushing champion he is.

"I was just doing my job," Smith said. "I did what I was supposed to do. I just hit the running lanes like I've been trying to do all year."

Smith said he accepts the fact that Sherman Williams is going to substitute for him for some stretches during games. Williams got 13 carries for 46 yards against the Redskins, and no matter what those carries produced, they were times that Smith wasn't getting hit.

"When you have a backup who can do the things Sherman can do, I don't have to go out there and try to close the game like I've been doing in the past," Smith said. "We have a lot a confidence Sherman can get the job done."

(c) 1996, The Dallas Morning News.

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