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Friday, August 29, 1997

Can Cowboys have peaceful, successful season?

By DENNE H. FREEMAN / AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- In one of those dramatic, stretch-the-truth television advertisements by a shoe company, Troy Aikman fades back and launches a ball into the barrel of a tank gun.

Why not? Aikman is one of the most accurate passers in the NFL.

So why did he have such a bad year in 1996? Because he couldn't find anybody open. Every opening looked the size of a gun barrel.

"We lost Michael Irvin for five games, Kelvin Martin and Kevin Williams were hobbled by injuries, Jay Novacek was gone, Eric Bjornson was limping on two sprained ankles, and Deion (Sanders) never got into the flow," Aikman said. "Our offense was an embarrassment and I was horrible."

Aikman was pressured into throwing passes he would never normally throw. He had 12 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

Even without a passing game, and injured running back Emmitt Smith loping along at two-thirds speed in the NFL's 24th-ranked offense, the Cowboys managed to win their fifth consecutive NFC East title.

A gritty defense kept the Cowboys going after a halting 1-3 start with Irvin serving an NFL suspension for drug possession. Dallas made it into the second round of the playoffs before Carolina administered the final blow.

That was last year. This season Aikman is bubbling with confidence about his receiving corps, calling it "maybe the best we've had since I've been here."

Five-time Pro Bowler Anthony Miller, formerly of the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers, signed with the Cowboys. He gave them a brief scare by not bouncing back quickly from knee surgery in June, but displayed his blazing speed in the last preseason game.

Irvin had his best training camp, as did Bjornson, who was drafted three years ago as the eventual replacement to Novacek. The Cowboys also spent first-round draft pick money on David LaFleur, a tight end out of LSU who can catch and block.

Young Billy Davis, who had 23 catches in the preseason, has blossomed as the third receiver.

"We couldn't throw the ball last year when teams stopped our running game," Aikman said. "Unlike last year, I think we'll be able to throw the ball without any problems. Emmitt is healthy again and if teams decide to load up against him this time, they'll have to pay the price."

The offensive line also is healthy again, save for guard Nate Newton's tendon problems. The only question mark is center Clay Shiver, who is replacing Ray Donaldson.

"I'm excited about our offense this year," Aikman said. "We couldn't get anything generated last year. This year I believe we will."

Dallas lost 42 per cent of its point total when placekicker Chris Boniol defected to the Philadelphia Eagles. Remember, he was the one who kicked an NFL-record seven field goals to beat Green Bay.

Richie Cunningham, who has been inconsistent in the preseason, replaces Boniol. Rookie punter Toby Gowin replaces John Jett.

Defensively, the Cowboys might not be as stingy as last season's third-ranked NFL team which allowed only 20 touchdowns, second fewest in the league, only one behind Super Bowl champion Green Bay.

In fact, fullback Daryl Johnston puts it this way: "The defense carried us last year. This season we're going to have to return the favor, particularly early in the season when the defense is trying to get things together."

Leon Lett, one of the NFL's top-rated tackles, is suspended for the first 13 games. The Cowboys hope that Syracuse rookie Antonio Anderson can add depth to the starting unit of Chad Hennings and Tony Casillas.

Safety George Teague and linebacker Darrin Smith hit the free agent road. Brock Marion takes over Teague's spot and speedy rookie Dexter Coakley of Appalachian State will start at weak side linebacker.

Cornerback Sanders hasn't been available for any preseason games and will be thrown into the opener at Pittsburgh battling back problems. Wendell Davis is being prepared to play for him.

"We have to be ready to replace Deion in case Superman's cape is in the laundry," coach Barry Switzer said. "We can't always depend on Superman jumping out of the phone booth."

Despite all the off-field distractions, including Switzer arrested for carrying a gun in an airport, Newton being accused of rape in a proceeding that's before a grand jury, and trashing of their training camp dormitories, the Cowboys appear poised to make another run at the Super Bowl.

"An attitude of confidence exists at Valley Ranch," Switzer said. "There's that swagger of a team that has confidence in itself. I feel better about this team than any since I've been here."