Player Profile: Emmitt Smith (1994)
From the Cowboys*96 Media Guide
(July, 1996)
1994: Smith had one of the league's best scoring seasons
in 1994, accumulating an NFL high 22 touchdowns and tying for
second in scoring (132 points), and along the way he became the
first non-kicker to lead Dallas in scoring since Bob Hayes and
Dan Reeves tied for the team lead in 1967.
His 22 total touchdowns, 21 rushing touchdowns and 132 points
were all Dallas single-season club-records at the time, and his
22 total touchdowns tied the fourth highest single-season mark
in league history. He didn't slack off in the rushing department,
grinding out the third-highest rushing total in the league at
1,484 yards on a league-high 368 carries.
The team felt comfortable giving the ball to Smith because, for
the year, he did not lose a fumble in the 449 times he touched
the football on carries and catches. Smith also finished third
in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,825, accomplishing
all these feats despite struggling with hamstring injuries that
kept him out of all or part of five games during the season.
Smith opened the season with a bang at Pittsburgh (9/4), recording
a season-high 171 yards rushing and one touchdown on 31 carries
against a Steelers' defense that would finish second in the NFL
in total defense in 1994. In just his 65th career game, Smith
passed the 6,000 yard mark for his career with 143 yards vs.
Detroit (9/19).
It was the fastest a Dallas runner had ever reached that mark
(Dorsett in 73 games was the previous mark). Smith also added
a season-high seven receptions against Detroit to lead the team.
In back-to-back games at Washington (10/2) and against Arizona
(10/9), Smith notched two first-half rushing touchdowns, despite
pulling a hamstring in the first half against the Redskins that
limited him to nine carries and 22 yards against the Cardinals.
Smith moved past Don Perkins (6,217 yards) and into second place
on the Cowboys all-time rushing list with 106 yards against Philadelphia
(10/16) - his fifth straight 100-yard game against the Eagles
and a club record consecutive 100-yard game against the Eagles
and a club record for consecutive 100-yard games vs. one opponent.
When the Cowboys traveled to Cincinnati (10/30), Smith had a
nine game touchdown streak and seven game rushing touchdown streak
stopped when he was held out of the end zone, despite rushing
for 92 yards. Always a workhorse, Smith established a club-record
with 35 carries vs. the N.Y. Giants (11/7), while scoring two
touchdowns and picking up 163 yards. The next week at San Francisco
(11/13), Smith moved into second on the club's all-time carry
list passing the 1,500 career carry mark in his 72nd career game.
Smith moved past the 1,000 yard mark for the fourth consecutive
season with 85 yards and two touchdowns vs. Washington (11/20),
and four days later on Thanksgiving Day against Green Bay (11/24).
Smith amassed 208 totals yard (113-rushing, 95-receiving) on
38 carries and catches while scoring twice. His 95 yards receiving
were a season-high and included a seasonlong 68-yard catch. When
Smith reached the end zone twice at Philadelphia (12/4), it gave
him 19 touchdowns for the season, breaking the single-season
club-record.
The following week against Cleveland (12/10), Smith became the
first back to top the 100-yard rushing barrier against the Browns
in 1994 when he picked up 112 yards and a touchdown-moving him
past the 7,000 yard rushing mark for his career. He also added
his first receiving score of the year, marking the sixth consecutive
week he had posted two scores.
Smith picked up 74 yards and his 22nd touchdown of the season
at New Orleans (12/19) before pulling his left hamstring late
in the third quarter, Smith missed the only start of his career
due to injury in the season finale at the N.Y. Giants (12/24),
but he returned to action in the Cowboys playoff win over Green
Bay (1/8/95), picking up 44 yards on seven first quarter carries
(6.3 avg.) before re-aggravating his left hamstring late in the
first quarter.
Nursing that sore hamstring, Smith picked up 74 yards and two
tuchdowns on 20 carries at San Francisco (1/15/95) in the NFC
Championship Game before pulling his right hamstring in the fourth
quarter. An All-Pro for the third straight year, that injury
kept Smith from playing in his fifth-consecutive Pro Bowl, despite
being selected.
Emmitt's Seasons: 1995 ...
1993 ... 1992
... 1991 ... 1990
Emmitt in College & Game Starts
Emmitt's Personal Data
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