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Friday, December 20, 1996

Inside opponent's 20-yard line, Cowboys are running on empty

By Jean-Jacques Taylor / The Dallas Morning News (Dec. 20, 1996)

DALLAS (KRT) - There is a simple explanation for the Cowboys' struggles inside their opponents' 20-yard line.

They have not consistently run the ball - and it's not because offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese hasn't tried new plays.

The Cowboys began the season with three goal-line running plays that had succeeded the past few seasons. When those plays stopped working this season, Zampese added to his playbook at least five new ones from five different formations.

The results remain shoddy.

Entering Sunday's season finale against Washington, Dallas is tied for 10th in the NFC with a 42.6 touchdown percentage inside their opponents' 20. In 54 possessions there, the Cowboys have converted 23 field goals and 23 touchdowns.

Zampese said the Cowboys' goal is to score touchdowns 50 percent of the time when they move inside the 20. Kansas City leads the NFL at 64.4 percent.

"I think everybody is frustrated because we're not taking the ball into the end zone," Zampese said. "The reason we're not scoring is we're not running the ball as well as we have in the past.

"When we were real good the last couple of years, we ran the ball well when we got close to the end zone."

The Cowboys' rushing average and number of touchdowns inside the opponents' 20 has declined each of the past three years.

In the past seven weeks, the Cowboys had 20 possessions inside the opponents' 20, but only seven touchdowns. Kicker Chris Boniol has nine field goals.

Boniol's 31 field goals is one reason Dallas is averaging only 18.8 points per game. In the playoffs, the Cowboys know they're going to need touchdowns not field goals.

Dallas' lack of success inside the 20 has provided some tangible evidence players are beginning to press.

Last week against New England, quarterback Troy Aikman forced a pass into coverage which was intercepted in the end zone. Aikman said he threw the pass because he was tired of throwing the ball away.

A week earlier against Arizona, Emmitt Smith was stopped short of the goal line. When he tried to stick the ball over the line, it was knocked out of his hands and ruled a fumble.

"Maybe we're trying too hard and not letting things happen naturally," Smith said. "We just have to let our talent flow instead of rushing things."

Smith averages 2.2 yards per carry inside the 20, but he has been stopped 10 times for losses.

"Emmitt is bouncing outside in a hurry because he has gotten stuffed inside and he's losing his confidence," running backs coach Joe Brodsky said.

The offensive struggles have also led to the coaching staff studying more videotape in search of answers.

"You spend more time looking for a formation or an angle in blocking scheme - anything that will give you an edge," offensive line coach Hudson Houck said.

Turnovers also have hurt the Cowboys' offense. Dallas had two turnovers inside the Arizona 10, and one at the New England seven.

Brodsky said the Cowboys' offense successfully moves the ball against the NFL's top-ranked defense in practice.

It can happen in games, he said, if the players relax.

"I think," Brodsky said, "there's some panic between the players and ... within the staff to make something happen."

(c) 1996, The Dallas Morning News.

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