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Tuesday, August 19, 1997

Two rookies impress Cowboys coaches

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Youth is being served in the Dallas Cowboys secondary.

Omar Stoutmire, almost an afterthought seventh-round draft pick out of Fresno State, beat out veteran Roger Harper for a backup spot at strong safety.

Stoutmire costs only $138,000 while veteran Harper was scheduled to count some $490,000 toward the salary cap.

Stoutmire, like Harper last year, will be counted on to give the Cowboys some big plays out of the nickel package. The 224th pick in the draft last April will be starting alongside Brock Marion in the Cowboys pass defense package against Pittsburgh on Aug. 31.

"Omar is an active player," said defensive coordinator Dave Campo. "He can cover and he can hit. We like him better now than when we drafted him and we thought then he might be able to be a player."

Stoutmire, who had 87 tackles his senior year for the Bulldogs, also is expected to be an excellent special teams player.

"I'll play anywhere they line me up," Stoutmire said. "I was hoping I would get a chance."

A combination of Stoutmire's good play, the salary cap situation, Harper's poor training camp and the possibility that he may have visited one of owner Jerry Jones' forbidden list of nightspots contributed to Harper's release.

Stoutmire "is a tough, physical player," coach Barry Switzer said. "We think Roger might have reached the top of his game but we don't know how far this kid can go. He was better than a seventh-round draft pick."

Another rookie defensive back, free agent Kevin Mathis of Texas A&M-Commerce, also has the Dallas coaches intrigued.

He was toasted for four touchdown passes in Friday night's 34-31 win over St. Louis but Mathis also returned an interception for a touchdown and made other big plays.

"This kid was all over the field," Switzer said. "He's fast and reminds you a lot of Darrell Green of Washington. He is a playmaker. He's a little undersized but we do like his speed."

Mathis, who played high school football at Gainesville, has run the 40-yard dash in 4.19 seconds.

Said 5-9, 172-pounder: "I'm trying to catch the eye of the coach. One minute I'm hanging my head. The next minute I've got my head up. "

Like Stoutmire, Mathis has been a terror on special teams. He had punt returns of 19 and 31 yards against the Rams. Stoutmire blocked a punt and Mathis returned it for a touchdown in the season preseason opener against New England.

"Special teams is big for me," Mathis said. "If I can keep contributing on special teams I think I have a chance to make the team."

The final cut comes in a week. Mathis will know then if he has joined Stoutmire on the Cowboys final roster.