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Sunday, August 31, 1997

Potential of rookie class has Cowboys excited

By Jean-Jacques Taylor / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS -- In 1975, a collection of 12 rookies nicknamed "The Dirty Dozen," helped the Dallas Cowboys earn a spot in Super Bowl X.

More important, those rookies formed the nucleus that helped the Cowboys remain one of the NFL's elite teams for the next eight seasons.

The Cowboys hold similar hopes for their 1997 rookie class, which makes its NFL debut Sunday at noon at Pittsburgh.

The Cowboys kept each of their eight draft picks, three rookie free agents and first-year kicker Richie Cunningham, who has never kicked in a regular-season game.

Dallas needed an infusion of youth because the Cowboys will have 10 starters who are at least 30 years old, and four years of free agency has robbed the team of the depth that enabled it to win a record three Super Bowls in four years.

"We have two or three (rookies) that we think are going to be special players," said Larry Lacewell, director of college and pro scouting. "They might not be Hall of Fame players, but they're going to be good NFL players who are going to help us win games."

Several rookies will play key roles in determining the Cowboys' fate this season.

Dexter Coakley, a third-round pick, needed one scrimmage to earn the starting job at weakside linebacker.

The Cowboys knew the 5-9, 215-pounder could play pass defense, but he played the run strong enough to earn playing time on first and second down.

"He plays with intensity and focus, and he gets everybody excited," middle linebacker Fred Strickland said. "He's going to make some plays for us."

Tight end David LaFleur, the Cowboys' first first-round pick in four years, has impressed quarterback Troy Aikman with his hands and the coaching staff with his blocking.

At 6-7 and 280 pounds, LaFleur gives Aikman a big target on third downs, and he will give the Cowboys more options in their running game because of his blocking.

"LaFleur has a chance to be spectacular," said Lacewell, "but it's going to be subtle. When he blocks a linebacker, he's going to bury him, and he'll catch a seven-yard pass on third-and-eight and get the first down because his body is so long."

The jewel could be fourth-round pick Antonio Anderson.

He had first-round talent, but questions about his intensity level dropped him into the fourth round. He played well in training camp and earned a spot in the defensive-tackle rotation.

He could have the most impact against Pittsburgh, if the Cowboys have problems early containing 250-pound running back Jerome Bettis.

Michael Irvin's personal favorite is cornerback Kevin Mathis, who attended Gainesville High School and Texas A&M-Commerce.

Mathis intercepted three passes and scored two touchdowns in the pre-season.

"He's a young man who plays me hard in practice all day long and that's how all of our rookies are playing," Irvin said. "That's great for me and it makes for great practices.

"Our practices should be harder than the games. That's the way it used to be, and that's the way it needs to be."

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(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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