A mountain of questions stand in the 'Boys way

Sporting News, The, Sept 1, 1997 by T.J. Simers

I thought about inviting Jerry Jones and Co. to my house to talk about the Cowboys this season, but would my insurance cover that?

I'm used to trash-talking -- I've been married for 25 years next week -- and I suppose house-trashing, too -- I've been married for 25 years next week -- but maybe it would be better to analyze Dallas' prospects for success from afar.

Presently, we have the Packers talking about being the undefeated 1972 Dolphins all over again: "Oh, it's possible. It's definitely possible,' says defensive lineman Reggie White. "I'm extremely excited because we've got the potential to be better than we were last year. I guess it will be up to the team to do it."

The 49ers begin the season with a healthy Steve Young, a hyped-up running game and one of the best defenses in the league -- so long as no one takes aim at its cornerbacks.

Everybody else in the league has Chris Chandler at quarterback or resides in the AFC.

So it appears we still have the Big Three -- if Dallas cooperates.

"I sense some urgency with this team, guys wanting to put last year behind us as much as possible," says Troy Aikman, the Cowboys' trigger man. "I don't know how good we're going to be this year, but I think we have given ourselves the best chance possible for early success.

If we can maintain this level of concentration throughout the season and remain focused, then I think wet have a good year."

A good year in Dallas, of course, is a victory in the Super Bowl. It has happened three times in the past five years, and if team management can keep the authorities from hassling their players with indictments, why not again?

Well, to win again, the Cowboys have a mountain to climb:

* They acquired free-agent wide receiver Anthony Miller, who failed to impress John Elway in Denver, and then spent the entire offseason and training camp waiting for him to recover from knee surgery.

"We have no feel for each other," Aikman says, expressing obvious concern. "I don't have any timing with him. We need time together and we're not going to get much time together before the season starts. That's been the biggest disappointment for us offensively."

A year ago, Deion Sanders and Kevin Williams, playing opposite Michael Irvin, produced only four plays of 25 yard or more. Miller had 31 such plays in three less-than-memorable-years in Denver.

The only problem I'm going to have with Troy is on the deep balls," Miller says. "It won't affect me that much on other routes."

The only reason the Cowboys hired Miller was to catch the deep ball, of course, and so at some point maybe that will be explained to him. MRI reports on his knee support his claim of constant pain in the form of a bone bruise. Club officials, however, deem that as good news because it does not reflect structural damage.

But that leaves Billy Davis probably operating opposite Irvin, although Aikman has made it obvious that he is very high on Stepfret Williams, who is coming back from a training-camp hamstring injury.

* Running back Emmitt Smith remained productive last year, but he was not impressive, and the team is concerned about its running game. So concerned that it planned on playing Smith in the final preseason game -- something Smith says he can't remember doing before.

Has Smith taken too many hits? Or, more than likely, does the problem rest with his offensive line, which is no longer as dominating?

Tackle Mark Tuinei is coming off knee surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament and missed the early part of training camp.

Guard Nate Newton, who is expected to be the subject of Dallas County grand jury hearings next week on rape allegations, has been sidelined with a sore heel. The injury, suffered on August 11, has shown little improvement.

Newton's backup, George Hegamin, is out five to nine weeks with a sprained knee, so center John Flannery has moved to guard temporarily.

"I'm concerned," coach Barry Switzer says of Newton. "I'm sure he plans on suiting up and we plan on playing him, but you don't know how long he can play."

* Cornerback Deion Sanders has found religion and has complained of a bulging disk. The two are not related, but the Cowboys are praying Sanders is just trying to draw further attention to himself rather than really encountering a serious injury.

Sanders has been given permission by the Reds to play football on weekends, but given his present health and lack of football conditioning, this looks like a disaster in the making.

* The Cowboys beat the Packers every year because they have the secondary to take away the passing game. In the past however, Dallas could pressure the quarterback and stop the other team's running game. It might not be able to do either this year.

The Cowboys' front seven will intimidate no one and will open the season against the kind of offense -- Pittsburgh's -- that should give it the biggest problem. The Steelers feature a strong offensive line and a powerful running game.

* Since free agency began in 1993, the Cowboys have lost 14 starters and 32 players in all, thereby stripping the team of depth. The Packers and 49ers do not appear as thin as the Cowboys, which puts even more pressure on the triumvirate of Aikman Smith and Irvin.