Friday, December 25, 1998

Blitzkreig defenses hurting Dallas

By DENNE H. FREEMAN

AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- New Orleans started it three games ago and the Dallas Cowboys still haven't figured out how to stop it.

The NFL word for it is "blitz," as in "blitzkrieg," or a lightning assault, a World War II tactic favored by the Germans.

The Saints sent more defenders than the Cowboys could block and quarterback Troy Aikman could barely cock his arm before he was tackled in a 22-3 loss.

Kansas City also came with the blitz in a 20-17 victory the following Sunday. Last Sunday, Philadelphia effectively limited the Dallas offense with the blitz, forcing the Cowboys to use a fake field goal for their only touchdown in a division-clinching 13-9 victory. Dallas had a season-low 95 passing yards against the Eagles.

"Teams are going to keep getting after us with the blitz," said Dallas coach Chan Gailey. "We've got to burn 'em when they bring everybody. We haven't done it. We've got to find ways to do that. I've got to help our team do that."

Dallas is averaging only 11 points and 225 yards in the last three games. In a five-game November stretch, the Cowboys had been averaging 30 points and 390 yards per game.

"It's just a little thing here and there," Gailey said. "We were doing them six games ago."

Gailey said he wouldn't be surprised if Washington uses the blitz in the season finale Sunday night, which bears no outcome on the postseason. Dallas has clinched a playoff spot with a 9-6 record. Washington, winners of six of its last eight games, is playing for pride because of a seven-game losing streak to start the season.

"Washington isn't a big blitz team, but I expect them to use it," Gailey said. "If it comes it would be good for us so we could work on it."

Gailey said the Dallas offense has to get back on track for the playoffs in two weeks, when the Cowboys will host a wild-card team on either Jan. 2 or Jan. 3.

"All it takes is putting together two or three or four games and all of a sudden you've made it to the top," Gailey said. "It's not a 16-game deal anymore. Once you get to the playoffs all you've got to do is put together a string of four like we had in the middle of the season."

It hurt the Cowboys to lose a receiver like Ernie Mills, who knows the Gailey offense from his days at Pittsburgh. Mills suffered an internal injury against Seattle on Nov. 22 that knocked him out for the season.

Mills was a valuable "hot" receiver for Aikman when he got into trouble. Mills had caught 28 passes before his injury.

"We've got some work to do throwing the football," Gailey said.

The Cowboys also are trying to compensate for injuries to tight end David LaFleur, a key blocker, as well as several other linemen. Guard Everett McIver has missed most of the year, forcing rookie Flozell Adams to play out of position.

"It's still a new offense and we're trying to learn it," said wide receiver Michael Irvin. "But we have to learn it fast. Teams keep bring the kitchen sink. We have to make them pay."