Tuesday, July 28, 1998

Gailey teaches old dogs new tricks

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) - It was a bizarre play call not seen on a Dallas practice field since Tom Landry installed the throwback pass to quarterback Danny White.

Wide receiver Michael Irvin lined up in the backfield out of the shotgun formation with quarterback Troy Aikman.

As the defense rushed Aikman, he lobbed the ball to Irvin on a screen pass. The play went for five yards or so but it showed the offensive imagination of new coach Chan Gailey.

Gailey is trying everything he can think of to defeat double coverage on Irvin this season.

"I love it," Irvin said. "They've got me in the slot, in motion, in the backfield and all around the town."

With the Cowboys four-wide receiver set, it will be dangerous for other teams to consistently double the Cowboys' top receiver. Even with double coverage Irvin caught 75 passes for 1,180 yards last year.

"This year could really be good," Irvin said. "Teams are going to bust coverages trying to keep up with me. And we have three other receivers who can hurt them. Getting Ernie Mills was big and we have other receivers who are looking good."

Aikman predicts that this could be a bonanza season for Irvin, who is going into his 12th season in 11th place among all-time receivers.

"Michael has really taken to this new offense," Aikman said. "He's so excited about it he might even be able to prolong his career another couple of years because of what he is able to do in it."

Gailey agrees.

"Michael Irvin has had a great camp and he's the hardest worker we have out there," Gailey said. "It could be a big season for Michael."

Irvin admitted he was concerned when Barry Switzer was asked to leave, but those fears have been eased by the changes implemented by Gailey.

"I was a little worried when Chan first came because I wasn't sure where he was coming from," Irvin said. "But I'm comfortable with my assignments now and I can see what this offense can do. Chan has quite an imagination for offensive plays."

The Cowboys open the preseason on July 31 against Seattle in Texas Stadium and Irvin said "most of the veterans will be playing more than usual. We've got to get the offense down. We'll have plenty of work. We've got five exhibition games and two of those Jerry Jones scrimmages."

The Cowboys are working hard to erase the memories of last season's 6-10 disaster that cost Switzer his job. Dallas was among the worst teams in the NFL last year in scoring inside the 20-yard line.

"You have to be ignorant not to realize we didn't get the job done last year," Irvin said. "Chan is here to address all those problems and so far he has done just fine.

"We made constant mistakes in the Red Zone," Irvin said. "It was mistake after mistake after mistake. We have to make sure we don't beat ourselves again this year when we get down there."