Saturday, July 25, 1998

Karate chop to help pass rush

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) - The Dallas Cowboys have brought out an ancient oriental weapon to try to help their meek pass rush.

They have brought in a martial arts instructor who has a black belt in karate to help them find a way to neutralize the hands of grabby offensive linemen.

Defensive tackle Chad Hennings likes it a lot.

"We're so much farther ahead in training camp then we've ever been and one of the reasons is our consultant, Joe Kim," Hennings said. "He shows us different techniques on how to fight off hands. We needed something to combat the way offensive linemen get away with holding. "

Hennings said there was some skepticism at first although martial arts knowledge had helped former Cowboys like Randy White and Jim Jeffcoat. It was defensive line coach Jim Bates who gave an OK to the idea.

"Hands are the key to stopping a pass rush," Hennings said. "If you can get rid of the hands then you can rush the passer."

"I try to speak to players in football terms," Kim said. "If they can learn the proper techniques it should help them keep hands off."

Coach Chan Gailey said the martial arts consultant could help.

"I was a little skeptical at first, but I've seen what he has been teaching and I like it," Gailey said.

Hennings said there are several reasons he expects the Dallas defense to be solid this year. A lack of a pass rush led to only seven interceptions last year, lowest in the NFL.

"We've got Leon Lett back for the full season and that's going to make a tremendous difference," Hennings said. "Leon is a load and will help us both stopping the run and rushing the passer."

Lett missed most of last year because of an NFL-mandated drug suspension.

Hennings said an improved offense this year also will help the defense.

"We were on the field a lot last year and I think this offense is going to keep us off the field," Hennings said. "That really means a lot when the offense keeps the ball."

There is some worry about the Cowboys two green defensive ends, rookie Greg Ellis and Kavika Pittman.

"The ends need a lot of work to show progress," Hennings said. "But we have a long preseason to work on all of that."

Hennings said the new coaching staff under Chan Gailey is doing a good job of instilling discipline.

"I've had to run one penalty lap and I don't want to run another," he said. "That's a good deterrent to mental mistakes for sure."

Hennings, who came out of the Air Force as a pilot during the Gulf War, took one of his days off to visit nearby Shepperd Air Force Base.

"That brought back a lot of memories," he said. "I remember how stressful flight training was."

Hennings flew during the war but was never in combat.

Asked if he might like to be a commercial pilot again some day, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Hennings grinned.

"I was almost too big for the Air Force," he said. "I'm not sure that would work. Maybe some day I might be interested."

For now, Hennings has some karate to learn.