Monday, July 20, 1998

Can David LaFleur flourish in new offense?

By DENNE H. FREEMAN

Associated Press

WICHITA FALLS - Tight end David LaFleur was the forgotten man in the Dallas Cowboys offense last year.

He is just hoping that in new coach Chan Gailey's wide-open offense, there will be some plays designed for him.

"I'm very optimistic about this season," said LaFleur, a first round draft pick two years ago out of Louisiana State University. "Last year was a learning experience for me. Now, I'll be in an offense a lot like the one we had in college. I think they'll get the ball to me particularly if linebackers pick me up man-to-man."

Gailey, the former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator known for his inventiveness, said he is counting heavily on the 6-foot-6, 260-pound LaFleur to contribute this year.

"David's development is very important to us this season," Gailey said. "We look for him to make a big jump in production from last year and if he does, it will really help our offense."

LaFleur mostly blocked for the Cowboys last year and did that well. In one game, he had five pancake blocks.

But Dallas fans expected more because of the contributions of Jay Novacek in seasons past, when he was the most prolific pass-catching tight end in the NFL.

LaFleur showed his promise against Cincinnati in a late-season game when he caught his first NFL touchdown passes on tosses of 13 and 12 yards from Troy Aikman.

But for the season, LaFleur had only 18 catches for 122 yards and the two TD passes against the Bengals.

"I think I showed in that game what I'm capable of doing," LaFleur said. "It's a matter of working on the same page with Troy and having him get confidence in me."

Aikman says that will be no problem.

"I think David is going to work well in this new scheme," Aikman said. "He is tall and makes a great target. I think we'll be going to him much more this season."

The Cowboys recently signed Eric Bjornson to a two-year contract. He was the primary receiving threat at tight end until he fractured a fibula last year. But Bjornson will be playing more as a wide receiver and setting up in the backfield in four wide receiver sets this season.

"I'm comfortable with the way the offense is going," Bjornson said. "I just want to help in any way I can. It doesn't matter who starts."

Bjornson will still receive a lot of the passes, LaFleur believes.

"Eric can catch the ball and will be in there a lot, particularly on obvious passing downs," LaFleur said. "But I also think my name will be called in the huddle a little more. Eric and I work well together. We want the same thing, a winning season. The last part of last season wasn't a lot of fun."