Tuesday, August 25, 1998

Gailey's plays become a hit with Cowboys

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Dallas Cowboys coach Chan Gailey is such an unpredictable play caller that he "fooled" himself.

Gailey insisted during training camp that he would not use running backs Emmitt Smith and Chris Warren in the backfield at the same time. However, early in Saturday's 22-14 preseason loss to the St. Louis Rams, Smith and Warren were together in the backfield.

"Did I say that?" Gailey sheepishly responded. "(Are) you sure I said never?"

What seems certain, as the Cowboys prepare both for Thursday's preseason finale against the Jaguars and the coming season, is that nothing will be beyond the realm of possibility with Gailey at the controls of the offense in 1998.

In addition to using two Pro Bowl running backs in the same alignment, Gailey called a reverse, a fake reverse, a screen to fullback Daryl Johnston, a hitch pass to receiver Michael Irvin, a bootleg pass, four-wide-receiver sets, five-wide-receiver sets and a two-tight-end alignment.

Gailey, hired by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to succeed Barry Switzer largely because of his promise of offensive creativity, versatility and unpredictability, said he's installed about 85 percent of his new offense.

He said the team will use only about 90 percent of his offense in 1998.

"We've got about five percent more to go," Gailey said. "We probably won't get any more than that in this season."

Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman said he's beginning to get a grasp of Gailey's play-calling style and likes what he's seen.

"What we've shown is what we're going to do," Aikman said. "I really like the way he sets up a defense and his aggressiveness as a play caller. And I'm looking forward to going through the regular season (with Gailey calling the plays)."

Cowboys receiver Ernie Mills, familiar with Gailey's ways from their days in Pittsburgh, called it a taste of things to come.

"That's what you should expect," Mills said. "The main thing we are going to do is run the ball, but nothing is out of the norm of what we do and how we do it. But we don't do anything we don't work on."

Cowboys players, who initially struggled to learn Gailey's complex system, were pleased with their success against the Rams. Receiver Billy Davis said Saturday's results - which saw the first-team offense roll to a 14-0 lead and outgain the Rams 258 yards to 108 in the first half - were better indicators than earlier preseason games against the Raiders, Seahawks and Patriots because the Cowboys used a game plan for the first time.

"It was nice go out there and be effective against somebody,' avis said. "We have the ability to expose some defenses in this offense. It felt good."

Smith, who has said the Cowboys' old offense had become predictable and stale, said the use of him and Warren in the backfield together is one of the things that makes the offense exciting.

"Our offense is so versatile and interchangeable," Smith said. "We could both be back there and do a lot of things. We can do some runs for both us and pass the ball. He is a good blocker. I'm a good blocker. He can catch. I can catch. He runs the ball well, and I run the ball well. We can do whatever to make things work."

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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