Thursday, July 23, 1998

Camp Chan cleans up former coach's dust

By Randy Galloway

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - A former Jerry Jones employee, who until January carried the title of Cowboys' head coach, gave his opinion the other night on the current state of his old team.

Speaking on a national sports talk show, the dearly-departed-one said any chance for improvement from his 6-10 disaster last season was remote.

No impact players were added, he noted, and the key players on an aging team are a year older.

Score one for the clueless. No, actually, score two. He's right on both counts. And many astute observers of the NFL, nationwide, are saying the same thing.

There is, of course, a better and more detailed story of how the Cowboys have gathered here in Wichita Falls this summer, trying to recover from four years of neglect. Of course, the former head coach was assuming no blame this week for his role in that mess.

Plus, there was the expected immediate disagreement Wednesday from Jones, who was asked to comment on what his old pal had said about Jones' current team.

"Barry is wrong ... flat wrong," said Jones, not in anger, but matter-of-factly. "Barry doesn't have this team read right, not at all."

Too bad Jones didn't pick up on that same point like two or three seasons ago, but ... .

There is a cheap line being used often this week in training camp that says, Yes, the Cowboys have had one massive upgrade since the bottomless depths of 6-10. That would be in head coach.

Whatever, the Chan Gailey hire has created the most positive publicity for Jones since ... well, ever.

Not even the first Super Bowl win of the '90s did for Jones what the Gailey hire has done. The media and fan honeymoon ends, however, in about six weeks. Then all that matters for Gailey will be how the Cowboys play, and what's the record.

But first things first came when Jones ended up with a head coach, who in a matter of five months on the job has rallied the players and the organization. And in a bonus, the fans and the media also treat that coach with ultimate respect.

"The biggest reason why it's working with Chan is this guy knows what he's doing," said Jones. "Anyone who is around Chan, be it players, media or whomever, picks up on that after awhile. That creates the respect we've seen, in addition to the fact that he's a first-class kind of person."

When the real games start in the first week of September, the other yardstick kicks in - how many games do the Cowboys win under Gailey? There are enough holes in this team for someone, like the former head coach, to suggest a 6-10 repeat is possible. But Jones hasn't publicly discussed how he sees the 1998 W-L numbers stacking up, although Wednesday he did hint at the subject.

"I don't think there's anyone who won't agree that 6-and-10 should never have happened last season," said Jones. "Now here we are, a team with much more energy, and certainly a fresh mental approach. We will also be better off in the offensive line and at running back. I like our plan of cutting back on Emmitt's carries.

"Just a re-energized Troy Aikman is worth a whole lot. And having Leon Lett for a full off-season, a full training camp and a full season - how much does that mean?"

"I've got no number in mind. Nine wins? Does that get you into the playoffs? Ten? The goal is to make the playoffs, and then see what happens?"

That is far removed from "anything less than the Super Bowl is unacceptable," a Jones statement of three summers ago. But those were different times with a much different talent level.

One week into Gailey's first camp, the on-the-field activity has provided few clues that this team can improve on 6-10. It's too early for that. But what the players and assistant coaches do talk about - repeatedly - is the almost obsessive attention Gailey pays to practice-field detail. There are also meetings galore and Rule No. 1 is be on time - no exceptions - and be attentive - no exceptions.

"For Chan, it doesn't matter if you're a Pro Bowler or a rookie, rules are rules," said one player. "Discipline around here is like night and day from the past."

Obviously, discipline was going to happen under Gailey. Other improvements, however, are strictly a matter of opinion, at least for the time being. Come September, reality will far outweigh opinion.

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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