Thursday, August 20, 1998

For Cowboys' offense, it's awfully late

By Randy Galloway

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - From all corners of the Valley Ranch locker room, the same concerns could be heard Sunday from a multitude of voices.

"It's time. ... it's time. ... it's time." That was the echo.

NFL clocks normally aren't ticking in mid-August, particularly at the Cowboys' compound, where for years the prevailing pompous attitude was, "We turn it on when we're ready to turn it on."

And once-upon-a-dynasty, they could.

But then came the '96 season, which unfortunately, was followed by the '97 season. And that handy turn-on switch was never located. Bad play in August exhibitions signaled an NFL disaster about to happen.

And if what has been on display thus far this month is any barometer, a bad team in '97 is about to become worse. Is it too late to apply for membership in the Big 12 South?

Obviously then, it is time. Time to stop being embarrassed over being inept the last few weeks. And there was no locker-room denial yesterday. Fact-facing was prevalent, mainly because that Mexico City mess was still a stinging memory.

Which sets up something different for the Cowboys' venture into St. Louis on Saturday night. Even in August, here's a game that will have some high-level intensity attached to it, at least for Dallas.

"Darn right, there's got to be concern about not putting the ball in the end zone, and about how we're playing," offensive tackle Larry Allen said. "Putting something together as a unit, that's very important to us right now."

Allen, of course, is one of the few remaining individual Cowboys who carries no question mark. He's young, healthy and one of the best at his profession in the NFL. Young, healthy and proven is a rare trifecta at today's Valley Ranch.

Even with Allen, however, the Dallas offensive line is lowly regarded in NFL circles. And even with the teams' other glaring questions, if the Cowboys unravel this season, look for the dam to first burst in front of Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith.

In January, in the Cowboys' positional grading-out process following 6-10, the finger of failure was pointed mostly at the offensive line. It graded the lowest of any area, even defensive line, running back and quarterback. And the offensive line, trying to adjust to Chan Gailey's new offense, has thus far severely flunked August.

But after first-quarter cameo appearances in three exhibition games, the starting units will have at least a first half of duty on Saturday night. And it's not like three quarters, or even four, isn't needed. Forget injury worries. Try scoring a couple of touchdowns.

Jerry Jones admits the organization's top screw-up of 1997 came in the offensive line - trying to milk one more season from Mark Tuinei's knees; trusting Nate Newton to be fit; pushing a lightweight prospect like Clay Shiver into a starter's role; keeping George Hegamin and John Flannery as backups.

But Jones, Gailey, line coach Hudson Houck - they all expect this to be a much-better group. Shiver has added 20 pounds and endured a season of hard knocks. Newton lost about 800 pounds. Everett McIver was signed as a free-agent guard. Allen is Allen, and while Erik Williams will never be as good as he once was (despite the annual training camp claim that Williams is again all-world), he's a competent right tackle.

As Jones said in Wichita Falls, "We thought adding McIver was all we needed. We could have spent more money (on upgrading the offensive line) but we didn't think it was necessary."

And then there was the first quarter in Mexico City, when Troy Aikman found himself on his butt five times in seven pass attempts.

In that game, McIver looked like a guard who shouldn't have missed 10 days of practice, two exhibition games and a scrimmage. He needs work. But McIver also didn't need a 2-inch gash on his neck either.

If McIver is any good, why did The Jimster let him walk in Miami? Nate is already limping and it's only August. Are Flozell Adams and Tony Hutson a better pair of guards? How iffy is Shiver?

Mid-August is a tad late to be asking such things. But based on the early returns, here's one more thing to ask. How long do Aikman and Emmitt survive?

It's time for answers/results. See you in St. Louis.

(Randy Galloway is a sports columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Write to him at: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Worth, Texas, 76101.)

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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