Monday, September 21, 1998

Spotlight on Garrett as Cowboys face Giants

By Kevin Lyons

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- "New York, New York" hasn't exactly been the top of the heap for the Cowboys lately. In lousy performances unfit for Broadway or the Bass Hall, the Cowboys have lost three consecutive games to the Giants.

And those came with Troy Aikman in the leading role.

Now the spotlight is on understudy Jason Garrett.

The Princeton graduate has studied his lines all week. He is ready to make his first start in nearly four years against the defending NFC East champion Giants and the glossy backdrop of Monday Night Football.

The plot thickens with Aikman sidelined a month because of a broken collarbone, for this is the beginning of a four-week odyssey that could define the Cowboys' season.

"I can't get caught up in the pressure of the moment," said Garrett, who has thrown just 91 passes in his six-year Cowboys career. "I've got to go out and play like I've prepared. I know the guys are depending on me. But I'm depending on them, too."

Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and a veteran offensive line are prepared to give Garrett offensive support. Deion Sanders, Darren Woodson, and a hobbling Leon Lett must force turnovers to help Garrett's cause.

But Garrett's play will tell the tale tonight.

To rattle Garrett's confidence, the Giants are expected to blitz from everywhere but the Holland Tunnel.

"They would have had to stay up late at nights trying to create more (pressure) than they already do," Cowboys coach Chan Gailey said of the Giants, who lead the NFC with 13 sacks, four each by defensive ends Michael Strahan and Chad Bratzke.

Gailey contends that he will not alter the offensive game plan. Practice this past week did not reveal Garrett lining up under a guard, or handing off to the tight end.

Expect to see Garrett throw a ton of short passes to his running backs and tight ends against the Giants tonight, with an occasional deep pass to Michael Irvin or Billy Davis.

Yet it is Smith who must play a big role to completely take the pressure off Garrett. In a 20-6 loss here on Nov. 24, 1996, Smith's career hit bottom when he carried the ball 11 times for 18 yards and was benched for the first time as a pro for performance reasons. But the four-time rushing champion has rebounded lately. He has run with renewed quickness and power, and his 217 yards are fourth in the NFC.

Offensive success for the Cowboys will not matter if the Broncos show up again tonight. Defensive coordinator Dave Campo worked all week figuring ways to get ends Kavika Pittman and Greg Ellis to the quarterback, which would lead to more interception chances for Sanders and cornerback Kevin Smith. Team trainer Jim Maurer worked all week tending the bumps and bruises of tackles Leon Lett and Chad Hennings, who must clog up the middle.

But the Giants have struggled on offensive this year. They are 27th in rushing average (2.9) and last in third-down conversions (11.5 percent). Running back Tikki Barber (69 yards rushing) and quarterback Danny Kanell (5.69 yards per pass play) do not pose the same kind of threat as Terrell Davis and John Elway.

"We've got to play well now," Gailey said. "We can't sit around and hold our breaths for four weeks. That's not the way it works."

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(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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