Wednesday, August 26, 1998

Barry Switzer overlooked key facts before making dire prediction

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

"Same players, same result."

The Dallas Cowboys couldn't keep Barry Switzer quiet when he was the coach. And it seems he won't be quiet now that he's gone.

Switzer has been telling anybody who will listen that the Cowboys won't be much better than they were last season when they went 6-10 and sent him packing.

Switzer reasons that the Cowboys made no major off-season additions. He wasn't trying to be malicious, just honest - in his usual politically incorrect way.

As was the case at times last year, Switzer has read the Cowboys wrong.

Troy Aikman and his mates are no longer among the NFL's elite, but Saturday's first-half performance against the Rams also proved that the Cowboys are not at the bottom of the barrel, either.

Going into the season, there are three elite teams in the NFC: the Packers, the 49ers and the Buccaneers. And there are three patsies: the Saints, Bears and Rams.

That puts the Cowboys in the middle of the pack, which fortunately for them is where most of the NFC East sits as well.

Switzer obviously didn't notice that running back Chris Warren, who played in Seattle last season, is a great improvement over Sherman Williams. And Switzer also didn't take the Cowboys' schedule into account.

Last season's fourth-place finish rewarded the Cowboys with the NFL's eighth-weakest schedule in 1998. Their opponents were a combined 119-131-6 last season. Only seven had records better than .500 and only five made the playoffs.

Missing from the schedule are the Packers and the 49ers, who were replaced by the Saints and the Bears.

The Cowboys are still looking for a pass rusher and they must find a way to create turnovers on defense. However, with an improved offensive line and supposedly better organization and stricter discipline at the top, why shouldn't the Cowboys at least compete for a playoff spot?

MOOSE BACK ON THE LOOSE

Fullback Daryl Johnston entered training camp as a question mark. He's heading into the regular season as an exclamation point.

The Cowboys coaches say Johnston, who has battled back from career-threatening neck surgery, has been the team's best offensive player in the preseason.

Johnston has the new offense down so cold that he often makes up for other players' mistakes in the blocking game, and some Cowboys believe he is blocking better than he did all of last season.

MOSS WATCH

The Cowboys passed up Minnesota receiver Randy Moss in the draft because they believed they needed a defensive end and because of questions about Moss' off-field problems.

The early results are staggering.

The Cowboys are still looking for a pass rusher, they are still working on the No. 2 receiver and they still had off-field problems with the Everett McIver-Michael Irvin incident. Meanwhile, NFL scouts say Moss could end up as an all-time great. He has toyed with NFL cornerbacks in the preseason with 10 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns.

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM

Don't be surprised if former Steelers quarterback Jim Miller gets a call from the Cowboys to compete with struggling Jason Garrett at No. 2 quarterback.

Miller, who was cut by the Lions, knows coach Chan Gailey's offense. And the Cowboys coaches have been quietly talking about him for a few weeks. Former Bills starter Todd Collins is also a possibility. ... Based on his play the past two weeks, Billy Davis probably has won the starting job at No. 2 receiver. By the way, the blond-haired Davis said he will change his hair color several times throughout the season. ... This week's game will be big for 1997 rookies wide receiver Macey Brooks and offensive lineman Steve Scifres, who have had rough training camps and might be on the verge of losing roster spots.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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