Wednesday, November 25, 1998

Here's how to beat the Vikings

By Jeff Seidel

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The blueprint has been out in the open for several weeks, a plan on how to beat the Vikings.

It was created by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their 27-24 victory over the Vikings on Nov. 1. The Buccaneers ran the ball, controlled the clock and kept the Vikings' offense off the field with their power running game, alternating two running backs with different styles.

It's something the Dallas Cowboys will try to emulate on Thanksgiving Day in Texas Stadium.

"If I had to chose my ideal game, I think that would be it, to be able to pound the ball, control the clock and keep Minnesota's offense on the sideline," Dallas coach Chan Gailey said. "I think that would be ideal."

The Buccaneers pounded the ball against the Vikings, rushing for 246 yards. Mike Alstott, who was a battering ram in a former life, rushed for 128 yards. And the Buccaneers kept the Vikings off balance with Warrick Dunn, a quick, elusive back who gained 115 yards.

Strangely enough, the Cowboys have a similar, two-pronged attack with Emmitt Smith and Chris Warren.

Smith, who could find crack in a cement wall, has rushed for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns. He is listed as questionable with an ankle injury but is expected to play Thursday.

"Emmitt Smith doesn't need a hole," Vikings nose tackle Jerry Ball said. "Emmitt Smith hits creases. We were looking at film today. There was a guy in the whole, and he still got in it and out of it. It was a crease, it wasn't a hole. It's very important that we limit the creases and the holes at the same time."

Warren is a powerful runner, but he is more explosive than Alstott. He can catch the ball or run it out of the backfield. He is averaging 4.8 yards a carry and has scored four touchdowns. He has the Cowboys' longest run this season, a 49-yarder.

The Cowboys use Smith and Warren in their base offense.

Warren plays more when the Cowboys go into a one-back set with three or four wide receivers. He has caught 12 passes for 61 yards, including a touchdown.

"Tampa Bay was successful (against the Vikings)," Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman said. "They were able to have some success running the ball. They made some plays in the passing game. If you are able to do that and keep Minnesota's offense off the field, you have a chance."

But Vikings defensive line coach Andre Patterson believes what happened against the Buccaneers was more of a problem with tackling.

"If you look at the Tampa Bay game, part of our problem was that we didn't tackle very well," he said. "It wasn't that those guys were running through holes and not getting touched for seven or eight yards. Alstott was hit at the line of scrimmage and ran through some tackles. Dunn made some guys miss him at the line of scrimmage."

The Vikings are ranked 18th in the NFL against the run.

"The majority of the teams we've played try to stretch you with the run," Patterson said. "They try to get you to open up holes through seams. The Cowboys come at you. They try to give you a crease for Smith to slide through, and that's all he needs."

The Cowboys have a big, powerful offensive line, anchored on the left side with tackle Larry Allen and guard Nate Newton. Allen has been named to the Pro Bowl for two consecutive seasons and has a six-year contract worth $24 million.

"There is no question in my opinion that they have the most physical offensive line in the NFL," Patterson said. "Their offensive line not only tries to block you, they try to beat you up. They are a physical group. They try to punch you off the ball. They try to strike you. They are not a finesse group."

As defensive coordinator Foge Fazio said, "They have a nasty attitude about their running game - that's something you need."

The Cowboys have maintained consistency on their offensive line, even though they have been banged-up. Guard Everett McIver is out with a knee injury. Right tackle Erik Williams is questionable with a knee injury. Newton is probable with a quadriceps injury, and center Clay Shiver is probable with a toe injury.

"Everybody is banged-up at this point in the season," Vikings coach Dennis Green said.

The Cowboys get even more blocking from tight end David LaFleur (6 feet 7, 272 pounds), who has the size of an offensive lineman, and fullback Daryl Johnston (6-2, 242). LaFleur is probable with a pectoral muscle injury.

"David LaFleur and Daryl Johnston are playing fairly well and have given us consistency at those two positions, which are vital to the running game," Gailey said.

The running game sets up the play-action pass.

"I think it helps any quarterback being able to run the football," Aikman said. "Our ability to run the ball has helped us offensively as a whole. It has certainly helped us with the passing game. It has kept teams from strictly playing coverage, and they have to worry about the running game."

Aikman has thrown nine touchdown passes and three interceptions. He has a 99.6 quarterback rating, which is slightly higher than his career best for a season (99.0 in 1993).

Aikman has been efficient because he has time to pass. He has thrown just one interception in his past 127 passes, and he has been sacked just once in the past 14 quarters.

"Right now, our offensive line is playing very well," Aikman said. "We have some new faces up there. Even the guys we had last year are playing very well. Emmitt is running hard. We are mixing it up."

It's one thing to get contact on Smith, it's another to bring him down.

"You watch film and say, 'Man, how did he make that guy miss him,' " Patterson said. "He's not like Barry Sanders where he jukes and shakes. It's something you can't see with the naked eye. All of a sudden, the guy will just slide off his leg. He has an ability to make people miss, as well as run through tackles."

(c) 1998, Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.).

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