AUSTIN, Texas (KRT) - The positive inclination of every coach is to believe
that, given enough time with a prospect, he can teach a canary to bray or
a mule to warble. For Cowboys defensive coordinator Dave Campo, the approaching
task may be as imposing.
Campo must prove that his unit hasn't been siphoned to a dangerously low
level by the theory of diminishing returns. Actually, it's less theory than
fact that his defense already is diminished less than one week into training
camp.
One loss is permanent for 1996. The impending, yearlong suspension of defensive
end Shante Carver registered to most as an exchange of empty uniforms -
the one he wore for two seasons and the other the NFL called in for alcohol-related
indiscretions. The earth didn't move. Neither did the Richter scale when
it equated Carver's exit to the impact of a fallen acorn.
Not so with Campo, who felt he was near teaching Carver how to hum. Or at
least to fall down and create a stack so a runner would be delayed stepping
around him. The truth is, Campo was a minority of one. He thought Carver
could play some.
The general observer will dismiss Carver as of no-account on or off the
field. But Campo faces the reality of how the lineman's absence influences
the overall scheme. In that context, the former No. 1 draft choice has created
more ripples since he left last Saturday than while he was a team member.
No matter what anyone thought of Carver's ability, which wasn't much, he
ranked as the Cowboys' third best defensive end. Here the complications
begin in terms of immediate depth and renew the question of how long the
Cowboys can continue to defy years of defensive erosion, mostly through
free agent defection.
To illustrate, name the defensive starters from the 1992 Super Bowl who
still hold their positions less than four years later. It's a short list:
cornerback Kevin Smith, ends Charles Haley and Tony Tolbert. Smith's repaired
Achilles tendon, Haley's chronic back pain and both of Tolbert's re-stitched
knees are yet unproven under renewed stress.
Some of the '92 starters have been replaced by superior talent. Darren Woodson
is a better strong safety than James Washington, Deion Sanders several cuts
above right corner Larry Brown, Leon Lett a stronger tackle force than Russell
Maryland and so on.
Campo whisked through the projected '96 defensive lineup and pronounced
it top-grade. He added an automatic asterisk on the guarantee that starters
get hurt because they're always colliding with other people:
"We'll play good defense with those guys. But it comes down to what's
behind them. That's when you lose it."
Carver is no longer behind Haley, who no longer is able to play full time
because of miseries in his spine. Coach Barry Switzer originally foresaw
Haley as a situation pass-rusher while Carver played early run downs.
"Charles will play more than that. He'll play as many plays he feels
comfortable," Campo said Monday. "That may be 20-25 plays a game."
Would Campo be deliriously happy to see Haley on the field that often throughout
the season? He nodded a vigorous assent. But since the average game contained
60-65 defensive plays, who plays the other 35-40 once designed for Carver?
The candidates are third-year free agent Hurvin McCormack who's swung between
tackle and end without notice; Darren Benson, whom coaches talked out of
taking early retirement last spring at age 21; and No. 1 draftee Kavita
Pittman, whose leap from McNeese State is testing his high school high jump
title.
If McCormack goes to end, that leaves the uninspired and out-of-shape Benson
as the only tackle reserve behind Lett and Chad Hennings.
"Benson has a lot to show before we think about him being a number-of-plays
player," Campo said. "Our front four isn't as strong as it's been.
That's my biggest concern. But then, a lot of teams don't have four."
His worry gave impetus to pursuit of former Cowboys tackle Tony Casillas,
who's yet to pass a physical in Dallas after experiencing back pains. Then
there's the mandatory, full-time presence of Deion Sanders at wide receiver
to replace the soon-suspended Michael Irvin. And should Sanders become nicked
or exhausted from two-way play, whether Alundis Brice can play right corner
for Sanders.
Anyway, the NFL always provides surprises and upsets. One among the early
entries is to know that someone misses Shante Carver.
(Frank Luksa is a sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Write to
him at: Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas, Texas 75265.)