AUSTIN (KRT) - Flecks of gray show in Mark Tuinei's goatee. He can talk
from experience about playing against Dexter Manley. He has been with the
Cowboys since teammate Clay Shiver was 10 years old.
And when Tuinei wants to hear about the really old days, he can look down
the offensive line and talk to center Ray Donaldson.
"He's the grandpa," Tuinei said. "He's the real old guy."
Donaldson, at age 38, will be the oldest starting offensive lineman in the
NFL this season. That is fitting, because the Cowboys will also tempt fate
this season by trotting out the oldest offensive line in the league.
The Cowboys will have three starters at age 34 or older: Tuinei (36) at
left tackle, Nate Newton (34) at left guard and Donaldson. The gamble is
all three codgers - by NFL standards - will make it through the season and
keep the Cowboys from exposing their lack of depth on the offensive line.
"I see it (age) as a positive factor," said assistant head coach
Hudson Houck, who supervises the offensive line. "We've got great leaders.
We've got men who know what it is to play in big games. We've got men that
know what it takes to win when it's hot and we need to score.
"These guys have been there before and know how to do it. It's not
at all to the point where their physical performance has gone downhill."
Donaldson, Newton and Tuinei all made the Pro Bowl last year. None is good
enough to block time. What the Cowboys are trying to do with their offensive
line is extraordinary.
No NFL team last season had three offensive-line starters at age 34 or more.
Just two teams had two starters in the category: Houston, with center-guard
Bruce Matthews (34) and tackle Irv Eatman (34); and San Francisco, with
center Bart Oates (36) and guard Jesse Sapolu (34).
There were just three other 34-year-old offensive-line starters in the league
last season: Buffalo center Kent Hull, Denver tackle Gary Zimmerman and
Philadelphia guard Guy McIntrye.
"We're not trying to show or prove anything," said Donaldson,
who began his career with the Colts when they still played in Baltimore.
"I just happen to be an old player who still enjoys playing. I'm pretty
sure Tui and Nate feel the same way. We all enjoy playing. It just so happens
that we're older guys."
This group does go against the laws of football nature. Consider some superb
but aging offensive lines of recent seasons.
In its first Super Bowl season, Green Bay's oldest offensive-line starters
were 33-year-old tackles Forrest Gregg and Bob Skorinski and guard Fuzzy
Thurston. Oakland's 1980 Super Bowl team had 35-year-old guard Gene Upshaw
but only one other blocker in his 30s: tackle Art Shell (33).
Washington's "Hogs" were at the end of the line when the Redskins
won the Super Bowl for the 1991 season. The oldest starters were center
Russ Grimm and tackle Joe Bostic. Both were 32.
"I'd like to think we can keep it going," Tuinei said. "But
I know that's not possible. It gets harder and harder to do as you get older.
There are more nicks and bruises. The recovery time from game to game takes
longer. It's just a lot tougher."
Offensive lines such as the "Hogs" quickly faded when the main
engines hit their 30s. The Cowboys' 30-somethings have aged well. Emmitt
Smith last year won his fourth rushing title in the past five years. The
Cowboys allowed only 18 sacks, second-lowest total in the NFL.
"Only when we get beat should it (age) be a factor," Donaldson
said. "When we're winning and looking good, it's not a factor. Who's
to say what's too old and when you should quit? If you're still able to
do your job well, then play as long as you can"
If one physical factor threatens these linemen, it is weight. The NFL's
sumo-wrestling style of blocking demands large offensive lineman. Donaldson,
Newton and Tuinei have all grown to more than 310 pounds, according to the
Cowboys' conservative listing. Carrying that weight about for 16 regular-season
games can be difficult.
Houck said he is comfortable with the weight of his entire offensive line,
but concedes the size must be monitored.
"The problem that we have with guys that are heavy is that it is difficult
on them to keep that weight down," Houck said. "But there is an
advantage to being 320 rather than being 300, particularly when the guys
we have to block inside are 340-350.
"But these guys are conditioned. They work at it. Look at Donaldson.
He's 36 (38), but he works at it as hard as anybody and plays as hard as
anybody."
The bodies will break down because of wear and tear, and changes will have
to be made. The Cowboys in this decade have not started the same five offensive
linemen in all 16 regular-season games.
In the past four seasons, which included three Super Bowl victories, the
Cowboys have had 29 starts missed by offensive lineman because of injury.
The Cowboys have had an offensive lineman miss at least six games because
of injury in each of the past three years.
Donaldson was last year's victim. He missed the final four regular-season
games and the playoffs because of a broken leg. The Cowboys had Derek "Big
Baby" Kennard to replace Donaldson.
Kennard is gone this year, although his retirement could change. Ron Stone,
who made one start at tackle last year, departed to the New York Giants
as a free agent. The salary cap makes it difficult to keep players such
as Kevin Gogan and John Gesek, talented offensive-line backups earlier in
this decade.
"Every team needs that kind of guy," Tuinei said of a versatile,
dependable backup. "But it's getting harder and harder to have him
because of the cap."
The Cowboys have only one potential offensive-line reserve in camp who has
ever started an NFL regular-season game - Dale Hellestrae, a long snapper.
He had two forgettable starts with Buffalo in 1988. Finding a quality utility
lineman, who can fit in at several spots, is a leading goal of this camp.
"We absolutely need him," Houck said of a top backup. "I'd
love to have three of them. That's what we're doing here in camp. Our goal
is to come out with enough guys we can suit up in a game and feel comfortable
with."
Houck has one advantage. Pro Bowl right guard Larry Allen can also play
tackle. Because tackles are harder to find then guards and centers, the
Cowboys have "a luxury" at the position, Houck said.
Shiver played center at Florida State, but Houck believes he could handle
guard duty. He is the leader for the job early in camp, with George Hegamin
and Michael Batiste also under consideration.
If all else fails, "I'll play," Houck said.
And how have you looked, Hudson?
"Not too good," Houck said.
Houck has an excuse. He is 53 years old. That is old, even on the Cowboys'
offensive line.
(c) 1996, Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information
Services.