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| | Thursday, August 24 Cowboys: One more run? | |||||||||||||||
| By Tom Oates Special to ESPN.com The Dallas Cowboys promoted defensive coordinator Dave Campo to head coach, then spent most of the offseason jazzing up the offense. Unlike many of the moves the Cowboys have made since 1995, however, this one makes perfect sense. Quarterback Troy Aikman and halfback Emmitt Smith are thirty-somethings now and the Cowboys are trying to make another Super Bowl run before their stars run out of time. A return to the offense that was so successful in the early 1990s and some new down-the-field receivers make a trip to the Super Bowl possible, though unlikely.
Joey Galloway cost the Cowboys two first-round draft picks and $42 million over seven years, but he'll be worth it if he can provide Aikman with the home-run hitting wide receiver he once had with Michael Irvin. Galloway and Rocket Ismail will give Dallas the fastest pair of wide receivers in the NFL, perfect for the old Norv Turner/Ernie Zampese deep-threat offense the team plans to dust off under new coordinator Jack Reilly. With a solid line and Smith's recent resurgence, Galloway is the key. If he can give Aikman a go-to target, the Cowboys could be back in business on offense. Key position battle The Cowboys don't believe in paying top dollar for linebackers, so they let middle linebacker Randall Godfrey go to Tennessee in free agency. Second-year man Dat Nguyen is short, fast and productive, which fits the Cowboys' mold. He was the heir apparent, but now will be pressed by late-signing free agents Barron Wortham and Joe Bowden, who started for the Titans in the Super Bowl last year. Biggest adjustment Cornerback Deion Sanders was deemed too costly and therefore jettisoned, which means the Cowboys will now have to play defense like everyone else. In Sanders' heyday, he took away half of the field, which freed up linebackers and safeties for other duties. Even with a solid free-agent pickup like Ryan McNeil stepping in to replace Sanders, the Cowboys will have to play opponents more straight-up. That could expose some long-hidden weaknesses. Rookie report The Cowboys have had productive drafts in recent years, but they traded this year's first-round pick to Seattle in the Galloway deal. They spent the rest of the draft beefing up a secondary that was exposed as painfully thin last year. Three cornerbacks -- second-rounder Dwayne Goodrich, fourth-round Kareem Larrimore and sixth-rounder Mario Edwards -- could all help right away. That's good because Kevin Smith's recent injury problems have made it likely they'll be needed.
| ALSO SEE Cardinals: Plummer has to fix leaks Giants: Dayne carries a big load Eagles: Lofty expectations Redskins: Super offseason AUDIO/VIDEO   Troy Aikman talks about adding Joey Galloway to the Cowboys roster.wav: 179 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Joey Galloway reports on the restructured Cowboys offense.wav: 72 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 The time and dedication will hopefully pay off for Jackie Harris and the Cowboys.wav: 83 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 There's still some work to do, but Joey Galloway sees it all coming together.wav: 162 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Troy Aikman is hoping Emmitt Smith will be ready for the season opener.wav: 155 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Dave Campo knows his rookie wide receivers need more game time experience.wav: 190 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Darren Woodson says the key to Dallas' defense is its cornerbacks.wav: 75 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Head Coach Dave Campo has confidence in Dimitrius Underwood.wav: 89 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 DE Greg Ellis is hoping for a complete recovery from his injuries.wav: 67 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Jerry Jones talks about how the Cowboys will pay tribute to Tom Landry.wav: 182 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | |||||||||||||||
