Emmitt says offense must play to its strengths
10/21/99
By David Moore / The Dallas Morning News
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IRVING - Emmitt Smith entered the season saying he had faith in coach Chan Gailey's system. He vowed to keep an open mind, although he didn't always understand the reason behind certain plays or formations.
Consecutive 13-10 losses haven't closed Smith's mind. But he does believe it's time to close portions of Gailey's playbook. Smith asserts the Cowboys' quest for diversity has clouded their offensive focus and they must emphasize the team's strengths.
"There are times where you've just got to grab the bear by the throat and say this is what we're going to do," Smith said. "We're going to stick to it for right now until we get a handle on things. Then, once we get a handle on things, maybe we expand.
"The game is still catch, block, tackle and run. It's us that makes it confusing."
This return to basics theme is one Gailey delivered in his weekly news conference. He acknowledged the rash of mental mistakes that plagued the offense in losses to Philadelphia and the New York Giants may have been caused by his decision to throw too much into the game plan.
Gailey has talked about finding a happy medium between diversity and simplicity in Sunday's game against Washington. Owner Jerry Jones has expressed confidence that Gailey will find a way to make the offense work.
Smith said, "it took a lot" for Gailey to publicly question his play selection. He understands the coach's desire to diversify and the benefits that could yield down the 16-game road.
But Smith is also firm in his belief that Dallas must avoid the temptation of trying to do too much with its scheme and formations. The onus is on the players to execute. He doesn't want anyone to think the offense is trying to shirk that responsibility.
But Smith's point is that what works best is what the team has practiced in training camp and during the pre-season. Repetition is a key. He said adding something in practice the week before a game increases the odds that mental errors and blown assignments will occur.
"I think that's what we ran into a little last week," Smith said.
What the Cowboys ran into was a wall of Giants defenders. Smith finished with 26 yards on 22 carries.
New York's eight- and nine-man fronts made it difficult to run. But it's also a matter of selection. Smith was given the ball seven times when Dallas faced a second-and-10 or longer.
John F. Rhodes / DMN
Emmitt Smith watches the Cowboys struggle during the second half Monday.
"I don't have a chance," Smith said. "One of those times, I came to the sidelines and told [backup quarterback] Jason Garrett we need to run on first down."
Dallas, which entered the weekend leading the NFL in rushing, plummeted to 10th after its loss to the Giants. Smith is averaging a career-low 3.5 yards a carry. He has averaged just 2.8 yards a carry over the past 2 1/2 games.
The Cowboys offensive struggles aren't restricted to the running game. Quarterback Troy Aikman has averaged just 186 yards passing over the past four games. Three of the team's top five receivers - Michael Irvin, James McKnight and Wane McGarity - are out with injuries.
Smith doesn't want to diminish the impact of Irvin's absence. But he said the identity of this team isn't defined by Irvin, Aikman or himself. It's defined by the offensive line.
If this line has the potential to be one of the best in Cowboys history - as Gailey and the coaching staff have intimated - Smith believes they should be put in position to prove it.
"Lets' do this," Smith said. "If these guys have an opportunity to be the best, let's give them that opportunity by playing to their strengths.
"Our strong suit is obviously going straight ahead at people. You take those 300-pound guys we have up front, and move them straight ahead. . .
"They're more effective going straight ahead than they are going east and west, especially as the game goes on. In the third and fourth quarter, that weight weighs on a person."
Gailey won't say to what extent he plans to simplify the offense against the Redskins. Jones applauds his coach's ability to change and improve an aspect of the offense that's not working.
"He has the confidence, whether it be with the staff or publicly, to say that, 'We won't go back in that trap for that cheese,' " Jones said. "I think that is a very healthy thing for our team and our future and our fans."
The Cowboys offense needs to regain its health at this 3-2 stage.
"It's time to quit growing and start walking," Smith said of the offense. "Put it this way. You feed an infant its formula until it can take on solids. Once it takes on solids, you watch that infant grow, walk and start to talk.
"That's what I'm looking forward to us doing. . . . You've been around the players for a complete year now, almost a year-and-a-half. You know what our strengths are, what our weaknesses are. Put us in a position of strength and let us go out and win. Help us to win."
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