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Cowboys corral opponents' backs
By Stephen Hawkins, AP Sports Writer
Thursday, November 27, 2003 | No comments posted.
IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys refuse to let opponents run all over them anymore.
The same defense that three years ago became the first in NFL history to allow three 200-yard rushers is now making life tough for running backs. How tough? Just three runners have managed 100 yards against the Cowboys over the past two seasons.
"We're getting hats to the football, getting a lot of hats there and we're not missing tackles," defensive end La'Roi Glover said. "Usually the first guy makes the tackle or gets him held up so other guys can come help out. We're playing sound technique-wise and we're in our gaps."
Tampa Bay's Michael Pittman, who had 113 yards on 30 carries, is the only back who gained 100 yards this season against the Cowboys. They have allowed an NFC-low 82.4 yards a game and five rushing touchdowns. Indianapolis' Edgerrin James (106 yards) and Jacksonville's Fred Taylor (100) barely broke the mark last year.
The Cowboys will try to keep Miami's Ricky Williams from joining the list Thursday when he plays his first NFL game in Texas, where he was the Heisman Trophy winner for the Longhorns.
"All of the backs in the NFL wear down when you keep going at them, hitting them and hitting them," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "Ricky runs hard all four quarters. ... We can't let up because he's always going to be able to make the big play."
Williams ran for 107 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns Sunday night in the Dolphins' 24-23 comeback win over Washington.
That same day, Dallas was holding power runner Stephen Davis to 59 yards, including just 27 on his last 18 carries in a 24-20 win that gave the Cowboys (8-3) a share of the NFC's best record.
While they are similar in their hard-running styles, Williams presents a different kind of challenge.
"Ricky Williams has the ability to bounce outside a little more readily. He's got real good durability," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "He's a little less upright. Stephen Davis is a little bit of an upright guy. Ricky's got a lower center of gravity."
Glover and Williams were teammates for three seasons (1999-2001) in New Orleans, where coach Mike Ditka made the running back his only draft choice in 1999. Williams was traded to the Dolphins last year, when Glover signed as a free agent with the Cowboys.
"He's showing some speed, hitting the corner and leaving guys," Glover said. "That was a knock on him early in his career, and he's kind of proven that one wrong. Ricky wants to bounce the ball outside more than Davis did.
"He's running with power, bouncing the ball out more, leaving secondary guys. He used to want to run them over, now he's running from them."
The same defense that three years ago became the first in NFL history to allow three 200-yard rushers is now making life tough for running backs. How tough? Just three runners have managed 100 yards against the Cowboys over the past two seasons.
"We're getting hats to the football, getting a lot of hats there and we're not missing tackles," defensive end La'Roi Glover said. "Usually the first guy makes the tackle or gets him held up so other guys can come help out. We're playing sound technique-wise and we're in our gaps."
Tampa Bay's Michael Pittman, who had 113 yards on 30 carries, is the only back who gained 100 yards this season against the Cowboys. They have allowed an NFC-low 82.4 yards a game and five rushing touchdowns. Indianapolis' Edgerrin James (106 yards) and Jacksonville's Fred Taylor (100) barely broke the mark last year.
The Cowboys will try to keep Miami's Ricky Williams from joining the list Thursday when he plays his first NFL game in Texas, where he was the Heisman Trophy winner for the Longhorns.
"All of the backs in the NFL wear down when you keep going at them, hitting them and hitting them," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "Ricky runs hard all four quarters. ... We can't let up because he's always going to be able to make the big play."
Williams ran for 107 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns Sunday night in the Dolphins' 24-23 comeback win over Washington.
That same day, Dallas was holding power runner Stephen Davis to 59 yards, including just 27 on his last 18 carries in a 24-20 win that gave the Cowboys (8-3) a share of the NFC's best record.
While they are similar in their hard-running styles, Williams presents a different kind of challenge.
"Ricky Williams has the ability to bounce outside a little more readily. He's got real good durability," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "He's a little less upright. Stephen Davis is a little bit of an upright guy. Ricky's got a lower center of gravity."
Glover and Williams were teammates for three seasons (1999-2001) in New Orleans, where coach Mike Ditka made the running back his only draft choice in 1999. Williams was traded to the Dolphins last year, when Glover signed as a free agent with the Cowboys.
"He's showing some speed, hitting the corner and leaving guys," Glover said. "That was a knock on him early in his career, and he's kind of proven that one wrong. Ricky wants to bounce the ball outside more than Davis did.
"He's running with power, bouncing the ball out more, leaving secondary guys. He used to want to run them over, now he's running from them."
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