Reserves finish the pre-season for Dallas, beat Houston, 10-0By Ed Werder
Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News
SAN ANTONIO -- Coach Barry Switzer considered the Cowboys who were not playing and concluded his team almost certainly would not win Saturday night.
``I really worried we'd get the crap beat out of us, and be embarrassed,'' he said.
The Cowboys did not play Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith,Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek, Daryl Johnston, Charles Haley, Leon Lett, Tony Tolbert, Darren Woodson and Larry Brown. But they were playing the Houston Oilers. Therefore, the Cowboys won, closing out the pre-season and clinching the Governor's Cup, 10-0, before a crowd of 52,512 at the Alamodome.
The contest marked the return of Cowboys right tackle Erik Williams and provided a measure of the Cowboys' power and the overall incompetence of the Oilers. Houston played its starters three quarters and committed seven turnovers.
Rookie cornerback Alundis Brice intercepted two passes, returning the second 23 yards for the only touchdown. Cornerback Clayton Holmes made an interception. Linebacker Jim Schwantz recovered two fumbles, linebacker Godfrey Myles one and defensive lineman Darren Benson still another. Former first-round draft choice Shante Carver recorded his first two sacks of the summer while leading a relentless group of backup defensive linemen, including Hurvin McCormack and Benson.
The Cowboys and Oilers were guaranteed $1 million for their appearance in the first year of a three-year commitment. But Switzer decided to rest his most important players, those with the largest paychecks, to prepare for the regular-season opener with the New York Giants.
``I was really concerned about how we would hold out,'' Switzer said. ``I was concerned we would be embarrassed. But that never happened. Our young guys played well -- better than I thought they could.''
The most important player for the Cowboys was one of the few regulars who took his position -- Williams, the offensive tackle. Although Switzer said he would have to watch tapes before declaring Williams recovered from knee surgery, he seems certain to start against the Giants. For four series, Williams constantly inflicted punishment upon Houston Oilers defenders Anthony Cook, Ray Childress and linebacker Eddie Robinson. The importance of Williams to the Cowboys transcends his mere blocking. His brutality often dictates the mindset of his team.
``Let me tell you right now: Erik Williams is the best football player in the National Football League, regardless of position,'' Irvin said. ``...He is the Michael Jordan of what he does, no ifs, ands or buts about it. This guy can do it. He's a bad boy.''
The Cowboys presented him his initial challenge on the first snap. Williams had to pull on a Sherman Williams sweep. The second time that happened, Williams allowed Cook to run past him and clobbered him across the back of the neck as he sprinted past.
His pass-blocking, the top concern, was practically flawless. In fact, it appeared second-year player Larry Allen, positioned beside Williams, had more problems. But then he was contending most often with Childress.
Williams played 17 snaps without incident. He blocked for the run and pass and while he probably was not as smooth as he had been before his near-fatal car acccident, there has been no gradual progression in his return. He was merely put in a game Saturday.
``I know it will improve us as a football team to have Erik,'' Aikman said. ``Before his injury, he was the most dominant offensive tackle in football. I could see tonight his intensity hasn't changed.'' Wade Wilson, who started for Dallas, had his problems. He completed four passes -- none to a wide receiver -- in 10 attempts in a basic Cowboys game plan. Wilson also was intercepted once.
Jason Garrett completed the first pass to a wide receiver when he found Cory Fleming with 10 minutes remaining in the third period. That led to Chris Boniol's 23-yard field goal with 6:08 left. The Cowboys had enough points to win and much positive encouragement that Williams played without knee problems. ``He doesn't have anything to prove to me,'' offensive line coach Hudson Houck said. ``The more he plays, the more he'll find he's not as quick in some areas as he used to be. We all have to be careful comparing Erik to Erik. Erik is not going to be what Erik was for I don't know how long. But this Erik is better than most.''
