From: aa05@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (ABDULMALIK A. ALHUSSEINI)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Aikman a weakness?!? (was Re: It wasn't Pretty (49ers WON))
Date: 24 Dec 92 06:45:38 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <3209@devnull.mpd.tandem.com>, dwelch@mpd.tandem.com (Dan Welch) writ
es:
>In article <1992Dec22.155317.11678@hellgate.utah.edu> twolf@cs.utah.edu (Tom Wo
lf) writes:
>>He has been there for 4 years and should
>>no longer have fans justifying his weaknesses by saying he is just young.
>
>What weaknesses are you talking about?  The only weakness Troy has is that
>he throws too many interceptions.  That's a bad one, to be sure.  Sometimes
>he just doesn't see the defender waiting for the INT.  But it's the only
>weakness he has, and he has improved upon it every year.

His INTs aren't too many for two reasons. First, he attempted many passes.
Second, many of his INTs were due to deflections and bobbled receptions by
WRs. But he did throw some bad INTs like the one against the skins and both
Eagles games. He is human after all.

    [stuff deleted]

>>If Dallas had a QB that was as good as Emmitt Smith, Irving, or that defense,
>>I think Dallas would be awesome and 15-0 right now.
>
>No, what Dallas needs to be 15-0 right now is linebackers the likes of
>Pat Swilling or Junior Seau.  The QB is just fine, thank you.  Would I
>take Young instead?  Not on your life.  Not to knock Young's abilities,
>understand, but Troy is the perfect QB for the Cowboys.
>
>Daniel Welch
>

Right on the money Dan. I really believe that a big time OLB is what Dallas
should try to get in the next draft or trade. Dallas's OLBs make few, if
anything all, big plays. V Smith (strong side OLB) and Norton (weakside OLB)
combined for 0 INTs, and one sack (by Smith). Last season (w/o playoffs) they
combined for 0 INTS, and 000 sack (I didn't count the INT by D Edwards) so you
can say that they are quite consistent. Don't get me wrong, Norton is very good
and versatile with experience at OLB and MLB so he should be a keeper. V Smith
is good a gainst the run and adequate at everything else and that should make
him a back up at best, IMO. I discussed this topic in the past with some
Dallas fans (don't recall the names) and they argued that the OLBs in Dallas
don't make many big plays because of the Dallas's softzone defensive
philosiphy. I still disagree with this argument because the OLBs are the least
productive unit on Dallas D.

Here are some possible remedies to the OLBs problem:

1. Seth Joyner will be a free agent next year. He is a big play OLB and Dallas
can use him if he promises to keep his mouth shut.

2. A trade with a team that has good OLBs and bad DLs. I am talking about
Cinci in particular. Dallas can package DTs and/or DEs + draft pick/picks for
James Francis or Alfred Williams (I prefer Francis).

3. How about using Haley as an OLB and start Jeffcoat at DE. Jeffcoat is
having a good year so he should be given more PT anyway. This combination
could prove fatal to opponents QBs.

4. Draft a dominant OLB. Well I know, easier said than done. By the time
Dallas picks (hopfully last in the 1st round) dominant LBs would be gone. I
have no idea who the top prospects are anyway? I think JJ should do it through
a trade.

Malik...... Go Cowboys.........