DMN Blog: Which Cowboys would start for '90s Super Bowl teams?

[InmanRoshi]

Brock Marion was probably the exception to the rule. He was a good back up and starter in Dallas and became better when he left for Miami. Obviously, Jimmy Smith had a great career in Jax, but his circumstances were quite different in Dallas. It is not that he did not show potential, he just could not stay healthy in Dallas.

Kevin Gogan also went on to have a very good career after he left Dallas. That puts him in pretty small company with Marion, Ron Stone, and Norton. Russell Maryland was still a pretty good player with the Raiders and Packers, but not an impact guy. Darren Smith also had a pretty nice career after Dallas.

Thomas Everett was horrible in Tampa Bay, and out of the league two years after he left Dallas.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't know which Dallas Cowboys you watched in the 90's, but Tolbert started almost every game of his career. That's just a pure fact. He was also an extremely solid player. Much more so than Ellis.

I've watch a great deal. I watched a lot of Tolbert. In fact, I watched him in College as well. Not just watched TV but actually saw him play several times. He played for UTEP, which at the time, was in the same WAC conference as was UNM.

Tolbert played 9 seasons. In 89, I believe Ed Jones and Jim Jeffcoat were starters. In 90 and 91, he was the starter opposite Jeffcoat, as I recall. In 92, Haley came on board and Tolbert was no longer the starter. He became a pass rush specialist, I believe. 92, 93 and 94, Jeffcoat and Haley started I believe. However, in those days, it really didn't matter as Jimmy Johnson substitued liberally all along the DL. Tolbert was never very good against the run. He was too small, which is why he was used as a pass rusher many times. I don't have an exact number of starts for Tolbert but I think that it's not accurate to say he was the starter the majority of his career. Tolbert had bad knees as I recall. He was always affraid of being cut and understanbly so. He was a good player for us but I don't see him as better the Ellis has been for us.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

All this talk about speed at the LB position .... Robert Jones never looked very fast to me. He was strictly a 2 down, between the tackles MLB and not a very good one either. He was always in Jimmy's doghouse. There was a huge dropoff at the MLB position after Norton left. I think he only made it through two years with the Rams after signing a huge contract before he was released because he was so bad.

He was too mechanical but he was pretty fast. Norton was not a Middle LB. As I recall, he was the ROLB for us. Early in Norton's career, Lockhart was the MLB. He was here from 84 to 90. After that, might have been Jack Del Rio or Miles. Don't recall for sure.

 

[kevwun]

Randall Godfrey was also good after he left.

 

[Q_the_man]

Yes, you can. The question is which guys on this year's team would start if they were on the 1990s Super Bowl teams. If Owens was on those teams, he'd start.

Throw every player on the 1992, 1993, 1995 and 2007 teams into the pot, and you'd come out with a starting lineup that looks remarkably similar to this (with Haley and Ware, I'd go with a 3-4 defense) --

QB -- Troy Aikman
RB -- Emmitt Smith
FB -- Daryl Johnston (replaced by Terry Glenn in a three-WR set)
WR -- Michael Irvin
WR -- Terrell Owens
TE -- Jason Witten
LT -- Mark Tuinei
LG -- Nate Newton
C -- Mark Stepnoski
RG -- Larry Allen
RT -- Erik Williams


DE -- Leon Lett
DT -- Tony Casillas (replaced by Russell Maryland in passing situations)
DE -- Chad Hennings
OLB -- Charles Haley
LB -- Ken Norton
LB -- Darrin Smith (replaced by Kevin Smith in the nickel)
OLB -- DeMarcus Ware
CB -- Deion Sanders
CB -- Terence Newman
S -- Roy Williams
S -- Darren Woodson

Kevin Smith b4 injury is better than Tnew, period.... I like Tnew but Kevin could cover anybody and if he never gets injured, Smith and Deion would have been special, I mean best CB tandem ever special.....I Like Witten also and I think he is better then Novacek, But Novacek was money and right now I would start Novacek and use alot of 2 TE set formations.....

 

[AdamJT13]

Randall Godfrey was also good after he left.

We didn't draft him until 1996, after our most recent Super Bowl win.

 

[AdamJT13]

Kevin Smith b4 injury is better than Tnew, period.... I like Tnew but Kevin could cover anybody and if he never gets injured, Smith and Deion would have been special, I mean best CB tandem ever special.....I Like Witten also and I think he is better then Novacek, But Novacek was money and right now I would start Novacek and use alot of 2 TE set formations.....

Again, history is clouding your perception. Kevin Smith was not better then Terence Newman is. And no way Novacek starts ahead of Witten, who already is the best tight end we've ever had -- and he's only 25.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Kevin Smith has made an entire legacy out of covering Jerry Rice in one or two games early in his career and people project that out to his entire career. TNew has been shutting down #1 WR's every week for three years now. It's like putting Julius Jones ahead of Calvin Hill based only on his Chicago and Seattle games of his rookie year. Kevin Smith didn't start as a rookie until Week 12. TNew was the Cowboys #1 CB the first day he put on a jersey. Wannstedt played a lot of zone coverage with his cornerbacks (you pretty much have to when you're playing Ike Holt and Larry Brown), whereas Newman has played press man to man for most of his career here. It's Newman, hands down.

 

[AdamJT13]

Kevin Smith has made an entire legacy out of covering Jerry Rice in one or two games early in his career and people project that out to his entire career.

Smith didn't shut down Rice, either, he limited him to "normal" stats -- six catches for 83 yards, seven catches for 82 yards, five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown and eight catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.

The only time he came close to shutting down Rice was in the 1994-95 NFC title game, when Rice had two catches for 36 yards and one touchdown -- but the 49ers passed only 29 times all game because they had such a huge lead. The only time the 49ers even tried to throw to Rice in the second half (when they attempted only nine passes, with five of those going to running backs), Leon Lett batted down the pass at the line of scrimmage.

 

[Mavs Man]

Again, history is clouding your perception. Kevin Smith was not better then Terence Newman is. And no way Novacek starts ahead of Witten, who already is the best tight end we've ever had -- and he's only 25.

That's scary to think he still has another three years until he peaks.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I've watch a great deal. I watched a lot of Tolbert. In fact, I watched him in College as well. Not just watched TV but actually saw him play several times. He played for UTEP, which at the time, was in the same WAC conference as was UNM.

Tolbert played 9 seasons. In 89, I believe Ed Jones and Jim Jeffcoat were starters. In 90 and 91, he was the starter opposite Jeffcoat, as I recall. In 92, Haley came on board and Tolbert was no longer the starter. He became a pass rush specialist, I believe. 92, 93 and 94, Jeffcoat and Haley started I believe. However, in those days, it really didn't matter as Jimmy Johnson substitued liberally all along the DL. Tolbert was never very good against the run. He was too small, which is why he was used as a pass rusher many times. I don't have an exact number of starts for Tolbert but I think that it's not accurate to say he was the starter the majority of his career. Tolbert had bad knees as I recall. He was always affraid of being cut and understanbly so. He was a good player for us but I don't see him as better the Ellis has been for us.

Well, you'd better go back and watch some of the 90's games again. Tolbert was the starter opposite Haley for his entire career (after he became the starter) until he retired due to bad knees. You're also wrong about Tolbert being poor against the run. He was a very good run stopper, as he was a pass rusher. Don't take my word for it. Do some research and you'll see I'm right.

 

[dbair1967]

I've watch a great deal. I watched a lot of Tolbert. In fact, I watched him in College as well. Not just watched TV but actually saw him play several times. He played for UTEP, which at the time, was in the same WAC conference as was UNM.

Tolbert played 9 seasons. In 89, I believe Ed Jones and Jim Jeffcoat were starters. In 90 and 91, he was the starter opposite Jeffcoat, as I recall. In 92, Haley came on board and Tolbert was no longer the starter. He became a pass rush specialist, I believe. 92, 93 and 94, Jeffcoat and Haley started I believe. However, in those days, it really didn't matter as Jimmy Johnson substitued liberally all along the DL. Tolbert was never very good against the run. He was too small, which is why he was used as a pass rusher many times. I don't have an exact number of starts for Tolbert but I think that it's not accurate to say he was the starter the majority of his career. Tolbert had bad knees as I recall. He was always affraid of being cut and understanbly so. He was a good player for us but I don't see him as better the Ellis has been for us.

Jeffcoat didnt start...Tolbert and Haley started and Tolbert came out on passing downs...that went on until Jeffocat left for Buffalo, and Tolbert (who complained about the situation alot, always wishing he could stay on the field in passing situations became the FT starter in either 95 or 96...in 96 he had his biggest yr sack wise, and until Ware did it last yr he was the last player for us to get double digit sacks (96)

Tolbert was excellent against the run, its why he started...he had good quickness and played with very good leverage

Tolbert was the starter virtually his entire career here

David

 

[dbair1967]

Well, you'd better go back and watch some of the 90's games again. Tolbert was the starter opposite Haley for his entire career (after he became the starter) until he retired due to bad knees. You're also wrong about Tolbert being poor against the run. He was a very good run stopper, as he was a pass rusher. Don't take my word for it. Do some research and you'll see I'm right.

you are 100% correct

David

 

[dbair1967]

Kevin Smith has made an entire legacy out of covering Jerry Rice in one or two games early in his career and people project that out to his entire career. TNew has been shutting down #1 WR's every week for three years now. It's like putting Julius Jones ahead of Calvin Hill based only on his Chicago and Seattle games of his rookie year. Kevin Smith didn't start as a rookie until Week 12. TNew was the Cowboys #1 CB the first day he put on a jersey. Wannstedt played a lot of zone coverage with his cornerbacks (you pretty much have to when you're playing Ike Holt and Larry Brown), whereas Newman has played press man to man for most of his career here. It's Newman, hands down.

it wasnt just a couple of good games, he was extremely good from his rookie season through 1994, then was unfortunately injured in the seaosn opener of 2005...he was widely regarded in 1994 as one of the top 3-4 CB's in the league

David

 

[dbair1967]

Smith didn't shut down Rice, either, he limited him to "normal" stats -- six catches for 83 yards, seven catches for 82 yards, five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown and eight catches for 123 yards and a touchdown.

The only time he came close to shutting down Rice was in the 1994-95 NFC title game, when Rice had two catches for 36 yards and one touchdown -- but the 49ers passed only 29 times all game because they had such a huge lead. The only time the 49ers even tried to throw to Rice in the second half (when they attempted only nine passes, with five of those going to running backs), Leon Lett batted down the pass at the line of scrimmage.

Smith did pretty much shutdown Rice, those numbers werent run up solely on Smith...he didnt follow Rice around all over the field...but Smith was very physical with Rice and frustrated him quite a bit...he was pretty much a non factor in any of the 5 games the Cowboys & Niners played from 92-94, and alot of his numbers came late in those games when we had big leads

David

 

[dreghorn2]

James Washington over Roy Williams?

Good grief. The insanity has reached epic proportions.

Not sure why we are so incredulous.. James Washington was a big game player.

 

[dreghorn2]

Yes, you can. The question is which guys on this year's team would start if they were on the 1990s Super Bowl teams. If Owens was on those teams, he'd start.

Throw every player on the 1992, 1993, 1995 and 2007 teams into the pot, and you'd come out with a starting lineup that looks remarkably similar to this (with Haley and Ware, I'd go with a 3-4 defense) --

QB -- Troy Aikman
RB -- Emmitt Smith
FB -- Daryl Johnston (replaced by Terry Glenn in a three-WR set)
WR -- Michael Irvin
WR -- Terrell Owens
TE -- Jason Witten
LT -- Mark Tuinei
LG -- Nate Newton
C -- Mark Stepnoski
RG -- Larry Allen
RT -- Erik Williams


DE -- Leon Lett
DT -- Tony Casillas (replaced by Russell Maryland in passing situations)
DE -- Chad Hennings
OLB -- Charles Haley
LB -- Ken Norton
LB -- Darrin Smith (replaced by Kevin Smith in the nickel)
OLB -- DeMarcus Ware
CB -- Deion Sanders
CB -- Terence Newman
S -- Roy Williams
S -- Darren Woodson

Sorry didn't see this earlier. Hard to argue with any of this except, for me, Roy being in there.

Great team.

 

[AdamJT13]

Not sure why we are so incredulous.. James Washington was a big game player.

So was Larry Brown.

 

[Rack]

Kevin Smith b4 injury is better than Tnew, period....

No, he wasn't. Period.

Jeffcoat didnt start...Tolbert and Haley started and Tolbert came out on passing downs...that went on until Jeffocat left for Buffalo, and Tolbert (who complained about the situation alot, always wishing he could stay on the field in passing situations became the FT starter in either 95 or 96...in 96 he had his biggest yr sack wise, and until Ware did it last yr he was the last player for us to get double digit sacks (96)

Tolbert was excellent against the run, its why he started...he had good quickness and played with very good leverage

Tolbert was the starter virtually his entire career here

David

 

[The30YardSlant]

Personally, I would enjoy watching Tyson Thompson and Derrick Gainer compete for the #3 RB spot, it would be the equivalent of Mark Mangino and Charlie Weis running the 40-yard dash. Slightly amusing, very awkward to watch and someone will have to win.