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Show PE 40 and young Tony Adams hover close. Should Livingston falter early, look for Dawson to uorne in qui.'.kiy. Cuye, to Denver. A cleai plus for Broncos, RUNNING wiiii Otis Armstrong leading a top assortment of backs as Denver tries to emphasize that part of its game. They punched 244 yards into Cards, Armstrong getting 130. Hes ..orking on four straight league games over 140. Jon Keyworth, Oliver Ross, Floyd Little all excellent. But Chiefs' game is much improved, with Woody Green for outside speed, MacAr-- j thur Lane back to Green Bay form. Lane, however, will mrs Denver game with strained ligaments. Moving Jeff Kinney up to fullback. Ed Podolak both good runner, top receiver. summer, while Marvin Upshaw has been shifted inside to tackle, as has Broncos' Lyle Aizado. Denver pleased with comeback of Paul Smith at other tackle, but still there are problems in secondary. Randy GicnJiaher had good preseason as he takes over middle linebacker for Denver. LOS ANGELES KEY MATCHUPS Most pronounced, youth of KC lint!, is what Aizado and Smith can get done over center. Smith Sunday, Sepi. Channel 5 particular will be paired against Condon. Another is Lanier against Armstrong, and Chiefs' linebackers in general against Denver backs out as receivers. Also, can Denvers Claudie minor control Chiefs Wilbur Young? E FACTORS: Denver is getting healthier, with Rookie defensive end Rubin Carter, Van Heusen both due back, Paul Howard returning at right guard . Gary Butler has a hamstring, will miss Billy qame for Chiefs, putting Masters at tight end . . . Chiefs have gone to '63' defense this year. in it was an It is not clear whether ultimatum, a ptedidion, a statement of fact or what, but Los Angeles Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom noted just before the season began, Anything short of a Super Bowl will be disappointing." Obviously, this is the next step for the Rams. In 1 973 they made the playoffs. In 1974 they lost in the NFC championship game and anything less than a conference title would, in effect, be a step backwards. Los Angeles, the NFC favorite, will begin the schedule which it hopes won't end until the second Sunday in January against a former NFL power now in flux, the Dallas Cowboys, in what shapes up to De the top game on the first Sunday of NFL regular season football. The Rams have everything, including tremendous depth, best m the conference in most all positions. Most observers feel the only question mark is whether quarterback Jimmy Harris, in his second season as a starter, can make that big play when it counts most, when a Super Bowl is in the balance. Many quarterbacks, of course, can make the big play, can mount statistics, but the great ones come through at the moment of truth. Dallas has three new defensive starters in ends Harvey Martin and Ed (Too Tall) Jones and strong safety Charlie Wales and two new offensive starters in huifback Doug Dennison and fullback Robert Newhouse. Furthermore, a former starter, Larry Cole, is now playing a new position, moving from end to Bob Lilly's old spot at tackle. The Cowboys aie rebuilding from their best years. Lilly is gone and so is Walt Carrison, Bobby Hayes, Cornell Green and Calvin Hill. But, after a dismal preseasnn, the Cowboys used their regular defensive urv' against Pittsburgh to close out and beat the Steelers, the exhibition slate. The Rams are the best team in the NFL right now, said Tom Landry. I mean as far as being ready to play at their best right now. This doesn't mean, of course, they'll be the best team at the end. "But, sure, I think we have a chance. As long as we can play good defense and our kicking game is solid, we have a chance." The Rams are consistent, explosive on offense. There has been some question about their pass defense and. yet, they shut out Oakland, the NFLs best passing in a final preseason game. team, Dallas, it appears, once again, can play good defense. But the passing game has not been consistent and the running game has been worse than the passing game. As the season opens, the Cowboys are still in search of running backs to fill the void when Hill jumped to the WFL and Garrison retired. LAST-MINUT- LINES Chiefs are young, will pay price for inexperience with Charlie Getty, Jim Nicholson each in second year, Tom Condon his first at guard. Denver more experienced, looking better weekly. Big factor in Armstrong's success. Chiefs allowed 21 summer sacks. . . THE LINEUP!. PECEIVERS Otis Taylor once tiealed Denver as a statistic builder, but has had so-s- o summer. Larry Brunson, cut by Broncos, is the other starter. Denver has two fine vets in Billy Van Heusen Haven Moses, with quick backup rookies in Jack Dolbm, Rick Upchurch. Broncos favor short, medium pass game. Once the Chiefs' forte, it DEFENSE appears to be coming back. They allowed only 81 points for the summer. Willie Lanier, lured out of proposed retirement, still ranks among best at middle linebacker, has always been tough on Broncos. John Matuszak has looked better this - J til Sow: flrssst toilet seats Black brass Poker, busli, 83 j 3 & shovel ft Stand Re9' 9'88 A. Til bath tub These gleaming white- d seats are just the thing to brighten up your bathroom Sturdy, fit most toilets Reg. 5.39 ii -- rn sturdy steel 3 attractive design reg. 75.95 59 88 fw 88 17-1- water heater 42 gallon 10-y- r 56. 000 BTU High recovery gas straight tank wairantee 4 7 gal per hour High recovery Magnesium rod Double glass lined '83 128. 6-- 1311 East 3300 South o 938 North 900 West c W Vcn h'U Thurs 9 a m f das 9pm Soluidoys 9 0 m 6pm 7pn ton Sunday; Noon 4pm 7200 South 900 East 25,000 BTU Suhovs Noon single wa reg. 75.95 il 1 gas 1 i 1 1 i ff 1 4pm mm r til cAypfcjm furnace sv 1 L iea&i&Hl r. ILlfuVfW'lUt'R V "V s ri:sq . still only coach the Cowboys have ever had, is not a crash in a rebuilding program ohanon hut a orariuai nno Knov. uses 3 very basic effense because he has the lino and backs. His line and linebackers are solid but the Rams do use a lot of changeups in the secondary, possibly to protect some weakness. Landry has now added the spread, which youMl see on some obvious passing situations, to go with his already very multiple offense. He II attempt, among other things, to confuse Harris defensively. QUARTERBACKS Roger Staubach, if he regains his 1973 form, has an edge over James Harris, who is in only his second season but has the physical ability to be among the best. RUNNING BACKS Nobody has more depth at running back than LA and Larry McCutcheon and Jim Bertelson are tops. Dallas has no depth and no experience at running back so there is no comparison. Both are experiOFFENSIVE LINE enced and solid, though three knee operations to Cowboys Rayfield Wright, John Fitzgerald and John Niland have kept the Dallas group from playing as well as in the past. Ram receivers, Harold RECEIVERS Jackson and Ron Jessie, who'll likely play more than starter Jack Snow, present problems deep because of their outstanding speed. But the steady play of Drew Pearson and the explosion of Golden Richards help Dallas match the Rams in this department. Tight ends are about evert. FRONT FOUR Also even Young Cowboy ends Harvey Martin and Ed Jones came on strong near the end of preseason, giving Dallas a solid front. Led by end Jack Youngblood, one of the best at his position, the Rams are also very strong up front. LINEBACKERS Dallas has the edge here, due to the return to form of o Cliff Harris corner Mel Renfro and KICKING About even. KEY MATCHUPS The best matchup is probably right tackle Rayfield Wright against left end Jack Youngblood. When Wright is healthy, he's the best. Hes still having problems with a knee but seems to be most dangerous against the top competition. Special interest should also be paid as to how Charlie Cowan handles Martin and John Williams is able to cope All-Pr- with Jones. . KEY MATCHUPS Harold Jackson has always given the Cowboys problems, splitting the cornerback and free safety on deep routes. Mark Washington will got Harris, though if Jackson goes to Renfro's side the Cowboys yet might have to cope with him alone. help from Cliff NOTE: Dallas traded veteran guard John Niland to Dhiladelphia this week. The Cowboy rush swept Terry Bradshaw and Joe Gilliam off their feet last week, so LA must give Harris good protection or Dallas might have a chance. To upset the Rams, Dallas must somehow slow down the Ram game, keep Harold Jackson andor Ron Jessie from escaping deep and also deter the Ram rush because most of the Cowboy offense now is predicated on Roger Staubach. LA should win. if the game shapes up on the field as it dees on paper. But with ol j wall 3 W Mon thru Fn 10 a m 9 p m Sotufdos 9 o m 6 pm Dallas is experienced team and Tom Landry, the 2 P.M. 21 'uck and the unexpected, dangerous. COACHING Oddly enough, Chuck Knox, in his third season, has a solid, AT DALLAS in view of ' V |
