Cowboys To Break in Newcomers, Vets

IRVING, Texas (AP) â€” Dave Campo is ready to take charge. <br><br>Campo â€” the Dallas Cowboys' new head coach â€” will stand before the entire team for the first time Friday with the opening of a

Thursday, April 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

IRVING, Texas (AP) â€” Dave Campo is ready to take charge.

Campo â€” the Dallas Cowboys' new head coach â€” will stand before the entire team for the first time Friday with the opening of a three-day minicamp for newcomers and veterans.

``It's important to set the tempo, as well as establish some accountabilities and some responsibilities,'' he said. ``That's what this weekend is about, along with going out there and having some fun.''

Campo has been with the team since 1989, so everyone is familiar with him. But because he has only coached the defense, there will be plenty of players who must get accustomed to his style.

The Cowboys have a lot of other adjustments to make, too. There are two new coordinators, a new offense and key new players, such as receiver Joey Galloway and a flock of potential replacements for Deion Sanders.

``This was initially scheduled to be for rookies and selected veterans, mainly anyone who was new to the team,'' Campo said. ``But with us installing a new offense, I felt that it was important to get everybody in.''

All eyes will be on Galloway as he tries to become the type of threat Michael Irvin was in Dallas' Super Bowl days. He'll be running many of the same patters Irvin did because after a two-year experiment, the Cowboys are going back to the timing-based offense that worked best.

Jack Reilly, who spent a season as Troy Aikman's position coach, is back as the offensive coordinator. Mike Zimmer is now in charge of the defense after several years working with Campo when he was the coordinator.

Dat Nguyen will move up to first-team middle linebacker for the first time, replacing Randall Godfrey, who signed with Tennessee. Chris Bordano, acquired Wednesday from New Orleans, also will be tested.

Free agent signee Ryan McNeil is likely to begin at right cornerback, which will be available June 2 if Sanders is cut, as expected. Dallas also will get a look at the three cornerbacks taken in the draft, including top pick Dwayne Goodrich of Tennessee.

An intriguing player to watch will be Dimitrius Underwood, a first-round pick for Minnesota last year who has made far more headlines for off-field problems than anything done on the field.

He'll see plenty of time at defensive end as starters Greg Ellis (broken leg) and Ebenezer Ekuban (sprained knee) will be held out of drills.

Other notable players getting excused absences from team doctors are receivers Jason Tucker (foot surgery), Wane McGarity (finger surgery) and James McKnight (torn knee), defensive tackle Leon Lett (knee surgery) and safety Izell Reese (herniated disc).

``The main thing is that they're out there to see, listen, be in meetings â€” do all those kind of things â€” and then continue their rehab,'' Campo said. ``It's only April and we have a long time until we get to Sept. 3.''