July 29, 2003

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- In going from college quarterback to rookie running back to second-year safety, Woody Dantzler has shown he's willing to try anything to earn a job with the Dallas Cowboys.

That versatility could serve him well under new coach Bill Parcells.

Parcells demands players take on more than one role, and Dantzler is quickly becoming the poster child of that concept.

While learning to play defense for the first time since middle school, he's also trying to pick up the nuances of returning punts and kickoffs, holding on field goals, being the fullback on the punt team and making tackles on various coverage units.

"I might even come out at receiver," Dantzler said, smiling. "You never know."

Dantzler isn't surprised by his ride on the roster roller coaster. He even discussed with his agent the likelihood of struggling to find a niche in the NFL after he wasn't drafted following a record-setting career at Clemson.

At 5-foot-10, he was too short to be a pro quarterback; he didn't really have the arm for it, either.

But in becoming the first player in NCAA history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season, he certainly had the kind of athletic ability NFL teams like.

The Cowboys signed him last summer to return kicks and try becoming one of Emmitt Smith's backups. He almost made it, becoming one of the final training-camp cuts. He returned on the practice squad and was activated for the Thanksgiving Day game.

A week later, he made every highlight reel with an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against San Francisco. Dantzler spun from several tackles, eluding at least six 49ers, and did a bunny hop along the sidelines.

Then Parcells arrived. At his first minicamp, he used Dantzler at quarterback. A day later, he found a blue jersey in his locker signifying he'd been switched to defense. He still threw some passes the day after that, but his main duty quickly became learning how to play safety.

Dantzler is still struggling with technique, such as backpedaling, breaking in different directions and keeping his hips low.

Coaches are confident he's athletic enough to get it down, and that he understands Xs and Os well enough to figure out how to read offenses.

The big question: Can he tackle?

Dantzler told defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer he hadn't tried since he was a linebacker in middle school. When Zimmer said he must've chased someone down after throwing an interception, Dantzler laughed and admitted there were a few, clarifying that it wasn't something he worked on.

His first test will come Saturday in a scrimmage against the Houston Texans.

"He's in a daze right now," Zimmer said. "He's trying to learn so much, he's not being an athlete. He's thinking a lot. When you do that, you're not playing very well."

With Darren Woodson and Roy Williams likely starters at safety, Dantzler doesn't have to perfect the position. He just needs to be good enough to fill in.

If he can do that, Parcells can use his running and throwing skills to try some trickery on field goals and punts. His mere presence would give opponents something to think about.

Dantzler is taking it all in stride. He's grounded by strong faith, and even wears a bracelet promoting peace, pure love, respect and responsibility.

"When I was in school, I'd have two tests and three term papers at the same time. So I can't say this is too much," he said. "This is my job now. I've got to get it done, somehow or other."