COWBOYS' SMITH OFF TO FRUSTRATING START.

Byline: Jean-Jacques Taylor Dallas Morning News

Emmitt Smith's body has betrayed him, leaving him frustrated.

The sprained left knee. The bruised neck, shoulders and ribs. The sprained right ankle.

Each of those injuries has taken a toll on the man who has won four of the past five NFL rushing titles. Smith, averaging nearly three yards less per carry than he did after four games last season, has 278 yards and a 3.3-yard average.

The only time he has had a worst start in the past five years occurred in 1993, when he missed the first two games in a contract dispute.

``This has probably been the most frustrated that I've been in a while,'' Smith said. ``My major thing is getting my health back so I feel good - or at least decent - on every part of my body. I want to be able to really cut loose and unleash myself on some teams, but I haven't been able to.

``I don't think it's just me or my health that has caused our problems on offense. It has been a number of things.''

Such as a banged-up offensive line with three ailing starters. And an inconsistent passing game that can't take any pressure off the running game.

Starting receivers Deion Sanders and Kevin Williams combined for 26 catches for 326 yards and two touchdowns in the first four games. Last year, Michael Irvin, who returns from his five-suspension after Monday's game, caught 26 passes for 415 yards in the same period last season.

Sanders and Williams, who is out 6-8 weeks after breaking is foot against Buffalo, don't command the respect Irvin does, so opponents have had both safeties commit to the run first, leaving Smith little room to operate. The Cowboys have been among the NFL's top five rushing teams each of the past four years. In two of the past three years, they have finished second in rushing.

This season, Dallas is 20th in rushing and 25th in yards per carry.

Ray Donaldson (ankle) and Erik Williams (toe) had off-season surgeries. Left tackle Mark Tuinei sprained his knee in the pre-season and is still ailing. As a unit, the offensive line didn't get much practice time in training camp or the pre-season together.

In the past, the Cowboys' offensive line has pounded teams into submission in the fourth quarter. This year, however, there have been few holes for Smith to dart through. Only 38 percent (38 of 98) of the Cowboys' carries by a running back have gained 4 yards or more.

``We've played four games, and that's more than enough time for us to jell,'' Donaldson said. ``It shouldn't take that long to get it done. Right now, the five guys up front are not getting the job done.''

Smith, whose longest run this season is 16 yards, has only six carries of 10 yards or more. Last season, Smith had 16 runs of 10 yards or more and six runs of 20 or more yards through the first four games.

He finished 1995 with a career-high in yards (1,773) and a league-record 25 touchdowns.

``I think I've been caught up in trying to make something big happen, and in that process probably not making anything happen at all,'' Smith said. ``Right now, I want to go out and do the best job that I can.''

To do that, coach Barry Switzer said the Cowboys might need to get second-year running back Sherman Williams to play more. Williams has seven carries for 38 yards, all against the Giants, this season.

Resting a series here or there, said Switzer, might make Smith more efficient. At times this season, running backs coach Joe Brodsky has told Smith to take a breather only to find Smith back on the field.

Smith said he might have helped the team more last Sunday, if he had removed himself from the game after bruising his ribs.

``In crucial situations I want to be in the game because I feel like I can help the team,'' Smith said. ``I've been conditioned to never come out of the game, even when I'm hurt, so it's a hard habit to break.''

Williams said Brodsky has told him this week to be prepared to carry the ball against the Eagles. Williams, though, is realistic about his situation.

``I'm always frustrated, but I'm a patient person,'' Williams said. ``We know this is Emmitt's show, and it's going to be Emmitt's show for the next seven years, I just want to be ready when I get an opportunity.''