Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 23, 1993 TAG: 9307230072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: CARLISLE, PA. LENGTH: Medium
For now.
Dowhower, the offensive coordinator who will be his boss' alter-ego when the Redskins have the ball, said Cary Conklin "is one play away from being the starting quarterback."
That's coachspeak, of course, meaning if Rypien is injured, then, obviously Conklin moves up from No. 2. In the first few days of training camp, however, it hasn't been close.
Conklin, who has thrown only two NFL regular-season passes, has been the better QB.
Although head coach Richie Petitbon told Rypien in the off-season that he had to play better than last year to keep his job, it seems only an injury would keep Rypien from opening the season against Dallas on Sept. 6.
However, if Washington finds itself in trouble after its NFC East start against the Cowboys, Phoenix and Philadelphia, don't be surprised if Conklin replaces Rypien in Week 5, following a bye weekend.
There is a murmur through the first week of camp at Dickinson College that Petitbon and Dowhower won't have the patience with a struggling Rypien that former coach Joe Gibbs displayed.
From the other side of mouths, it is said that Rypien, as the only Washington QB with experience, has to start, for the same reason the Cowboys need Troy Aikman, the New York Giants need Phil Simms and the Eagles need Randall Cunningham - to win in the NFL's toughest division.
Rypien, to his credit, is always his own biggest critic. He regularly has taken the blame for more than his share of the Redskins' struggles when he's played poorly.
In this camp, however, Conklin, a 6-foot-4 former University of Washington star, has been the much crisper passer. He has slightly more mobility than Rypien, too.
Conklin, from early signs, also seems more accurate at throwing in the short-passing attack that the Redskins have stolen from San Francisco's playbook, after the Cowboys thieved the same. As a fullback, Earnest Byner may catch 40 passes this season.
Rypien is coming off arthroscopic surgery on his throwing arm in March and says his arm strength is good, but his passes still aren't always beauties. While Conklin is completing short passes to receivers' numbers, Rypien's throws often sail low.
With the coaching change from Gibbs to Petitbon, this may be Conklin's best opportunity to change the depth chart at QB. His play in two scrimmages, the first Saturday here against Pittsburgh, will be crucial, as well as his play in early preseason games.
"Mark's coming right along," Dowhower said. "There are a lot of practices left. Cary [who had knee surgery in the off-season] is playing well. A lot depends on how each holds up.
"Both of them know what to do. It comes down to who is better at executing what we call. We're not holding back on anything. Both throw deep well and both can throw the short ball. Mark's experience gives him an edge. We're just asking him to adjust a little.
"We've changed the offense, but we're not making wholesale changes."
The last thing the Redskins need or want is the perennial "quarterback controversy" that marked the final years of Gibbs' 12 seasons of success. As Rypien and budding San Diego star Stan Humphries once were, Rypien and Conklin are friendly competitors.
"We get along well," said Conklin, a Washington state native like Rypien. "We don't talk about competing. We go out and hit golf balls and talk about other things."
Conklin said he doesn't see where there would be any difference in the quarterback derby were Gibbs still the boss.
"I think I would have had the same opportunity, because the same quarterbacks would be here," said Conklin, 25, who like Rypien spent his first two NFL seasons being saved - or stashed? - by the Redskins on injured reserve. "It's just a logical progression.
"Mark went through the same thing. What do I have to do? Just play better. I have to move the team, show I can be a good leader, hit the secondary routes and take it one day at a time.
"It's a long process, but I'm not going to get messed in a quarterback controversy. It's no fun standing on the sideline giving signals. I just want to play."
But for now, though, it's still Rypien's job to lose.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB