ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 19, 1993                   TAG: 9310190059
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Jim Ducibella
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


REDSKINS WAITING TILL NEXT YEAR

Here's what passed for a metaphysical question in the Redskins' locker room Sunday, after their 36-6 dismantling by the Phoenix Cardinals: What's worse, a 30-point loss on the road to the perennially moribund Cardinals, or the previous week's 34-point embarrassment to the Giants?

Like the one about the tree falling in the woods, there's no right answer. Nor, apparently, are there any answers that will alter the fact that for the first time since 1980, the Redskins are already reduced to playing for pride.

There are just questions, like: What record must coach Richie Petitbon produce to retain his job?

The thought that Petitbon and Chevy Chase might hit the unemployment line within months of each other would have been unfathomable at the start of October. But that was before the Redskins were demolished, 77-13, in their past two games.

Now, it's lottery season. Pick two numbers. Is 7-9 good enough? What about 5-11? 3-13? 1-15?

We don't know just how deeply Cooke feels for Petitbon. Last week, he labeled him a "dear friend." A few more days like Sunday, he may become a dear former friend.

Cooke will be 81 next Monday, and says he wants more championships. We're not sure what he's willing to endure before his fast-fading team gets back to that point. This isn't Phoenix, where the owner issues a mandate that the coach have a winning season, or else.

Gibbs always said Cooke was at his best when things were worst. He's got another chance to prove Gibbs right.

The others questions are more mundane, though they encompass areas the whole organization should be addressing.

Since carrying 22 times against the Eagles to "win" the job as starting running back, rookie Reggie Brooks has carried 20 times.

Ricky Ervins rushed 16 times for 95 yards in the first half against Phoenix. He carried once for three in the second half.

Question: Why?

After rushing for more than 150 yards against Phoenix, Redskins receivers should have been able to find some openings in the Cardinals' secondary. Petitbon said the reason Washington's passing game wasn't more efficient was that "maybe no one was getting open."

Questions: What does it say about your offensive philosophy when an opponent has so little respect for your running game? Where is Desmond Howard?

Earlier, the Redskins skirted the issue of never playing Howard by asking, smugly, who would he replace?

Take your pick.

Guard Mark Schlereth explained that the safety Washington allowed in the fourth quarter was partially the result of a miscommunication with center Raleigh McKenzie.

Question: The ball's on your own 1. Don't you just block the man in front of you? Schlereth didn't let Eric Swann go free, but he offered token resistance.

General manager Charley Casserly told Wil McDonough of the Boston Globe to "Mark it down. The Redskins are the first victim of the salary cap." He also claimed they lost many valuable players because they couldn't afford to pay as much as other teams.

Question: If that's true - and that's a far cry from what they were saying at training camp - why not spend the rest of this season playing as many youngsters as possible?Doesn't the front office need as much information as possible about the talent on hand before deciding what to do with what apparently will be a top-five or six draft picks next spring? Before deciding which free agents to go after this spring? Isn't it time to think about next season?

Next season. After six games.

Question: Who'd have thought it?

\ AUTHOR JIM DUCIBELLA covers the Washington Redskins for Landmark News Service.

Keywords:
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