Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407220134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JIM DUCIBELLA STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CARLISLE, PA. LENGTH: Medium
Norv Turner planned to be the first man on the practice field Thursday morning; you know, set an example for the other Washington Redskins players and coaches.
Turner burst through the locker-room door and onto the field at 8:30 a.m., 30 minutes before anyone else - except Darrell Green. The veteran cornerback, already in pads and helmet and stretching, offered the new boss a cheerful good morning.
During pass-defense drills, linebacker Monte Coleman consistently beat everyone else to the ball.
Across the field, Jim Lachey spent precious little time near the water containers or mopping his brow. When he wasn't anchoring the offensive line, he stood behind or beside fellow tackles Darryl Moore and Joe Patton, counseling them, talking them through their mistakes.
Green, Coleman and Lachey. Between them, they have 38 years of NFL experience.
Green, Coleman and Lachey. In large part, they are the Redskins, the final, most famous links to the team's glory years.
As much as he wants to establish his own system, Turner admits being keenly aware of how valuable Green, Coleman and Lachey can be to his rebuilding process.
He spent hours talking to each during the off-season, giving them assignments far beyond man-to-man coverage, blitzing the quarterback or sealing the left side of the pocket.
He asked them to be leaders, to put aside the memories, the influences of fired coaches and retired friends, of those who feel they were treated unfairly.
It sounds like such a simple assignment for players who have been to Pro Bowls, wear Super Bowl rings and are among the most respected members of the Redskins.
It's anything but easy, which is why Turner beamed when he saw Green waiting for him.
``He's the guy who needs to be out here the least, yet he's out here first,'' Turner said. ``That's the kind of leadership the younger players need to see.''
Green acknowledged Turner asked him to carry an extra burden. He wrestled with it because it is not in his nature to be vocal and demonstrative.
``I finally decided that I'm a natural, and I need to stay a natural,'' he said. ``For me, leadership is not a situation where you premeditate what you're going to do and its impact.
``If what I did spoke volumes, it wasn't because I came out and made that my focus. But it still does what Norv says he wants and we're still on the same page.''
Coleman says it's a fine line he, Green and Lachey walk. They barely know Turner's system themselves, and they know it could be counterproductive to get in the coaches' way.
``But they have placed some of the responsibility on us,'' he said. ``We're looking at it as a challenge to make this the best team we can.
``It's enthusiasm, keeping the team up, not letting them doubt themselves. If the old guys start griping about salaries and caps and pay cuts, it's going to carry over to the young guys. And the emotion of a young team is more fragile than that of a bunch of veterans.''
Even though he has played in three Pro Bowls and is universally considered among the league's best left tackles, Lachey never had to assume a leadership role before this season. He always had the ``Hogs'' - Russ Grimm, Jeff Bostic, Joe Jacoby - to handle that for him. All he had to do was play.
``As much as I hate to see those guys gone, this is a role I gladly accept,'' Lachey said. ``Before, my goal was to lead by example. Now, I fully intend to take the young guys aside, tell them what to expect. I know the coaches do some of that, but sometimes it's easier for a player to listen to a player because he doesn't feel as threatened.''
Turner's arrival coincides with Lachey's latest comeback from knee problems that sidelined him all of last season. The combination of new coaching staff and the need to answer questions about his durability has served to give Lachey his freshest outlook in years.
``Each year's a new beginning,'' he said. ``That's what's driving me. I still love this game ... or else I wouldn't have done what I did to arrive here in the best shape of my life. These are the kinds of challenges you love if you're an athlete.''
NOTES: The Redskins signed second-round draft pick Tre Johnson of Temple. The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder, the 31st player selected overall, signed a multiyear contract believed to be worth approximately $400,000 per year. ... Nothing new on negotiations with first-round draft pick Heath Shuler.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB