THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 10, 1994 TAG: 9410100180
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Charlie Garner. The sound of his name, a glimpse of his green-and-white No. 25 jersey, a flash of him dashing toward open turf, has turned Philadelphia Eagles fans into giddy lumps of adrenaline.
Smitten, they roared 28 times Sunday night at Veterans Stadium when the rookie from the University of Tennessee, by way of Jeb Stuart High School in Fairfax, took a handoff from Randall Cunningham.
Garner gained 122 yards in a dicey 21-17 victory over the Washington Redskins, a week after his 16-carry, 111-yard debut in a demolition of the San Franciso 49ers.
Philly fans have known him for only two weeks - Garner missed the first three games with a rib injury - but they're about ready to retire his number in a city where exciting, elusive, mercury-heeled running backs just don't exist. Or haven't, at least, since Wilbert Montgomery helped Ron Jaworski carry the Eagles to their only Super Bowl in the 1980 season.
The gushing might all be a bit over the top, but give Garner his due. The 5-foot-9, 181-pounder appears to be top-shelf material, if his body can withstand NFL brutality.
Before Garner aggravated his sore ribs in the fourth quarter, he darted and stiff-armed nimbly enough to become the first Eagle rookie running back to put together consecutive 100-yard games.
He fell seven carries shy of tying the all-time franchise record of 35 carries in a game held by Heath Sherman and Steve Van Buren. He also came within eight yards of gaining the most yards in a game by an Eagle rookie. Van Buren's 129 is the record.
PREDICTABLE LETDOWN: The Eagles (4-1), who have a notorious penchant for the major letdown after the big hype, did countless things to keep the Redskins in the game. They came in sitting ducks for a flop after their stunning 40-8 wipeout of the 49ers, and proceeded in large part to play down to their dubious history.
Their first drive was wrecked by a penalty for an illegal formation on a key third-down conversion. Calvin Williams dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone, though Cunningham picked him up two plays later with a spectacular 20-yard scramble, capped by a head-over-heels leap from the 4-yard line for the Eagles' first touchdown.
Cunningham threw two interceptions, after throwing one in the first four games. Cornerback Mark McMillian, beaten by Henry Ellard, interfered with Ellard and gave Washington a first down on the 11 in the second quarter. But quarterback Heath Shuler botched a handoff to Ellard on a reverse, and the ensuing fumble was recovered by the Eagles.
Defensive back Otis Smith was burned twice by Washington's Tydus Winans for touchdowns, and cornerback Eric Allen made illegal contact on Washington's last-ditch drive in the final minute, giving the Redskins first down at the Philadelphia 33.
Topping it off, atrocious coverage helped the Redskins to pile up 182 yards in kick and punt returns, including 135 yards by Brian Mitchell.
All of which contributes, year in and year out around a skeptical league, to the Eagles' reputation as one of the biggest ``Show Me'' teams.
WISE INVESTMENT: The Eagles signed sixth-year safety Greg Jackson as an unrestricted free agent from the New York Giants before the season. His presence paid off with 40 seconds left, and saved McMillian from goat horns, when Jackson leapt to rob Desmond Howard of a game-winning touchdown catch at the Eagles' 3.
Howard had blown by McMillian along the left sideline, and Shuler's pass from the 33 was on the money, but Jackson jumped in front of Howard at the last instant for his team-high second interception.
Jackson had 14 interceptions over the last four years, including four each in 1992 and '93.
LOH'S WOES: Slumping Redskins kicker Chip Lohmiller missed his second extra-point conversion of the season after Winans' 27-yard touchdown reception, but rallied somewhat in the third quarter with a 47-yard field goal, his longest of the season. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Charlie Garner, the other Tennessee rookie in Sunday's game, gained
122 yards against Washington.
by CNB