THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 24, 1994 TAG: 9410240118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
The Redskins bandwagon, also known as the Gus Bus, is pulling away from the curb. Better hurry or you won't get a seat.
Move to the rear, please. Keep the door clear. No pushing. Those still standing, be sure to hang from the straps. This bandwagon will be taking the HOV lane.
One more thing: Will somebody give up his seat to Heath Shuler? You probably read about his bad ankle.
Maybe you read, too, that Norv Turner was starting Gus Frerotte Sunday in order to check out his qualifications as next year's backup quarterback.
Funny, but Frerotte didn't play like a backup.
On the strength of his dismantling of the Colts' defense, is it possible to visualize Frerotte as the Redskins' quarterback of the future? It is not only possible, it's inevitable.
Then again, he could turn out to be this decade's Jay Schroeder, another strong-armed savior who galvanized the fans when he took over for a faltering and injured Joe Theismann almost nine years ago.
Over the long haul, Schroeder was a bust, of course. When it comes to quarterbacks, football is a game that delights in its overnight successes, then makes up its mind about a player's true worth with excruciating slowness.
Last Wednesday in this space, Frerotte's success in Indianapolis was anticipated under the theory that the Redskins' season was bound to get more bizarre.
There will be no further attempt here to predict the future. But for now, Frerotte is a fresh breeze blowing over the Redskins' reservation. Judging by a single performance, he is far more deserving than Shuler of those constant comparisons with Troy Aikman.
Against the Colts, Frerotte stood very tall and looked very poised in the pocket. He threw the ball downfield. He threw very hard, yet with precision. He rose to the occasion, converting several third down passes.
In other words, he did everything that fellow rookie Heath has not managed to do in his three starts.
Let's be fair to Shuler. On defense, the Colts have never been mistaken for the Cowboys, Eagles or Cardinals. Indianapolis is porous against the pass. Also, the Redskins were the happy recipients of a couple of dubious pass interference calls in the end zone.
Still, there is a presence to Frerotte that cannot be denied.
Whereas Hurrying Heath makes quarterbacking appear to be more difficult than high science, Frerotte made it all look so easy. Sunday, his play was instinctive. He let his talent flow. His feet danced. His arm came forward, and his passes hit receivers on the numbers.
What more can you say about Frerotte, except that he is Henry Ellard's new favorite quarterback. That his passes reintroduced us to James Jenkins, the tight end. That his performance inspired the Redskins' defense, which scored or set up three touchdowns in the 41-27 victory. That he looks like a natural.
So what happens if Frerotte builds on his debut?
When Schroeder took over in 1985, Theismann was out of commission for good. But with the Gus Bus rolling downhill at 90 miles an hour, what does Turner do when Shuler, the $19.25 million mystery, is healthy and ready to play again?
Don't look at me. I'm just along for the ride. by CNB