THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 27, 1995 TAG: 9512270211
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ASHBURN, VA. LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
There were signs of improvement, but they still have a long ways to go
Even as they offer evidence for a significantly better 1996, the stats the Washington Redskins quote most these days muddy what happened to a 1995 squad that finished at a sorry 6-10.
The defense allowed 53 fewer points than last season, third-best improvement behind New Orleans and Kansas City.
Their plus-5 giveaway-takeaway ratio was sixth in the league.
They rushed for 541 yards more than last season, second-best improvement in franchise history and largest since 1942.
They were penalized just 573 yards, fewest in the league, fewest by the club since it began playing 14- and 16-game seasons.
The '95 report card:
OFFENSE Quarterback, C: Coach Norv Turner promises to answer the major question this offseason - who starts, Gus Frerotte or Heath Shuler - before training camp in July. He wouldn't say how he's leaning, claiming a need to view the film.
From what we saw, Frerotte rates a C+ for 1995, meaning he's slightly better than average. Shuler rates a C-, meaning he's slightly worse.
Frerotte has a better arm, better leadership skills, more poise, and makes better use of all of his weapons. But - and it's a big but - he also has had two consecutive seasons in which his performance has tailed off as the season wore on. Maybe he's as good as he's going to get.
Shuler has more mobility, better short-passing skills, an escalating understanding of the Turner offense and a two-year track record of gradual improvement the more he plays.
For all the talk about who is better and who should start, each man has four NFL victories.
Line, B: Forty percent of the original starting line was done three games into the season when tackle Jim Lachey and guard Tre Johnson were injured. Lachey missed the rest of the season and likely won't be back because of his high salary.
Johnson was in and out and might be the only guard in league history touted for MVP. In games in which the burly second-year man played, the Redskins averaged 148 yards rushing and had a 5-2 record. In games Johnson missed, the Redskins were 1-8 and averaged 101 yards on the ground.
Guard Ray Brown is Pro Bowl-caliber, as is tackle Ed Simmons. Both are free agents critical to the team's future.
Center John Gesek says he'll return, which helps depth but could hurt Cory Raymer's development.
Joe Patton was better than expected as Lachey's replacement. He'll stay there if Lachey is axed.
Receiver, C+: Henry Ellard, the fifth-leading receiver in NFL history, would have had a better year with less confusion at quarterback. Rookie Michael Westbrook missed five games with knee and foot injuries, but averaged 15.3 yards a catch and made the reverse a feared weapon in the team's attack. He is a future star. Leslie Shepherd is fine as the third guy - a poor man's Gary Clark. Tydus Winans will either step up in July or step out of his uniform. He gave them nothing in '95.
Tight end, C: Jamie Asher needs only a solid offseason of weight-room work to become the No. 1 tight end. He can become a favorite target of both quarterbacks. Free-agent Scott Galbraith, one of the brightest players on the team, is frustrated by his lack of production, but insists he wants to come back. He senses the start of something big. James Jenkins is a good blocker and excellent special-teams player, though beset by too many penalties. Once-promising Coleman Bell is in trouble.
Running back, A: You couldn't ask for more from Terry Allen. His 1,309 rushing yards were second in team history to John Riggins' 1,347. Allen's 1,541 total from scrimmage was third-most in Redskins history, behind Larry Brown and Charley Taylor.
Brian Mitchell's uncanny ability to choose holes and squirt through them quickly gives Turner the added third-down dimension of running when others expect pass. Mitchell averaged 6.5 yards per carry, best by any back with 40 or more rushes since the Raiders' Bo Jackson in 1987. Marc Logan is a serviceable fullback, though there will be competition at his spot come July.
DEFENSE Line, B: If the unit played so well, why are so many members rumored to be headed elsewhere next season? You almost surely can say goodbye to Bobby Wilson, unless he takes a massive pay cut. Tim Johnson also could be gone, along with Tony Woods (less probable) and (maybe) Sterling Palmer.
End Rich Owens is the one to watch. Turner raved about his speed, hand usage, leverage and desire. He, Dexter Nottage, William Gaines and possibly Marc Boutte form the '96 nucleus, with an infusion of talent planned.
Linebacker, B: It took longer than planned, but Marvcus Patton, Ken Harvey and Rod Stephens were everything Washington wanted. They were 1-2-3 in tackles and led a second-half defensive resurgence. The position needs depth.
Secondary, C+: Tom Carter came of age at cornerback. Darrell Green played well enough, though he's a liability on the lob pass. Safeties James Washington and Stanley Richard were inconsistent, and the nickel defense crumbled when Muhammad Oliver was injured. Rookie Scott Turner received on-the-job training the Redskins would rather have avoided.
Special teams, A: Brian Mitchell, who is going to the Pro Bowl as NFC kick-return specialist, finished with 2,347 total yards. That's the seventh-highest total in NFL history and places him in the company of Lionel James, Terry Metcalf, Gale Sayers, Timmy Brown and Marcus Allen.
Punter Matt Turk set one team record (37.7 net average) and tied another (29 punts inside the 20) in his first season.
Turner says he wants kicker Eddie Murray back next season, although he acknowledges that Murray's kickoffs are a liability. Scott Blanton, placed on injured reserve last summer with an injured groin, has pleased the staff with his work habits and may do enough things well to persuade Turner to keep two kickers.
COACHING, B: Until the record in close games (5-14) improves, it's hard to get excited. But there's no question the team improved, despite an influx of youth and free agents. Like the team, they're coming together.
OVERALL, C+: That's about right for a team that beat Dallas twice and won three of its last four games. Given the uncertainty at quarterback, the injuries on the offensive line, and the fact that they were the fourth-youngest team in the league, the Redskins did slightly better than expected this year. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS file color photo
The Redskins hope they experience fewer moments like this in 1996.
Here against the Giants, defensive end Tony Woods agonizes as Dave
Brown celebrates his game-winning TD pass.
by CNB