THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 6, 1996 TAG: 9605060133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ASHBURN, VA. LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
See Jamie run.
See Jamie catch.
See Jamie block.
There's nothing complicated about the Washington Redskins' hopes for tight end Jamie Asher this season. They've seen the second-year pro from Louisville run. They've seen him catch. They like his ability to do both.
It's the third area - blocking - that keeps them from proclaiming him the complete tight end, something they're anxious to do.
``He made some plays last year that you'd look at as great,'' tight ends coach Russ Grimm said before the end of minicamp at Redskin Park. ``Then he'd turn around and make a play that no one, not even a rookie, should be making.
``He's made some improvement from last year. He's stronger, in better shape. He's gotten a taste of what it's all about. We'd like to get him in there, but he needs to get better.''
Of the five tight ends the Redskins will bring to training camp in July, Asher still has the best chance of playing the position full-time. He caught 14 passes in just seven games last season after recovering from a pulled hamstring at the start of training camp that left him way behind the others.
``The hamstring set me way back because I was learning the game off the field, but you can't do that and play effectively in the NFL,'' Asher said. ``It only gets you so far. You've got to get out there and do it, experience it, learn it on the field.''
The hamstring pull symbolized another weakness in Asher's game - his lack of leg strength.
``My senior year in college, I didn't exercise my legs much,'' Asher admitted sheepishly. ``Why? Lazy, I'm afraid. I've done a lot of that, though, this year. I feel the difference.''
At the end of Sunday's practice, Asher often floated off the line of scrimmage and into the secondary, made a sharp cut and pulled in passes from quarterbacks Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte. The best of those catches - a seven-yard fingertip touchdown reception - exemplified why the Redskins have such high hopes for the Indianapolis native.
But can he move opposing linemen and linebackers off the line of scrimmage - or at least fight them to a draw - enough times to be a reliable contributor to Washington's running game?
That's the question, one the Redskins already have a positive answer for when they discuss Scott Galbraith and James Jenkins. Things are far more cloudy regarding veteran Coleman Bell and Asher. Bell is a alumnus of a couple of NFL teams, however, and his abilities are documented.
Asher's are not, not even to Asher, though he has an idea of what he'd like them to be.
``I don't want people to perceive me as a receiving tight end,'' Asher said. ``I want to catch and block. I'm the strongest I've ever been in my life, and I feel more control in my blocking. I'm better able to get the leverage I need to hold my position. Last year, I got pushed back a little.''
See Jamie block - the Redskins would love to.
NOTES: Former offensive tackle Mark May picked Sunday to retire from football. May, one of the original ``Hogs,'' hadn't played for the Redskins since 1990, but he took the occasion of a Jack Kent Cooke-sponsored picnic at Redskin Park to bow out of the game. He said something to Jack Kent Cooke about being allowed to retire as a Redskin the day he left the team to join the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent. Cooke didn't forget. . . . The Redskins waived defensive end Elic Mahone prior to the start of minicamp, but never announced his departure. He was a free agent out of Southern Cal who had impressed some folks a year ago in training camp before tearing knee ligaments. . . . The name of the Maryland town where the Redskins' new stadium will be located is Raljon. It doesn't appear on any map because it doesn't yet exist. Cooke arrived at the name by combining the first names of his two sons, Ralph and John. The ``town,'' with the stadium and a recreation center Cooke is building as part of the stadium deal, will have its own ZIP code. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jamie Asher, a second-year pro from Louisville, will be one of five
tight ends in the Redskins' training camp.
by CNB