THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609290310
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 74 lines
Having pitched a fit over questions about his lukewarm passing statistics late last week, maybe tonight Washington Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte will finally get to pitch the football against a seemingly perfect foe, the winless New York Jets.
They allow opponents an average of 15 yards per catch, last in the NFL. Overall, the defense ranks 28th, allowing opponents an average gain of 5.4 yards per play. That's one of 10 defensive categories in which New York ranks 20th or worse.
Of course, Washington's passing game is ranked just 26th in the league. The Redskins average just 151 yards through the air and have attempted just 100 passes. Frerotte has two touchdown passes, both to tight end Scott Galbraith, one on a fake field goal.
``Offensively, at times we're struggling,'' Redskins coach Norv Turner admitted, ``(but) I don't feel we're behind in the passing game. I think it has been a matter of emphasis and we can gear that (passing) up based on what we're playing and what we're doing. I think we can go out and throw the ball and catch the ball as well as a lot of people. It hasn't been our prime emphasis right now.''
By comparison, Jets quarterbacks Neil O'Donnell and Frank Reich have attempted 153. Frerotte has been especially poor at third-down conversions, a league-worst 25 percent.
Rather, the Redskins have won behind the running of Terry Allen and a surprisingly stout defense. Washington has a 3-1 record for the first time since 1991 and is seeking the first four-game winning streak of the Turner regime.
The last time the Redskins started a season 4-1 and didn't reach the Super Bowl was 1986, when they lost to the New York Giants in the NFC title game. The last time Washington opened a season 4-1 and didn't make the playoffs was Jack Pardee's 10-6 team of 1979.
Allen has more than picked up where he left off a year ago, when he ran for 1,309 yards. The former Minnesota Vikings star is the league's second-leading ground gainer, with 418 yards. He has scored at least one touchdown in nine consecutive games. One tonight would tie him with Greg Bell for the third-longest streak in NFL history.
Washington's defense leads the league in fewest points allowed. The Redskins have surrendered just 40 all season, 13 after halftime.
Last season, the Redskins intercepted 16 passes. After four games, they have nine. Last season, they compiled 29 sacks and 35 quarterback ``hurries.'' This season, they already have 11 sacks and 21 hurries.
``Our defensive group is playing around and having fun,'' Turner said. ``Everyone's involved. Guys are fighting to get to the football and playing hard. Playing with enthusiasm has got to be one of our strengths.''
For all their problems, the Jets have enough weapons to bounce back from its worst start since 1992.
O'Donnell is completing 57 percent of his pass attempts and his quarterback rating of 66 is a mere four points behind Frerotte's. New York has a quality receiving corps in rookie No. 1 draft pick Keyshawn Johnson, Jeff Graham, unheralded Wayne Chrebet and veteran Webster Slaughter. They've combined to catch 59 passes and score five touchdowns.
New York's problem has been the meshing of its rebuilt offensive line with the skill-position talent. The Jets signed veteran tackles David Williams and Jumbo Elliott in the offseason.
``We retooled,'' Jets coach Rich Kotite said. ``We had a plan for the offense and we did it, getting the two tackles, the No. 1 rated player in the draft. We executed our plan, not it's time to put it together.
``It's the third week in a row that the offense is intact and we expect Neil to do well. No one man does it by himself. We feel Neil is a top quarterback. That hasn't changed one bit.''
The Jets have been competitive in three of their four losses. After being blown out of the season-opener, 31-6, by Denver, the Jets lost 21-7 to Indianapolis, 36-27 at Miami and 13-6 to the New York Giants.
``We can't change what's already taken place,'' Kotite said. ``We feel we have the people here to turn it around, but we have to make it happen ourselves. We're capable of it. I see it in practice. Everybody here believes we can put it all together. We got off to a poor start, but we have the ability to turn it around.'' by CNB