Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 12, 1994 TAG: 9409130046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
Louisiana native Brian Mitchell, determined to atone for a fumbled punt and dropped passes Sept.4 in a loss to Seattle, accounted for 225 yards in returns and led special teams that basically accounted for three scores.
Quarterback John Friesz displayed the pinpoint passing - 15-of-22, no interceptions - that caused the Redskins to woo him from San Diego during the off-season.
And the defense stopped pointing fingers at itself and coordinator Ron Lynn and lowered the hammer on Saints quarterback Jim Everett.
The result was a 38-24 victory over an eight-point favorite, a victory more lopsided than the final score. Many of New Orleans' 408 yards - 148 to be exact - came after Washington had a 38-9 lead.
By then, players were scheming how to properly commemorate Turner's first regular-season triumph. They chose the tried-and-true method.
As the Superdome clock wound down, guard Ray Brown and defensive tackle Bobby Wilson hoisted an orange bucket filled with ice water and scored an indirect hit on their unsuspecting boss.
``Imagine that, getting wet inside a dome,'' Turner said with a grin, then turned serious. ``I told the team last week we wouldn't talk about what we couldn't do. We would talk - and focus - on what we could do.''
Sunday, that was practically everything.
The Redskins even spotted the Saints a 3-0 lead before the onslaught began. Washington was stopped on its first possession and punted. As the ball floated toward New Orleans return man Tyrone Hughes, Washington's Johnny Thomas shoved blocker Tyrone Leggett backward, into Hughes.
Reggie Roby's kick clanked off Leggett's shoulder pads, with the Redskins' Lamont Hollinquest recovering the ball at the Saints' 14-yard line.
Three snaps later, Friesz threw the first of his career-high four touchdown passes. The line had allowed the Saints' rushers to pressure Friesz on the first possession. This time, they gave him an eternity to throw, enough time for him to watch Henry Ellard cross from the right side of the field to the left between Hughes and cornerback Jimmy Spencer.
Friesz's throw split the two cornerbacks and found Ellard in stride as the Redskins took a 7-3 lead.
Pressure on Everett forced a couple of incompletions and a New Orleans punt. Mitchell, who had a horde of relatives in the standsand had plied teammate Reggie Brooks with his mother's homemade Cajun food the night before, fielded the kick, used a block from Thomas that prevented Sean Lumpkin from making a quick stop and another from Monte Coleman, then rumbled 74 yards. The conversion kick gave Washington a 14-3 cushion 12 minutes into the game.
``I saw the ball coming and I said, `This one is very returnable,''' Mitchell said. ``I looked outside, saw nothing. I looked inside and saw Johnny shield a guy to get me started. It made me think back to the days I scored a lot of touchdowns in the Superdome.''
The Saints seemed to regain momentum after snuffing Washington and Reggie Brooks on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the second quarter. But by then the Washington pass rush was pouring in on Everett. Eventually, it paid off.
End Sterling Palmer slammed into Everett on a pass that Martin Bayless should have intercepted. The former Rams quarterback left the game briefly, replaced by Wade Wilson.
``The return stuff, and Brian Mitchell, set a tempo for the others,'' Turner said. ``The defense was opportunistic, forcing turnovers. And we scored when we had the chance.''
Mitchell got the Redskins roaring out of the gate to start the second half, taking the opening kickoff 86 yards to the Saints' 15. On third-and-goal from the 1, Friesz faked to Brooks and hit rookie fullback Cedric Smith in the end zone for a 21-3 lead.
``The punt return for a touchdown and the kickoff return gave them good field position,'' said Saints coach Jim Mora, his team winless after two home games. ``We got ourselves in a hole and it changed the complexion of the game for a second straight week. We have only ourselves to blame.''
by CNB