Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990 TAG: 9006300035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sanders has been superb as part of the Washington Redskins' acclaimed receiving trio. He's caught 158 passes in the last two seasons.
"I want to play in the Pro Bowl," Sanders said.
That's not an unreachable or unreasonable goal, but besides having opposing secondaries with which to contend, he also has teammates Art Monk and Gary Clark.
"In trying to get into the Pro Bowl, Art, Gary and me all probably hurt one another," said Sanders, finishing up a stay at Clark's "Say No to Drugs" youth camp on Friday. "The Pro Bowl is all about popularity. When you're splitting up the receiving like we do, people think of us together, and they're probably not going to pick just one.
"The last two Pro Bowls, I think I've been robbed, but I'm sure some others do, too. You just go out and perform and play to win and, if you get the recognition, that's nice. I'd like to be in the Pro Bowl, but what's been harder is being out of the playoffs for two years after winning the Super Bowl. That's a tough blow to take."
When Washington coach Joe Gibbs wants the three receivers in the game, he calls "Posse" - hence, the trio's nickname. Last season, Gibbs turned to his receivers to bail out the club. Over the last five games, all victories, Monk, Clark and Sanders combined for 89 receptions for 1,434 yards and eight touchdowns. Because of their performance, Washington set a club record with 6,253 total yards.
Monk, Clark and Sanders each eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards in 1989, only the second time in NFL history a club has had three 1,000-yard catchers. The other was the 1980 San Diego Chargers, for whom Gibbs was the offensive coordinator. Sanders said he expects Gibbs to utilize the three-wideout set-up more frequently from the start of this season.
"I think the coach has relaxed a bit," Sanders said. "He saw the two-back thing didn't work out great, and when we were in the game [as a receiving threesome] we could throw the ball all over the field and put points up quickly. I think we'll go with three wides a lot more. What's been winning for us?"
Sanders, preparing to start his fifth NFL season, came to the Redskins from the USFL's Houston Gamblers. To end the 1987 season, the 5-foot-11 Southwest Texas State product emerged from the shadows of Monk and Clark in Super Bowl XXII, when he caught nine passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the 42-10 rout of Denver.
That broke Pittsburgh Hall of Famer Lynn Swann's 161-yard Super Bowl record, but the game's MVP trophy went to Washington quarterback Doug Williams.
"I don't know how much competition you'd say there is among Art, Gary and me," Sanders said. "I think we play well together, and when we're in there together, we help one another because somebody's going to get open. But we all can't catch 100 passes.
"The coaches expect a lot of us. Even when the quarterback throws the ball 10 yards over our heads, I think the coaches think we ought to have it. Maybe some people are spoiled because of what we've done, but that's just the way it is."
Last season, the Redskins ran three basic offensive sets. One was with the three wideouts and one back, usually Earnest Byner, who caught 54 passes from the H-back spot. When the 'Skins used two backs and two receivers, the pass catchers were Monk and Clark. When Gibbs used two tight ends, one back and one receiver, the wideout was Sanders.
"We all end up playing about the same," Sanders said.
Sanders said his personal goals for this season include 85 catches - 80 is his high, last season - and 15 touchdowns. He owns a share of the Washington club record, with 12 TD catches in 1988. Last year, Sanders had only four touchdowns; Clark had nine and Monk eight. San Francisco's Jerry Rice (17) was the only NFL receiver with more than 15 touchdowns.
"Getting 15 touchdowns is tough, and even tougher with the kind of offensive talent we have," Sanders said.
by CNB