Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 29, 1993 TAG: 9308290169
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
It is the best and toughest division in the NFL, as evidenced by its three straight Super Bowl championships and five of the last seven. It's also so close to call and so balanced behind Dallas, the obvious favorite, that the other four teams could bludgeon one another toward 8-8 records and out of the playoffs.
Richie Petitbon may be in his first season as Washington's head coach, but he has survived the NFC East as the Redskins' defensive boss since 1978. That's why his team's play in its preseason windup, Friday night's 17-3 yawner over the New York Jets, so disappointed him.
This wasn't former coach-psychologist Joe Gibbs, downplaying a performance in an attempt to push the right buttons before the Sept. 6 opener with Dallas at RFK Stadium. Petitbon was just stating the obvious.
"It wasn't good," he said. "It wasn't a total disaster, but we made far too many mistakes."
Petitbon was asked if, considering the Jets didn't cross the goal line, his defense hadn't played well. He did tap-dance around that one a bit.
If the Redskins were bad, the Jets are pitiful. They were 0-4 in the preseason and look like a 4-12 team, which they were last year before adding quarterback Boomer Esiason. Only the rebuilding job in New England by coach Bill Parcells may keep the Jets from crashing into the AFC East cellar.
It was only a preseason game, but it exposed the Redskins' weaknesses. The regular season hasn't started, and already Washington is only an injury or two from a sub-.500 record.
The loss of star offensive tackle Jim Lachey for the season, following knee surgery, is a major cut. It is likely that only the loss of quarterback Mark Rypien or cornerback Darrell Green could be more devastating.
That was very evident in the first half Friday night, when Jets defensive end Jeff Lageman rushed past Mo Elewonibi - Lachey's replacement - more than the Redskins' running backs did. One more hit on tackle Joe Jacoby's right knee could finish him and leave Washington with far too little up front.
While the Redskins will be helped by more versatility in their offense - Earnest Byner will be much more than a complementary back with his move to fullback - Washington's receiving corps isn't nearly as fearsome as it has been. The loss to Phoenix of free agent Gary Clark, the little big man from Pulaski County, removes Rypien's favorite target.
The 'Skins best receiver in the preseason has been Art Monk, whom they are trying to bench, just ahead of former VMI star Mark Stock, who will make the 47-man active roster Monday. Desmond Howard still has to prove he was worth the two first-round draft picks Washington peddled to move up and select the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner. Rickey Sanders can't seem to get open.
Defensively, Washington should be improved from a unit that only gave up more than two touchdowns in three of 16 games last season. The pass rush appears more frequently, as Esiason learned while he too often waited too long to throw. There's depth at linebacker, where rookies Rick Hamilton and Lamont Hollinquest have been impressive. The secondary is more talented than in '92, too.
Chip Lohmiller has to rank among the NFL's top five kickers, but Kelly Goodburn is an inconsistent punter. If the Redskins are going to be as productive on returns as in recent seasons, then Howard must show some flash, or Petitbon must decide to go with rookie Reggie Brooks as the starter at running back and make Brian Mitchell the primary return man again. That isn't likely to happen by the start of the season.
Only the continued holdout of rushing star Emmitt Smith can corral the Cowboys with the rest of the NFC East pack. With quarterback Troy Aikman's back healthy and Smith running, Dallas looks like a 13-3 team at worst. The New York Giants are solid offensively but have questions on defense. Philadelphia lost heavily in the free-agent summer and has a very tough schedule, but any team with Randall Cunningham at quarterback is dangerous.
The Giants 9-7? The Eagles 8-8? Phoenix, starting to rise from the ashes of eight straight losing seasons, could get to 7-9. Were the Cardinals in any other division, they'd be printing tickets for a wild-card game.
The Redskins appear to be a 10-6 team at best, and that could be a stretch. If Rypien doesn't continue the comeback form he's shown in preseason, Washington will be talking a different deficit than the one Bill Clinton always brings up.
The first seven games include five NFC East dates and appearances at AFC championship contenders Miami and Buffalo. If Washington is 4-3 by the first week of November, it's a good season.
The Redskins could have as many as eight or nine rookies on their 53-man roster (including six inactive players). If that sounds like a lot, it is. If that sounds like a team that's going to have to trim about $7 million from this year's payroll to get under the projected salary cap next year, it is.
If that sounds like a rebuilding team, it is. If that also sounds like a playoff team, it is.
by CNB