Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 5, 1994 TAG: 9409060057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
An RFK Stadium crowd of 52,930 - the Redskins' 206th consecutive sellout - would beg to differ. They thought the Redskins were among the 3,524 no-shows.
To begin the NFL's 75th anniversary season, what's expected to be a very average AFC club treated Turner's team much like Seahawks defensive end Brent Williams did Washington's prize rookie, Heath Shuler.
On a first-down play late in the first half to start Shuler's second NFL series, Williams grabbed the first-round draft pick and flung him to the ground like a tackling dummy with handles.
That already was the second time the Redskins' $19 million man was sacked, as Seattle rolled to an easy 28-7 victory and showed why Turner named John Friesz Washington's starting quarterback.
The Seahawks hadn't won an opener since 1988, but behind two touchdowns and 100 rushing yards by Fairfax resident and former Ferrum and Virginia running back Chris Warren, Seattle dominated the game after Washington scored on the game's first series with Desmond Howard's first career touchdown catch.
The Redskins ranked 26th among 28 clubs in defense last season, and this club doesn't appear to be any better. The offense? Well, there are many more questions to be answered in Turner's area of expertise than who should start at quarterback.
What was perhaps most intriguing about the Redskins' opener was the club's future may have been on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Ray Roberts, the former All-ACC offensive tackle at UVa, recognized something familiar from his left-side spot on Seattle's line, protecting poised second-year pro Rick Mirer.
``The Redskins are a team just like we were a year or two ago,'' Roberts said. ``It's the same thing, a lot of young guys, and they want to break in a rookie quarterback.
``It isn't easy. We know that from last year with Rick. But you have to start somewhere, and then you stick with it. People will see the Redskins get better as the year goes on.''
Yes, it wasn't so long ago that Seattle had as much personnel shuffling as Washington has experienced this season. It was only last year the Seahawks, in Mirer, had their own well-paid, highly touted first-rounder whom they decided to start at quarterback from Day One. The result was a 6-10 record.
Turner wanted to start Shuler in the same fashion, but when the Tennessee alumnus held out and missed too much training camp, the choice became obvious. And Friesz, who completed 17 of 32 passes, may be one of Washington's better players.
It's certain the $900,000 the Redskins are paying Friesz in a one-year deal was well-spent. And if Shuler continues to struggle as he did in his debut Sunday, Friesz should get more than enough playing time to compile a nice reel of videotape to sell his future.
``I can see where people say Heath and I are alike because there are similarities there,'' Mirer said after a 17-for-28 day marked by good reads and accurate throws. ``What I saw of Heath, there are things we do that seem the same.
``He's not afraid to make something happen out there. When he gets in trouble, he's not afraid to use his athleticism. He's going to go through a lot of what I went through last year.
``He had some balls dropped and the next thing you know, it's fourth down. Although our situations aren't exactly alike, I know what he's going through.
``When you're young and you're playing for a team that's trying to build, you feel that there are times you can't get a break. Maybe you throw a nice pass and the guy makes the catch, but he just can't get two feet down [in bounds],'' which happened to Shuler on a throw to Howard in the fourth quarter.
``You just have to keep plugging away, keep learning. There's one thing a lot of people forget about the NFL. There always are teams that don't have very good records, but they still have good players. That's one thing you learn quickly.''
This season, the Redskins will be one of those teams, as they learned quickly.
Write to Jack Bogaczyk at the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, 24010-2491.
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