Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 5, 1994 TAG: 9409060060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
In the season-opening 28-7 loss to Seattle, the Redskins lost starting strong safety Keith Taylor for the season. Taylor underwent surgery Sunday night for a torn right Achilles' tendon.
Taylor was signed as a free agent from New Orleans after 1993 starter Danny Copeland surprised the Redskins and retired at minicamp in May.
Taylor's spot was filled by Martin Bayless, a former Kansas City safety signed during training camp.
NEW FACES: In Norv Turner's debut as Washington's 22nd head coach, the Redskins had 12 new starters in their first 24 from last year's opener, including kicking specialists.
That didn't include Brian Mitchell, who started at running back in 1993 but now is the 'Skins' fullback. The new dozen includes punter Reggie Roby, who joined the club before the second game last year.
The offensive starters that weren't on the field to begin last season were wide receivers Desmond Howard and Henry Ellard, tackle Jim Lachey (injured in '93), tight end Ethan Horton and quarterback John Friesz.
The new defensive starters were end Tony Woods, tackle Lamar Mills, linebackers Ken Harvey and Tyronne Stowe and safeties Darryl Morrison and Taylor.
Stowe, acquired in an off-season deal with Arizona, got the start at middle linebacker ahead of veteran Kurt Gouveia, who took a pay cut from $1.1 million to about $600,000 this summer after being the Redskins' leading tackler each of the past two years.
Gouveia started 32 of the club's 34 games in 1992 and '93, including all 16 last year.
The Redskins' 53-man roster includes 24 players who weren't with the club last year, and 33 of the 53 weren't around when Joe Gibbs coached his last Washington game in the 1992 NFL playoffs.
GOOD TIMES: The Redskins, coming off a 4-12 finish and picked by most prognosticators to finish last in the NFC East, haven't had back-to-back losing seasons since 1967-68, the longest such streak in the NFL.
Only three other major-league professional clubs have longer streaks of consistent success. In baseball, St. Louis' last consecutive losing years were 1958 and '59. The NHL's Boston Bruins had back-to-back losing years in '65-66 and '66-67. The Montreal Canadiens haven't had two losers in a row since '40-41 and '41-42.
OH! HENRY: Veteran receiver Henry Ellard, signed by Washington as a free agent after 11 season with the Los Angeles Rams, made seven catches in the season opener, reaching 600 career receptions with a 12-yard grab of a John Friesz pass on the last play of the third quarter.
Ellard is the 12th player in NFL history with 600 receptions. The all-time catches list is led by former Redskin Art Monk, who is in his first season with the New York Jets. Another ex-Redskin, Gary Clark of the Cardinals, is in 11th place, just ahead of Ellard.
SCOUTING: A year from Sunday, the NFL will have two new teams on the field, and the expansion clubs will be spending Sundays this season scouting.
Taking notes Sunday in the RFK Stadium pressbox were Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin and Carolina Panthers president and general manager Mike McCormack.
STILL GOING: When Redskins veteran middle linebacker Monte Coleman played Sunday in passing situations and on special teams, he moved into second place in linebacker longevity in NFL history.
The only LB who has played more seasons than Coleman's 16 is Cleveland's Clay Matthews, who started his 17th NFL year Sunday against Cincinnati. Ted Hendricks, Jack ``Hacksaw'' Reynolds, Jack Pardee, Chuck Howley and Ray Nitschke all played 15 seasons.
QUICK KICKS: Howard's first career touchdown reception for Washington's only score came in the former Heisman Trophy winner's 33rd career game. ... It was Chris Warren's seventh career 100-yard rushing game. The Seahawks' Pro Bowl rusher of last year had about 50 friends and family members in the seats at RFK. Warren graduated from Robinson High in Northern Virginia before playing at Virginia and Ferrum.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB