Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510090112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA LENGTH: Medium
``Hopefully, we'll get a chance to throw the ball down the field, but when we do, why don't you line up at quarterback and let that defensive lineman knock your tail off?'' the Philadelphia Eagles coach said, snapping at a reporter.
Rhodes' testiness is a product of two factors that have combined to leave the Eagles (2-3) with an offense ranked 26th of 30 teams.
The Eagles, whose poor tackle play has left them vulnerable on the perimeter, have given up 19 sacks, more than everybody in
NFL but the Arizona Cardinals, who also have 19, and the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars.
And Philadelphia has been unable to generate big plays. The Eagles' longest run has covered 28 yards, their longest pass 33.
By contrast, the Redskins (2-3) have had 23 plays covering 20 yards or more, the third-best total in the NFL. Rookie wide receiver Michael Westbrook alone has seven, including a 58-yard reverse.
Why stop now, asks Redskins coach Norv Turner?
``We've got guys who can make plays up the field and we have to take advantage of that in order to score points,'' he said. ``Gus [Frerotte] is able to throw the ball up the field.''
Frerotte threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns in Washington's 27-23 upset of the Dallas Cowboys on Oct.1. He has combined with Westbrook, Henry Ellard and Leslie Shepherd to give the Redskins a passing game to complement Terry Allen, third in the league in rushing with 461 yards.
They go against a Philadelphia defense that is strongest at linebacker, where former Redskin Kurt Gouveia joins Bill Romananowski and William Thomas.
The Eagles started rookie Bobby Taylor at left cornerback last week and got what they expected - pretty good pass coverage and unenthusiastic tackling.
Taylor, Rhodes insisted, will learn to tackle. ``Unless he wants cleat marks up his chest for the rest of his career, he'd better learn,'' the coach said.
Top draft choice Mike Mamula finally broke through and recorded his first two sacks, but the Eagles still aren't sure their two best defensive linemen, William Fuller and Andy Harmon, will be sufficiently recovered from injuries to play.
Fuller, Harmon and others have made some big plays on defense. Now Rhodes is demanding it of his offense, targeting wideout Fred Barnett, who should be the featured receiver in the ball-control passing game the Eagles are using.
``I know we're throwing some short passes, but when your number is called, you have to deliver,'' Rhodes said.
Barnett, who has 20 catches for 213 yards and two touchdowns, agrees.
``This offense is not designed to throw the ball down the field, it's designed to get the ball in our hands,'' he said. ``It's up to us to come up with the big plays.''
One thing the Eagles have been able to do is run, with Ricky Watters and Charlie Garner driving the league's sixth-rated rushing game. Redskins linebacker Ken Harvey knows Philadelphia will try to run between the tackles.
``Like most teams in the NFL, you have to stop the running game and Philadelphia's is a good one,'' Harvey said.
If Washington can choke off the inside run, Harvey and company can concentrate on rushing Rodney Peete, who demonstrated a calm control of the Eagles on Oct.1 in leading them to a 15-10 victory over New Orleans in his first start.
While Harvey tried hard not to denigrate the Eagles' turnstile tackles, he couldn't avoid it.
``For me, that's something that I see and that's something we have to focus on,'' he said.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB