THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 24, 1994 TAG: 9407240187
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: INDIANA, PA. LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Norv Turner wasn't as excited about Gus Frerotte's touchdown pass as he was the way in which the rookie quarterback performed under the watchful eyes and pressure of a large gathering of family and friends at Indiana (Pa.) University Saturday.
The new Redskins coach wasn't as thrilled with rookie Brian Satterfield's touchdown run and nifty pass receptions as he was the manner in which the former Division II star adjusted to the faster pace of professional football.
And Turner wasn't as impressed with Darryl Morrison's pass defense as he was the thunderous, teeth-rattling, breath-sucking blast the second-year safety laid on Pittsburgh's top draft pick, receiver Charles Johnson of Colorado.
``I told the team that I didn't care if we made a single yard,'' Turner said after watching the Redskins gain far more than that in a 21-14 scrimmage victory over the Steelers. ``I wanted to see individual performances.
``I liked Darryl Morrison coming up and hitting a guy with a pop you could hear all over the stadium; I liked (free agent back Tyrone) Rush getting up after taking a big hit and running back to the huddle, looking for more. I liked the intangibles.''
For sure, there were tangible signs of progress that will capture the coach's imagination when he sits to watch the films today.
Start with Frerotte, from Tulsa who was Washington's seventh-round pick last spring.
Frerotte guided the offense in three of Washington's four series, hitting 11-of-21 passes for 143 yards.
His second pass was horribly overthrown and intercepted by Rod Woodson, but he then completed eight of his next 11 passes, including a 25-yarder to rookie Tydus Winans and an 11-yard touchdown slant to Desmond Howard.
``That's a pass we practice everyday and one you've just got to hit to make it in this league,'' Frerotte said. ``The key was for me to go out and do well today. When Heath (Shuler) gets here, he's going to get a lot of the plays; he'll need them to get ready because of the time he's lost.''
Frerotte got plenty of support from a trio of rookie runners - the North Alabama duo of Satterfield and Rush and William Bell of Georgia Tech.
Rush ran eight times for 43 yards and Bell got 11 carries for 29 yards and scored a touchdown.
Satterfield's stats weren't as glowing - 1 rush, 2 yards and a touchdown, 2 receptions for 22 yards - but both catches were difficult. And the 6-foot, 204-pound fullback candidate blasted through the center of the Pittsburgh goal-line defense to get the Redskins offense untracked.
``Satterfield found out the game's a little faster at this level, but he made the adjustment and a couple of nice catches,'' Turner said. ``Everyone's so caught up in height, weight and 40 (yard) times. The bottom line is whether you can play football.''
Rush, who teamed with Satterfield to guide North Alabama to the NCAA Division II title, hurdled one would-be tackler at the line of scrimmage and may be someone the Redskins need to watch.
``I may be a player from a small school, but I can play pro football,'' he said. ``I'm determined to show them that I can do it. I take everything serious. This is a job and you either can do it or you need to get out.''
Bell, a 203-pound rookie who some scouting services listed as among the 10-best players not drafted, was upset with his performance, despite one spectacular carry on which he reversed his field and turned a 4-yard loss into a 4-yard gain.
``I knew everything wouldn't go my way today, and maybe I set my standards higher than most people - but I'm really disappointed,'' Bell said.
``I missed some assignments I shouldn't have, a guy got by me I should have blocked. And my legs are tired. Maybe that's what two-a-days do to you.''
Defensively, the Redskins held Pittsburgh to just one touchdown until the penultimate play of the scrimmage. Steeler quarterbacks Andy Kelly and Jim Miller combined to hit 16-of-30 passes for 177 yards.
What pleased Turner more was that the Steelers, noted for their ground game, gained just 56 yards on 20 rushes.
``They didn't run all over us,'' Turner beamed. ``I liked that best.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Redskins fullback William Bell is stopped in his tracks by defensive
end Kevin Henry of the Steelers during Saturday's scrimmage.
by CNB