THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407290708
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CARLISLE, PA. LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
From the first moment he heard what coach Norv Turner had in mind for him as a Washington Redskin, Henry Ellard said he knew he was about to start the most exciting chapter of his life.
Never mind that people would expect him to replace the sainted Art Monk, football's all-time leading receiver and symbol of the Joe Gibbs days-of-plenty.
Never mind that at age 33 and after 12 seasons with the oft-moribund Los Angeles Rams, people questioned whether Ellard was finished as a threat to anyone but himself.
Never mind that part of Turner's plan for him was to sacrifice his statistics in order to school Desmond Howard, Tydus Winans, Stephen Hobbs and the rest of the Redskins kiddie corps of wideouts.
``I talked to Norv and I knew right away this would be a good place for me,'' Ellard said Thursday after running extra 100-yard dashes after practice to maintain his edge. ``And I feel right at home here, probably because I know the system so well. Part of my role is to teach Desmond and the guys what's going on, help them make plays. I love it.''
That's exactly what Turner was banking on when he asked Ellard to sign with the Redskins. They'd worked together in Los Angeles when Turner was an assistant with the Rams. He knew the positives Ellard would bring with him.
``He is absolutely one of the best at running pass routes I've ever seen,'' Turner said. ``And there's an enthusiasm that's infectious. It was part of what I wanted here.''
So much of Turner's attack is predicated on precision, being at an exact spot at an exact moment, making sharp cuts on the short routes to free up space between the receiver and the cornerback.
Even after 12 seasons and 593 receptions, Ellard has the ability to regularly turn a defensive back inside-out.
``Part of that is God-given; I always could run precise routes,'' he said. ``I also took what I had and expanded on it. I'm not as fast as I used to be, but I make up for that with quickness and experience.''
It's not surprising for Ellard to be the first receiver to run his route the past couple of days as the Redskins have installed some of their more sophisticated strategy. When he's finished, he cruises back to where Howard, Winans, Hobbs and others are standing and waits for questions.
``Actually, it's better that they see the right way to do it,'' he said. ``It keeps me sharp, too.''
Ellard understands why Howard, a former Heisman Trophy winner who has just 26 catches in two seasons, has struggled.
``Sometimes, the system isn't right for a player,'' he said. ``And Des had the Posse, too. He didn't get an opportunity right away. Then, there's the Heisman Trophy. That's pressure I wouldn't understand, but I know how it mounts in the eyes of the fans.
``They want to see production. Sometimes, you can do without the publicity.''
Ellard was a second-round pick of the Rams after having one big season at Fresno State. He was injured almost immediately upon arrival, then sat behind Preston Dennard waiting for a shot. He finally got his break when Dennard was injured in 1984.
He left the Rams as the team's all-time leader in catches, receiving yards, total yards and 100-yard games. Over the last six seasons, despite the return of Chuck Knox as coach and his emphasis on run offense, Ellard trails only Jerry Rice and Sterling Sharpe in yards receiving. He is 239 yards shy of becoming the 10th player in league history to hit 10,000 yards in receptions.
Yet conventional wisdom says he comes to Washington as the ultimate stop-gap measure, someone with experience to plug in until a younger, better, bigger wideout can be found.
``That doesn't bother me,'' he said. ``I don't mind being underrated. I've been that way all my life.''
Just 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Ellard played football and ran track at Hoover High in Fresno. But no one ever thought he'd remain a football player.
``People looked at my friends, all of whom were bigger than me, and said, `Those guys will be in the NFL someday,' '' he recalled. ``Me? They figured I'd be a good banker or something. I was an average Joe, fit in with everybody.
``But I've always loved the competition and I never took anything for granted.''
After four games last year, he led the league in receiving. Then the Rams' passing game fell apart because of injuries and quarterback Jim Everett's ineffectiveness. Ellard said he's confident he can get off to the same type of start this season and maintain it.
``My body doesn't feel like I have been doing this for 12 years,'' he said. ``This is great, like I'm starting over again. I feel like a rookie, and I can't wait for the fans to start whooping and hollering.
``When I thought Redskins, I thought about being on the home team at RFK for once. I remember what it was like going in there as the opposition. There's energy there, adrenaline, and I'm going to use it to make me better.
SHULER UPDATE: Quarterback Heath Shuler, Washington's unsigned No. 1 draft pick, flew to Kansas City to meet with agent Tom Condon on Thursday and review the Redskins' latest offer - a $2.7 million-a-year salary and $5 million signing bonus. Redskins general manager Charley Casserly was guardedly optimistic about the meaning behind Shuler's travels. It could mean they were either ready to step up negotiations or planning strategy for an even more protracted holdout, Casserly said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BILL ABOURJILLIE
Wide receiver Henry Ellard says playing for the Redskins is the most
exciting chapter in his NFL career.
by CNB