THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 11, 1994 TAG: 9410110403
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jim Ducibella
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
The eyes have it. Eagles safety Greg Jackson knows that. Six years and a thousand plays in the NFL has taught him that the quarterback's eyes are a roadmap to a play.
After two starts in the NFL, Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler knows it, too. He's heard it a thousand times. Never experienced it. Never played it out in the frantic blur that is pro football.
Ultimately, Sunday night's Redskins-Eagles confrontation at dreary Veterans Stadium came down to who would blink first, Shuler or Jackson.
Shuler blinked. Jackson won.
Here's how: Less than a minute to play, Eagles leading, 21-17. Washington ball, third-and-10 at the Philly 33. Shuler drops to throw.
``He kept looking at me the whole time,'' Jackson explained. ``And I figured he was going to try to throw to the weak side.''
That is opposite where the tight end lines up, the side of the field Jackson and, this play, corner Mark McMillian, were guarding.
Whatever doubt Jackson had was obliterated an instant later. Shuler pump-faked. Film study told him that meant Shuler was coming to his side.
Jackson took a step to the center of the field to con Shuler, then broke for the sidelines. Desmond Howard was a step ahead of McMillian.
The ball and Jackson arrived simultaneously. Easy interception.
For the Eagles, it was a sight for sore eyes. They are 4-1 and headed to Dallas on Sunday.
For Shuler, it's back to the drawing board, the practice field, the film room, everywhere the novice quarterback goes to learn his craft. This time, however, he retreats having launched two of the Redskins' most spectacular TD passes in a couple of seasons.
The 27-yard throw to Tydus Winans with five seconds left in the first half was perfectly lofted just beyond the reach of Otis Smith. So was the 41-yard scoring strike Shuler and Winans combined on two possessions later.
Nothing that had happened previously suggested Shuler was capable of such flamboyance. His first five series of downs were wretched; six passes attempted, none completed.
But with a minute to play in the first half, something clicked, however briefly. Shuler hit his stride, threw like a man worth $19.25 million, if that's possible.
What he did once in the first half, he did twice after intermission. Or he would have done, if not for Jackson. Still, to drive his team from their own 7 to the Philly 33, on the road, hostile crowd bellowing in his ear. ...
``What he did today, he proved he's going to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL,'' was how Randall Cunningham saw it.
The sentiment was the same after Shuler's first start, against Dallas. But there was no reason to believe it that day. Now there is.
What's needed now is consistency. Two-and-a-half drives are hardly enough. The second TD pass to Winans was the only third-down play Shuler converted in 10 tries.
One of his strengths was supposed to be the speed with which he got the ball to the running backs on those short swing passes that are an integral part of coach Norv Turner's offensive.
Frankly, he's shown an appalling lack of touch on those plays. He can sling the ball on a line across the middle. He can fling it high and deep. Whether he can drop it softly and gently to a teammate who is a few yards away and just turning upfield should determine whether Shuler becomes a thrower or a passer.
Unlike what you may have heard on TV Sunday night, that's yet to be determined. But it seems a Mr. Taylor, himself once an NFL player, opined that the newest Redskins QB doesn't have it.
I don't like to argue with anyone gutsy enough to hang a windchime from his ear, but I've found the stats from LT's first two starts.
Fumbles forced: 0. Fumbles recovered: 0. Sacks: 0. Interceptions: 0. Passes defensed: 1.
Yes, he had 16 tackles, 11 of them solo, and a prelude of things to come. But cynics would argue that at that stage of his career, opponents were just testing the rookie, seeing what the kid was made of. Who knows? Maybe they ran so often in his direction he couldn't help but make plays.
Two games into his career, he was still Lawrence Taylor. LT was short for lieutenant. What he achieved and what he became was the compilation of skill, knowledge and experience.
So will it be with Shuler.
``I told Norv before the game I agreed with his decision to play him early and get him all the experience possible,'' Philly coach Rich Kotite allowed after Jackson's play. ``He's for real, and I think he showed that tonight. He's going to get better, and this game possibly did him a world of good.''
We'll see. The next pair of eyes Shuler faces belong to Buddy Ryan. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Eagles safety Greg Jackson cuts in front of Desmond Howard of the
Redskins to intercept Heath Shuler's pass at end of the game.
by CNB