THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 17, 1994 TAG: 9410170137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
There was never a doubt where the blame would go for the Washington Redskins' bizarre 19-16 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday.
Heath Shuler wanted it.
Heath Shuler got it.
The Redskins' rookie quarterback threw a lifetime-high five interceptions, the last of which set up Todd Peterson's 29-yard field goal with 4:56 left in overtime. That saddled the Redskins with a league-high 11th consecutive conference loss and will force coach Norv Turner to re-evaluate who starts this week at Indianapolis.
Turner said he would make the decision later this week.
``I've got 44 other players to be concerned about,'' Turner said. ``We came up short because of our play at quarterback.
``I'm not prepared for a performance like that. I am disappointed. I'm not sure he threw one (interception) where the other guy made a good play. There were bad reads, bad throws.''
And bad memories, of a game he played long, long ago.
``Three is the most interceptions I've thrown in a game - and that was in third grade,'' offered Shuler, who spent halftime sick to his stomach due to a two-day case of the flu and limped out of RFK with a sprained right ankle that happened when end Clyde Simmons shoved tackle Tre' Johnson into his leg in the second quarter. ``Give them some credit, but I also accept the blame for this one. I just turned the ball over too much.''
The worst of the bunch - Terry Hoage's pick of a pass for Desmond Howard one play before Peterson's game-winning kick - came after an overtime the Cardinals forced with a controversial 5-yard TD pass from Steve Beuerlein to Ricky Proehl with 19 seconds left in regulation.
Proehl came down with the ball in the end zone a second before cornerback Alan Grant stole it from his hands, but still long enough to be a touchdown.
``Ask the guys in there,'' Turner said, pointing to the locker room, ``and they'll tell you that was an interception.''
After a brief conference, the officials disagreed. Regulation ended 16-16.
On Washington's third possession of the extra period, Howard thought the Cardinals were going to blitz and broke off the pattern he was supposed to run. But Arizona sat back and Shuler tried to force a pass he later admitted he never should have thrown.
Hoage, a former Redskin, returned the interception 23 yards to the Washington 12.
Cardinals coach Buddy Ryan didn't waste a moment, sending Peterson on the field for the kick that dropped the Redskins to 1-6, elevated the Cardinals to 2-4.
``It's not like we beat a great football team,'' Ryan said, hardly savoring the victory. ``But we needed to win badly. We are a good football team, but we must beat a team like Dallas or somebody like that to show something.''
Meanwhile, Turner and the players seemed devastated by this defeat. Shuler called it his hardest loss ever. Several teammates concurred. For them, it was a day of lost opportunities, a day when a Redskins defense ranked last in the league kept the Cardinals at bay for all but two of their 19 possessions.
In overtime, Chip Lohmiller's 51-yard field goal try was blocked by Seth Joyner, after which Peterson's 46-yard field goal faded wide right. Ironically, Peterson tried out at Redskin Park for Lohmiller's job earlier in the week, but the former Navy kicker was signed by the Cardinals the following day.
In the second quarter, Shuler, who ended up 11-of-32 for 198 yards, picked up a rare Cardinals' blitz to hit running back Brian Mitchell with a 46-yard scoring pass and run that gave the Redskins a 7-0 lead that looked like it might hold up against an inept Arizona offense.
The rest of the day Shuler was either wild high or practically giving the ball to an Arizona defense that, surprisingly, hardly ever blitzed. Pressed for an explanation, answers became excuses - like the fact he can't grip the football because of the amount of shellac on them at the start of the game.
The legitimate excuse Shuler had - the sprained ankle, which he said prevented him from pushing off on his follow-through - he brushed off. He didn't even tell Turner that it was bothering him.
``I guess that's selfish or stubborn or something,'' Shuler said. ``Just grittin' your teeth and saying `I'm a big guy, I can take it.' Sometimes when you're tough, it comes back to haunt you.''
The 50,019 - 6,435 no-shows - would agree. The Redskins didn't come close to another offensive touchdown.
Cornerback Darrell Green scored on a 27-yard interception with 1:09 left in the first half, propelling Washington to a 14-3 advantage.
Washington's other points came on a tactical gift from Ryan. With 4:57 left in regulation, and the Cardinals mired at their 2, he instructed Jeff Feagles to take a safety rather than punt the ball. That upped the Redskins' lead to 16-9.
``We needed a TD to win regardless of what happened,'' Ryan explained. ``I could just see us getting a bad punt and them getting field-goal position right away.''
Feagles' ensuing free kick bounded by Mitchell and he was able to return it to only the 29. Washington's offense stalled in 3 plays, setting up the Arizona drive ending in Proehl's touchdown grab.
``I don't think he'd do that against an offensive team he was concerned about,'' Turner said. ``It worked out because we aren't able to take the ball and drive it. In a situation like that, you keep the ball and make sure they don't get it back.''
Instead, Shuler was far too generous for the Redskins to win, and perhaps, to remain Turner's starting quarterback. ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
Redskins defenders Darryl Morrison, center, and Tom Carter battle
Cardinals receiver Randal Hill.
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/Staff
Ronald Moore, left, slips away from the Redskins' Kurt Gouveia and
Andre Collins for a touchdown.
by CNB