THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507300224
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD. LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
The Washington Redskins were short on points and long on injuries during their scrimmage Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers won, 17-10, in front of 6,200 spectators at Bobcat Stadium when backup quarterback Jim Miller led two touchdown drives on Pittsburgh's final 10-play possession. Redskins coach Norv Turner wasn't upset about that; the points came against a defensive unit made up primarily of rookies and free-agent longshots.
What bothered Turner was an injury suffered by rookie center Cory Raymer. The team's second-round pick, who had ended his holdout on Wednesday, fractured his left ankle on the Redskins' third snap. He will have surgery this morning and could be sidelined the next 12 weeks.
``There's a fine line we walk,'' Turner said. ``You've got to practice to improve. . . . You need to do it to be ready to play come September. But you hate to lose a guy, especially a guy you took in the second round.''
Raymer, a first-team All-American last year at Wisconsin who was expected to push for playing time, went down when guard Vernice Smith and the Pittsburgh lineman he was blocking lost their balance and toppled onto his leg.
``You knew right away something was wrong,'' said Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler.
Ironically, Smith had been groomed as the backup center to John Gesek during Raymer's holdout.
Later, defensive end Dexter Nottage also went down. He suffered a mildly sprained knee and, according to trainer Bubba Tyer, could resume practicing by midweek.
The Redskins led, 10-3, after three possessions.
After Shuler's first drive netted nothing when rookie running back Larry Jones was stopped twice from the Pittsburgh 1-yard line, backup quarterback Gus Frerotte and running back Tyrone Rush led Washington on an 8-play, 50-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal by Chip Lohmiller.
Frerotte had the play of the scrimmage, a 36-yard strike down the middle to tight end Frank Wycheck.
Shuler returned on the Redskins' next series. This time, he finished the job.
After William Bell, Rush and Jones combined to run for 36 yards, Shuler hit Olanda Truitt for 21 yards across the middle. Five plays later, Truitt cut across the field and Shuler found him in stride for an 8-yard touchdown and seven-point lead.
``Last year, I think I proved I could play at this level,'' said Truitt, who caught two passes in '94, one for a 77-yard touchdown against Tampa Bay. ``Now, it's a question of getting acclimated to a playing situation and getting more plays.''
With Michael Westbrook holding out and Leslie Sheperd and Patrick Newman sidelined with injuries, Truitt led all Redskins receivers with four catches for 45 yards.
Other Redskins Turner said stood out were Shuler and Rush.
Shuler, the second-year quarterback, started slowly but completed 8 of 13 passes for 72 yards.
Rush, attempting to come back from a series of neck problems last season, carried just four times but gained 21 yards.
Jones, a rookie from Miami, paced the Redskins with 11 carries and 53 yards. More often than not, the 235-pounder pushed the pile back. Turner was impressed enough to overlook Jones' goal-line fumble Saturday, one of several Jones has suffered this week.
``Hopefully, that's taken care of by growing up,'' Turner said. ``It doesn't take long to realize that if you're lazy with the ball, you're going to lose it. Defensive guys at this level are great at stripping the ball. Hopefully, Larry learns his lesson.''
Miller, drafted last year out of Michigan State but injured early in camp, made the most of Pittsburgh's final series. First, he engineered a 65-yard drive that ended with LaMonte Coleman's 1-yard plunge and tied the scrimmage at 10.
Then, aided by a 28-yard pass-interference penalty against rookie Scott Turner, Miller polished off another 65-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Andre Hastings. He beat free-agent rookie Eric Sutton.
Washington had one more possession. Turner, who on Friday said only Shuler and Frerotte would play, inserted quarterback Trent Green, who moved the offense to midfield before throwing an interception on the last play of the afternoon. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cory Raymer suffered a broken leg when Skins guard Vernice Smith and
a Steelers lineman landed on top of him.
by CNB