THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 4, 1995 TAG: 9509040092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
There was no evidence of anything like this during the preseason, not even a hint that the $25 million owner Jack Kent Cooke threw at high-priced free agents last offseason would pay this kind of immediate dividend.
But Sunday at once-again rockin', rollin' RFK Stadium, Redskin after brand-new Washington Redskin turned in key plays in the home team's stunning 27-7 whipping of the Arizona Cardinals.
``When we first came in, we talked about the reason for all the changes,'' explained running back Terry Allen, a free-agent pickup cast adrift by the Minnesota Vikings. ``One, they wanted to win. Another thing they wanted to change was losing at home. We took care of that today.''
Indeed, the Redskins stopped a nine-game home losing streak that stretched back two seasons and was tied for longest in team history. They also snapped a 15-game losing streak against NFC East rivals and stoned a five-game losing streak to the once-lowly Cardinals.
It started on the game's first series, when free-agent safety Stanley Richard punched the ball out of a Cardinals receiver's hands and into those of fellow free-agent safety James Washington, blunting an early Arizona drive.
Later, free-agent linebacker Marvcus Patton dropped into coverage to pilfer a woeful pass from beleaguered Cardinals quarterback Dave Krieg.
Krieg entered a game the Cards were 3 1/2-point favorites to win needing 111 yards to supplant Sonny Jurgensen as the game's 13th all-time leading passer. He finished one of his worst career performances - 10 for 22 - 20 yards shy.
``He played like the rest of us,'' coach Buddy Ryan groused. ``There wasn't anyone who played well.''
On offense, Allen rushed 26 times for 131 of Washington's 259 ground yards. The Redskins hadn't chewed up that many yards in a regular-season game since November, 1987, when they got 299 yards against the Buffalo Bills.
Allen became the first running back in six years - or since then-Redskin Gerald Riggs - to go over 100 yards against a Buddy Ryan-coached defense.
``When we started this thing in July, we said we weren't talented enough to win if we were dominant in just one area,'' an obviously relieved Redskins coach Norv Turner said. ``This was as good a team win as I've been around. They're as fine a defensive team as we'll play, and our offensive line did one hell of a job.''
So often on the short end of ball-possession last season, the Redskins executed a startling reversal against the Cards. Washington ran 69 plays, 20 more than Arizona, and kept the ball for 33:19.
If there was an area in which Cooke didn't get his money's worth, it was at quarterback.
Heath Shuler helped stake the Redskins to a 10-7 lead by knocking the pins out from under safety Lorenzo Lynch on a 58-yard scoring run by rookie Michael Westbrook. But with 1:08 to go in the first half, Shuler was flattened and pinned by 295-pound defensive end Clyde Simmons.
The second-year pro suffered a mildly separated right shoulder. Shuler will have stress tests today at Arlington Hospital, after which a more accurate determination regarding the $2 million-a-year quarterback's absence will be made. A minimum of two weeks seems likely.
That was the only break that didn't go Washington's way - and that's open to debate. Shuler completed just 5 of 12 passes for 47 yards. Fellow second-year man Gus Frerotte, who received a loud ovation even as a dazed Shuler was led from the field, gave Washington everything they could have hoped for behind center.
Frerotte hit 9 of 15 passes, two for touchdowns. The prettiest throw of the day was his 73-yard scoring strike to Leslie Shepherd that gave Washington a 20-7 lead late in the third quarter. It came as Frerotte was reeling backwards to avoid an Arizona blitz, and he put just enough air under the ball to allow the wide-open Shepherd to clutch it to his chest without breaking stride.
Frerotte, who didn't take a single snap in practice last week, capped his solid relief outing with a 2-yard touchdown flip to tight end Scott Galbraith, another offseason free-agent pickup.
``I had a lot of help,'' Frerotte said. ``The running game was great. The offensive line deserves the game ball. They blocked their butts off.
``James Washington's interception really turned things around. . . . Norv called a great game.''
Despite two close losses against Arizona last season, the Redskins were confident their offensive schemes against Ryan's aggressive, sell-out, ever-changing defenses were sound. They sought something to take away Arizona's dogged pursuit - and found it by using Shepherd and Westbrook to run the ball.
After the Richard-Washington combination interception, Shepherd's 28 yards on an end-around set up Eddie Murray's 36-yard field goal.
On the first play after Greg Davis hit the upright with a 51-yard field goal attempt, Shuler handed to Allen sweeping right. Allen gave the ball to Westbrook coming the other way. The No. 1 pick from Colorado had 25 yards of open field and Shuler as part of a convoy of blockers.
At the Arizona 35, Shuler got the angle on Lynch, then cut him down with a crisp cross-block. Westbrook avoided two tacklers by cutting back at the five and waltzed into the end zone to complete a 58-yard play.
``That's the way the play is designed,'' Shuler said, his arm in a sling. ``I'm supposed to get out there and get in someone's way. Hopefully, it's not our guy's.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Lawrence Jackson, Staff
Washington receiver Michael Westbrook prances into the end zone for
his first NFL touchdown, much to the delight of the fans at RFK
Stadium.
by CNB