THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180478
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD. LENGTH: 130 lines
The most important letters in the alphabet of factors the Washington Redskins need to improve to become a playoff contender this season are ``G'' and H.''
That's ``G'' as in Gus Frerotte, ``H'' as in Heath Shuler. Both are beginning their third seasons as candidates for the starting quarterback's job. Neither has a lot of time left to make his case.
Yes, there are other questions about the Redskins, who open training camp with a 9 a.m. practice today at Frostburg State University. Will defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, acquired from St. Louis for a No. 1 pick, fortify a line that was 29th against the run and inspire youngsters like Marc Boutte, Richie Owens and Dexter Nottage to reach greater heights?
Will running back Terry Allen, who signed a one-year, $2 million contract Tuesday night, stay healthy enough to duplicate last season's 1,300-yard performance?
Will receiver Michael Westbrook develop from a 35-reception, two-touchdown receiver to a 65- to 70-catch threat with 8-10 touchdowns?
Can mammoth Tre' Johnson be as effective at left guard as he was at right? Can he stay healthy enough to gain more than a passing glance for All-Pro honors?
Can 40-year-old Eddie Murray still kick, or does Scott Blanton have to step forward and handle placekicks and kickoffs and the pressure of helping a team that has lost so many close games get over the hump?
Certainly, there will be more, many more, questions before preseason blends into the last regular season played at RFK Stadium. By this time next year, workers should be putting the finishing touches on owner Jack Kent Cooke's 78,600-seat palace in Prince George's County, Md.
None of those questions, however, will carry as much fan interest as Gus vs. Heath.
Coach Norv Turner swears he won't evaluate the two same way his predecessor, Joe Gibbs, once evaluated field-goal kickers - with an assistant coach on the field, charting every kick, its distance and whether or not it split the uprights.
``We're not going to evaluate every pass,'' Turner said. ``It's going to be more of a feel thing. We're going to pick the best guy. I would like to have one guy clearly win the job in camp and take every snap for 16 games.''
Turner's timetable for deciding on a starter is ``probably after the second, definitely after the third,'' preseason game.
For what it's worth, Turner points out that both men started in victories over the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys last season. Both like the coach's offseason experiment with the shotgun, a ploy that may help Shuler's comfort and confidence since it's more in keeping with what he played at Tennessee.
Retired offensive tackle Jim Lachey told The Washington Post that the players have more confidence in Frerotte, ``because Gus is probably a little more relaxed in the huddle. There were a couple of occasions when both - more with Heath - where they weren't getting the whole play called. When you have a pass and no protection is called, it makes it tougher on the offensive line.
``This is a big training camp, even more so for Heath, because he's got something to prove.''
Lachey added, however, that a couple of stellar practices and scrimmages and Shuler's confidence problem could be a thing of the past. There's no doubt the Bryson City, N.C., native has worked harder this past offseason than following his rookie year.
He's bigger, stronger, more familiar with the system and more relaxed than he was during either of his first two seasons. Whether he can stay healthy and beat out Frerotte will be determined over the next three weeks.
Although every team is brimming with optimism in July, Turner's feel-good approach to this, his third season, appears justified. The young players he has been working into the lineup the past couple of years should have enough experience by now to be steady. A big season from Gilbert should give the Redskins the defensive line force they've been missing since the days of Dave Butz, Charles Mann and Dexter Manley.
They spent their free-agent money sparingly and wisely, picking up veteran receiver Billy Brooks to solidify the wideouts and give Frerotte or Shuler another quality target.
``I'm excited about what we're getting ready to do,'' Turner said. ``We are a different team from last year. We've gotten better with the changes that took place during the offseason and the number of hours guys spent on the practice field.
``When you play as many young guys as we have, you're obviously going to struggle. But you hope it pays dividends down the road. I think that's where we are now. I like the chemistry and mix of this team and I think we have a chance to improve a great deal.'' ILLUSTRATION: CAMP GLANCE
Open practice schedule
Free except for parking. Times are tentative and subject to
change: Thursday, July 18: 9-11 a.m. July 19: 9-11 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.
July 20: Scrimmage against Steelers in Latrobe, Pa. July 22: 9-11
a.m., 4-6 p.m. July 23: Practice vs. Steelers, 3 p.m. July 24: 9-11
a.m. Monday, July 29: 4-6 p.m. July 30: 9-11 a.m. July 31: 4-6 p.m.
Aug. 1: 9-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4: 7:30 p.m. (Beall High School) Aug.
5: 3 p.m. Aug. 6: 9-11 a.m. Aug. 7: 3 p.m. Aug. 8: 9-11 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 13: 4-6 p.m. (Fan Appreciation Day)
Other information
Getting to Frostburg: Take I-64 W to I-295 North at Richmond to
I-95 North to I-495 toward Rockville. Off I-495, take I-270 North to
Frederick to I-70 West to Hagerstown to I-68 West to Cumberland.
Continue on to the second exit for Frostburg (Exit 33). Bear right
onto Midlothian Road and proceed approximately one mile to the main
entrance of the FSU campus. Figure a little more than six hours.
There is another route from here to Frostburg, about 30 minutes
shorter: At Fredericksburg, take Rt. 17 West to I-66 West to Rt. 50
West to I-81 West. Take the Stephenson exit (Rt. 522 West). At the
first light, make a left and follow the signs to Rt. 522 West
(Berkeley Springs). After about 11 miles, take Rt. 127 North for
about 10 miles to Rt. 29 North (Paw Paw, W. Va.). Stay on Rt. 29,
which becomes Rt. 9. Cross the Potomac River to Rt. 51 into
Cumberland. Then take I-68 to Frostburg.
Accommodations: Housing is available through the Frostburg State
University Office of Conferences, (301) 687-4020. There also are a
couple of hotels, Failinger's Hotel Gunther on Main Street (301)
689-6511 and the Comfort Inn, Rt. 36 Industrial Park (301)
689-2050. Call for reservations.
Parking: $3 per day. No overnight parking. Parking will be
located primarily in the lower lots near the stadium. Follow the
signs.
Restaurants: The Depot is an 1891 train station that's been
renovated into a restaurant, bake shop and ice cream parlor. Soups,
salads, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, chicken and seafood, Italian
and Mexican dishes. Open Monday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Giuseppe's: Italian cuisine at 11 Bowery Street.
Au Petit Paris: French cuisine at 86 East Main Street.
Additional facilities: The Allegany County Visitor's Center will
provide tourist information, maps and guides near the stadium. The
FSU Lane Center, which includes ATM machines and the FSU bookstore,
will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
REDSKINS CAMP ROSTER
[For a copy of the roster, see microfilm for this date.] by CNB