THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9608310706
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 66 lines
The Washington Redskins' secondary appears to be the ideal blend of youth and experience.
Darrell Green, 36 and entering his 14th season Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, isn't that much different than he was a decade ago. His world-class speed is practically the same and secondary coach Ton Hayes says, ``He makes up for what he doesn't do with his feet with his mind and his dedication to study and hard work.''
``I'm enjoying football more than I have in the last three years,'' Green admits. ``I think it's because we're on the verge of becoming a `real' team. Last year, I'd look around and there'd be Marvcus Patton of Buffalo or Stanley Richard of San Diego. Now, I know these guys. I ran with them in the offseason. I know what they're about. We're all more comfortable with each other.''
That's especially true of Green's counterpart at cornerback, Tom Carter. Once thought to be soft and scared of contact, Carter appeared to turn around his career a year ago. He led the Redskins in interceptions and passes defensed, and was seventh on the team in tackles with a career-high 79.
``I thought one of the more remarkable things that happened last year was the way Darrell and Tom worked together on playing their position,'' Hayes said. ``They were constantly talking about playing cornerback; this receiver, that receiver, how to play him, what to expect. They worked at their craft together and I think both of them became more accomplished.''
Although this is Carter's fourth season, the former Notre Dame star, Washington's No. 1 pick in 1993, won't turn 24 until the end of next week.
Carter was anything but timid in training camp. When what insiders call a long-simmering feud with receiver and teammate Leslie Shepherd boiled over in practice one day, rather than back down from the fight, Carter had to be dragged away by a couple of his teammates. No one knew Carter carried around that much anger - or that much punch.
Green already has declared that second-year pro Scott Turner will be his replacement when he retires. The jury's still out on that call, as it is on Muhammad Oliver. A sensation as a nickel back a year ago at camp, Oliver injured his knee in the season-opener and still isn't 100 percent.
Neither is safety Darryl Pounds, whose play was one of the reasons the Redskins released veteran safety James Washington during training camp. Pounds likely will miss Sunday's opener because of back pain. When he is healthy, he and Darryl Morrison will share time in the defensive backfield, perhaps the biggest gamble the Redskins are taking this season.
For Morrison, 25, this will be his second trip to the starting lineup. He was the first-team free safety as a rookie two years ago, but was plagued with bad decisions, bad tackling and bad hands. The Redskins swear he's a different player now.
``Much more assertive,'' Hayes said. ``He's a confident player. He's aware he can be a player in this league now. Before, he had a little problem catching the ball. Maybe he was anxious, too anxious, to make a play that we'd notice. But he's caught the ball as well as anyone on the team now. When those plays come his way in the future, he'll make them.''
Statistically, it's hard to find fault with the way free safety Richard played in '95, especially during the last half of the season. After linebackers Patton, Rod Stephens and Ken Harvey, the 29-year-old Richard was the team's leading tackler, with 110, 30 more than his previous best. He also intercepted three passes.
Richard says the release of Washington isn't as much motivation as the players who were retained.
``I've never seen so many guys so anxious to make a play, and that excites me,'' Richard said. ``We call them `ballhawks,' and it isn't something you can teach. You either know how to fly or you don't.'' by CNB