THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 23, 1996 TAG: 9609230132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ST. LOUIS LENGTH: 98 lines
Shades of George Allen.
The Washington Redskins rode their tortoise-in-the-shell offense and barracuda defense to their first three-game winning streak in Norv Turner's career as head coach Sunday, beating the hapless St. Louis and bewildered quarterback Steve Walsh 17-10.
Not that quarterback Gus Frerotte was much better. He completed one pass to a wide receiver the entire game - a 20-yarder to Leslie Shepherd with 4:47 to play in the third quarter. Terry Allen was held to 78 yards on 23 attempts. Washington's offense took a 10-0 lead, then called it a day, deferring to a defense only too happy to oblige.
They harassed Walsh and flattened Rams running backs before they took their first step. They intercepted three passes, giving them seven the last two weeks. The last one Sunday was by cornerback Tom Carter with 2:40 to play and a suddenly-energized Rams at the Redskins 13.
``These are the games we used to find ways to lose,'' linebacker Ken Harvey said. ``Not to be cocky, but our defense is good enough to win these now.''
``I told the team this was a special win for me. This is the first time we've put three together,'' said Turner, whose team can reach its bye week at 4-1 by beating the winless New York Jets this Sunday.
Turner admitted his risk-nothing strategy was hatched after watching film of the Rams' season-opening victory over Cincinnati. The Bengals were in control in the fourth quarter. Then an interception and a sack-fumble recovery led to 10 St. Louis points and, ultimately, a 26-16 victory.
``I told myself, `I'm not going to let them do that to us,' '' Turner said.
Frerotte, who had 12 completions in 23 attempts - eight to running backs - used his right arm to make one of the biggest plays of the game. But it had almost nothing to do with passing the football.
With Washington ahead 10-0 early in the third quarter, Frerotte's throw for Bill Brooks bounced off Brooks' hands to Rams cornerback Torin Dorn at the Washington 46. He was headed for a touchdown but, at the five, Frerotte forced Dorn to the sidelines, then muscled him out of bounds.
``Last year in New York, I had a pass intercepted and I thought I had the angle on the guy when he cut back inside and scored,'' Frerotte said. ``This time, I used the sideline to my advantage.''
On second-and-goal from the three, linebacker Marvcus Patton saved a touchdown when he raced outside, caught running back Lawrence Phillips around the ankles and dragged him down at the line of scrimmage. Walsh - 18 of 36 and booed unmercifully by the Trans World Dome crowd of 62,303 - just missed a touchdown on third down when safety Darryl Pounds closed quickly on Isaac Bruce and separated him from the ball.
The Rams settled for Chip Lohmiller's 19-yard field goal.
``Our inability to get a touchdown after Dorn's interception, and the turnovers, ended up being the difference in the game,'' Rams coach Rich Brooks said.
Two series later, Frerotte and Allen engineered a 9-play, 46-yard touchdown drive. Allen gained 14 yards on three consecutive rushes, after which Frerotte finally found Shepherd for 20 and fullback Marc Logan for 15. Allen then raced around left end for nine yards and a touchdown with 3:31 left in the third quarter.
``We're a defensive-led team right now,'' said Scott Galbraith.
Thanks to the tight end, Washington was offensive early. Allen opened the Redskins' second possession with a 12-yard run, then Frerotte hit tight end Jamie Asher for 20 yards to the St. Louis 19. Five plays later - one an offsides penalty against D'Marco Farr, who was guilty on several occasions - Frerotte backed away from a heavy rush, lobbed a pass high into the right corner of the end zone. Galbraith, a step ahead of linebacker Carlos Jenkins, leaped, directed the ball downward with his left hand, then pulled it in for a touchdown and 7-0 lead.
``Even a blind dog stumbles into the occasional bone,'' said Galbraith, the only Redskin with a touchdown catch this season.
On the next Rams' series, Walsh, with Harvey about to hit him, threw a wobbly pass down the middle that Patton easily intercepted. After Asher made a heady play to recover Allen's fumble, Scott Blanton kicked a 38-yard field goal for Washington's 10-0 edge.
With 11 minutes to play, the Rams went to their no-huddle offense and Bruce. It was nearly enough to win the game. Bruce, who finished with 11 catches for 136 yards, 15 short of Washington's entire passing output, caught three passes for 45 yards before receiver Jermaine Ross ran three yards for a touchdown with 7:17 left.
Next possession, Bruce caught three passes for 36 yards, bringing St. Louis to the Washington 23. But on second-and-8, end Sterling Palmer and tackle Sean Gilbert pressured Walsh. He panicked and lobbed a pass that Carter easily intercepted.
``It was a totally bad play on my part,'' Walsh said.
A thing of beauty, countered Turner.
``We got a good rush, rattled Walsh, made a great play and found a way to win the game,'' he said. ``I'll take that.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS color photo
Redskins running back Terry Allen, left, is congratulated by Bill
Brooks following a 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Allen
was held to 78 yards rushing, but picked up his fourth touchdown in
as many weeks.
ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Rich Owens of the Redskins reaches in to sack Rams quarterback Steve
Walsh for a 4-yard loss. by CNB