THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 24, 1996 TAG: 9609240434
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 88 lines
Buffalo's Marv Levy has the no-huddle offense. Atlanta's professorial coach June Jones struggles to keep the run-and-shoot off the obit page. The West Coast Offense? OK, so it didn't exactly scare the hell out of Carolina Sunday. The Bill Walsh resume is still pretty strong.
None of those fancy, attacking, point-scoring schemes for Washington Redskins' coach Norv Turner, once an Edison among offensive coordinators. He has found something that is winning games and he's sticking with it.
The ``No Receiver Offense.''
Just kidding. A little.
At the quarterpole of the season, the Redskins are 3-1 and going after opposing defenses the way Woody Hayes did when he prowled the sidelines at Ohio State, where he made dust fashionable.
Gus Frerotte, who won the quarterback derby from Heath Shuler because he passed the ball downfield so well, threw about six passes at his wideouts in Sunday's 17-10 victory over the St. Louis Lambs.
Bill Brooks muffed one that became an interception. Rams' cornerback Todd Lyght outdueled Henry Ellard for one. Frerotte, admittedly under duress from the Rams' rush on both occasions, overthrew a couple of bombs.
Finally, with 4:47 to play in the third quarter, a Frerotte pass downfield went where it was supposed to, to Leslie Shepherd for a 20-yard gain.
And then it was like Norval said, ``OK, we've mastered that. Time for something else.''
Coach Norv knows that there are some in Turnerville who are alarmed at this lack of aggression. He's heard those who say that when the Redskins conclude the junior-varsity portion of their schedule Sunday against the Jets, they'll have to score more than a touchdown or two a week to win.
``I'm not as concerned about our offense as some people,'' he said gaily, apparently referring to unsophisticated, thrill-seeking fans and the never-satisfied, ever-whining media.
Turner's scaling down of the Washington offense may seem more dramatic this season because scores are lower and the team is more overtly dependent on its defense. But it's been an ongoing process. Consider:
At this point in 1994, the Redskins had 311 yards rushing, 1,100 yards passing. Last year, they had 581 yards rushing, 898 yards passing. This year it's 547 yards rushing, 644 yards passing.
In other words, the Redskins are rushing 21 percent more often and passing 36 percent less this season than just two years ago, when it was far more likely Turner would stick to the basics because he had a new team learning a new system.
And while their run production is up 75 percent from '94 - 547 yards to 311 - the Redskins' pass production has dipped 42 percent. Frerotte has thrown for 644 yards; John Friesz and Shuler had combined for 1,100 after four games in '94.
The player hurt most by Turner's change in philosophy is receiver Henry Ellard. In 1994, Ellard had 26 catches for 536 yards and six touchdowns after four games. He was shut out by the Rams Sunday. This season, Ellard has just seven catches for 124 yards. He has yet to score. ``We've thrown the ball upfield extremely well the last few years,'' Turner argues. ``We'll throw the ball upfield again when we have to. Today, I was more interested in a win.''
Maybe it's the absence of injured Michael Westbrook, out another 2-5 weeks with a knee injury. But isn't that giving too much credit to someone who played 11 games, and caught just 34 passes as a rookie last season? There was no one even close to Westbrook's ability in '94 and the passing game hummed along more smartly than now.
It might be that the often magnificent Ellard has finally lost it after 13 seasons and 730 receptions. He is 35, after all. More than one general manager will tell you that wideouts, more than any other players, often lose their skills overnight.
Certainly, the rest of the league has caught on to Shepherd, who was often sensational last season as an unknown. This season: four catches, 59 yards.
More than anything, however, Turner's button-down offense speaks to the offensive line. Privately, there is growing concern among the coaches over the inconsistent play of center Cory Raymer and guard Tre' Johnson. Coincidentally, the two youngsters have been billed as the present and future foundation of that unit. Last year's No. 1 pick, tackle Andre Johnson, has yet to dress for a regular-season game; not because he's hurt, but because no one feels he's ready to face the competition.
The passing game is not something Turner will be able to turn on and off like a faucet. As good as the Redskins defense has played, there are going to be some games the next few weeks that, as linebacker Marvcus Patton said, ``the offense is going to have to win.''
And those will determine the ultimate success of the season. ILLUSTRATION: Redskins coach Norv Turner: ``I'm not as concerned
about our offense as some people.''
ASSOCIATED PRESS
After four games, Gus Frerotte has thrown for only 644 yards, down
42 percent from the Redskins' pass production two years ago. by CNB