DATE: Monday, August 11, 1997               TAG: 9708110172

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

REDSKINS EXCITED OVER THEIR ROOKIES THRASH LEADS THE PARADE WITH HIS TOUCHDOWN-A-GAME PERFORMANCE IN THE PRESEASON.

The Washington Redskins were talking Thrash Saturday night following their 18-12 victory over the Tennessee Oilers in Nashville.

That's James ``Flash'' Thrash, their touchdown-a-game rookie sensation.

They also were talking Jamel Williams, Keith Thibodeaux, Kenard Lang, Derek Smith, Twan Russell, Brad Badger and some other rookies who have performed so well this preseason that the Redskins are brimming with a confidence never before seen in the Norv Turner regime.

``The thing I like about these kids is that they see themselves competing for jobs, competing for playing time,'' defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. ``A lot of rookies just see themselves making the team. That's their only goal. Not these kids.''

It has something to do with their pedigree. Williams, a linebacker being converted to safety, played at Nebraska. Lang, a defensive end and the team's No. 1 pick, played at Miami. So did Russell, a late-round pick at linebacker. Smith, already the starting outside linebacker, went to Arizona State. Badger, a guard who has started while the Redskins wait for Tre Johnson and Bob Dahl to mend, is a Stanford man.

Those programs aren't for the meek. Athletes there play against the best, not just on Saturdays, but every day. In practice. In the weight room. You wouldn't expect them to back down.

It's some of the other kids who've been stunning. Thrash now has more NFL touchdowns on kick returns - two - than he did as a four-year starter at unknown Missouri Southern. On the kick before the one he returned 96 yards for a score Saturday, Thrash ignored a hole that was about to open and was stopped after just 13 yards.

When he got back to the bench, special-teams coach Pete Rodriguez scolded him to be more patient in letting his blocking set up for him. Obviously, the kid's a quick study.

``He's a guy just starting to get his confidence,'' Turner said. ``He's really letting go.''

Thrash, cut by Philadelphia two days before the Redskins opened camp, had four kickoff returns for 171 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 63 yards, including a 35-yarder from Jeff Hostetler. Barring an injury in the last two preseason games, he's left the Redskins no choice. They must find a place for him on the 47-man roster.

What Thrash's emergence forces Turner to do is to ponder some tough decisions. He may be forced to keep more than the five receivers thought to be locks - Henry Ellard, Michael Westbrook, Alvin Harper, Leslie Shepherd and rookie Albert Connell. That means keeping one fewer at another position.

Or, could Turner get gutsy and let go of the 36-year-old Ellard? Westbrook had a terrific night against the Oilers' first-team defense, catching four for 55 yards. Harper and Shepherd are set. Connell was their fourth-round draft pick. There's enough firepower at the position, even though Ellard is the calming, steadying influence every playoff contender lives to put on its roster.

``Good young players always make you better because they either replace a veteran who's lost something or they push him to perform better,'' Nolan said Saturday.

There are others who belong on the roster who possibly won't make it. One is running back Kerry Joseph, a converted quarterback, who busted a run for 39 yards Saturday night. Even though 10 other carries netted zero yards, they came against eight- and nine-man fronts when Washington was trying to run time off the clock.

Besides being a strong, straight-ahead runner, Joseph has been the lead blocker on all of Thrash's returns. Just as William Bell has gained a year or two towards the NFL pension because of his blocking in front of Brian Mitchell, so Joseph and Thrash appear to have that rare, unanticipated chemistry coaches are loath to break up.

``I heard someone with the Eagles called camp last week and said he couldn't believe they just gave me away like that,'' Thrash said.

That was before his second touchdown return.

Guess they're talking a little Thrash in Philly, too.

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