DATE: Friday, September 19, 1997            TAG: 9709190878

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA

                                            LENGTH:   79 lines

REDSKIN REPORT [BRIEFS]

Offensive line is still a sore spot for the Redskins

The Redskins might as well resign themselves to the fact that their offensive-line play is going to be a mix-and-match affair this season.

Just when left guard Tre' Johnson appears ready to play football for the first time since last season, right guard Bob Dahl has admitted to the Redskins that his right knee still isn't right.

Dahl, who missed nearly all of training camp because of knee surgery six weeks ago - his third in a year - likely will miss Washington's next game, Sept. 28 against Jacksonville.

Ironically, Johnson would take his place. The left side of the line, where tackle Shar Pourdanesh and guard Joe Patton have been strong, would remain intact. Originally, when Johnson returned, Patton was to return to left tackle and Poursdanesh would sit down.

Johnson still is recovering from shoulder surgery, which means that rookie Brad Badger will continue studying both left and right guard positions.

``I don't have any strength in the leg,'' Dahl said. ``I don't have even moderate strength. It limits my ability to take a guy and move him off the ball. I don't have that part of my game right now.''

Dahl, one of the hardest workers on the team, has spent considerable time in the weight room at Redskin Park. His knee has not responded, which bothers him but may be completely normal for someone coming off three surgeries in such a short period of time.

Johnson, a Pro Bowl alternate last season, was thought to be suffering from tendinitis in his shoulder until he visited Dr. Richard Caspari, a Richmond-based shoulder specialist. Caspari recommended a ``cleanout procedure'' be done on Johnson's shoulder right before training camp. Johnson has been recovering ever since and though he returned to practice last week, claims his shoulder remains weak.

Thumbs down for Davis

Reserve running back Stephen Davis underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb after being injured playing special teams in Washington's 19-13 overtime win over Arizona last Sunday. He's walking around with a cast on his right hand that looks much like the one compadre Terry Allen has worn for a couple of weeks after fracturing his right thumb against Carolina.

Allen's cast should come off after the game against Jacksonville. Davis, who will miss the Jaguars' game and maybe more, must wear his for one month. The large cast he's sporting now will be replaced by a smaller on in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, Allen will be arraigned Oct. 24 in Monroe, Ga., on charges of driving under the influence and speeding in connection with a high-speed chase with Georgia state troopers last July. The Washington Post is reporting that the hearing could be postponed once Probate Judge Greg Adams receives what could be a long list of motions from Allen's attorney, William Head.

Allen's blood alcohol level was .14, well over the legal limit of .10 in Georgia, according to a report filed with Adams Wednesday by the Georgia State Crime Lab. No drugs were detected in Allen's system.

Allen will enter a plea at the hearing. If he pleads guilty, Adams likely will sentence him at that time. Allen could be fined up to $1,000 and sentenced up to a year in jail for each of the six misdemeanor traffic citations he was issued. Head has indicated that he intends to fight the charges. If Allen pleads not guilty, the case would be transferred to Walton County superior court, and a trial date set.

Allen, who has declined to comment on the matter, was clocked at 133 miles per hour in a 55-mile zone before crashing his Ferrari into a tree early July 5, according to police. Allen, who walked away from the accident with minor injuries, was cited for driving under the influence; speeding; fleeing and eluding police; reckless driving; striking a fixed object (a tree and a street sign); and not having proof of insurance.

Frerotte on bye: No thanks

Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte isn't looking forward to being off this weekend. It's way too early in the season, he says.

Frerotte would rather play this weekend because, ``we do have guys relatively healthy, guys are still in pretty good shape physically. It's very early, and I don't think we've had one here this early in a while. Some teams get some injuries early. It's a good time to have a break and get some guys back. Some teams don't, and that's just the way it goes. Hopefully we'll be lucky enough and stay pretty healthy for the rest of the season.''

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