
DATE: Monday, September 29, 1997            TAG: 9709290153

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: LANDOVER, MD.                     LENGTH:  106 lines

SKINS' ``D'' SPELLS DOOM FOR JAGS JACKSONVILLE IS DEALT ITS FIRST LOSS IN THE RAIN

Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Jacksonville. All that talk about the Jacksonville Jaguars and their undefeated record and status as new NFL strongboy left the Washington Redskins grouchy and in no need of motivation for Sunday's first-ever encounter at rain-engulfed Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.

``There hasn't been much said about the Redskins this season,'' quarterback Gus Frerotte explained. ``Our thing today was let's get people talking about the Redskins.''

Frerotte did his share in the Redskins' 24-12 victory before 74,421 soaked fans, tossing three touchdown passes after a tortoise-like start that might have thoroughly stifled a less-competitive passer.

But it won't be Frerotte, Terry Allen's 122 yards rushing or Leslie Shepherd's two touchdown catches, that NFL diehards should discuss this week in regard to the Redskins' 3-1 record. It should be the team's defense, which slowly is moving from Achilles' heel to team backbone.

Three times in the first half Sunday, the Jaguars - No. 1 in passing and scoring - had the ball deep in Washington territory. Three times, the oft-maligned Redskins defense held them to field goals, then used that momentum to hold the Jaguars and scrambling quarterback Mark Brunell to 11 first downs in an easier-than-expected victory.

``I told our guys that, a couple of years ago, if we'd started a game like this one with turnovers, we'd have been in trouble,'' coach Norv Turner said. ``The key to the game was holding them to field goals early, until our offense could get untracked.''

On Washington's first snap, Frerotte fumbled when whacked from behind by the Jaguars' Don Davey. Kelvin Pritchett recovered at the Redskins' 15.

But on third-and-3, tackle Marc Boutte - a key figure all day - knifed into the backfield and dropped Natrone Means for a four-yard loss. For Jacksonville, the 3-0 lead was also Blown Chance 1.

After Scott Blanton missed a short field goal, the Jaguars drove from their own 24 to the Redskins 22. On third and 2, Brunell rolled left and seemed to have the corner and the first down if he wished. But end Rich Owens, who hadn't had a sack this season, cut the angle with a burst and forced Brunell out of bounds for a two-yard sack.

For Jacksonville, the 6-0 lead was Blown Chance 2.

Finally, Frerotte threw a bad pass behind Henry Ellard that cornerback Dave Thomas intercepted and returned to the Washington 20. On third-and-goal from the 3, Jimmy Smith pushed Darrell Green in order to get open in the end zone, negating his touchdown catch.

Jacksonville's 9-0 lead was Blown Chance 3, way over coach Tom Coughlin's limit.

``We threw opportunities away,'' Coughlin said after his team fell to 3-1. ``We should have had three touchdowns and we came away with three field goals. We allowed the Redskins to get back into it in the second half. . . . There's no reason why we couldn't win the game. Some of the people we really counted on need to get themselves going.''

Actually, there were a couple other blatant reasons why the Jaguars couldn't remain unbeaten. One, the Redskins had the ball for 35:08, almost 11 minutes longer than their guests. That hadn't happened to the Jaguars all season.

Second, the Jaguars couldn't stop Shepherd, or protect the right corner of their end zone. The least-heralded of Washington's receivers caught four passes, two for touchdowns.

The first came with six minutes left in the first half, a 10-yard square-out on which Frerotte rolled right and threw so that either Shepherd would catch it or it would go out of bounds. Shepherd hand-fought corner Aaron Beasley, made a pivot, caught the ball, then got both feet down before falling out of bounds.

Washington scored again after Stanley Richard intercepted a pass for Smith that Green batted in the air. This time, tight end Jamie Asher worked the right corner of the end zone on a square-out. Frerotte's pass eluded linebacker Kevin Hardy, while Asher lunged in front of safety Travis Davis to complete a circus catch and move to a 14-9 lead.

``Their corners are big and physical, but they're a little slow-footed,'' Shepherd said. ``We knew they were more likely to defend the center of the field, so the corner would be available.''

In the fourth quarter, after Boutte intercepted a pass that Cris Dishman tipped out of the hands of Keenan McCardell, Frerotte sent Asher to the right corner and had Shepherd flank right, fake a deep corner, then flash across the middle.

``Everyone swung over to Jamie, the safety came up and that leaves a huge hole,'' Frerotte said. ``You just throw it and it's a score.''

While the Jaguars couldn't stop Frerotte, the Redskins had no such trouble against Brunell, the league's dashing new mobile star. He threw for just 153 yards, was sacked three times and never figured out Green and Dishman's coverage patterns.

``We're going to play a lot better on offense before the season's over,'' Boutte said. ``Until then, the defense has told itself we've got the ability to do its share. Today, we went against the biggest line in the league and we didn't out-think them, we didn't out-finesse them. We were more physical than they were, and that's what's most satisfying about the whole day.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot

The Redskins' Derek Smith sacks Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell in

the first half. Brunell threw for just 153 yards and was sacked

twice more.

LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot

Redskins tight end Jamie Asher takes off after catching a Gus

Frerotte pass in the first half Sunday at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.

Asher also made a circus touchdown catch that helped give the

Redskins a 14-9 lead.

Darrell Green, left, and Stanley Richard look on as the clock winds

down en route to Washington's victory over previously unbeaten

Jacksonville.