DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710100891

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA

DATELINE: ASHBURN, VA.                      LENGTH:   89 lines

REDSKIN REPORT

Shepherd feels the Redskins need to test Dallas' Sanders

Leslie Shepherd has looked at films of the way other teams go after Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders - which is to not go after him at all - and he shakes his head in disbelief.

``I don't know how many times we're going to go at Deion; he's an athlete and very, very good,'' Shepherd said.

``You don't want to throw balls his way, have him step in front of them, then run past your bench on his way to a touchdown.

``On the other hand, he's human. I believe there are some things we can do on him.''

Shepherd wouldn't elaborate on what those were, but said it's foolish to leave Sanders out there alone, untested.

The two-sport star leads the Cowboys in passes defensed, but with only five.

By comparison, every member of the Redskins' starting secondary has more passes defensed than Sanders.

Corner Darrell Green leads with 11; second are corner Cris Dishman and safety Stanley Richard with six.

Strong safety Jesse Campbell has five. Defensive tackle Marc Boutte is just one behind Sanders with four.

``I've caught passes on him before, it's not that big a deal,'' said Shepherd, who leads Washington wideouts with 16 catches for 306 yards and three touchdowns.

``He's not a physical guy. You can go at him. But you've got to be careful, pick and choose your spots. But he's not invincible.''

Switzer knows Redskins

Dallas coach Barry Switzer said Thursday he recruited ``several'' of the Redskins coaches when he was coaching at Oklahoma. Asked who he recruited to become a Soooner, the only name Switzer gave was that of receivers coach Terry Robiskie.

Robiskie was a high school football star quarterback at Second Ward High School in Edgard, La., and Switzer wanted him to come to Oklahoma. Robiskie declined, opting instead for LSU, which turned him into a running back.

``The first time I saw him on the Redskins sideline before a Washington-Dallas game, I yelled over to him that, `I told you they'd never play you at quarterback at LSU.' ''

Nonetheless, Robiskie is the school's fourth all-time leading rusher with 2,517 yards, and scored 29 touchdowns.

Sasa signs with Skins

Unable to make a trade for Oakland's Chester McGlockton before Tuesday's deadline, the Redskins signed a poor-man's replacement Wednesday, former San Diego Charger Don Sasa. The 6-2, 286-pound Sasa, the Chargers' third-round pick in 1995, was released by the Chargers' new coaching staff on the final cut of 1997, and while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

``It was a surprise, especially when you expect a lot from yourself,'' Sasa said. ``Fortunately for me, I was able to get well and now I have this opportunity to play in Washington.''

Sasa saw action in nine games, with one start, during his first two seasons in the league.

Sasa was recommended to the Redskins by defensive tackle Chris Mims, a former teammate of his in San Diego, and by Redskins linebackers coach Dale Lindsey. He spent last season in the same capacity with the Chargers.

To make room on the roster for Sasa, the Redskins waived safety Brian Walker. Ironically, Sasa and Walker are former teammates at Washington State.

Quick kicks

This will be the first time the Redskins have made an appearance on Monday Night football since 1993, when they appeared three times. One of them was a 35-16 walloping of the Cowboys in the season opener, a game that also was the of Richie Petitbon's coaching career. ... Washington holds a 5-4 lead in Monday night games against the Cowboys. ... Despite converting just 3 of 12 third downs against Philadelphia last Sunday, the Redskins still lead the league in that category. Through the first five games of the season, they have converted 34 of 91 third downs, or 47.2 percent. ... Terry Allen's five-yard touchdown catch against Philadelphia last week was just the fifth of his career and only his second since joining the Redskins. ... Only San Francisco (60) and New England (60) have allowed fewer points than Washington's defense (73). ILLUSTRATION: FILE PHOTO

Leslie Shepherd of the Redskins doesn't want to see Deion Sanders

like this, with the ball in his hands. ``You can go at him,''

Sheperd said. ``But you've got to be careful, pick your spots. But

he's not invincible.''

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