WP Article 38-7

[Yomar]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41625-2002Aug4.html

Redskins Off and Throwing

Quarterbacks, Offense Shine During First-Year Coach Spurrier's Debut: Redskins 38, 49ers 7

By Mark Maske

Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, August 4, 2002; Page D01

OSAKA, Japan, Aug. 4 (Sunday)-The level of competition changed but the results stayed the same for Steve Spurrier. The Washington Redskins made Spurrier's preseason NFL head coaching debut a success, as quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels and Danny Wuerffel combined for five touchdown passes en route to a 38-7 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers today at the Osaka Dome.

The Redskins couldn't have written a better script for Spurrier's exhibition-season unveiling. The offense overcame a shaky beginning and provided a few highlight-reel passing plays, albeit against San Francisco's backups and young players. The Redskins gave their front-line players most of the evening off and avoided any injured more serious than offensive lineman Alex Sulfsted's sprained ankle, and they had a victory to savor as they piled into buses to begin their long journey back to D.C.

Spurrier said his team "played pretty well," but added: "Before the game, we talked to our team and said it's not going to be a big deal if we do well, and it's not going to be a big deal if we don't do well. We were probably a little more into it than the 49ers. We had more to prove than they did. It's just an exhibition game."

Rosenfels threw an interception before he threw a completion, and the 49ers moved in front in the second quarter on an eight-yard touchdown run by tailback Kevan Barlow. But Rosenfels rebounded with touchdown throws of 65 yards to wide receiver Derrius Thompson and 10 yards to rookie tight end Robert Royal.

Rosenfels amassed 172 yards on 10-of-20 passing in the most important game of his NFL career, given his need to convince Spurrier that he belongs on the season-opening roster and deserves consideration as the starter, before giving way to Wuerffel in the second half.

"I was a little nervous when I started out there, but I think I responded well," Rosenfels said. "I found a rhythm in the second quarter.... I don't have that much experience, so it took me a little while to get comfortable. But with time and more snaps, I got better."

Wuerffel was even more impressive, completing 16 of 25 throws for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He produced a touchdown on his first drive via a 14-yard pass to wideout Darnerien McCants. Thompson had his second touchdown reception of the day on a 31-yard throw by Wuerffel on a fourth-and-one play early in the fourth quarter, and Wuerffel and McCants teamed up for a 44-yard touchdown with 2-1/2 minutes to play.

"It was a fun first night," Wuerffel said. "But we have to remember it's only the first game. It's not going to matter too much, good or bad."

Place kicker Brett Conway added a 30-yard field goal, and the Redskins coasted. The defense played well. The offensive line held up. The wide receivers caught every ball thrown their way. The Redskins had only 45 rushing yards but amassed 441 passing yards. The spotlight was on Spurrier and the quarterbacks, and this could have passed for just about any of Spurrier's 122 wins at the University of Florida.

"We've still got a lot of things to improve on, but that went well," right tackle Jon Jansen said. "You put up 38 points, and something is working well."

The 32,000-seat dome was only about half full, and the crowd was eerily silent. Japanese fans are boisterous at baseball games, where they wave flags, rattle noisemakers and chant throughout the game. But they didn't quite seem to know what to make of this first American Bowl to be played in Osaka, and the players yelling on the field during plays could be heard clearly in the press box on the top of the dome's second deck.

Spurrier didn't even wear his trademark visor, going only with a headset. Redskins defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis picked up the slack by donning a black visor.

Spurrier had promised to play his starting defensive players and his few established players on offense sparingly, and he kept his word. The Redskins' first-team defense was on the field for only two series, the same as San Francisco's starting offense. Tailback Stephen Davis played one series and didn't get a carry. Chris Samuels started at left tackle after being sick during the week, but made only a brief appearance. Veteran cornerback Darrell Green remained on the sideline even when the Redskins turned over the game to their second-team defense.

Redskins officials seemed serious, even uptight, before the game, knowing how closely Spurrier's debut would be scrutinized. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder walked off the field following pregame warmups with Spurrier's wide, Jerri. Things did not go well at the outset, however.

Rosenfels, given the start in the preseason opener by Spurrier because he is the team's lone holdover quarterback from last season, threw two incompletions to start the Redskins' first possession after the defense forced the 49ers to go three plays and out on the opening drive of the game. The offensive line-with Rod Jones and Ross Tucker starting at guard-gave Rosenfels time, but he threw too high for wide receiver Rod Gardner on first down, then wide of Gardner on second down.

Then Rosenfels made the sort of mistake that he cannot make if he wants to overcome Wuerffel and Shane Matthews in the Redskins' quarterback derby. His third-down throw toward wideout Jacquez Green hit cornerback Ahmed Plummer in the chest for an easy interception.

Plummer's 31-yard return gave the 49ers the ball at the Redskins 35-yard line, but San Francisco could not cash in. Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia had a pair of third-down completions to move the 49ers to the 9. But the drive stalled and the 49ers botched a field goal attempt on a fumbled snap.

The Redskins held the ball a bit longer the second time they had it, and Rosenfels's 13-yard completion to Gardner gave them their initial first down. But after a nine-yard completion to fullback Bryan Johnson, two runs by Kenny Watson went nowhere and the Redskins had to punt.

Tim Rattay took over for Garcia at quarterback and led the 49ers to the first touchdown of the day. Rattay's 22-yard scramble gave San Francisco a first down at the Redskins 8, and Barlow weaved his way through Washington's second-string defense on the next play to get into the end zone.

Rosenfels threw three incompletions, including an underthrown deep ball to Thompson, to end the Redskins' next drive quickly. But the 49ers couldn't move the ball, and the Redskins offense returned to the field just over 11 minutes before halftime.

After rookie tailback Ladell Betts ran for two yards, Rosenfels connected with wide receiver Kevin Lockett for a 20-yard gain to the Redskins 35. Rosenfels threw a first-down incompletion toward Lockett. But Thompson got a few steps behind cornerback Mike Rumph on a second-down fly pattern. Rosenfels put his throw on target this time, right in Thompson's chest, and Thompson made the grab and coasted into the end zone for the first touchdown-albeit a preseason version-of the Spurrier era. Spurrier has vowed that one or two stars will emerge from the Redskins' mostly nondescript set of wide receivers, and he often has mentioned Thompson as a candidate.

Spurrier celebrated the touchdown with only a subdued pump of his fist, and the Redskins were back at it on their next drive. Rosenfels started with an eight-yard completion to Lockett. He got lucky when a throw slipped through the hands of linebacker Frank Strong on a would-be interception, and he followed with a 14-yard completion to wideout Chris Doering. Royal, a fifth-round draft pick from LSU, got open on a third-and-one play for a 21-yard gain to the San Francisco 10, and Rosenfels lobbed the ball perfectly to him on the next play for the touchdown.

The Redskins took that 14-7 lead into the break on a day for younger players to shine, and defensive linemen Delbert Cowsette and Ladairis Jackson took advantage of that opportunity with a series of eye-catching tackles in the first half.

The starting offensive line-minus Tucker, who was replaced at right guard by Kipp Vickers-joined Wuerffel on the field to open the second half. Wuerffel found Doering on a crossing pattern for 20 yards with his first throw, and later hit Doering for 21 yards on a third-and-17 play. On a second-down play from the San Francisco 14, McCants made a tough catch in traffic for the touchdown.

Wuerffel made a pair of superb improvisational plays on the next drive. He slipped the ball to rookie running back Robert Gillespie just before being spun down for a sack, and Gillespie ran for 20 yards on third and seven. Wuerffel jumped to throw a dumpoff pass to Betts for a 16-yard gain, but the Redskins stalled inside San Francisco's 10 and had to settle for Conway's field goal.

[Yomar]

Spurrier didn't even wear his trademark visor, going only with a headset. Redskins defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis picked up the slack by donning a black visor.[/b]

Marvelous holding it down on the visor tip...way to be Marv