The Panthers take on the Skins win...

[BCS:BraveCaringSoul]

Has SOS given up the visor or is that a regular season thing?

From the Charlotte Observor:

Posted on Sun, Aug. 11, 2002

COMMENTARY

Swagger, flash still follow Spurrier

SCOTT FOWLER

He didn't wear a visor. He didn't throw deep on every play. He didn't cry about every call.

Some of those Steve Spurrier stereotypes are as outdated as Milli Vanilli now that he is coach of the Washington Redskins.

Some still apply. We saw that Saturday when Spurrier brought the Redskins to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers in that rare NFL exhibition worth paying for, as Washington finally trumped a dazzling performance from several Carolina rookies to edge the Panthers 37-30.

Spurrier said his offense was "way off, way off" from where he wants it to be. His Fun 'n' Gun still put up 419 yards and 30 points -- Washington's winning touchdown came on an interception return.

"We got stuffed a lot on offense," Spurrier said. "Carolina did a pretty good job on us tonight. The Panthers probably outplayed us and outhustled us a little bit. ... We moved the ball decently, but had too many penalties (12 for 103 yards)."

That is classic Spurrier -- bemoaning his team after another victory in which his club scored in the 30s.

The Redskins are far flashier and better than they were a year ago. Only their defense looked suspect. Spurrier said "our defensive coaches aren't very happy" after Carolina burned them for 370 yards, including touchdown plays of 74 and 61 yards.

Spurrier, who is trying to decide between quarterbacks Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel and Sage Rosenfels as his starter, also said he hasn't made up his mind yet as to which one would start in the Redskins' third exhibition.

"Who do y'all want to see first?" he asked after the game.

Spurrier showed his gambling instincts early. He went for it on fourth-and-1 on his own 47 in his first series -- sending Stephen Davis wide on a running play for 3 yards. That was a rarity. Quarterback Shane Matthews had thrown 27 times -- by halftime.

Washington's offense is mostly what you think it would be. The quarterbacks drop back and heave it. Washington fired away for 339 yards in 47 attempts.

Whether it's working, Spurrier's system is fan-friendly football at its best. It's one reason Ericsson Stadium looked like an NFL stadium again Saturday, drawing an impressive crowd of 60,454.

Coach John Fox is more cautious than Spurrier. Fox wouldn't go for it on fourth-and-goal from the Washington 1 in the second quarter, opting for the field goal instead. It's hard to argue with Fox's results. Carolina played nobly in the loss, and wa far better than San Francisco was against Washington the week before.

Spurrier, now 57 and boasting a Heisman Trophy, a national championship and seven grandkids, joined the NFL because he wanted a new challenge. He spoke longingly many times about how it would feel to be not to be expected to win every game by 20.

"I'd like to be the underdog again," he said the day he officially resigned at Florida. "Do you realize how big of favorites we were all the time?"

There were more factors than that, or else Spurrier would have ended up in Carolina. Instead, he bolted for Washington, where, with characteristic boldness, he has stated he plans to win his division in his rookie season.

Like the Panthers, the Redskins have some work to do. Their defensive depth, in particular, looked shaky. Spurrier's first-team offense produced a field goal in its first series and an interception in its second.

But with Spurrier at the controls, the Redskins are already more fun to watch than they have been in years.

Scott Fowler

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Scott Fowler: 704-358-5140; sfowler@charlotteobserver.com.

[Potato Sack]

A fair article. I thought I'd see a little Double S bashing. Didn't see any of that.