AG's ONE ON ONE: Trung Canidate, Redskins RB

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Alright bear with me if there are typos or something because this was a little side article in the new ESPN the Magazine and I'm typing it on here.

AG's ONE ON ONE

Trung Canidate

Redskins RB

He waited for his chance, then exploded. On the first of three straight carries in the fourth quarter of Week 1, Canidate took the ball and started right. He waited for the guard to make his block and, when he did, the 5' 11", 205-pound RB burst to his left for eight yards. On the next two plays he gained eight and seven, looking stronger in the fourth quarter than in the first.

Washington's 16-13 win over the Jets marked the first time in his four-year career that Canidate, the Rams' first round pick in 2000, started on opening day. "You never want anyone to get hurt," he says, "but that's when I used to get my opportunities."

Things are differend now, for the time being. Steve Spurrier started Canidate in Washington's first two games, and he responded with 135 yards on 25 carries. But his backup, second-year RB Ladell Betts, has rushed for 111 yards on 29 carries. If Canidate's going to keep the No. 1 gig and become more than a coach's wishful thinking based on his 4.2 speed, he needs more stretches like that one against the Jets.

Trung isn't worried, though: "I just need touches. Then something explosive should happen."

By ALAN GRANT

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