THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Steve Spurrier brought officials to practice last week, hoping to reduce the number of penalties incurred by his flag-prone Washington Redskins.
His scheme worked — for the first 58 minutes of the Redskins’ 20-17 victory over the New England Patriots yesterday at FedEx Field.
The Redskins tied a franchise record last week, drawing 17 penalties for 142 yards in an overtime loss to the Giants. A chastised group of players cleaned up their collective act for more than three quarters yesterday, getting flagged only six times for 60 yards.
But all that good behavior ended at exactly the wrong moment, with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter and the outcome of the game in the balance.
With his team clinging to a three-point lead and facing third-and-6 at its own 22, Redskins tackle Chris Samuels jumped, drawing a false start penalty.
Make it third-and-11.
Center Larry Moore then threw off his linemates with a late snap, causing another false start. Moore told Spurrier he didn’t hike the ball because he couldn’t hear quarterback Patrick Ramsey.
Make it third-and-16 at the 12-yard line.
Laveranues Coles’ apparent first-down reception on the next play was ruled no catch, making it fourth-and-16.
But the Redskins weren’t done yet: Gunner David Terrell drew one last false-start flag, bringing up fourth-and-21 at the 7. Bryan Barker was forced to punt from the end zone, and the Patriots got the ball at the Washington 45 with 1:39 to go.
“It’s frustrating to jump offsides,” Spurrier said. “There’s no sense talking about it. If guys are going to do it, they’re going to do it.”
The nine penalties for 75 yards weren’t good, but they still were less than the 12 flags for 92 yards they averaged for the first three games.
“It got loud,” said Ramsey, hoarse as usual after screaming signals all game. “We tried to stay with the cadence. I’ve got to find a way to be louder.”
Subs work well
Defensive ends Regan Upshaw and Peppi Zellner got the most benefit from coach Steve Spurrier’s plan to substitute more frequently, each making several big plays with increased playing time.
Although the defensive line didn’t put to rest questions about its ability to generate a pass rush, the starters seemed better rested and the line forced Patriots quarterback Tom Brady into some quick throws.
Upshaw was frustrated with himself last week for not adjusting to the left end position quickly enough. But he was pleased yesterday after getting in excess of 30 snaps (much more than he had been seeing) and getting into the backfield on New England’s first series to tackle running back Kevin Faulk.
“That was on the right side,” Upshaw said, referring to the tackle on Faulk. “For me, more than anything, it’s just getting used to being on the left side. A lot of times you might not see it, but I know it’s getting better. … I’m still not where I want to be, but it was a lot better than where it has been.”
Other elements of the substitution plan had little impact. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter appeared to give up little playing time to Kevin Mitchell; wide receiver Taylor Jacobs got only a few snaps; and guard Derrick Dockery played the entire game because Dave Fiore was made inactive.
Dockery debuts
With right guard Dave Fiore’s right knee keeping him out of practice last week, third-round draft choice Derrick Dockery knew he would see some action against New England. But it wasn’t until yesterday morning Dockery learned Fiore would be inactive and he would not only be making his debut but was starting.
“I had jitters before the first play,” Dockery said. “It was a learning experience. Now I know the speed of the game which practice and preseason can’t prepare you for. I just want to watch the film and correct what I did wrong. I’m hard on myself. I don’t know what grade I would give myself, but I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Fiore said the rookie held up just fine, helping the Redskins average 4.0 yards a carry and allow just two sacks, one of which came up the middle.
“Derrick did great,” Fiore said. “If I saw anything out there I could help him with, like what technique works against a certain guy, I would talk to him.”
Fiore said his knee, which was operated on during the offseason, just needed a rest and that he planned to return to the lineup next Sunday.
“I could have toughed it out this game, but I might have missed the next couple of weeks [against NFC opponents Philadelphia and Tampa Bay],” Fiore said.
Centers returns
In Larry Centers’ first game back to Washington since he was sent packing by Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer before the 2001 season, the all-purpose running back delivered a couple reminders to his former team that he’s still around.
Centers, the Patriots’ backup fullback, knocked out Jeremiah Trotter, the Redskins’ $36million middle linebacker, with a helmet-to-helmet shot late in the fourth quarter and caught a 7-yard touchdown pass which cut the Redskins lead to 20-17 with 2:05 left.
Trotter did not return to the game after he got his bell rung and Centers was flagged 15 yards for a personal foul.
“Absolutely not, absolutely not,” Centers replied when asked if his blow to Trotter’s head should have been flagged. “It was definitely a personal foul because they called it, but we’re out there playing football. If [the refs] want to change that, then maybe we should put flags on.”
On the play, Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown caught a 13-yard pass at the New England 45. While Brown was fighting to stay on his feet, Centers flew over the top of the pile and led with his head into Trotter’s.
“He came over the top,” Trotter said. “He told me after the game, ’Man, if I knew that was you, I wouldn’t have done it. We’re both from Stephen F. Austin. … The bad part about it, I believe him. Ain’t no hard feelings, it happens. I was out, maybe not completely out. I had some cobwebs.”
Hall blocked
It looked like the Redskins finally bolted shut their revolving door at kicker — 10 in five years — with the signing of John Hall away from the New York Jets in March. Hall was a perfect 6-for-6 on field goal attempts in preseason and 3-for-3 in the opener, including the 33-yarder that beat his old team.
But after having a low 48-yard try blocked by New England’s Dan Klecko in the second quarter yesterday, Hall has failed on four of his past nine attempts. They were all long kicks — 51 yards in Atlanta and 53 and 49 yards against the New York Giants — but a miss is a miss.
“I didn’t see it, my head was down,” Hall said of yesterday’s miss which followed successful kicks from 38 and 29 yards. “[Holder] Bryan [Barker] said [Klecko] was right in my face.”
Jimoh burned again
Rookie Ade Jimoh hasn’t been given a warm welcome to the NFL. The Redskins’ No.4 cornerback, who made the team as an undrafted free agent, has given up two long touchdown passes in his extremely limited time on the field.
Two weeks ago in Atlanta, Jimoh was burned by Jimmy Farris on a late 42-yard score. Yesterday, he helped jump-start the Patriots’ late rally by surrendering a 29-yard touchdown to David Givens on the cornerback’s first play of the game.
Jimoh’s veteran teammates tried to boost his spirits afterward.
“I told him, I went through it, Champ went through it, everybody goes through it,” cornerback Fred Smoot said. “If you ain’t been burned, you ain’t played.”
Burgundy pants
The Redskins went away from the white-on-white look for the first time this season, donning burgundy pants to go with white jerseys. Players decided at the season’s start to go with white-on-white.
Injuries
The Redskins appeared to suffer only one injury to be monitored this week: a sprained ankle to defensive end Renaldo Wynn. Wynn said he was hopeful he wouldn’t miss practice this week but wasn’t sure of how his ankle would feel.
Inactives
The Redskins decided shortly before gametime to make left guard Dave Fiore inactive because of a sore knee. Fiore said he hopes the rest will do him good and lessen his knee concerns in upcoming weeks.
Washington’s other inactives were running back Sultan McCullough, linebacker Lemar Marshall, linebacker Orantes Grant, offensive lineman Brad Bedell, defensive end Ladairis Jackson and defensive tackle Lional Dalton. Wide receiver Cliff Russell was dubbed the third quarterback.
— David Elfin, Ken Wright, Jody Foldesy, Mark Zuckerman
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