CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Quarterback Patrick Ramsey and coach Steve Spurrier might have a year of experience working together, but last night they looked like they needed more time.
The Washington Redskins’ first-string offense struggled in its first preseason game of 2003, generating 53 yards in a little more than a quarter of play against the Carolina Panthers. Washington’s starters trailed 6-0 before exiting and the Redskins ended up losing 20-0, Spurrier’s first shutout loss since Oct.3, 1987, when his Duke Blue Devils lost 7-0 to Rutgers.
Ramsey, the unquestioned starter in his second NFL season, completed a 48-yard pass to wide receiver Laveranues Coles but otherwise looked mediocre. He finished 2-for-6 for 57 yards in three series, getting sacked once.
Poor hands didn’t help Ramsey; three of his four incompletions were dropped. The most egregious bobbles came from fullback Bryan Johnson on third-and-6 and tight end Zeron Flemister on fourth-and-1. Still, Ramsey threw at least two balls poorly and generally didn’t appear comfortable.
“We needed to get things going,” Ramsey said. “Every time there was a pivotal play, that would allow us to get a new set of downs, we were unable to convert. Those are plays we make on a daily basis. I know those guys are certain they’ll make them at the next opportunity.”
There are high expectations for Washington’s offense this year after the club made a series of high-profile upgrades during the offseason. Spurrier, who had the league’s 20th-ranked offense during his first season, finally was expected to have the personnel to run the attacking scheme he made famous at Florida.
However, last night Washington couldn’t get anything going against a defense that ranked second in the league in 2002. The Redskins’ only first down came on the bomb to Coles; in 10 other plays, the unit picked up 5 yards.
Running back Trung Canidate, one of the touted offseason pickups, rushed three times for 4 yards. After picking up 4 yards on his first carry, he lost a yard on his second rush and then was stuffed for 1 yard on third-and-2. He also dropped a pass from Ramsey that looked a bit behind him.
“[Canidate] didn’t do a whole bunch tonight, but neither did anybody,” Spurrier said. “But he’ll get more opportunities. Hopefully we can run the ball a little better, pass-block, catch the ball, look like we know what we’re doing offensively.”
Davis strong
Former Redskins running back Stephen Davis got the best of his old team, piling up 53 yards on the game’s first three plays and ultimately rushing seven times for 74 yards before exiting late in the first quarter.
“Stephen must have averaged, what? Twenty yards a carry?” Spurrier said. “He was running right through us.”
Cut in late February by Washington because of his cost and ill fit with Spurrier’s scheme, Davis looked like the workhorse star who piled up three straight 1,300-yard seasons and attended two Pro Bowls for Washington from 1999 to 2001.
The signature run came on the game’s third play. Davis burst into the secondary after skipping through the line, and easily ran through an attempted tackle by cornerback Fred Smoot. He went 34 yards before linebacker LaVar Arrington finally chased him down, setting up a field goal.
On Davis’ fourth carry, the Redskins looked like they finally had him stuffed. But he bounced left and found daylight, running 17 yards to set up another field goal.
Davis’ performance was an indictment of Washington’s defensive line, which is under great scrutiny after replacing three starters, including both tackles. The Redskins still have a chance of re-signing defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson, who was cut in the first week of training camp because he refused to take a pay cut.
Off-duty
When the Redskins picked up kicker Matt Simonton this week, he was trying to stay afloat — but not in the NFL.
Simonton was competing in a lifeguard competition in Atlantic City, N.J., when Redskins kicker John Hall strained his groin Thursday. Special teams coach Mike Stock had seen Simonton fill in in a similar situation for St. Louis last season. The 5-foot-10 kicker was called in for short-term duty with Washington.
Simonton missed his one field goal attempt last night, a 35-yarder near the end of the first half.
Hall, meanwhile, doesn’t have a serious groin strain and already was feeling better Friday, Stock said. Team officials had said Hall would have been able to kick if last night’s game was in the regular season.
Extra points
Redskin tight end Robert Royal had his helmet knocked off by second-string cornerback Jarrod Cooper early in the second quarter. Royal caught a short pass in the right flat. The big hit punctuated the manner in which Carolina was outplaying Washington at that point. …
Defensive end Peppi Zellner started on the right side with Regan Upshaw and Bruce Smith both back in Washington resting their knees. Linebacker Kevin Mitchell started in the middle for Jeremiah Trotter, who is trimming back his practice regimen to ease the strain on his reconstructed knee. …
The team captains for the preseason are tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen on offense and linebacker LaVar Arrington and end Renaldo Wynn on defense. After final cuts to the 53-man roster, the players will vote on new captains.
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