1994 Washington Redskins: Turnovers and QB's, How Familiar
by Ronnie Adkins on Jan 4, 2012 2:16 PM EST
in Redskins History Corner
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Though not quite as terrible (barely), the Redskins are at least sticking to their roots from the majority of the past decade and a half.
The last time a Redskins team gave up 30+ turnovers was the abyssmal 3-13 1994 season under Norv Turner (40). The 1994 draft was a promising one with the Redskins drafting the "Quarterback of the future", Heath Shuler (now U.S. Representative Heath Shuler D-NC). Shuler spent his college days at Tennessee, holding nearly all of the SEC's passer records until being eclipsed by Peyton Manning. In his senior year, Shuler was second in the vote for the Heisman trophy.
Washington took Shuler 3rd overall in April of 1994. Norv and the Redskins' front office had high hopes for Shuler, however, his poor play led to a QB controversy with fellow 1994 draft pick Gus Ferrote (7th round, 197th ovr.). ESPN voted Shuler the '17th Biggest Sports Flop' of the past 25 years (2004)
More after the Jump..
Ferotte is best known for his self-inflicted neck injury during a touchdown celebration. I don't even want to go there. Just watch the YouTube video Here. He was also voted to the pro-bowl in 1997, but the neck injury far overshadows that.
The most memorable moment in the 1994 season was the all-too-familiar Redskins' ultimate football giveaway game. Basically it's the game where the Redskins invite the other team to a luncheon and hand out free footballs during gametime. Shuler threw 5 interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals (Then part of the NFC East) during week 7. Shuler went 11-for-32 for 158 yards, one TD, and 5 INT's.
Three different quarterbacks would start for the Redskins over the 16-game spread. Shuler with 8 and John Friesz/Gus Ferotte with 4 apeice. A breakdown of the passing stats:
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | QBrec | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Lng | Sk | Yds | 4QC | GWD | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Heath Shuler | 23 | QB | 11 | 8 | 1-7-0 | 120 | 265 | 45.3 | 1658 | 10 | 3.8 | 12 | 4.5 | 81 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 13.8 | 150.7 | 59.6 | 12 | 83 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 4.3 | ||
| 17 | John Friesz | 27 | qb | 16 | 4 | 1-3-0 | 105 | 180 | 58.3 | 1266 | 10 | 5.6 | 9 | 5.0 | 73 | 7.0 | 5.9 | 12.1 | 79.1 | 77.7 | 6 | 45 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 3.2 | ||
| 12 | Gus Frerotte | 23 | 4 | 4 | 1-3-0 | 46 | 100 | 46.0 | 600 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 5.0 | 51 | 6.0 | 4.8 | 13.0 | 150.0 | 61.2 | 3 | 18 | 5.7 | 4.4 | 2.9 | |||
| 30 | Brian Mitchell | 26 | PR/KR/fb | 16 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | -45.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | -45.0 | 0.0 | ||||
| Team Total | 27.1 | 16 | 3-13-0 | 271 | 546 | 49.6 | 3524 | 25 | 4.6 | 27 | 4.9 | 81 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 13.0 | 220.3 | 65.0 | 21 | 146 | 6.0 | 4.7 | 3.7 |
(Via: Pro Football Reference)
The numbers above clearly don't match the absolutely absurd 20 interceptions thrown by Rex Grossman in 2011. Maybe that should prove the absolute need for a QB in April 2012. Though there are major differences in these two teams, the main problem persists, and has persisted since the glory days of Mark Rypien, Joe Theisman, and Sonny Jurgensen. A franchise QB.
Hail.
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1994 Washington Redskins, The Original QB Controversy
I was gonna say…Kilmer and Sonny was the original…well, unless you count Cliff Battles…Sammy Baugh’s backup in his rookie year. I know Ken owns a Battles jersey.
"You know those balls that they put on car antennas so you can find them in the parking lot? Those should be on every car!" - Homer Simpson
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Yeah I changed it yesterday while doing the research.
Must have forgotten to switch it over. Crap
Author: Hogs Haven
Founder: The Burgundy Warpath
http://theburgundywarpath.com
by Ronnie Adkins on Jan 4, 2012 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
although an abbreviated career with us, doug williams is my favorite
As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.
*Socrates*
I still carry, in my jacket pocket, a #17 Redskins "Bear" from that season.
It’s been a “lucky token” since that time.
And it’s not small, either, about 2 inches long and an inch across.
NO JOKE.
Maybe I need to take a picture and put it up here somewhere.
Man, I wish Doug were somehow still associated with the team.
“How long have you been a black quarterback, Mr. Williams?”
No Danny, Nooooooo - Tom Landry, 1982., and Washington Redskins fans, 1999-
he had the smoothest throwing motion
when i was playing QB back in grade school, i taped every NFL greatest moments highlights i could get of him, and ran them in slow motion over and over so as to mimic his throwing style
As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.
*Socrates*
Rex through those 20 interceptions in only 12 games
I think we need to point that out and give him credit
The world looks mighty different when you're peeking out your belly button
What is a "franchise" quaterback?
I would argue that Sammy Baugh was the first and last true franchise quarterback this team has ever known. Drafted by the Skins in ’37, playing for 15 years and earning 9 all-pro selections (7 on first team), 2 time NFL player of the year and 2 NFL Championships.
The next closest would have be to Jurgenson, who spent 11 of his 17 years in Washington, but was “the guy” only 6 of those years. Splitting time with Kilmer the remaining time. While a Redskins, Jurgenson did make the all-pro team 4 of those 6 years.
Billy Kilmer had 10 years in the NFL before coming to DC, and was brought in as a backup to Jurgenson. Now he did have a great year in ’72 (one of his only 2 years in pro-bowl as a Redskin). But most of his time was spent splitting time with Jurgenson.
Joey T.? Spent his first year with Washington as the punt returner (which was a hell of a lot better than his attempt at punting). But he didn’t QB the team until ‘78, 7 years after he came out of Notre Dame (the first 3 year spent in CFL). Now he did have 2 all-pro years in ’82 & ’83. But he really only started for the Skins for 7 years. I know his career ended prematurely due to some coked-out criminal from NY, but he was sliding in performance by then and wasn’t going to be leading the Skins for much longer anyway.
I guess Mark Rypien would be the next closest, actually having been drafted by the Skins in ’86 and starting a couple of years later in ’88. He played only 6 years in DC before being replaced by Rich Gannon in ’94.
So again, what is a “franchise” QB? 6 years and a Superbowl run? Don’t get me wrong, I’d take that after what we’ve had to endure since ‘94. But doesn’t that speak to just how low our expectations have sank?
Gannon was signed in '93
Played 3 games and was released before the ‘94 season. He didn’t play football at all during ’94. After that he signed with the Chiefs
Author: Hogs Haven
Founder: The Burgundy Warpath
http://theburgundywarpath.com
by Ronnie Adkins on Jan 4, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
Very good
I’ve been saying that for quite some time. Baugh was the only “franchise quarterback” the Redskins have ever had.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Great points
Rypien had one great season. People forget rumors were flying that before the 91 season Gibbs was not sure Rypein was the right guy and was looking to replace him
When I was a kid, my father told me, "Never hit anyone in anger, unless you're absolutely sure you can get away with it." -Russell Ziskey
I hate this poll, Marc Verica was my favorite followed by Angela Rypien
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions
So did I...
His stat line from 1999 is about as good as it has been for a Redskins QB since Rypien’s Super Bowl year…316-519, 4,005 yds, 24 tds, 13 ints, 90.0 rating. Name any Redskins QB that has put together that good of a season since?
Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell both went for over 1,000 yards receiving with Johnson airing it out to them. I just remember that season being a lot of FUN. Norv finally got things to click because he finally had the personnel and the maturity from his younger players. We had a high scoring offense, much of that due to both Stephen Davis’s running and Brad Johnson leading the air attack.
by The Agent C 83 on Jan 4, 2012 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
no you didnt.. the bucs did after he gave them that playoff game by muffing the snap
they liked him so much they got him the next year to lead them to a superbowl lol. i would love to see that play again if any1 can find it??? all i remember is where brad miss handled the snap picked the ball up and acted like he never threw a football before in his life. i been pissed off at him ever since lol
Your history sucks
- Brad Johnson was signed by the Bucs 2 years later. He played the season after that game, but was replaced by Jeff George because that is what Danny Boy wanted.
- Brad Johnson wasn’t the holder on that field goal, Matt Turk was.
by The Agent C 83 on Jan 4, 2012 11:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The Turks
And the other brother Dan Turk was the long snapper.
dude...
trent green forever, followed closely by bob holly.
"Three thousand years of beautiful tradition,from Moses to Sandy Koufax,YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT I'M LIVING IN THE FUCKING PAST!"- Walter Sobchak
Saying Bob Holly means you lose your Redskins fanhood.
After all, isn’t he STILL working for Dallas in some capacity?
Or am I just getting senile®?
No Danny, Nooooooo - Tom Landry, 1982., and Washington Redskins fans, 1999-
The question is a little wrong
Do you want my FAVORITE Redskins QB (one I most enjoyed watching play)?
My favorite FORMER Redskins QB (can have earned that favorite for non-QB duties)?
The GREATEST Redskins QB?
My senitmental favorite QB?
Those are four different players.
Joey, Sonny, Sammy, and Doug, respectively.
No Danny, Nooooooo - Tom Landry, 1982., and Washington Redskins fans, 1999-
Oh, and least favorite... there can be only one.
And it ain’t Rex or Donny.
It’s Eddie LaBaron. May his name never come up in a favorite Redskins QB search again (spit) for being a traitor to our organization.
No Danny, Nooooooo - Tom Landry, 1982., and Washington Redskins fans, 1999-
I saw Eddie LeBaron played college ball at the College of Pacific in Stockton, California. He was a great ball
handler. He did a triple spinner in one game and the officials did not even know where the ball was. They thought there was a hand off to a running back into the LOS and blew the whistle. But no, Eddie was back to pass and no defensive player was
close to the receiver. No touchdown because the whistle had blown. The guy was still a teenager.
Sammy Baugh is hard to judge compared to other QBs since few people are still alive that saw him play. A three way player, i.e., offense, defense, and special teams.
by Jefferson1935 on Jan 4, 2012 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
good point
my favorite to watch was Rypien in his prime because he could really carve up a defense when his game was on. Not that it hurt to have Monk, Clark and Sanders for targets.
The only QB I’ve really enjoyed watching since then was Brad Johnson because he was very smart and really knew how to read a defense. He had a decent arm but not the strongest but with his smarts he was a lot more effective than other QBs we’ve had cough cough Jeff George cough cough who didn’t have the mental ability to play the game.
Norv Turner
this is a good flashback for the folks who say Norv Turner isn’t a crappy head coach. HE picked Heath Shuler! So every time you think about how much Heath Shuler sucked as our QB I want you to connect Norv Turner to Heath Shuler.
Just scratching the surface
Shuler wasn’t Norv’s only mistake. Just his first of thousands. He also ruined the career of Reggie Brooks.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Oh lord
Reggie Brooks wasn’t THAT good.
Frankly, I was glad to get the upgrade to Terry Allen.
by The Agent C 83 on Jan 4, 2012 11:46 PM EST up reply actions
agree to disagree
Brooks set the rookie rushing mark for the Skins. He was the lone bright spot in ’93. Hell, Jerome Bettis even thought he was “that good” when he said Brooks was better than him.
Terry Allen was decent, but he was nothing more than a grind it out 4 yard back. Brooks was exciting. Him and Ervins were gonna be our dynamic duo for years. Then Turner came and screwed that up.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
by CJHutch on Jan 5, 2012 1:28 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'd forgotten all about that
must be my subconscious protecting my brain from bad memories.
Yeah
But he did ok with Gus Frerotte and won us a division title (our last) with Brad Johnson.
Remember that when we draft Shuler, the Redskins were given 6-page articles in SI about their genius for drafting him (among others) that year.
by The Agent C 83 on Jan 4, 2012 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
Haha
Did OK? Really? Did you pay any attention to this team before Nervless got here? He was awful. AWFUL! He ruined this franchise well before Snyder took over.
Division title? Yeah, after he FINALLY realized Gus Frerotten couldn’t play.
You really think Turner was a good coach? Haha. You must have a low bar. How many head coaches get to keep their jobs for 7 years with ONE playoff victory? Or SIX years without even making the playoffs?
Turned was a joke. He has live off being a “nice guy” his entire career. And now San Diego is caught under that same spell, letting him stay another year to continue his trend of making teams worse off than when he got there. Haha. They fired Marty cuz he couldn’t get outta the first. Turner showed them. He said “you cant do that to me, cuz I wont even MAKE it to the first round.”
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
by CJHutch on Jan 5, 2012 1:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Casey Weldon, XFL legend!
Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions
Just want to point out
that the name on my #12 Redskins jersey is spelled FREROTTE. Had to love the head butt.
by redskins-texas-fan on Jan 4, 2012 4:59 PM EST reply actions
jeff goerge for me
i wish he woulda been our qb this year. heard he wanted to play for the colts this year so he must still have his arm
Brian Mitchell was my favorite Redskins quarterback
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
by CJHutch on Jan 5, 2012 1:43 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Exactly
B Mitch is a fan of the team. Obviously he’s not a fan of Snyder, but for good reason. But he still wants the team to succeed. People just mistake his blunt candidness for being a “hater.”
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
He's not a hater
Just tells it like it is.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
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