Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Gibbs eliminates contact to protect injured players Date: Sat, 14 Nov 92 16:22:11 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS;PRO FOOTBALL;REDSKINS NOTES \HD Gibbs eliminates contact to protect injured players \BY John Hawkins \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES So delicate is the Washington Redskins' injury situation that coach Joe Gibbs changed his Friday practice format yesterday, an indication that most of the battered bodies will be ready to go tomorrow against the Kansas City Chiefs. Gibbs usually has the players wear shoulder pads and do some light hitting on Fridays, when practices are usually no longer than 90 minutes. Yesterday was different, as the Redskins did the "walk-though" of the game plan that most teams do on Saturdays. "We didn't want them to hit," Gibbs said, referring to the five key players who are injured. "By doing this, they can at least get in, make the calls and go through things. So we chose to switch our practice around." Gibbs obviously wanted to minimize the contact and maximize his team's chances of being fully healthy. He'll need everybody against the Chiefs, whose offensive line averages close to 300 pounds and whose running backs are larger than most linebackers. Middle linebacker Kurt Gouveia is almost a sure bet to start - he played in passing situations last week despite a sprained neck and has improved this week. Next in line is offensive tackle Joe Jacoby (neck), of whom Gibbs said, "I expect him to start and play." Also much better is safety Danny Copeland (neck), an ex-Chief who resumed practicing late this week and will probably start. That leaves outside linebackers Andre Collins and Monte Coleman. Gibbs said he expected Coleman (neck) to be ready, although trainer Bubba Tyer said Coleman was the least ready of the bunch. As for Collins, his back spasms have come and gone and returned since the Vikings game three weeks ago. Tyer said Collins' situation, while similar to that of defensive tackle Bobby Wilson, who is out indefinitely and probably for the rest of the season, is not as serious. While Wilson's back clearly has a bulging disk, Collins' does not. "Andre, I'm not as sure," Gibbs said, "That thing has acted up on him. Hopefully, if it's OK he'll get to play, too." The Redskins are ever mindful that they've had trouble with big-back ground attacks when their defense is healthy, much less banged-up. Two weeks ago, 220-pound Rodney Hampton of the New York Giants pounded them for 157 yards. Last week it was 225-pound Chris Warren of the Seattle Seahawks who went for 103 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. ROOKIE CONFIDENT There have been flashes of brilliance in the Redskins' offensive backfield, but not from steady Earnest Byner or slumping Ricky Ervins. Although rookie Robert Green has only four carries in the first nine games, he has gotten 40 yards out of them. His 23-yarder against Denver is Washington's second longest run of the season. The Redskins apparently feel no pressing need to work Green into the game plan despite a great preseason for the free agent from William and Mary and Ervins' inability to duplicate his 1991 form. Running backs coach Don Breaux said earlier in the week that he'd like to get Green more carries, but not at the expense of Byner's or Ervins' playing time. Obviously, somebody would be getting fewer carries if Green were worked into the rotation. "Just making sure I know my plays," Green said when asked if he'd taken on added responsibility in practice lately. "I'm still running the other team's offense, working at our defense. They've always expected me to be ready at any time." As is the case with first-round pick Desmond Howard, Gibbs doesn't feel compelled to reach for the personnel drum yet, despite the pathetic showing by the offense since Week 6. "I'd like to play Robert, like to play Desmond, [but] the problem is getting them in there when you've got guys doing a good job," Gibbs said. "In Robert's case, he's done something when he's gotten a few carries." Gibbs paused to discuss the running back situation. "I feel good about our backs. Ricky hasn't quite hit a groove yet like he did last year, when he got in there and exploded right off the bat. That's not easy to do, and we've had a lot of changes up front. I'm not sure how much that affects it - when I look at it I see him making the most out of his opportunities. Robert's done a good job. We'll have to see if we can work him in." WORD QUESTIONABLE The Chiefs aren't sure whether running back Barry Word will play - a sprained ankle has hobbled him for three weeks - but Pro Bowl cornerback Albert Lewis is definitely out. A broken arm suffered last week against San Diego has sent him to injured reserve. That means Dale Carter, Kansas City's first-round pick as a safety last spring, will start at cornerback. Opposing offenses have come at Carter in nickel situations frequently this season, which might help explain why the rookie already has four interceptions. But it's hard to imagine the Redskins not testing the kid themselves, regardless of what Gibbs will tell you. "I'm not so sure he's as far off as the other guy," Gibbs said. "We've watched him on film - he runs like mad. I'm not so sure they'll change much with him in there. I think they've got a lot of confidence in him." ***** REDSKINS VS. CHIEFS Tomorrow, 1 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium, Chs. 9, 11, AM-570, AM-1090, FM-103.5, Chiefs favored by 1 1/2 This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM