By Myric Polhemus

Early in March of 1993 Joe Gibbs uttered the word all Redskins and fans never wanted to hear--"retirement." When the residents of Washington read their papers that fateful day in March they wept over their collective Wheates and knew things would never be the same. "How could he do this?" Redskin fans wondered. The more important question was "Why?"

The Redskins were coming off a very disappointing 9-7 season. Yes, they had gone to the playoffs that year, but so much was expected from the then defending Super Bowl champions. Throughout the year they looked tired and sluggish, slow and unpolished, and it seemed that time had caught up with them. The fact was the Redskins were an old team and they were running out of gas. The theory goes Gibbs saw his team was slowly degenerating and he knew the need for rebuilding was near; he wanted no part of it. S o just as Bill Walsh had done in San Francisco he got out while he was still on top of his profession.

That left Casserly without the future hall of fame coach on one of the most critical days of the football year; draft day. It's easy to assume that without Gibbs Casserly's draft decisions would become worse than they were in previous years. Here you have a great coach who made brilliant calls on the field; therefore, he must have made brilliant calls off the field. Well, perhaps that not the case. It's certainly hard to say with any accuracy how much influence Gibbs had on draft day, but the fact remain s Casserly had his worst drafts under Gibbs. The draft of '93, the first one without Gibbs, was his most solid to date.

When I say solid that's really what I mean. He didn't turn out any superstars or draft the next Gale Sayers, but he did produce four starters and one player who had a very big influence on the 1995 season. In fact, solid should be the theme of this draft . No real superstars, aside from Bledsoe and Bettis, but a whole mess of guys ready to contribute.

The Redskins first pick was a cornerback out of Notre Dame. However, he wasn't their first choice. As the Redskins sat in the 18th spot they were seriously hoping that Wayne Simmons would fall in their lap. They made several attempts to trade up but had no takers. Then the inevidible happened; the Green Bay Packers picked him with the 16th pick, and the Redskin's man was gone.

After Indianapolis picked Sean Dawkins the Redskins were on the clock. They had lost the player they wanted, but when they looked at their draft board they saw that the top-rated defensive back was still available. It was a no-brainer; they picked Tom Carter with the 18th overall pick. Although it wasn't the pick they had hoped for, they filled a huge hole at cornerback.

Why did they need a cornerback so desperately? This was the first year of free agency and the salary cap had not come into effect yet. So teams were signing players like they were going out of style; including very important Redskins. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Martin Meyhew the Redskins were left with two corners who had been plagued by injuries during the '92 season. Green broke his arm earlier that season and A. J. Johnson had had injuries throughout his career. They simply needed Tom Carter, and he became available at the right time.

Unlike Casserly's previous number one picks, Howard in '92, and Bobby Wilson in '91, Carter was here to stay and played much better than his other number one counterparts. Carter started eleven games his rookie year and hasn't missed a start since. If there is one knock on Carter it is his inconsistency. It has been pointed out that Carter has the physical tools to match up with any receiver in the league. So its not the physical game that makes him inconsistent; he sometimes has serious mental lapses at crucial times. For example, the first half of the opening game of the '96 season he looked as if he had never played corner in his life. Irving Fryer made him look like Madonna at mass; very out of place. But when the second half started Carter began playing at an all-pro level. He was inconsistent to say the least--still is. However, the bottom line was that this was the only first rounder Casserly had drafted that made more than a minimal impact. Carter remains the best first rounder Casserly has ever drafted.

The second round brought the only shining moment of what would become an otherwise miserable season; Reggie Brooks. In his first year he proved he could easily break the long run. With his speed and a hole he could take it 80 yards. He was the '93 season . His rookie year ended with Redskin fans wanting more. After gaining 1063 yards and a 4.8 yard per carry average he looked to be the future running back for years to come.

However, his fortunes would change when Norv Turner took over for Richie Pettibone. Turner wanted a back that was more consistent with his runs. He was used to Emmitt Smith gaining yards every time he touched the ball. While Smith never really broke the big run he rarely lost yards and was always going forward for a gain. Brooks was a different type of back. He was in the Barry Sander's mold of lose a yard, lose four yards, gain twenty yards. Brooks's yards came in chunks--not small pieces. In a Norv Tur ner offense controlling the ball is a key, and a running back like Brooks wouldn't be effective doing that. But that's not what sealed Brooks's fate.

He made what Turner calls the "big negative play" i.e., the fumble. On several occasions during the '94 season Brooks made the "big negative play" and put his team in very precarious situations. His playing time drastically declined. He was benched in '9 4 for Ricky Ervins, and with the signing of Terry Allen in '95 Brooks's career as a Redskin was all but over. He had played in all sixteen games as a rookie carrying the ball 223 times. Over the next two seasons he would carry the ball only 102 times playing in only one game for the '95 season. He was let go during training camp in '96.

There are three other players of note in this draft for the Redskins. Sterling Palmer, Darryl Morrison and Frank Wycheck. They all have one thing in common; problems. Both Morrison and Palmer would be good players if they could stay healthy and Wycheck was suspended for steroid use during the '94 season.

Palmer has been labeled a journeyman type defensive end. Perhaps this is an unfair label since Palmer played in only six games in '96, and when he was healthy he had very inferior talent around him. If he could stay healthy he might be able to shake this tag but until then we will never know.

Morrison started in all 16 games in '94. It was only his second year and it showed. Most of that season he was either badly out of position or was missing tackles; he had no interceptions through 16 games. After signing Stanley Richard and James Washing ton prior to the season of '95, Morrison's playing time was limited. But with the release of Washington during the preseason of '96, Morrison once again had a shot at the starting job. He made the most of his chance while sharing time with Darryl Pounds. He made several key stops in the Redskins winning streak of '96 proving that he could cover as well as stop the run. He started all twelve games he played in. However, just like Sterling Palmer, his season was cut short by injuries. Unlike Palmer, his injuries were far more severe. He had a neck injury that still continues to threaten his career. If he can return he will become a vital part of the Redskins defense.

Wycheck's problems were off the field more than they were on. Early in his Redskin career he tested positive for steroids. He denied ever using steroids, however; the league still suspended him for part of the '94 season. He only played in a combined 18 games for the Redskins in his two years making only 23 catches in that time period. After the '94 season the Redskins gave him his walking papers. He was picked up by the Oilers and has made a major impact. Making 40 and 53 catches in '95 and '96 respectively. The Redskins loss was certainly the Oilers gain.

Out of the other three players drafted by the Redskins two still play in the NFL, although they only play on special teams. Ed Bunn, a punter the Redskins drafted in the third round, is the only player from this draft that is not in the NFL. The Redskins thought they were getting the dominant punter, they had sorely missed. All they got was a draft pick that sorely missed. That same year the Redskins signed Reggie Roby dooming the career of Ed Bunn. The drafting of Ed Bunn was certainly questionable.

All told, Casserly had his most successful draft in '93. Compared to other teams' drafts the Redskins's stands as one of the top. They didn't draft any superstars but neither did anyone else. Just like many teams, they drafted a bunch of players that were certainly ready for the NFL. They were ready to make their respective teams and give a solid effort. Compared to the previous Casserly drafts "solid" was definitely a step in the right direction.

Special Thanks to:
Marianna Polhemus, editor
Chris Suh & David Gaines
And Springfield Draft Publications http://erols.com/sdp1