Linebacker Corps for Redskins Has a Tenuous Look

Because of one ruptured Achilles’ tendon and one strained hamstring muscle, the Washington Redskins’ linebacking corps--until recently the team’s most stable spot on the field--is taking on an inexperienced, tenuous look.

Unless linebacker Monte Coleman’s strained left hamstring gets much better quickly, the Redskins plan to start Calvin Daniels, who has been with the team for less than two weeks and has not played a down so far this season, at left linebacker Sunday against Seattle at 10 a.m. PDT in RFK Stadium here.

Daniels, a two-year starter for the Kansas City Chiefs before he was cut in favor of a rookie free agent this season, would be the Redskins’ third starting left linebacker in as many weeks, following Mel Kaufman (ruptured Achilles’ tendon) and Coleman.

His backup, especially in passing situations, would be Angelo Snipes, who joined the Redskins last month from the U.S. Football League. Snipes played most of the fourth quarter Sunday after Coleman was hurt and got angry with himself, he said, when he “blew a coverage” that led to a San Diego completion and first down.

Snipes, who flew home to Atlanta on the team’s two days off this week to “relax from the game,” said he does not feel “really ready” to play full-time for the Redskins.

“I don’t have the defenses down like I’d like to,” he said.

Even if he can play, which Coach Joe Gibbs said he still is hoping for, Coleman most likely won’t play much. And this means 12 years of Washington experience in the form of Kaufman and Coleman will be replaced by something like 12 minutes of Washington experience in Daniels and Snipes.

“I’m not so sure any team in the NFL can really hold up when they lose two people at a position,” defensive coordinator Larry Peccatiello said. “I think everybody is depth-shy to a certain extent. But I really feel good about the situation we’re in with respect to losing two people. I’ve got a lot of confidence in Calvin. I think he’ll do very well for us.”

Daniels, a 27-year-old graduate of the University of North Carolina, never missed a game in his four pro seasons with the Chiefs, who play a 3-4 defense. But adjusting to playing with the Redskins, who run a 4-3 defense, has not been easy, he said.

“It’s very tough, going from one system to another,” Daniels said. He has found, for example, that responsibilities in pass coverages are different, and he isn’t used to that. He also said he has found himself paying too much attention to the tight end in practice. In a 3-4, the linebackers butt heads with the tight ends more often than they do in a 4-3, he said.

“I’m programmed to get my hands on him more than I need to now,” he said. “Sometimes, I find myself a little hesitant. I just have to get out of old habits.”

Every time he looks to his left, middle linebacker Neal Olkewicz seems to be looking at someone new. It’s not easy to adjust to new players, but it’s even tougher for the new ones to get used to the old guys, he said.

“To learn the system, you have to practice over and over, which is why we go to training camp and do it every year. It’s got to come to you in a split second, and it doesn’t come to you unless it’s second nature to you,” he said.

Said Peccatiello: “You’re trying to do in two weeks what a lot of these players have been doing over two to three months and in some cases, two to three years. It’s really tough.”

What makes it even more difficult is that the opponent the Redskins (3-0) are playing is one of two undefeated AFC teams. The Seahawks are on every bit the roll the Redskins are on, with a strong, mix-and-match offense that features four wide receivers on some plays and Curt Warner on a handoff on others.

“It hurts to have new guys, sure, but maybe they’ll mess up and make a good play, too,” Olkewicz said, laughing.

There were differing opinions about Coleman’s status at Redskin Park Thursday. He did not practice, but did run. Gibbs said he believes Coleman will be able to play. Head trainer Bubba Tyer said Coleman still has “some soreness” in his hamstring but “probably will be able to play some Sunday.”

But some players and one assistant coach said they were under the impression Coleman won’t play.

“It’s the kind of injury where even if he does play, he might be out in two plays anyway,” Olkewicz said. “We have to plan on not using him.”

Which brings us back to Daniels, who lived in Washington for five years as a kid and grew to love the Redskins. He was unemployed for two weeks, from the day of the final cut in Kansas City until he signed with the Redskins a week ago. He had been a starter with the Chiefs, but quickly fell out of favor and found himself out of a job.

“In a situation like that, where you’re not winning, a team is always trying to find solutions,” he said. “I didn’t understand, a lot of my teammates didn’t understand. I went through training camp very, very depressed because they were trying to make adjustments I didn’t feel were justified. Of course, they don’t have to justify their reasoning.

“When I was released, I was relieved. . . . I just didn’t feel I could play a subordinate role when I felt that I was superior.”