Beuerlein Can’t Save Raiders : Quarterback Sparks Rally, but L.A. Falls Short, 27-20

The Raiders managed a happier ending when Steve Beuerlein passed the Cowboy third string dizzy. But by the time their backup quarterback got warmed up, it was the third quarter and the Raiders were down, 20-3.

They managed to lose, 27-20, before 32,358 fans at the Coliseum, leaving them 0-2 in exhibitions.

More to the point, their No. 1 unit hasn’t scored a touchdown yet, their new tackles are having trouble pass-blocking and their secondary--read, starting cornerback candidate Mike Richardson--is still giving up big plays. If this was the night the Raiders were supposed to show what they’ve got after last week’s they-can’t-be- that -bad bombing by the San Francisco 49ers, they are still a little short.

Beuerlein played an impressive second half, completing 11 of 17 passes, putting 17 of the 20 Raider points on the board. If this threatens to start a familiar controversy in that segment of the populace that is still paying attention, it doesn’t include Coach Mike Shanahan.

“We’ve always got challenges at every position,” Shanahan said, “But Jay (Schroeder) is our No. 1 quarterback, and Steve is No. 2.”

And Beuerlein knows it.

“I don’t think I will ever reconcile myself to the fact that I’m No. 2,” Beuerlein said. “I think I have to accept it. I just want to go out every day and try to turn a few heads.

“There are two ways you can look at it. You can get upset and mope, or you can try to get better. I’m confident sooner or later things are going to work out for me.”

Schroeder hit his last pass, an end-of-the-half, 57-yard (66 in the air) heave to Willie Gault, sending him into the locker room at 11 of 22 for 150 yards.

Schroeder was much improved over his opening-day stumble, but he was victimized by a couple of drops and a holding penalty (on extra tackle Steve Wright) on a straight-ahead dive that wiped out a first-and-goal at the Dallas 4.

“I think we improved from last week,” Shanahan said, “but we’re not where we need to be.”

You want to see right-on-schedule?

Check the Cowboys.

They have a new staff and two new quarterbacks who are still rotating starts. Saturday night, Steve Walsh started slowly (one of six) but finished faster (10 of 15) and led the Cowboys to a 13-3 lead at halftime.

The Raiders led, 3-0, when Walsh ended his string of five consecutive incompletions and hit Herschel Walker in a gaping hole in the new Raider zone for 28 yards. Shortly thereafter, faced with a third-and-14 at the Raider 28, Walsh hit his old Miami Hurricane teammate, Michael Irvin, behind Richardson in the end zone. Richardson was in good position, but the ball was right where it had to be, and Irvin came down with it.

In the dying moments of the half, Walsh took the Cowboys 72 yards into the end zone again. He hit rookie Scott Ankrom, again behind Richardson, who wasn’t as close this time, for the final eight yards.

“I saw things tonight like I was reading a book,” Walsh said later. ‘Last week, it was like reading Hebrew.”

At the half, the suspected Cowboy kingpin, former Bruin Troy Aikman took over. The Raiders set him up at their 23 when Stefon Adams fumbled away a punt he was trying to fair-catch, and it took Aikman five plays to get the Cowboys home. No. 2 draft choice Daryl Johnston, the 237-pound fullback from Syracuse, pulled Zeph Lee into the end zone on the end of a four-yard bolt, and it was about to be 20-3.

At this point, Beuerlein got the Raiders moving. He drove them 71 yards for their first touchdown, rookie Derrick Gainer’s five-yard run around right end. The he took them 43 for Jeff Jaeger’s 36-yard field goal.

Aikman, who completed four of eight passes for 45 yards altogether, then drove the Cowboys 75 yards in the other direction. Johnston stomped the last 11 yards up the middle, and it was 27-13.

Beuerlein passed the Raiders right back down the field, 67 yards worth. Gainer went the last yard, and it was 27-20. The Raiders got the ball back at the end of the game, but with only :40 left and at their 16. Even on his big night, Beuerlein couldn’t beat those odds.

Of course, this is just the exhibition season.

Isn’t it?

Isn’t it?

Raider Notes

Russell Carter, the No. 1 strong safety, suffered a shoulder dislocation and will be out from two to four weeks. The early guess is that it’ll be closer to four than two. The only remaining strong safety is Zeph Lee, who was only converted to the position from tailback last season. . . . Raider offensive hero of the exhibition season: Mike Alexander, a rangy second-year wide receiver from Penn State, a No. 8 pick who spent last season on injured reserve. He caught four passes for 69 yards Saturday night, giving him seven for 127. “He’s got a good feel for the game,” said Steve Beuerlein, who has thrown all seven of those passes. “I don’t drop back looking for him. You can’t do that in this league. But he knows where he’s supposed to be. Plus he’s big. He doesn’t get bumped off his routes. He gets where he’s supposed to be.” . . . Alexander, on battling for a spot with stars such as James Lofton and Mervyn Fernandez: “I was overwhelmed last year. I don’t know if I’ve gotten over it yet.”... The cornerback battle: The Cowboys sent both their young, fast wide receivers, Michael Irvin and Kelvin Martin, on fly patterns at Mike Haynes. Haynes batted both long passes down and didn’t give up a reception all night. The tandem of Lionel Washington-Terry McDaniel played about 2 1/2 quarters and did at least OK. Figure McDaniel to move up to the starting job, replacing Mike Richardson on the left side, with Haynes and Washington left to battle it out on the right side. . . . New Raider defensive end Pete Koch, who got into a screaming match at one of the practices with the Cowboys, jumped a Dallas player, was called for a personal foul and thrown out of the game.