PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Schroeder Remains No. 1, Shell Says

Three first-half interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns during the Raiders’ 27-23 loss to the Washington Redskins on Saturday, aren’t enough for Jay Schroeder to be replaced as starting quarterback, Coach Art Shell said Sunday.

Schroeder, the starter since the beginning of training camp, did not gain many supporters with his performance against the Redskins in completing nine of 18 passes for 103 yards. Backup Todd Marinovich led the Raiders’ comeback by completing 11 of 19 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown.

“People who question will always question, but we have to do what we feel is best for this organization,” Shell said. “If there are any changes that we feel that have to be made, we will make them.

“I know the questions are going to come because everybody has been saying all along . . . that there is a (quarterback) controversy.”

Shell said that Schroeder will start Saturday in the Raiders’ final exhibition, against Houston at the Coliseum, and also in their season opener Sept. 6 at Denver.

After reviewing the Redskin game on tape, Shell said that he was pleased with both quarterbacks’ ability to move the offense. The Raiders outgained Washington in total yards, 378 to 145, and in passing yards, 243-60.

Of Schroeder’s three interceptions, Shell said only the third was a misread, while the first two were a broken assignment by Mervyn Fernandez and an overthrown pass.

The Raiders’ running game finally produced, amassing 135 yards and two touchdowns against the Redskins, with Eric Dickerson gaining 93 yards in 20 carries.

“We did OK, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Shell said. “We still have to get everybody into the running game, from the wide receivers to the lead back and tight ends.”

Even though second-year fullback Derrick Gainer was impressive blocking for Dickerson and Marcus Allen looked strong in his first exhibition, Shell said he still plans to use backfield combinations of Nick Bell-Napoleon McCallum, Allen-Steve Smith and Dickerson-Gainer.