Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Washington Redskins: Looking back on the 1991 Super Bowl season

By Kyle Hundley

Mark Rypien #11 Quarterback for the Washington Redskins calls the play on the line of scrimmage during the National Football Conference East game against the Cleveland Browns on 13 October 1991 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, United States. The Redskins won the game 42 - 17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images)
Mark Rypien #11 Quarterback for the Washington Redskins calls the play on the line of scrimmage during the National Football Conference East game against the Cleveland Browns on 13 October 1991 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, United States. The Redskins won the game 42 - 17. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Darrell Green, Washington Redskins
2 Dec 2001: Darrell Green #28 of the Washington Redskins reacts during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Fed-Ex Field in Landover, Maryland. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins with a final score of 20-14. Digital Image. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire/ALLSPORT /

Defense – Players and Statistics

Defensive Line

Charles Mann was the standout on the defensive line. On the season, Mann finished with 11.5 sacks while playing the run hard. He earned Pro Bowl honors. Fred Stokes and Markus Koch provided pressure opposite Mann. Stokes started ten games and had 6.5 sacks while Koch started six games and had a sack. Eric Williams and Tim Johnson started at defensive tackle while Bobby Wilson and Jumpy Geathers each had 4.5 sacks as rotational players. This group applied constant pressure on Jim Kelly in the Super Bowl, as he was often forced to throw the ball early or take a sack. Kelly was hit hard and often by these guys. They also held NFL MVP Thurman Thomas to just 13 yards rushing on ten carries.

Linebackers

Wilber Marshall was the leader of the linebacking corps. Marshall had five interceptions on the season, including one taken back for a touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 3, while recording 5.5 sacks and well over 100 tackles. Andre Collins had a monster season as well. Collins also had over 100 tackles on the season, including an interception return for a touchdown against the Falcons. Matt Millen, Monte Coleman, and Kurt Gouveia had strong seasons while providing solid depth at the position. In the Super Bowl, Marshall had a sack on Jim Kelly while Gouveia had a key 23-yard interception return to start the second half.

light. Must Read. Fifteen greatest Redskins quarterbacks of all time

Defensive Backs

Darrell Green was the unquestioned leader of the Redskins’ secondary. The Redskins legend had one of his best seasons in 1991, as he was named a first-team All-Pro at the end of the season. He recorded five interceptions on the season, including a memorable return for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship to seal a trip to the Super Bowl. He recorded an interception in the Super Bowl as well. Starting alongside Green was the underappreciated Martin Mayhew. Mayhew returned an interception for a touchdown in the Week 13 loss to the Cowboys and finished the season with three interceptions. Brad Edwards and Danny Copeland each provided excellent play at the safety positions. Edwards had two interceptions in the Super Bowl, returning one for 35 yards. The secondary did an excellent job locking up Kelly’s talented wide receivers until the game was out of reach.

Special Teams

Kicker Chip Lohmiller had the best season of his career in 1991 as he made the Pro Bowl. His best game of the season was in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, as he made four field goals over 45 yards to help the Redskins win 33-31. He also made five field goals in the Week 17 loss to the Eagles. Lohmiller finished the season with 149 points. He converted 31 of 43 field goal attempts and made all 56 of his extra point attempts. He made all of his field goal and PAT attempts in the Super Bowl.

Kelly Goodburn was the punter for the Redskins. He had 52 punts on the year for a 39.8-yard average. Goodburn had 16 punts downed inside the 20. The coverage unit was excellent as well on punts, as returners had just 190 return yards on the season. In the Super Bowl, Goodburn had four punts for 150 yards.

Redskins great Brian Mitchell handled the majority of the return duties for Washington. Mitchell had 45 punt returns for 600 yards. He returned a punt for a touchdown against the Lions in Week 1 and another one against Cincinnati in Week 4. Mitchell had 29 kick return attempts for 583 yards as well, and Ricky Ervins returned 11 kicks for 232 yards.

Home/Commanders History