Opportunity Is Knocking For Wilson

Redskins' Rookie Tackle To Start Against Steelers

Mark Wilson, a fifth-round pick, set a record with 48 straight starts for Cal. (John Mcdonnell -- The Washington Post)

Rookie offensive lineman Jim Molinaro switched roles to become a defensive lineman for goal-line drills during a practice at Redskins Park last week. Then rookie offensive lineman Mark Wilson was asked to go in for one play. Wilson, lining up in a gap between the guard and center, used his 6-foot-6, 318-pound frame to plow forward.

"That was fun," Wilson, a fifth-round pick from the University of California, told Molinaro. "I'll do that defensive job [in a game] if you don't want it."

Molinaro, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, responded, "No, I'm keeping it."

On Sunday, Wilson will get something much more satisfying: He will make his first NFL appearance as a starter at right offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

"We both wanted to play defense in that situation," Molinaro recalled yesterday. "Since he's getting the first start, if it ever comes, he'll be able to rub that in."

Right guard Randy Thomas is expected to be out two to four weeks with a hamstring injury. Assistant head coach-offense Joe Bugel, whose duties include coaching the offensive line, moved right tackle Ray Brown to Thomas's spot, his natural position, and placed Wilson at right tackle.

Wilson has been active for only one game this season, against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 7, but didn't play. Although Bugel emphasizes versatility among his linemen, Wilson has practiced mostly as a backup right tackle and Molinaro as a reserve left tackle. Wilson has markedly improved, especially his footwork, since offseason minicamps when he appeared to struggle adjusting to the NFL.

Wilson was one of the last Redskins players to leave the team's training facility yesterday, a day off. He departed after 4 p.m. following three hours of extra studying for Sunday's game. Wilson normally watches two or three game films on Tuesdays. But yesterday, Wilson watched four games, including Sunday's 28-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles -- twice.

"I'm really excited. This is something I've been working for my entire life," Wilson said. "I've been working real hard for it this season just in case this opportunity came up. It's here and I feel like I'm prepared for it."

The preparation will come in handy against Pittsburgh's top-rated defense, which leads the NFL in sacks with 31. Pittsburgh uses an unconventional 3-4 defense -- three defensive linemen and four linebackers. Wilson will have a difficult time creating holes against Pittsburgh's second-ranked rushing defense, which allows runners an average of only 3.6 yards per carry.

"We'll throw him into probably one of the toughest games anybody could go into and play against," Coach Joe Gibbs said Monday. "Playing the number one defense in the league in Pittsburgh with their home crowd there."

At Cal, Wilson set a school record for offensive linemen with 48 consecutive starts. Wilson played right tackle in his first two college seasons before switching to left tackle in 2002, when he blocked for quarterback Kyle Boller, now with the Baltimore Ravens.

Although Wilson is an anonymous offensive lineman at Redskins Park, he is well known in his home town, Fall River Mills in northern California. On draft day last April, a reporter and photographer from the Record Search Light, a local paper, visited Wilson's home for a story about where he would be drafted. Wilson's mother, Terese, father, Jack, and two younger sisters will be among a contingent of hometown folks watching his first NFL start.

Wilson called his mother yesterday to surprise her with news about his first NFL start. But she was already aware of the news. "She's on the Internet all the time," Wilson said laughing. "She asked me: Am I nervous? And I said: 'No. I feel real confident. I feel like I've been preparing for this, and I finally got the opportunity."

It's rare in the NFL for an offensive lineman selected in the lower rounds to start as a rookie. When left guard Derrick Dockery joined the first unit in Week 4 last year, the 2003 third-round choice became Washington's first rookie lineman to start since Chris Samuels in 2000. But Samuels was the third player drafted overall in his class. Dockery initially struggled replacing the injured Dave Fiore before having a promising season. Dockery's low point occurred during an Oct. 19 loss to the Buffalo Bills when he inadvertently knocked the ball out of quarterback Patrick Ramsey's hand while pass blocking, causing a fumble.

Dockery has advice for his fellow lineman. "Go out there and have fun. Just go fly around," he said. "If you make a mistake, don't worry about it, because the game is 60 minutes. Just give it your all."

NFL teams generally view successful low-round picks as players who make the roster and provide depth. So Wilson being able to start against Pittsburgh is in some sense a confirmation of the Redskins' pick, 151st overall, 29 spots ahead of Molinaro.

"We decided late in the draft that we were going to take two big tackles with the hope that we would hit on one," Gibbs said. "Actually, we have two good prospects there."