By Liz Clarke
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 28, 1998; Page D8

The more cornerback Cris Dishman tried to explain the Washington Redskins' 38-16 loss to the Denver Broncos yesterday, the more he seemed to withdraw. First, he stood by his locker. Then he sat in front of it. By the end of the interview, he had retreated deep inside the locker, curled up in an almost fetal position.

"I don't know what's going on," Dishman said, hanging his head and barely audible, when asked about the defensive collapse that helped drop the Redskins to 0-4. "I can't speak for anyone else. I can only speak for myself. And I am beating myself – doing crazy stuff out there I shouldn't be doing."

Defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson didn't want to discuss the game. Fellow tackle Dana Stubblefield was nowhere to be found. And defensive coordinator Mike Nolan asked for time to study tape of the game, acknowledging, "We didn't play well, obviously."

The Redskins' fourth consecutive loss underscored a reality few wanted to admit – much less discuss – yesterday afternoon. It is that the Redskins' overhauled defense, anchored by high-priced free agent acquisitions Stubblefield and Wilkinson, is simply not getting the job done. And its ineffectiveness can't be explained by pointing to one weak component.

Against the Broncos, the Redskins' defense didn't pressure the quarterback, allowing backup Bubby Brister to compile 180 yards passing with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions.

Nor could the Redskins stop running back Terrell Davis, who became the third back in as many games to gain more than 100 yards on the Redskins. San Francisco's Garrison Hearst gained 138 yards and a touchdown; Seattle's Ricky Watters had 136 and a touchdown; and Davis finished with 119 and a score.

For a third consecutive game, the defense also failed to create a turnover. Meanwhile, Denver's defense forced four fumbles and sacked quarterback Trent Green three times.

And, once again, the defense didn't hold up for four quarters, collapsing most dramatically in the opening minutes of the third quarter, which Denver opened by returning a kickoff nearly to midfield. The Broncos scored a touchdown 1 minute 26 seconds later to take a 24-7 lead.

"We don't have a specific problem," Nolan said. "That would be great; all of us would love that because you could nip it in the bud. You're not oh and four and getting beat like we're getting beat when you have a specific problem."

The tone was set early.

In its first possession, Denver gained 37 yards on third down with a reverse that snookered defensive end Kelvin Kinney. "There I go," Kinney said, "looking the other way because I don't pick up the reverse."

Denver capped the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Ed McCaffrey, who was wide open in the end zone. Asked what McCaffrey did on the play, Dishman said: "Nothing exceptional. It's just me. I'm struggling. I'm struggling real bad. I'm in a pit right now, and I hope I climb out of this pit sooner or later before this season ends. I've only got 12 games to win the respect of my coaches and the confidence of my players back. My main concern is the 52 guys out there that I felt I let down today by not playing up to my best abilities."

Dishman, a 33-year-old two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, has given up several big plays this season.

While the Redskins' offense hurt itself early with penalties, Denver scored on its first two possessions. Davis was a big reason why. Unlike the 49ers' Hearst and the Seahawks' Watters, who exploited the Redskins' ends, Davis gained ground all over the field. He ran straight at Stubblefield for a key first down. And he repeatedly rushed outside and cut back in.

"We didn't play well on the long runs," Nolan said, "and the secondary didn't do a good job of minimizing the big plays. But the cut-backs hurt us today."

Trailing 17-7 at halftime, the Redskins' defense slumped badly in the third quarter, letting the Broncos score touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the first eight minutes to take a 31-7 lead.

Backup safety Leomont Evans said coaches had warned against such lapses during practice last week.

"They made some adjustments that we just couldn't stop," Evans said. "I don't know what it was. We know it happens in the third quarter; we just can't put a finger on what."