THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509030151
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA
LENGTH: Long : 134 lines
Each new football season brings a new crop of potential superstars. Not long ago, Dan Marino, Joe Montana and John Elway would have topped everyone's list of top quarterbacks. Now, any group that didn't include Drew Bledsoe and Brett Favre would draw an argument.
The Sporting News recently asked NFL pro personnel directors to pick the best players at each position, not on reputation or Pro Bowl appearances, but on their evaluation of how they play the game. Fifteen teams participated. Players received five points for a first-place vote, four for second, etc.
The top three at each position:
Quarterback: 1. Steve Young (70), 49ers: He and the 49ers' precision offense are a perfect match. Running ability takes him to another level. 2. (tie) Troy Aikman (50), Cowboys: Perhaps the most complete quarterback in the NFL. Concussions have limited his playing time. Dan Marino (50), Dolphins: Has the quickest release and makes the best reads. Sometimes forces action under pressure. 4. Drew Bledsoe (29), Patriots: Perhaps the fastest rising star in the league. His calm demeanor is an asset.
Running backs: 1. Barry Sanders (67), Lions: Most elusive in an open field. 2. Emmitt Smith (60), Cowboys: A decisive runner with a low center of gravity. 3. Marshall Faulk (47), Colts: A young Thurman Thomas with more speed.
Wide receivers: 1. Jerry Rice (70), 49ers: One scout succinctly put it: Talent plus hard work equals greatness. 2. Michael Irvin (52), Cowboys: Big and strong, he adds a physical dimension. 3. Andre Rison (25), Browns: Has good hands and an outstanding ability to separate from defensive backs.
Tight ends: 1. Ben Coates (67), Patriots: A big target who gets downfield. 2. Eric Green (49), Dolphins: Big and physical with outstanding size-speed ratio. 3. Shannon Sharpe (30), Broncos: Not the prototypical tight end, but he can be hard to stop.
Centers: 1. Dermontti Dawson (61), Steelers: Strong, explosive blocker who starts quickly and establishes position. 2. Mark Stepnoski (48), Oilers: Pound for pound, he has more leverage than any lineman in the league. 3. Bruce Matthews (30), Oilers: Even after 12 years, he dominates at the point of attack.
Guards: 1. Randall McDaniel (47), Vikings: Most athletic offensive lineman in the league. 2. Steve Wisniewski (46), Raiders: Aggressive run blocker who uses good techniques. 3. Nate Newton (34), Cowboys: Impressive blocker on running plays, with good balance in pass protection.
Tackles: 1. William Roaf (49), Saints: Rarely gets beat. 2. Erik Williams (29), Cowboys: Best right tackle - if not offensive lineman overall - until car accident last year. 3. Richmond Webb (27), Dolphins: Particularly quick for his size.
Defensive ends: 1. Bruce Smith (65), Bills: Has replaced Reggie White as ``chairman of the board.'' 2. Reggie White (46), Packers: At end or tackle, he dominates the line of scrimmage. 3. Charles Haley (30), Cowboys: One of the premier upfield pass rushers.
Defensive tackles: 1. Eric Swann (45), Cardinals: Almost impossible to block when healthy. 2. John Randle (37), Vikings: Exceptional quickness is his chief attribute. 3. Cortez Kennedy (26 1/2), Seahawks: Would elevate any team in the league.
Outside linebackers: 1. Greg Lloyd (56), Steelers: Always plays in high gear and has excellent pursuit. 2. Derrick Thomas (31), Chiefs: Best ``back door'' sacker in the game. 3. Ken Harvey (24), Redskins: Relies primarily on speed and technique.
Inside linebackers: 1. Junior Seau (68), Chargers: Great change of direction. Covers field, sideline to sideline. 2. Bryan Cox (28), Dolphins: Made transition from outside to middle with ease last season. 3. Vincent Brown (26), Patriots: Good instincts in stopping the run.
Cornerbacks: 1. Rod Woodson (56 1/2), Steelers: Can cover pass, stop the run and blitz. 2. Deion Sanders (47), free agent: Can take a receiver out of an opponent's game plan. 3. Aeneas Williams (34), Cardinals: Pure corner. Not overly fast, but knows where to be.
Safeties: 1. Eric Turner (62), Browns: Dominated the position last year. Intimidating hitter. 2. Darren Woodson (37), Cowboys: Rare combination of linebacker and cornerback. 3. (tie) Henry Jones (20), Bills: Has good pass-coverage skills for a safety. Merton Hanks (20), 49ers: Rising star with instinctive coverage skills.
Kickers: 1. John Carney (49), Chargers. 2. Morten Andersen (19), Falcons. 3. Steve Christie (17), Bills.
Punters: 1. Rich Camarillo (37), Oilers. 2. Reggie Roby (27), Bucanneers. 3. Rick Tuten (18), Seahawks.
ONE DAY, PERHAPS, A MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: They started out as ``The Original 10.'' Now, it's down to ``The Fortunate Three.'
Running back Randy Jordan, defensive end Ernie Logan and offensive guard Greg Huntington survived cuts and trades and injuries to earn spots on the roster for Jacksonville's season opener today against the Oilers.
They were among the first 10 players in Jaguars history, a group that signed on Dec. 15, 1994 - months before the expansion and college drafts that provided the bulk of the team.
Jordan, Logan, Huntington and the rest of that first signing class were so-called ``street free agents,'' players who had already been cut by other teams, the bottom of the talent pool.
``It was an opportunity to make a name for myself in this town, regardless of whether I was a starter or in a backup role,'' Huntington said. ``People know who I am because I was one of `The Original 10.' ''
HUDDLING WITH . . . 49ers receiver John Taylor:
You're in your 10th - and you say, last - season in the NFL. Why quit now?
I just decided 10 years was good enough for me. I made it this far in football without any major injuries, so I sat and talked to my wife, and we both agreed it was time for me to walk away - walk away on my terms.
No matter what?
No matter what I do. I could have 1,500 yards. I could have 400 yards. It doesn't matter. I'm walking away. . . . There's not enough money (that) could bring me back.
Is it true you had several offers from other teams that would have paid you substantially more than the $500,000 you'll receive from the 49ers?
Oh, yeah. I could have. But why do it? They've been good to me over nine years. In a sense, this is my way of giving back. I could have gone elsewhere. I could have gone to Green Bay, made $1.7 million, gone a couple of other places and made more than that. But why? I've been here my whole career, and I plan to finish it here.''
BLUE DARTS: Last season was the seventh consecutive time Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed led the Bills in passing yardage, rushing yardage and receiving yardage, respectively. Big deal? You bet. No other three teammates in NFL history have led their team in those three categories for as many as five consecutive years. . . . Moments after his agent finished talking with 49ers president Carmen Policy last week, Deion Sanders was on the phone seeking advice from one of his closest friends: Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin. Sanders finally reached Irvin on the receiver's car phone, but the conversation was brief and, from a Dallas standpoint, fruitless in making Sanders a 'Poke. ``He just wanted to see how things are going down here,'' Irvin said. . . . Rams defensive tackle Jimmie Jones has a van with 20 stereo speakers, three miniature TVs, a VCR, two tape players and a Sega Genesis. He needs three batteries and a special alternator to power the system, which carries 2,000 watts. Also inside: a fax machine and computer capabilities. MEMO: Wire-service stories contributed to this report.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Junior Seau, receiving 68 points from NFL player personnel
directors, was picked the NFL's top inside linebacker. His
strengths: change of direction, coverage.
by CNB