Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 22, 1991 TAG: 9104220115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: CHANTILLY LENGTH: Long
For one of the Cowboys' picks in the first round, the 17th, the Redskins parted with their first-round pick (No. 20) and their choice in the fifth round.
What they got was a 6-foot-1 1/2, 276-pound defensive tackle capable of dominating at the line of scrimmage. He has huge hands (size 11), huge feet (size 15), an energy level that supposedly never subsides and a quiet, unassuming manner that coach Joe Gibbs professes to love.
"We had 10 guys we would have liked to have had, and five we thought we might have a chance to get," Gibbs said. "Bobby was one of them. He's a gung-ho guy, a first-class character. From what we see, he chases everything sideline to sideline and I think he's a guy who will make a run at [starting]."
In the second round, the Redskins made their most radical maneuver of the last 30 years - trading to obtain a No. 1 pick.
They dealt their No. 2 and a fifth-rounder in 1992 to San Diego and former general manager Bobby Beathard for the Chargers' No. 1 pick next season.
Beathard used the pick to select 6-2, 308-pound guard Eric Moten of Michigan State.
"There were two good players out there we thought could make the team," general manager Charley Casserly said, "but offered the opportunity for this, it was too good to turn down.
"I don't remember when this last happened. I'm sure it was before any of us were around here."
Indeed. It was 1961. Washington used both picks and took defensive tackle Joe Rutgens from Illinois and a quarterback from Wake Forest named Norm Snead, now the coach at Newport News Apprentice School.
In Round 3, Washington opted for tailback Ricky Ervins from Southern California. Ervins led the Pacific 10 in rushing as a junior and was most valuable player of the Rose Bowl.
Ervins, just 5-7 but 200 pounds, had a lackluster senior season. He suffered two sprained ankles and played in just five games, finishing with 393 yards.
Nonetheless, he finished his career USC's eighth all-time leading rusher with 2,337 yards. He caught the Redskins' eye when he ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash this spring.
"He's a potential starter; not this year, but sometime in the future," Casserly said. "We were not looking to take a back with this pick, but his grade stood out so much . . . ."
Casserly compared Ervins to ex-New York Giant back Joe Morris, who terrorized the Redskins for most of an injury-shortened career.
The Redskins had no fourth-round pick, that having gone to Detroit last season for Eric Williams. They return to the draft room this morning with one selection in each of the remaining rounds, 5-12.
As the top round unfolded, it became obvious to Gibbs and Casserly that Wilson had a good chance of being drafted by either Cincinnati or Green Bay, each of which picked in front of the Redskins. Although there was one more player they say they would have been comfortable taking with the first pick - defensive tackle Ted Washington of Louisville - they preferred Wilson and made the move necessary to get him.
"Very excited," Wilson said by phone from Chicago, his hometown. "I've always liked the Redskins and I look forward to coming to Washington and doing a great job for them."
The last time the Redskins spoke with Wilson was at Michigan State's "Pro Day" in March. The lack of contact apparently was Washington's way of camouflaging their keen interest in Wilson, preferring to deflect attention to players such as Colorado linebacker Alfred Williams. He went to the Cincinnati Bengals with the pick after Washington's.
Wilson experienced a lightning-fast rise in the eyes of scouts. Coming out of high school, he lacked the science credits necessary to get into college and was a Proposition 48 casualty. He spent two years at Northeast Oklahoma A&M, where he twice was MVP of the national junior-college championship game.
At Michigan State, he played behind fifth-year starter Travis Davis before taking Davis' spot in the lineup this year. He had 77 tackles, 45 solo, five sacks and 13 for losses. His season-high came against Notre Dame, when he had 15 tackles, seven solo.
"He's the kind of guy who will be here 10 or 12 years, assuming he's not injured," said Mike Hagen, the Redskins scout most responsible for analyzing Wilson's ability. "Where we were picking, we were looking for a guy who was going to be steady. Bobby will be a strong anchor. He works well and is steady in everything he does."
The drafting of Wilson should finish off the overhauling of Washington's interior defensive front. Since losing tackles Dave Butz to retirement and Dean Hamel via trade in 1988, the Redskins have added Williams and Tim Johnson by trade and drafted Tracy Rocker.
If Wilson works out, they'll have a nucleus of young talent in the line. With the signing of Plan B middle linebacker Matt Millen, Washington's up-the-middle defense should be significantly different from that which began last season.
"He has initial quickness, explosiveness on impact and a high motor," Casserly said. "I liken him to those San Francisco defensive linemen that are going all the time.
"I told you before, we're not going to concern ourselves with the first pick having an impact the first year. We're concerned with his impact over the long haul."
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