Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, November 12, 1994                   TAG: 9411170013
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

DRAKEFORD SITS, STEWS WITH 49ERS

Prime Time has meant no time for Tyronne Drakeford.

When the San Francisco 49ers signed free agent cornerback Deion Sanders earlier this season, Dana Hall lost his starting job. But Drakeford, the 49ers' 1994 second-round draft pick from Virginia Tech, was an even bigger loser in the deal.

Drakeford now is No.3 on the depth chart at right cornerback behind Sanders and Toi Cook, another free agent pickup. That has left Drakeford the unhappy odd-man out in the defensive backfield.

``This is not what I expected,'' Drakeford said after San Francisco's 37-22 win at Washington last Sunday. ``I expected to be playing a lot more. It's been very disappointing.''

The 49ers have four cornerbacks - not including Merton Hanks, who was moved to free safety when Sanders arrived. Eric Davis starts at left cornerback and is second on the team in tackles. Cook is the backup at both corners and is in on nickel (five defensive backs) situations. When the 49ers go to a dime package (six defensive backs), either Hall or third-year player Dedrick Dodge gets the call. And Drakeford sits.

``When they were thinking about drafting me, they told me I would get some playing time at cornerback,'' he said. ``I guess the pressure is on them to win the Super Bowl so they went out and got Toi Cook and Deion Sanders.''

Drakeford does see action on the 49ers' special teams - kickoffs, punts and punt returns - but he'd hoped for more. Drakeford's 16 interceptions rank second in Tech history.

The 23-year-old's discontent heightened last Sunday when he was set to enter the game late in the fourth quarter, but was called back to the sideline when a 37-14 49ers' lead was cut to 15 and the Redskins had recovered an onside kick.

This Sunday, the 49ers face the Dallas Cowboys in a game that could determine home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs. It's a big game for the 49ers, but for Drakefield ...

``Playing special teams, I can't say this is a big game for me,'' he said.

Then Drakeford, who earned a Finance degree at Tech, got up to leave the locker room at RFK. He put on his sunglasses, then offered a more positive approach to his dilemma.

``I've got to wait my turn and take advantage of my chance when it comes,'' he said. ``I'm hoping for my chance.''

Keywords:
FOOTBALL