Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509150034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GARY SWAN SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
DATELINE: SANTA CLARA, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
If it wasn't for Deion Sanders and the way he has stolen attention away from the San Francisco 49ers, the defensive back everybody would be talking about is backup corner Tyronne Drakeford.
Drakeford, after all, was the man who clinched a season-opening victory over the Saints by forcing Jim Everett to fumble when New Orleans was on a potential game-winning drive. Drakeford stripped the ball and ran toward the end zone, only to drop the ball short of the goal.
``I picked the ball up, and I was running,'' said the former Virginia Tech standout. ``I looked back, I don't know why I looked back - to see if anyone was gaining on me - and the ball hit my knee and came out of my hand.
``My teammates gave me a hard time. My parents, friends, everybody was calling me. I told them all I was sorry.''
Drakeford's next play on the field was this past Sunday against Atlanta, when he intercepted Jeff George's first pass and followed that three hours later by making a leaping interception in the end zone as the clock expired on a 41-10 Niners victory. In his first start in the nickel defense, Drakeford led the team with eight tackles.
Not bad for a player who as a rookie a year ago looked about as confused as a player could be. For Drakeford, last year was a blessing that Deion Sanders showed up, because Sanders removed the pressure that would have been on Drakeford to move into the starting secondary.
This year may be a blessing for Drakeford because Sanders is gone. Coach George Seifert said if Drakeford continued to come up with clutch plays, he could force his way into the starting lineup.
Drakeford speaks only kindly of Sanders for helping him last season.
``If it wasn't for [Sanders], I don't know where I would be right now,'' Drakeford said. ``He virtually took me under his wing and said, `I'm going to teach you what it's like to be an NFL defensive back.' It was almost like a father-son thing. He really helped me tremendously. And he's a great guy.''
Seifert said Drakeford has made great strides in a year.
``He's markedly better, as are [linebackers] Kevin Mitchell and Anthony Peterson, the [rookies] from a year ago,'' Seifert said. ``Improvement that takes place from the rookie to the second year is in most cases - if the fellow is going to be a [good] player - the biggest jump that they take. Because now they have a sense of the system and the surroundings and what's expected.''
Drakeford could have been a candidate for the right cornerback position in training camp, but the 49ers - still very unsure of Drakeford - signed Marquez Pope to a four-year contract at an average of $1.175 million a year. Drakeford is being paid $361,000 this season.
Seifert has stuck by Pope as his starting right corner, but he indicated this week that the decision is not etched in stone.
Drakeford ``came up with a couple of more big plays in the [Falcons] game,'' Seifert said. ``If it becomes so apparent it's shoved in your face, then we'll react to it. If he continues to do well - and that's what you want players to do - to put pressure on you as a coach. At this point he's starting to do that. If he continues to do that, we'll respond to it.''
by CNB