ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 21, 1997 TAG: 9704220020
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: SANTA CLARA, CALIF.
SOURCE: KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
The Niners say they were surprised the former Virginia Tech star still was available at pick No.26.
Steve Mariucci, the man who said the NFL's prototype quarterback of the future will be one with tremendous mobility, chose the gun over the run in his first important decision as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
Mariucci said the 49ers selected Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller with their first-round pick on Saturday mainly because he had the strongest arm of the top three quarterbacks in the draft - which included Arizona State's Jake Plummer and California's Pat Barnes - and because he was the biggest, at 6-foot-41/2 and 234 pounds.
The Niners also packaged their five other draft picks in trades with Philadelphia and Indianapolis to secure Notre Dame fullback Marc Edwards with the 55th pick (second round) and Stanford tight end Greg Clark with the 77th pick (third round).
As far as needs, Mariucci filled three of the areas in which he was seeking help. However, he didn't get any help for his suspect offensive line.
Of course, Mariucci's main choice was Druckenmiller.
``His arm reminds me of Brett Favre's arm,'' said Mariucci, who helped the Green Bay quarterback become the NFL's Most Valuable Player. ``He has a cannon all over the field. The other two quarterbacks may have very good mobility, but Druckenmiller is so strong that when he is hit, he can rip a guy off and escape.
``Virginia Tech also ran an option with him, and he was making some yards.''
Druckenmiller becomes the Niners' quarterback of the future, Mariucci's pet project and the man to replace Steve Young.
``This is an ideal situation for a young quarterback,'' Mariucci said. ``He will be able to learn and develop like he should. In a year, or two or three, he will be ready.''
On Thursday, Niners president Carmen Policy said he wouldn't consider taking any of the top three quarterbacks in the draft. Obviously, that applied to Plummer and Barnes, but not to Druckenmiller, a player San Francisco officials thought would be long gone before the No.26 pick.
``We didn't think he would be there at No.26,'' Mariucci said. ``It was good news when he was sitting there. He was the highest player left on our draft board, and it allowed us to keep with the 49ers' philosophy of taking the best available player.
``We also wanted to draft tough players, and, when you get to know him, he's as tough as they come. I'm a believer that the quarterback has to be a tough guy.''
At P.K.'s bar in Blacksburg, Va., Druckenmiller was holding a draft-day celebration.
``It's a great franchise, and I'm very happy,'' Druckenmiller said of being drafted by the Niners. ``They always do things top of the line, and they always are a playoff-bound team. It's an ideal situation for me. It's probably best to just sit back and learn'' behind Young.
Druckenmiller, who threw for 2,070 yards and 17 touchdowns this past season, said he might be most comparable to recently retired Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly. He also commented on his arm strength. ``I can throw the ball 72 yards,'' he said. ``But it doesn't matter if you can't hit the broad side of a barn.''
He said his mobility won't be a problem. ``I might not be the fastest guy, but I do believe I can get around. I didn't have to get out of the pocket much here at Tech.''
Frank Beamer, the Hokies' coach, said Druckenmiller will prove he isn't a lumbering stiff.
``The 49ers don't need to worry,'' Beamer said. ``He is not exceptionally fast, but he pulled the ball down and made some big gains for us. But more than running, this guy is a winner. He has got a great amount of physical ability and he plays to win.''
Druckenmiller's agent, Gary Wichard of Los Angeles, said he shouldn't have any difficulties negotiating with San Francisco. Wichard represents the Niners' Ken Norton Jr., Lee Woodall, Kevin Mitchell, Iheanyi Uwaezuoke and Isreal Ifeanyi.
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. San Francisco head coach Steveby CNBMariucci, second from left, introduces 49ers draft picks Marc
Edwards (44), Greg Clark (49) and Jim Druckenmiller (14) on Sunday
in Santa Clara, Calif. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL