THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 12, 1996 TAG: 9602120148
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
It didn't take long for Norfolk State quarterback Aaron Sparrow to feel good about the task ahead of him at Sunday's NFL Scouting Combine.
``Once I touched that NFL ball, I knew I was going to have fun,'' said Sparrow after his impressive audition at the RCA Dome. ``I'd always heard it was bigger than a college ball, but I was able to get a good grip on it and everything fell into place.''
Throwing 20 yards from a seven-step drop, Sparrow threw the fastest pass of any of the 30 quarterbacks invited - 58 miles per hour - aiming at targets to his right and his left.
``At one point (Michigan wide receiver) Amani Toomer told me to slow down, he wasn't used to catching anything that fast,'' Sparrow said, smiling. ``He said his quarterback never threw anything that hard.
``And a Jets scout said I did well adjusting to all the different receivers I'd never seen before. I believe I did a good job.''
Norfolk State receiver James Roe was less enthusiastic about his fortunes Sunday. He caught everything thrown his way and ran the type of precise routes coaches love. But his time in the 40-yard dash wasn't as fast as he'd hoped.
``At least I now know what I need to work harder on,'' he said. ``I feel pretty OK with myself about the whole thing.''
Roe's time in the 40 was clocked at 4.63. Virginia Tech's Bryan Still had the fastest 40 - 4.36. Roe's time for his first 20 yards equalled Still's, but he wasn't able to maintain that pace.
He fared better in other drills, winning the 60-yard shuttle in 11.06, and finishing second to Toomer in the vertical jump at 38.5 inches.
``We're going to take a couple of days to correct some things,'' NSU coach Darnell Moore said. ``There are some things we can do with his technique and a little more weight-room work to improve.''
Despite some flaws, one scout who said he saw most of Roe's workout was impressed.
``We knew he had good hands and that he caught the ball well enough to play in this league,'' he said. ``The negatives are the things that have been there from the start; mainly, there are so many receivers out there this year that I'm sure there are many, many who weren't invited here who will end up in the league.
``I'm starting to think this might be a `turnover' year at that position. Guys who played in the league last year won't be there next season.''
Roe was asked to run six different routes, of varying lengths, and was thrown about 10 passes.
``He looks like a good zone-route runner, like he's comfortable against that defense,'' the scout said. ``From what I've seen, he looks like he thinks his way through the defense, which is good. He doesn't just run.''
Sparrow's good news actually began Saturday night when he was summoned to the room of Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback coach Ken Anderson for an interview. In all likelihood, Anderson will soon travel to Norfolk to further evaluate Sparrow.
``He's got a good arm,'' one NFC scout said. ``He impressed us with his ability to ad-lib if something breaks down. He spots other receivers real well. His passes against a short zone are sharp and accurate.''
Sparrow said Redskins quarterbacks coach Cam Cameron oversaw his group's workout. While an assistant at Michigan, Cameron recruited Sparrow and the two talked briefly about old times.
``He was smiling by the time I was done,'' Sparrow said. ``He was impressed.'' by CNB