THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 1996 TAG: 9602130403
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Things that stood out about the '96 NFL Scouting Combine:
WHERE HAVE WE HEARD THIS BEFORE? They're calling it ``The Kordell Effect.'' Will Kordell Stewart's amazing rookie year as quarterback/running back/ wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers make it easier for option quarterbacks to dodge the usual position-switching strategy NFL teams usually employ?
Aaron Sparrow of Norfolk State wasn't the only combine participant worrying about that question. So was Nebraska's national championship signal-caller, Tommie Frazier.
For Frazier, at least, things don't look good. Although he is listed among the top 10 running backs entering the April 20-21 draft, he is not listed among the top quarterbacks.
It didn't help matters that Nebraska coach Tom Osborne called him the ideal Canadian Football League quarterback right after the Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida.
``I don't have any idea where I will go in the draft,'' Frazier told reporters during a break at the combine Sunday. ``It's too early to worry about it.
``My main goal is to play quarterback. I'm not interested in the `Slash' nickname (given Stewart). My name is Tommie Frazier.''
Frazier's options are limited. He admits he has never made a tackle since he began playing football, not even after an interception. That rules out defensive back. He doesn't seem to have what it takes to be a wide receiver.
That leaves one option - running back - or half as many options as he'd like.
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WORKOUTS: Behind the scenes, there was grumbling by some prospects about the marquee players receiving preferential treatment.
UCLA's Jonathan Ogden, the offensive lineman with the best press clippings, was credited with a combine-best 30 reps at 225 pounds. But there was talk by some observers that he was warned four times that he wasn't doing them properly and that the next warning would carry with it a deduction in his total.
It never happened.
USC's Keyshawn Johnson, a potential first pick, refused to take the test asked of him by one team because it lasted little more than two hours. He also told combine officials he'd decide whether to run a 40-yard dash after he tested the turf at the RCA Dome. If it was as soft as he had heard, he'd watch, thank you.
Other players have no such luxury. It angers them that their slowish times in the 40 could work against them, but Johnson loses nothing by refusing to work.
TIME TO DEVELOP: One NFC scout - and former college quarterback - wishes the league would do something to give young quarterbacks more time to develop instead of rushing them into action before they're ready. He said he's not surprised highly regarded players like Heath Shuler, Trent Dilfer and Rick Mirer haven't had the impact predicted.
``Listen, the game's the same for many, many of these guys,'' he said. ``It's not as complicated at their level as it is here. The whole thing is a learning process.
``As much as the game has changed because of the economics, it's still a fact that it takes time to develop a quarterback. Sometimes, you still don't know everything you've got in a guy until six, seven years later. Look at (Jim) Harbaugh.''
EXTRA POINTS: The Redskins liked defensive lineman Marcus Jones of North Carolina enough to bring him in for an extended physical and interview. What that means in April remains to be seen. ... After seeing what were supposed to be the top 30 quarterbacks in the country, some NFL scouts are more concerned than ever about the lack of quality performers. ``To say it was thin would be a kind understatement,'' mused one team administrator. ... The league has 30 teams, this year's draft is seven rounds. Simple math dictates that of the 331 players at the combine, 111 - slightly more than one-third - will be looking for work as free agents after the April draft. by CNB