THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604190672
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ASHBURN, VA. LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
Although he's not one to live in the past, Washington coach Norv Turner vows to think back to 1989 when the Redskins make their first pick in Saturday's NFL draft.
In '89, Turner was an assistant coach with the Rams, who had plenty of quality receivers and few top-notch defensive linemen. When it came time for the Rams to pick, the two-highest-rated players on their board were Michigan State receiver Andre Rison and Miami defensive tackle Bill Hawkins.
``We went with the defensive lineman, because we thought we had enough receivers and there was a greater need on defense,'' Turner said. ``Atlanta, picking after us, took Rison.
``In hindsight, we should have taken Rison. He was the best player we had still on the board, and he's turned out to be a heck of a player. You've got to be disciplined in this thing.''
Translation: The Redskins, who dealt their first-round pick to St. Louis for much-needed defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, will follow that time-honored dictum and take the best player available when they make the seventh pick in the second round.
``What could easily happen is that a player at a position that's deep in the draft could spill over into the second round,'' general manager Charlie Casserly said. ``That's how we drafted Tre Johnson and Cory Raymer. The offensive line had some depth and these were players that would have been first-rounders that we were delighted to get in the second. You always find that happening.''
What could make that strategy far more interesting - and delicate - than it sounds is if the Redskins are confronted with several players at different positions owning near-equal grades. Then they'd have the luxury of taking a player at a position where they have a need. Those positions:
Offensive tackle: Veteran Jim Lachey is coming off a shoulder injury and still hasn't accepted the substantial pay cut offered by the Redskins. Plus, the team isn't convinced that young Joe Patton, who filled in for Lachey last season, isn't better suited at guard. Tackles who possibly could be available are Penn State's Andre Johnson, Louisville's Roman Oben and North Carolina A&T's super-sized (6-foot-6, 335 pounds) Jermain Stephens.
Defensive end: Gilbert takes care of any worries at tackle. But he and Marc Boutte figure to be flanked by youngsters Sterling Palmer, Dexter Nottage and Rich Owens. Palmer is as close to a proven commodity as there is among those three. Brady Smith of Colorado State or Kavika Pittman of McNeese State were proven pass-rushers in college, and should still be around.
Linebacker: Ken Harvey is 31, Rod Stephens is 30 and Marvcus Patton will soon turn 29. There are no quality young backups. Lance Johnstone of Temple or Georgia's Randall Godfrey likely would be ready to step in when Harvey or Patton were through.
Tight end: Turner and Casserly profess to be pleased with Jamie Asher, last year's fifth-round pick. But for the second straight season, there is a glut of impact tight ends, players who block as well as they receive. It's hard to remember how important the tight end is in Turner's system because he hasn't had one he could rely on as much as he did Jay Novacek in Dallas. Jason Dunn of Eastern Kentucky or Marco Battaglia of Rutgers have everything Turner seeks and should be available.
Running back: Turner loves Terry Allen and there seems little question Allen will return to Washington next season. But there is a glut of quality running backs available. Under normal circumstances, UCLA's Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Chris Darkins of Minnesota and South Carolina's Stanley Pritchett would be first-round material. Not this season.
Safety: Yes, they added James Washington and Stanley Richard last season, spending a ton of money. But other than Darryl Morrison, who's still a project, there's no one of pedigree, and Washington is 31 with bad knees. The second round may be too high for them to look for help here, especially after last season's shopping spree. Then again, if California's huge-hitting Je'Rod Cherry is available, their thinking could change. The player you most hear him compared to is Ronnie Lott.
Wide receiver: Henry Ellard is 35. Tydus Winans followed a solid rookie season with an invisible second year. Leslie Shepherd is a nice third receiver. Sooner than later, Michael Westbrook is going to need help. Penn State's Bobby Engram is considered the ideal complementary receiver. Stepfret Williams of Northeast Louisiana and Derrick Mayes of Notre Dame could be there when Washington selects. If you think they're not likely to go high for wide receivers two years in a row, remember Rison.
Casserly already has a list of 10 players he figures will be available when the Redskins draft. If, as the draft progresses, he sees they're being taken faster than he thought, he could trade up to land the man he wants most. If he sees that several of them will be available when the Redskins pick, he'll be more likely to listen to trade offers that would supply him with additional second-round picks.
``After about 15 picks, we should have a much better idea where we'll be able to go with our pick,'' Casserly said. ``I mean, we can easily get 10 players now who might be there. The idea is to get at least one of them.
``When you've got a high first-round pick, you can help yourself immediately and supplement with free agents. You pretty much know who's going to be there. It's impossible to project who's going to be available in the second round. There are 36 picks ahead of us that we don't control. Any player we pick will contribute; it's just a question of when. It might not be for a year, depending on the position and what we have there.'' ILLUSTRATION: Redskins coach Norv Turner hopes to profit from some past draft
mistakes.
by CNB