Rams ’87 : PREVIEW SECTION : A LOOK AT THE 1987 RAMS

RON BROWN

89--WIDE RECEIVER

The man with just about everything--an Olympic gold medal, the title of fastest man in the National Football League, a tire dealership in Anaheim--had a career-high 25 receptions last season playing with a bone chip in his right wrist. Still, he has yet to become the consistent deep threat the Rams are hoping he will. He averaged 15.8 yards per reception and had three touchdowns. Brown’s performance as a deep receiver could be critical to the success of offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese’s new offense, which adds emphasis to the passing game. Brown remains one of the league’s top kick returners, though last seasons statistics were down (22.1 yards per return, no touchdowns) in comparison to a spectacular 1985 season when he had a 32.8 average and three touchdowns.

JIM COLLINS

50--LINEBACKER

Becoming a Pro Bowler might be the worst thing that ever happened to Collins. After leading the Rams in tackles in 1984 and 1985, he was rewarded with a trip to Hawaii that turned into his own personal voyage of the darned. Collins, tackling Marcus Allen, sustained a pinched nerve that cut off the charge to the deltoid muscle. Numbness and an inability to lift the arm over his head caused Collins to miss all of last season. His replacement, Mark Jerue, had an exceptional season, but with Collins rehabilitated and Jerue out with a knee injury, Collins has moved back into the starting lineup where he figures to stay, barring some unforeseen disaster like another trip to the Islands.

NOLAN CROMWELL

21--SAFETY

In his 11th season, all with the Rams, the senior member of the defense holds the team record for interception return yardage (643) and is second in interceptions (35, 11 behind Eddie Meador). He has started every game he has been available, and every time the offense sputters there’s always someone who mentions Cromwell did a nifty job of running the option as a quarterback at Kansas. Despite his carrousel of talents, Cromwell was in the unfamiliar position of being platooned last season at strong safety. Still, starting the first and third quarters, Cromwell had five interceptions, the most for him since 1981. He returned one 80 yards for a touchdown against Detroit. He is expected to share playing time again this season with Vince Newsome, Johnnie Johnson and, perhaps, rookie Michael Stewart.

ERIC DICKERSON

29--RUNNING BACK

Dickerson rushed for 1,821 yards last season, the sixth best single-season performance of all-time. In his four years with the Rams he has compiled 6,968 yards rushing, 55 touchdowns and a heap of newspaper clippings to rival the Islip garbage barge. Not all the clippings have been about his running. He was the subject of a paternity suit in the off-season and he expressed his dismay at the amount of money Raider running back Bo Jackson was being paid compared to his own $683,000 a year. Dickerson is expected to catch more passes--he had 26 for 205 yards last season--in the Rams’ new offensive scheme. But, of course, it is his running that the Rams will depend on once again.

STEVE DILS

8--QUARTERBACK

Dils made five starts in the whirling frenzy that was the Rams’ quarterback situation last season. He completed 59 of 129 passes (45.7%) for 693 yards. With Jim Everett seemingly quarterback for life, Dils’ is a solid backup, completing 52.6% of his passes in a seven-year career with the Rams and Minnesota. He’s also an excellent holder on field-goal attempts. In fact, John Robinson claims he’s the finest in the game. But good luck trying to prove that; statistics on the position are rare and interest even rarer.

REGGIE DOSS

71--DEFENSIVE END

Doss has played in 137 consecutive games, some more than others. You see, recently, Doss’ equation for success has gone like this: The better he plays, the less he plays. Doss, extremely effective against the run, is platooned at right end with pass-rush specialist Gary Jeter. If Doss does a good job of stuffing opponents’ running games it means Jeter will see a lot of playing time in passing situations. Doss has done his part. His 51 tackles (40 solo, 11 assists) led Ram linemen for the fifth straight season. However, because of his situation, Doss has recorded just 2 1/2 sacks in 31 games over two seasons. Doss, as recently as 1984, had 8 1/2 sacks.

CARL EKERN

55--LINEBACKER

After three consecutive seasons of 100 or more tackles (130, 131, 118), Ekern dipped to 98 last season, third on the Rams. Not to worry, he still played some of his best football and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. However, his streak of 51 consecutive starts was broken when he went down with a groin injury. Ekern is in his 11th season with the Rams--has it really been that long?--and is the defensive captain along with Nolan Cromwell. Drafted in 1976, after he was named Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. player of the Year at San Jose State, Ekern did not start a game for the Rams until 1981. Ekern, who injured his knee in the second preseason game, should be ready to play in the first or second regular-season game.

HENRY ELLARD

80--WIDE RECEIVER

Next to Dickerson and Everett, Ellard is the Rams’ most effective offensive weapon. He missed half of last year’s regular season because of a contract dispute, but still ended up leading the Rams in receptions with 34. This either tells you how good Henry Ellard is or how bad the rest of the Ram passing game was. Ellard went through another contract dispute this season but came to an agreement during training camp and will be one of the important components in the reportedly new and improved Ram passing game. Ellard remains one of football’s best punt returners. His career average of 12.86 yards per return is best in NFL history.

DONALD EVANS

64--DEFENSIVE END

Donald Evans played halfback, inside linebacker, tight end and defensive end at Winston-Salem State. The Rams are hoping he will excel at just one position--defensive end. He had 63 tackles his senior year, including 10 sacks. The Rams’ top draft choice, Evans was taken in the second round. He’s 6-2, 260 and has been timed at 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. Though he’s new, Evans did know enough to participate in that favorite Ram player pastime, the holdout. Evans agreed to terms on Aug. 1.

JIM EVERETT

11--QUARTERBACK

Mr. Quarterback is enough to make any normal, underachieving male sick. Tall, handsome, with a smile as long and wide as a drive-in movie screen, he appears to have the Ram quarterback job tied up well into the 21st century. As a senior at Purdue, he led the nation in total offense, was an academic All-American and graduated with a degree in finance. He signed with the Rams in mid-season, took about five minutes to learn the offense, then threw three passes for touchdowns in his first game appearance. He finished with 1,018 yards passing in the regular season, in six games (five starts), completing 73 of 147 passes (49.7%). Is he for real? Given the Rams’ new emphasis on passing, they certainly hope so.

JERRY GRAY

25--CORNERBACK

A couple years ago, as a rookie, Jerry Gray’s time as a Ram was split between something called the nickel defense and standing on the sideline learning the position of cornerback from two of the game’s finest--Gary Green and LeRoy Irvin. Then one day, Green sustained a neck injury serious enough to cause him to retire. All of sudden, Gray found himself as the starting left cornerback when he walked into training camp. A dedication to film study and Irvin’s tutoring helped Gray adjust quickly. He had eight interceptions last season, eight more than his rookie season, to lead the Rams. He made 87 tackles. He was an All-Pro selection. Which means the Rams still have two of the games’ finest at cornerback--Gray and Irvin.

KEVIN GREENE

91--LINEBACKER

In high school, Kevin Greene could only manage a conference honorable mention at defensive end. He had to walk on at Auburn. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Rams, has started exactly no games in two seasons and has split time between backup outside linebacker and backup defensive end. Now the rest of the story. He earned a starting spot at Auburn, leading the Tigers in sacks his senior year with 11. He had 33 tackles last season with the Rams, and was second in sacks with seven. Your basic self-made man, Greene has risen through an almost religious devotion to weightlifting--he can bench press 430 pounds and squat 550--and an intensity for the game bordering on scary.

MIKE GUMAN

44--RUNNING BACK

Have you been wondering what happened to Mike Guman? OK, you’ve probably had a lot on your mind. But the fact is, after seasons with 30 receptions, Guman has been making just cameo appearances in the Ram offense. The main reason is a knee injury. He injured the knee in 1985, in the second week of the season. Playing in just eight games in 1985, Guman caught three passes and ran for 32 yards. Last season, he saw action in 12 games, starting in three, and caught 9 passes but rushed just twice for two yards. He reinjured the knee in the 12th game (against New Orleans) and missed the rest of the season.

DENNIS HARRAH

60--GUARD

Harrah is, quite simply, the leader of the Rams. He embarks on his 13th season in the NFL--all with the Rams--has five Pro Bowl appearances behind him and a truck full of down-home wisdom. He once described his profession in life as “kicking butt.” He has done such in 160 games, which ties him for fifth with Jack Pardee, Lamar Lundy and Tom Mack in games played. He has been a starter since 1976. Though statistics are sparse on offensive linemen, Harrah is generally credited with helping rookie Jim Everett adjust easily to life as a pro, on and off the field.

DALE HATCHER

5--PUNTER

After a spectacular rookie season in which he averaged 43.2 yards a punt and made All-Pro, Hatcher settled for mere-mortal status last season with a 38.6 average. He set a Ram record for punts in a season with 97, which isn’t the kind of record offensive coaches are going to brag about. His 26 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line was third best in the NFL. Large for punter at 6-2, 220, Hatcher had offers to play professional baseball out of high school. He had a 21-1 record as a pitcher his final two years of high school. He’s kept his swing in shape on the Rams’ softball team where he is the acknowledged home run king.

DAVID HILL

81--TIGHT END

Hill, who had seasons with 53 and 47 receptions as an All-Pro with Detroit in the late ‘70s, came to the Rams in 1983 and his life and times changed. Last season, he had his all-time low in receptions with 14, which won’t get much All-Pro consideration, but is just what the Ram running game ordered. Hill is considered among the cream of blocking tight ends. In fact, he has lined up in the backfield on occasions with Eric Dickerson, becoming Dickerson’s lead blocker. Though his 14 receptions was a low last season, his 14.4 yards per catch was an all-time high. Hill has 347 career receptions.

KEVIN HOUSE

83--WIDE RECEIVER

House was one of three veterans released by Tampa Bay last season--tight end Jimmy Giles and running back Ron Springs were the others--in one broad sweep of house cleaning. Reportedly, the Buccaneers told House--Tampa’s all-time leader in passing yardage--they would do no worse without him. You can say and mean things like that when you’re 2-14, as the Buccaneers were last season. The Rams signed House on Oct. 21. He played in eight games, made 7 receptions for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 25.4 yards per catch led the team. House’s excellent speed and good hands are expected to earn him a lot of time in a playing rotation with Ron Brown and Henry Ellard.

LeROY IRVIN

47--CORNERBACK

One of the steadiest defensive performers on the field for the Rams the past few seasons, Irvin became a little unsteady off the field during the off-season. Irvin expressed extreme displeasure with his contract and later asked to be traded. Fat chance on both accounts. Money flows like mashed potatoes from the Ram front office. And the Rams don’t figure to be eager to trade a two-time All-Pro at cornerback. Irvin tied his all-time interception high with six last season. He returned one 50 yards for a touchdown against Dallas. He has returned four interceptions for touchdowns in his career. Though his punt returning days are long gone, Irvin still holds team record for returns (144), yardage (1,449) and touchdowns (4).

MARK JERUE

59--LINEBACKER

In the unenviable position of replacing All-Pro Jim Collins at inside linebacker, Jerue responded with an enviable season. His 109 tackles were second highest on the team. Jerue was listed as No. 1 at his position in training camp this year, even though Collins had recovered from a pinched nerve that caused him to miss all of last season. The fight for the position was anticlimactic when Jerue went down with torn ligaments in his left knee in the Rams’ second exhibition game against Seattle. Jerue is expected to return to the Rams in October.

GARY JETER

77--DEFENSIVE END

In Gary Jeter’s case, numbers do tell the whole story. Jeter made 19 tackles last season, 18 were solo, 8 were for sacks. Jeter’s one of a burgeoning and specialized crop--the designated pass rusher. He alternates at right end with Reggie Doss, who is the designated run specialist. Jeter has played with pain throughout his career with the Rams. In 1984, he suffered a herniated disc in his lower back and missed 10 weeks of the season. He came back in 1985 to record personal highs in sacks (11) and sack yardage (91).

DAMONE JOHNSON

86--TIGHT END

Not a lot is known about Damone Johnson. One reason is that he played his college ball in San Luis Obispo, which is about as renowned for football as Waco, Tex. is for Croatian folk dancing. Then, as a rookie in 1985, he injured his knee during training camp and missed the entire season. In 1986, he remained in that abyss known as injured reserve until the 11th game of the season. In five games he did not catch a pass. Still, with Tony Hunter’s departure, a healthy Johnson may be picking up the reception slack.

JOHNNIE JOHNSON

20--SAFETY

A million dollar rookie and a player who had started every game but two in his first six seasons with the Rams, Johnson’s career went through a period of transition last season. He went down with a knee injury during training camp. He was out for three weeks, a quick recovery from such an injury, but long enough for someone else to take his job. Vince Newsome is now the No. 1 man where Johnson use to call home. Johnson did play in all 16 regular-season games, starting five. He had one interception last season, his lowest total since 1982.

LARRY KELM

52--LINEBACKER

To say Larry Kelm came from nowhere would be unfair. Actually, he came from Texas A&M;, where he was a two-year starter. He was drafted in the fourth round and given as much chance of making the team as anyone who was trying to break into a linebacking corps that included Mel Owens, Mark Jerue, Carl Ekern, Mike Wilcher, Kevin Greene, Steve Busick . . . you get the picture. But Jerue and Ekern went down with injuries in an exhibition game in which Kelm made an interception. Since then, Kelm has made another interception and Busick has been released. And all of a sudden Larry Kelm is a Ram linebacker. Funny game.

MIKE LANSFORD

1--KICKER

If you haven’t noticed, Mike Lansford has become one of the game’s great pressure kickers. Oh, the guy can kick a field goal in any situation--he made 17 of 24 attempts last season. But there’s nothing about making a field goal either up or down by 10 or more points. What Lansford did last season was kick two game-winning field goals as time ran out. In the second game of the season he converted an 18-yarder to beat San Francisco. You’re not impressed. Well, how about his 50-yarder against Chicago to give the Rams a 20-17 victory. Lansford has been doing this kind of stuff since he arrived in 1982. Remember his 42-yard field goal--with time running out, of course--that beat New Orleans and put the Rams in the playoffs?

DUVAL LOVE

67--TACKLE

Love is another example of just what a brutish game football can be. Drafted in 1985 (10th round out of UCLA), he was given little chance to make the team. Battling for the last line position, he was up against one guy with three years experience (Gary Kowalski) and another who is 6-7, 278 (Dan McQuaid). He made the team, then missed 10 games with a shoulder injury. The next season, he spent his time backing up tackles Jackie Slater and Irv Pankey and playing left end in short-yardage situations. When this season rolled around, Pankey was out of training camp in a contract dispute and Love was looking good at left tackle. Then, on Aug. 17, Love suffered ligament damage to his right knee and is expected to be out four to six weeks. Then Pankey agreed to terms. Tough game.

BUFORD McGEE

24--RUNNING BACK

The Rams’ acquisition of McGee made a few people happy. Barry Redden, who was traded to San Diego along with future draft picks, had long complained about his lack of playing time and had been asking to be traded since, well, forever. Ernie Zampese wanted another reliable running back who could catch the ball, and because he and McGee had been together in San Diego he knew what Buford could do. McGee made 10 receptions in 9 games last season for 105 yards. McGee missed seven games because of injuries to both knees. In 63 carries, he gained 187 yards.

GREG MEISNER

69--NOSE TACKLE

What makes a person want to be a nose tackle. You get beat up and ignored. You sacrifice your body to set up other people for tackles. You do all of this to be rewarded with anonymity. It seems like anyone who would want to play the position should have his head examined. Meisner could do a self-serve job on himself: He graduated from Pittsburgh with a degree in psychology. You’d think he’d know better. Meisner made 24 tackles and had 2 sacks last season, backing up Shawn Miller at the position. As recently as 1984, he was a full-time starter, making 36 tackles and 4 sacks.

HUGH MILLEN

12--QUARTERBACK

Millen is in the unenviable position of not only playing the same position as Jim Everett but also being the same age. Because Everett figures to be around a while, one writer suggested Millen will “learn all aboutthe scout team.” Millen spent his rookie year, 1986, with a fractured ankle. He figures to back up Steve Dils, who backs up Everett.

SHAWN MILLER

98--DEFENSIVE END

The Rams’ media guide describes Shawn Miller as scrappy. What a nice term for a guy who once described himself as a “hellion,” who when asked what he had aspired to after high school, responded, “prison.” Oh, but scrappy Shawn, all 6-4, 270 pounds of him, has taken that nervous energy of youth and channeled it into becoming a pretty good ballplayer. He started every game for the Rams last season, the first six at defensive end, the last 10 at nose tackle. He made 50 tackles and had five sacks. Not bad for a guy who was a free agent in 1984 and who made a grand total of three tackles in eight appearances. Shows you what a little scrappiness can do.

TOM NEWBERRY

66--GUARD

Newberry arrived last season, a 6-2, 282-pound mountain of unknown from a college named Wisconsin-La Crosse. He had been drafted in the second round by the Rams, who heard he did a great job of blocking in the NAIA against such powerhouses as Pacific Lutheran. To the everyday fan, Newberry had two chances of making the Rams and one of the chances was slim. But Newberry ended up becoming the first pure rookie to start for the Rams since Eric Dickerson in 1983. Part of that had to do with Kent Hill being traded to Houston, and part because Newberry had proven himself. He started 14 of 16 games, and was named to the all-rookie team.

VINCE NEWSOME

22--SAFETY

Starting 12 of 16 games, sharing other time with Johnnie Johnson, Newsome led the Rams in tackles with 113 last season. Nicknamed ‘Taz,’ short for Tasmanian Devil, Newsome is a vicious hitter. LeRoy Irvin claims he’s not only the toughest hitter on the Rams but perhaps in the league. Newsome, a mere 179 pounds, is strong against the run. Some have referred to him as an extra outside linebacker. He is also extremely effective on the safety blitz. He had two sacks last season and deflected seven passes. Newsome, in his fifth season, intercepted three passes last season.

MEL OWENS

58--LINEBACKER

All-World Owens--as in point to any spot on the map and Mel’s probably been there--seems on the verge of becoming All-Pro. Owens missed a good portion of camp last season due to a good old-fashioned contract dispute. Well, not really old-fashioned. Owens threatened to take the entire season off touring the world as a good-will ambassador. Exactly whose ambassador and what kind of good will was never clear, but Owens did come back to the Rams in late August. He started every game at outside linebacker, making 63 tackles and recording four sacks. His durability--he’s been in 64 straight games--and athletic ability seem to have Owens on the verge of stardom . . . in this country, anyway.

IRV PANKEY

75--TACKLE

Pankey ended his 31-day holdout Aug. 27 by signing a two-year contract. With an injury to Duval Love, everything was smoothed for Pankey to move right back into his starting spot. In his eighth year with the Rams, Pankey has started 28 of the Rams’ last 32 regular-season games. At Penn State, he played some tight end. With the Rams, he has played some guard. He is valuable enough that the Rams made him the fifth highest-paid player on the team due in part to performances such as the one he turned in against Dexter Manley in the NFC wild-card game last season. Manley came into the game with 18 1/2 sacks, Pankey held him to none. The Rams lost the game, 19-7.

DOUG REED

93--DEFENSIVE END

Reed was the guy who had to replace Jack Youngblood at left tackle. Enough said? He performed well in 1985, accounting for personal bests in tackles (45) and sacks (7 1/2). However, by 1986 he had lost the starting job to Shawn Miller. When Miller moved to nose tackle, Reed stepped back in. He had 44 tackles in 10 starts and ended the season third in sacks on the team with 6 1/2. In fact, very quietly, Reed has become one of the Rams’ most effective pass rushers.

MIKE SCHAD

76--GUARD

The Rams made Mike Schad the highest-selected Canadian in the history of the NFL. Mike Schad made everyone wonder what the Rams had done. He spent all of last season out with a back injury. Schad is very big (6-5, 290) and very intelligent--he earned degrees in geography and physiology from Queen’s University. But one line in the Ram media guide tells you not to expect anything too soon from Mr. Schad. The line reads: “has a chance to become an outstanding NFL lineman once he learns the intricacies of American football.” Oh.

JACKIE SLATER

78--TACKLE

Jackie Slater starts his 12th year of football, all with the Rams. Since 1979, he has been recognized as one of the top tackles in football. Well, he’s been recognized, but not recognized . It wasn’t until 1983 that he was chosen for the Pro Bowl, and Slater thought that was less for his performance and more for a shove he gave a dancing Mark Gastineau. Slater has since been selected to the Pro Bowl in 1985. He was selected as the offensive lineman of the year in 1986 in a vote of NFC defensive lineman and linebackers, but did not make the Pro Bowl. You figure it out.

TONY SLATON

61--CENTER

An All-American center at USC, Tony Slaton is one of the those guys people figure will be a star one day. The problem is the guy in front of him, Ram center Doug Smith, already is a star. Smith has been chosen to three consecutive Pro Bowls. So Slaton has bided his time, learning and filling in where needed. In 1986, he filled in at guard against Detroit and New Orleans when Dennis Harrah was injured. As recently as 1985, he was released by the Rams, but recalled when injuries started to mount. That season he replaced Smith, who had suffered a head injury, and played the last three regular-season games and two playoff games. His position seems secure now, though he’d prefer it a bit more active.

DOUG SMITH

56--CENTER

Signed as a free agent 10 years ago, Smith has made his reputation and place on the Rams through versatility and dependability. He has started at right guard, left guard, right tackle and, of course, center, where he has been chosen to the Pro Bowl the past three seasons. To get an idea how versatile and how dependable he is, turn back to 1983 when Smith broke his right hand in a game against Chicago. He missed two games, then returned to the starting lineup snapping the ball with his left hand.

MICHAEL STEWART

23--SAFETY

Selected in the eighth round, Stewart latched on to a team with an already impressive secondary. All-Pros and experience were just dripping all over the place, but surprisingly, Stewart has every chance of sticking around. He has been impressive in exhibition games and may work himself into a rotation at safety with Nolan Cromwell, Johnnie Johnson and Vince Newsome. A first-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. choice his junior and senior seasons at Fresno State, Stewart had 59 tackles and 5 interceptions his senior season.

MICKEY SUTTON

49--CORNERBACK

Mickey Sutton is 5-8, 170, which would work out just fine if he were a placekicker or ticket taker. Unfortunately, he is a defensive back. His size seemed to give him little chance of making the team, as did his reputation, which was nonexistent. Coach John Robinson described Sutton as coming from nowhere. Actually, he came from the USFL, which, it could be argued, is the same thing. Yet, Sutton made the team, in no small part because of Gary Green’s career-ending injury. He had two interceptions, returned punts while Henry Ellard was a holdout and returned kicks while Ron Brown was out with a separated shoulder. The little man made himself known in a big way.

TIM TYRRELL

32--RUNNING BACK

For the benefit of those of you who don’t know anything about Tim Tyrrell--and that puts you in a vast majority--he is one of these special-teams terrorists who get real excited at the prospect of bodies colliding at high speed. The media guide says he “displays little regard for his own well being,” which is something that requires attention in real life but will keep you on the roster in the NFL. In one poll, he was named the second-best special teams player in the NFC. Tyrrell played quarterback at Northern Illinois and was signed as a free agent by Atlanta in 1984. He came to the Rams early last season and has yet to run the ball in the regular season.

NORWOOD VANN

51--LINEBACKER

The fact that Norwood Vann, in his fourth season with the Rams, has yet to start a game at linebacker doesn’t so much speak less of him as it does speak more of the Ram linebacking corps. With All-Pros and on-the-verge All-Pros seemingly everywhere, Vann has had to be content to make his name on special teams. It’s a very loud name. Though statistics on such things aren’t available, Vann has probably led the Rams in histrionics each of his last three years. Once again, Norwood will be given a look at outside linebacker and probably back up Mike Wilcher.

CHARLES WHITE

33--RUNNING BACK

Did you know that Charles White once held an American record in the 330-yard low hurdles at 36-seconds flat? Did you know he won the Superstars competition in 1980? Or that he averaged nearly 10 yards a carry as a senior at San Fernando High? Chances are no, because Charles White won the Heisman Trophy in 1979 and everything else is secondary. He’s never been the professional people thought he would. He recorded his all-time high in yards in 1981 at Cleveland, but that was only 342. With the departure of Barry Redden, White was thought to be one of the top candidates to be Eric Dickerson’s running mate. But his drug problems have resurfaced and all those stats and records and trophies, including the Heisman, seem very, very secondary.

MIKE WILCHER

54--LINEBACKER

Some have said Mike Wilcher is becoming the West’s Lawrence Taylor. Unfortunately for him, Taylor is still around and therefore Wilcher probably doesn’t get the kind of attention he deserves. He made his first big impact in 1985 when he subbed for the injured George Andrews. Wilcher led the Rams in sacks that season with 12 1/2 and made 97 tackles. Last season, his fifth, Wilcher’s statistics were a bit down, 68 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks, which probably has more to do with his growing reputation than any lack of performance. It’s interesting to note that it was Wilcher who replaced Taylor at defensive end at North Carolina.

MICHAEL YOUNG

88--WIDE RECEIVER

The line on Michael Young is that he is sneaky fast. This means that he is not really that fast and if he doesn’t catch every ball even remotely near him, he will end up strumming a guitar back home in Visalia. Lucky for Young he can catch the ball. In limited playing time, he made 15 receptions last season, nothing to make defensive coordinators shudder, but a personal best for Young. In one stretch, he made receptions in six consecutive games. He also caught three touchdowns passes. Young has also produced a demo recording of country and western songs. This means nothing in football terms, but it’s something to fall back on when sneaky can’t carry you anymore.