THE NFL DRAFT : This Day Goes to the Swift : Running Backs and Wide Receivers Dominate 1st Round

By BOB OATES

April 25, 1988 12 AM PT

<i> Times Staff Writer</i>

After their disappointing seasons last year, the Raiders and Rams came up with a total of five first-round choices Sunday to dominate the National Football League draft for the first time since they’ve shared a sports base in Los Angeles.

The common denominator in their cluster of first-round selections was great speed:

--Most significantly, the Rams moved to change personality from a running team to a passing team. Their coach, John Robinson, emphasized Gaston Green’s receiving skills when he drafted the fast-moving UCLA back No. 1. Next, the Rams picked a wide receiver, Aaron Cox from Arizona State. And in Round 2 they added another quick Bruin, receiver Willie Anderson, who at 167 pounds is smaller than Cox.

--The Raiders, with three choices in the first round after two trades, went for even more speed when they drafted Notre Dame wide receiver Tim Brown No. 1 and Tennessee defensive back Terry McDaniel No. 2. Their other first-round choice, Scott Davis of Illinois, is a rangy defensive end who also has speed for his size.

To get Davis, the Raiders strengthened the San Francisco 49ers in the only major trade of the first round, sending wide receiver Dokie Williams up there to pair with Jerry Rice.

It was both a lucky and unlucky day for Raider fans. Top pick Brown, who was probably the best player in college football last year, was only available because the five teams selecting ahead of the Raiders drafted for need. At the same time, frustrating their fans again, the Raiders lost another chance to trade a package of high choices and players for their only real need: A useful quarterback.

In the NFL’s first Sunday draft in 53 years, there were few surprises--except for those in Los Angeles--as the league divided up some of the nation’s best college players.

Items:

--Offensive lineman Dave Cadigan of USC went to the New York Jets as the eighth player drafted and the first from Los Angeles. “Cadigan is one of the few (offensive linemen) who can step in and start for you as a (rookie),” said the Jets’ chief scout, Mike Hickey.

Said Cadigan: “The Big Apple is a good change from Southern California.”

--Ironhead Heyward of Pitt, chosen in the first round by the New Orleans Saints, was the 24th player drafted. “If he weighs 280 and does the things I’ve seen him do, he’s even better than we think he is,” New Orleans Coach Jim Mora said of his new 251-pound running back.

Heyward’s mother, Ann, answered a question about Ironhead’s police record as follows: “If you give him the ball, he’ll take it anywhere you (want).”

--Oklahoma tight end Keith Jackson will begin his new career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the 13th man drafted. “You get a chance at a player like this once every 10 years,” said Coach Buddy Ryan. Chief scout Joe Wooley added: “We didn’t get a dummy. He’s already graduated.”

Commenting on the fact that Barry Switzer’s team seldom threw him the ball, Jackson said: “I’m a natural born receiver.”

--At a news conference for the year’s No. 1 choice, Auburn linebacker Aundray Bruce--who signed several weeks ago with Atlanta--Falcon President Rankin Smith Jr. said: “He can play anywhere he wants in our defense.”

Falcon Coach Marion Campbell didn’t immediately comment on that.

--The Pac-10 led the country with six choices in the first round, including two from Arizona State, Cox and lineman Randall McDaniel, who is now a Minnesota Viking. The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference were each represented by five first-round players.

--Miami of Florida placed 2 of the first 11, defensive back Bennie Blades (Detroit) and wide receiver Michael Irvin (Dallas).

--Oklahoma placed 2 of the first 13, Jackson and defensive back Rickey Dixon (Cincinnati).

--With their only choice of the first two rounds, the San Diego Chargers, who are still looking for a passer, took a receiver. He is Anthony Miller of Tennessee, one of six receivers named on the first round.

A receiver factory, Tennessee formerly turned out Willie Gault, Anthony Hancock and Stanley Morgan. Said Charger Coach Al Saunders: “(Coach) Johnny Majors . . . told me . . . of all the receivers he’s had at Tennessee, (Miller) is without a doubt the best.”

--The first two quarterbacks drafted were Ohio State’s Tom Tupa and Washington’s Chris Chandler. Phoenix wants Tupa as a punter. Chandler, the first 1988 draftee projected as a quarterback, went to the Indianapolis Colts in the third round as the day’s 76th pick--a new low-down record for a man playing his position.

Danny White of Dallas, the former record-holder, was the NFL’s 53rd choice in 1974.

Tupa, who will double as the Cardinals’ disaster quarterback, was picked 68th.

--A leading Heisman Trophy candidate last season until he was injured, UCLA halfback Green was the only running back drafted in the first half of the first round. Four others in the second half included, in this order, John Stephens of Louisiana’s Northwestern State (Patriots), Lorenzo White of Michigan State (Oilers), Brad Muster of Stanford (Bears) and Heyward.

“Muster is a nice guy, clean-cut, and plays fullback very well,” said Bear Coach Mike Ditka.

--When Ditka passed up several chances to take William (The Refrigerator) Perry’s kid brother, Clemson defensive tackle Michael Dean Perry, Cleveland stepped forward and got him in Round 2. Michael Dean only weighs 278.

--The two Los Angeles area teams were the talk of the draft. Despite the fact that pro clubs rarely change personality, the Rams are plainly going to give it a try this season, surprisingly, forsaking Robinson’s long-established run philosophy in order to take to the air.

At least that was the message in the Rams’ high draft choices Sunday and also in Robinson’s draft-day interviews.

At 30, Charles White, the club’s most effective rusher last season, is on the outer edge of an NFL running back’s likely longevity. But few NFL coaches or scouts see Gaston Green as his successor as a workhorse.

At UCLA, Green couldn’t get through a college season uninjured. He is moving now into a league that hits even harder.

In terms of pure talent, Green probably ranks with Tim Brown and Keith Jackson at the top of the class, but not in terms of durability. His selection makes sense only if you put him in a new kind of offense for the Rams as a receiver coming out of the backfield to join Henry Ellard and rookies Aaron Cox and Willie Anderson.

The Raiders’ draft, meanwhile, can only be explained in the framework of their trades this month. When they packed off defensive lineman Sean Jones, they had to draft young Scott Davis. And at wide receiver, Tim Brown, as good as he is, is merely replacing another good one, Dokie Williams.

That leaves the Raiders with one clear addition in their high-round drafting, their new cornerback, Terry McDaniel. If McDaniel is as fast and gifted as advertised, he will help the Raiders overcome their second worst weakness.

--This year’s draft All-American team includes the first players named at their positions:

OFFENSE

WR Tim Brown (6) Notre Dame (Raiders).

WR Sterling Sharpe (7) South Carolina (Packers).

TE Keith Jackson (13) Oklahoma (Eagles).

OL Paul Gruber (4) Wisconsin (Buccaneers).

OL Dave Cadigan (8) USC (Jets).

OL Eric Moore (10) Indiana (Giants).

OL Randall McDaniel (19) ASU (Vikings).

OL John Elliott (37) Michigan (Giants).

QB Chris Chandler (78) Washington (Colts).

RB Gaston Green (14) UCLA (Rams).