THE NFL DRAFT : Rams Still Look for Quick Answers : With Emphasis on Speed, They Add Nebraska’s Jones
The Rams think they got back into the National Football League rat race Sunday by drafting the best racers on the board, a theme that continued Monday on the draft’s second day when the team resumed its quest for speed.
“We’ll race anybody in this draft,” Coach John Robinson said.
Three of the Rams’ top picks in the first two rounds Sunday--tailback Gaston Green and receivers Aaron Cox and Willie Anderson--can run the 40-yard dash about as fast as you can say their names.
Still hooked on speed, the Rams in the sixth round Monday selected Keith Jones, reportedly the fastest back to run the fields of Nebraska.
Robinson said Jones will be tried as a kick returner in the exhibition season.
In the eighth round, the team drafted its third receiver, Darryl Franklin of Washington.
If you sense the team moving away from the power, run-oriented offense of Robinson and more toward coordinator Ernie Zampese’s pass offense, you can probably count to 10.
“The passing cast is pretty well assembled,” Robinson said.
Many observers have praised the Rams’ draft, though Robinson isn’t so quick to judge.
“You don’t know,” he said. “The key issue is that we’re looking to them, rather than a club that sees itself as standing pat. It’s ‘Get in here,’ as opposed to ‘Wait your turn.’ ”
A brief look at Ram second-day picks:
Sixth round--Keith Jones, tailback, Nebraska. The Rams are hoping Jones is the replacement for Ron Brown as a kick returner.
--Jeff Knapton, defensive tackle, Wyoming. Robinson didn’t like the pickings at defensive line in the early rounds, but Knapton has good speed and at 6 feet 5 inches is 5 inches taller than last year’s defensive end of the future, Donald Evans.
Eighth round--Darryl Franklin, receiver, Washington. Claiming illness, he begged the Rams to time him again in the 40-yard dash after he recorded slow clockings at the Indianapolis scouting combines. The Rams did, and liked what they saw.
Ninth round--Pat Foster, defensive end, Montana. Another late-round project selection and a real longshot to shore up the problems on the defensive front. Foster, 6-5 and 255 pounds, also isn’t used to crowds. He played 8-man football in high school.
10th round--R.C. Mullin, offensive tackle, Southwestern Louisiana. The Rams loved lineman Gerald Perry of Southern University, but he went to the Denver Broncos in the second round. Mullin is as big, 6-6 and 315, but obviously not as good.
12th round--Jeff Beathard, running back, Southern Oregon State. The Rams traded draft picks with Washington for the Redskins’ 11th-rounder next year and ended up with the draft’s last pick, who just happens to be the son of Redskin General Manager Bobby Beathard. So who negotiates the contract with John Shaw? Father or son?
Ram Notes
The Rams say they have thoroughly examined the knee of fifth-round pick James Washington, cornerback from UCLA, and have deemed him fit. Washington’s stock fell considerably because of the injury. . . . Coach John Robinson was steamed Monday about some stories suggesting that he was down on Gaston Green and was pressured into the pick. “It’s a complete untruth,” he said. “I just dislike it when you read something that is obviously wrong. I must be getting sensitive in my old age.”
Robinson on Green’s durability: “He is a hard, physical runner, he’s not skittish. He’s like Tony Dorsett, who ran inside hard.” . . . The draft breakdown: The Rams drafted four running backs, three receivers, three defensive linemen, two defensive backs, a linebacker and an offensive lineman.
RAM DRAFT CHOICES
Round Name, School Pos. 1 Gaston Green, UCLA RB 1 Aaron Cox, Arizona State WR 2 Anthony Newman, Oregon DB 2 Willie Anderson, UCLA WR 2 Fred Strickland, Purdue LB 3 Mike Piel, Illinois DT 5 Robert Delpino, Missouri RB 5 James Washington, UCLA DB 6 Keith Jones, Nebraska RB 6 Jeff Knapton, Wyoming DT 8 Darryl Franklin, Washington WR 9 Pat Foster, Montana DE 10 R.C. Mullin, Southwestern Louisiana OT 12 Jeff Beathard, Southern Oregon State RB
