NFL DRAFT : Rams : When Questions Arise, Miami Has the Answers

When it came time to pull two first-round triggers, the Rams were left stunned at what remained on Sunday’s draft table. So they stalked and talked and darn near balked, waiting until waning seconds before finally turning to Miami Twice.

It wasn’t supposed to be so difficult. The Rams were almost locked into Miami defensive end Bill Hawkins at pick 21, but were forced to reconsider with so many blue-chippers left.

Gnashing teeth as minutes passed, the Rams were left to ponder: How do you not take cornerback Louis Oliver, considered a top 10 pick in most circles? Or receiver Andre Rison? Or fullback Cleveland Gary? What were the Rams doing with this incredible opportunity?

Panicking, as it turns out. With only 16 seconds left to choose in their allotted 15 minutes, the Rams scribbled Hawkins’ name on some paper and raced it to the podium.

They resisted temptation in the end and stuck to their guns, passing on the best-available athlete theory to fill a long-standing need at defensive end. It seemed a victory for the coaching staff, defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur in particular. This wasn’t a public relations pick.

So Bill Hawkins it was. He’s tall (6-6) and lean (265) and was a three-year starter for the Hurricanes, who lost one football game the past two seasons.

“He has a chance to develop into the big-time pass rusher we’ve always talked about but never found,” Ram Coach John Robinson said.

Robinson wasn’t out of the woods yet.

Five picks later at 26, Miami fullback Cleveland Gary was still on the board and flashing like neon lights in front of Robinson’s eyes. The Rams were still thinking defense, or maybe tight end. But not a fullback. Only minutes before, Robinson said that Robert Delpino, last year’s rookie sensation, was a perfectly capable fullback.

But this time the Rams couldn’t pass on a big-name talent. They used every second of their 15 minutes and finally decided on Gary, passing over Auburn tight end Lawyer Tillman and Tennessee linebacker Keith DeLong.

Just what the Rams need, another running back. But Robinson coached Gary in the Senior Bowl and claims he’s one of the best receiving backs to come out of college in years.

Gary wasn’t as thrilled over the developments, figuring he never should have lasted long enough to become a Ram.

“I didn’t think I’d be there,” said Gary, who considered himself a top 10 pick. “But the decision’s been made and I’m and L.A. Ram. I love it. . . . You have to prepare for things like that. I’m elated that it’s over.”

Next question: Are there enough footballs to go around? The Rams are suddenly well-stocked in the backfield, Gary joining a team that includes Greg Bell, Delpino, Buford McGee and last year’s first round choice, Gaston Green.

Robinson seems to think he can keep everyone happy.

“It’s an area that we once did not have any depth,” Robinson said. “We now have depth. This isn’t a game where you can have one deep. It just isn’t.”

But doesn’t something have to give? Is Greg Bell on the trading block?

“No,” Robinson said.

What about Gary being a makeup pick for Green, who played sparingly as a rookie.

“I heard one genius say that it’s indicative of our feelings for Gaston Green,” Robinson responded. “But that’s way off. It’s not even close.”

Only time will tell whether the Rams will regret taking Gary over DeLong, a Ram favorite who went two picks later to the San Francisco 49ers.

A brief look at the rest of the Rams’ Sunday picks:

Second Round

45th choice--Frank Stams, linebacker, Notre Dame. The final payoff for Eric Dickerson, Stams gives the Rams another outside pass rusher to go with Hawkins. Robinson compares Stams to the NFL’s second-leading quarterback sacker last season. Lawrence Taylor? Bruce Smith? No, Kevin Greene, remember? The Rams’ outside linebacker finished with 16 1/2, trailing only Reggie White of the Philadelphia Eagles for the league lead.

“We see him like Kevin Greene,” Robinson said of Stams. “He came off the corner for Notre Dame much like Kevin Greene did for us.”

Stams is a converted fullback and one of several prime-time players from Notre Dame’s national championship defense. He led the Irish with seven sacks in 1988.

One knock on Stams is his inability to drop into pass coverage. The Rams knocked on wood. Robinson spoke of Stams as if he were a son.

‘I’m not supposed to get emotionally involved with guys,” he said. “But I really feel good about this guy.”

48th pick--Brian Smith, defensive end/linebacker, Auburn. Like Hawkins, Smith is 6-foot-6, giving the Rams a pair of ends who can peer over a line of scrimmage for a change; unlike say, a Donald Evans. Rams’ personnel director John Math calls Smith “747” because of his large wing span. He’s also been called “String Bean,” but that’s what weight rooms are for. Smith is listed at 245 pounds, though Robinson envisions him at 270 pounds some day.

“He’s a Richard Dent-type,” said Robinson, careful not to actually compare Smith to the Chicago Bears’ All-Pro.

53rd pick--Darryl Henley, cornerback, UCLA. He returns to a Bruin reunion that includes Gaston Green, James Washington, Flipper Anderson, Duval Love, et al . At 5-feet-8 and 165 pounds, Henley lacks size and muscle, but could be the punt returner the Rams have been looking for since receiver Henry Ellard became too valuable to risk returning kicks.

“He’s a great punt returner, and that’s very positive for us,” Robinson said. “His lack of size probably kept him from being a first-round corner. He played like a first-round corner.”

Henley’s best shot this season seems to be as a nickel-back player.

Third Round

75th pick overall--Kevin Robbins, offensive tackle, Michigan State. Right now, he’s just the answer to Tony Mandarich’s trivia question: Name the other tackle at Michigan State last season. Yes, it was Robbins, who pales in comparison to Mandarich at only 6-foot-4 and 286 pounds. Robbins, however, was an Academic All-Big 10 Conference selection.

Fourth Round

102nd pick overall--Jeff Carlson, quarterback, Weber State. A local product from Pacifica High School in Cypress, Carlson could be that developmental quarterback Robinson was talking about. The lefthander passed for more than 5,000 yards in his college career.

Fifth Round

135th pick overall--Alfred Jackson, cornerback, San Diego State. A wide receiver in college, Jackson will compete for a spot in a very crowded Rams secondary.

Ram Notes

As exected, Robinson said Sunday he would soon meet with veteran linebacker Carl Ekern, 34, and fullback Mike Guman, 31, and probably ask both to retire. . . . Darryl Henley is the brother of Thomas, a free-agent receiver recently signed by the Rams.

THE RAMS’ PICKS

The Rams’ selections in the 1989 NFL draft:

Rn. Player Pos. School 1 Bill Hawkins DE Miami (Fla.) 1 Cleveland Gary FB Miami (Fla.) 2 Frank Stams LB Notre Dame 2 Brian Smith LB Auburn 2 Darryl Henley DB UCLA 3 Kevin Robbins OT Michigan St. 4 Jeff Carlson QB Weber St. 5 Alfred Jackson WR San Diego St.