Rams Trap Talent After Their Game of Cat ans Mouse

National Football League coaches are politicians who happen to wear polyester shorts. They hem. They haw. They stretch the truth like a wad of gum, pulling it this way and that until it best fits the moment.

At no time is this more evident than on NFL draft day, when coaches and scouting departments unveil their plum picks for all to see. It is honesty by the process of elimination as team after team must say what’s really on its mind. Smoke screens vanish. White lies become full truths. It is the one day you’re privy to a team’s inner most thoughts and its plans for the future.

The Rams were no exception. They played show-and-tell Sunday and revealed all sorts of things about themselves. They couldn’t help it; they had more picks than just about anyone else. Best of all, they did it the old-fashioned way: they fibbed.

You have to respect an organization that can keep a straight face and a secret as it pulls its shopping cart alongside the draft for a second consecutive all-you-can-pick spree. Last year the Rams had two No. 1 choices and three No. 2 selections. This time, again thanks primarily to the Eric Dickerson trade, they were able to add two more No. 1s and three more No. 2s. That’s a decade’s worth of picks for, say, the Washington Redskins, and a career’s worth for George Allen.

Perhaps the most encouraging news was that not a single phone call to Canada or rural North Carolina was required by the Rams. They didn’t dare reach above the 49th parallel for someone such as Ontario’s own--offensive something-or-other Mike Schad. Nor did they pluck another Donald Evans, a defensive end or fullback (the Rams could never decide) from tiny Winston-Salem State Community College and Night School.

Much like last year’s draft, the Rams decided to stay with familiar places and recognizable faces. But this time they added a little intrigue.

For instance, you knew that the Rams needed defensive linemen. In fact, they needed defensive linemen long before unprotected free agent Gary Jeter recently accepted an offer to join the New England Patriots. Heck, they’ve needed a defensive lineman since Jack Youngblood retired.

So do they say this? Of course not. Accepted NFL pre-draft policy is to waver, to tease and feign indecision. The Rams, who aren’t bad at this sort of thing, happily complied. You can’t blame them: Why tip your hand?

For instance, who do you think said this earlier last week: “I think a defensive player could come in and play some. If we picked a lineman, we’d put him in there somewhere, play him 30% of the time.”

That’s correct--Coach John Robinson. With that said, the Rams promptly used their first No. 1 pick Sunday on Bill Hawkins, a defensive end from the University of Miami. Good, solid, safe choice. A need fulfilled. As for the 30% prediction, forget it. Robinson didn’t take Hawkins that early (the 21st selection overall) to have him sit 70% of the time.

And credit the Rams for unintentionally creating havoc after Hawkins’ name was announced. According to the Ram press release, Hawkins is a criminal justice major who is pursuing a law degree. Think of the possibilities:

No. 1 Pick Spurns Ram Offer;

‘Law Is My Love’--Hawkins

Turns out that Hawkins is a finance major and he’s going to graduate school, not law school. Whew.

With the next pick (26th overall) the Rams were expected to perhaps choose another defensive lineman, maybe a linebacker or even an offensive tackle. An offensive skill position player? Not likely, said Robinson before the draft.

“I think it would be really difficult to crack our offensive unit if we picked an offensive player,” he said.

There are two ways of looking at this: 1) This is a fib. 2) It would be easier to crack the offensive unit if you were a defensive player.

It was a fib. The Rams took running back Cleveland Gary, also of Miami. They did this not long after Robinson told the assembled media that Gary was similar to incumbent Robert Delpino, implying that to choose Gary was to be redundant.

In the Rams’ defense--I mean, offense--they probably didn’t figure Gary to be available at No. 26. So they took him and made no apologies. And to be fair, Robinson’s comments came after the Rams chose Hawkins, not Gary, with their first No. 1 pick. Still. . .

By the time it was over, the Rams said they got what they hoped for in the early rounds: potential defensive line help from Hawkins and Brian Smith, a linebacker/defensive end from Auburn; a quality running back (and wakeup call to Gaston Green) in Gary; a Robinson personal favorite in linebacker Frank Stams of Notre Dame and a possible fulltime punt returner in UCLA cornerback Darryl Henley.

All in all, a fine showing. But in keeping with tradition, the Rams would have fibbed about the day’s events, no matter the outcome. “However it turned out, I would have said that,” said Robinson of his upbeat projections.

For the first time all draft day, you believed him.