Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 22, 1991

Jay Schroeder has proven that he is a competent NFL quarterback. However, the question remains whether he can take a team to the Super Bowl. This is a deep year for quarterbacks in the draft and the Raiders should take one. . . .

New England probably will make University of Houston junior David Klingler the No. 1 pick. Other highly regarded passers include Louisville’s Browning Nagle, San Diego State’s Dan McGwire, Southern Mississippi’s Brett Favre, Virginia’s Sean Moore and Oregon’s Bill Musgrave. . . .

The Raiders, who are well stocked at most other positions, have only Vince Evans and Steve Beuerlein as backups. . . .

If Mike White takes a head coaching job elsewhere, Schroeder will miss him. . . .

The Raider defense will benefit from the return of Anthony Smith, this season’s first-round pick who was injured. . . .

The glory days may be starting in Buffalo and ending in San Francisco. . . .

Don’t be surprised if Sunday’s game in Tampa turns into another Stupor Bowl. The difference this time is that the AFC--which has been outscored, 240-82, the past six games--seems capable of routing the NFC. . . .

The Bills’ no-huddle offense scores nearly as fast as the Denver Nuggets. But Buffalo’s defense is not to be confused with the Nuggets’. . . .

In San Francisco, they are wondering how many more times Joe Montana can bounce back from injuries. . . .

The 49ers would be unwise to trade Steve Young. . . .

Three of the four starting quarterbacks in the AFC and NFC championship games--Montana, Jeff Hostetler and Jim Kelly--come from western Pennsylvania. . . .

Hostetler has performed well enough in the playoffs to have his nickname upgraded from “Gladys” to “Mr. Gladys” by his teammates. . . .

The last Super Bowl game played one week instead of two after the conference championship games was Washington’s 27-17 victory over Miami, Jan. 30, 1983, in Pasadena. . . .

It wasn’t long ago that the biggest sporting events in Tampa were baseball spring training games. . . .

The Rams should draft Miami defensive lineman Russell Maryland if he is still available. Maryland is rated much higher than Bill Hawkins, another Miami product who has been a disappointment since he was picked in the first round in 1989. . . .

A study by UC Davis shows that college teams ranked in the top 20 in defense have won 62.5% of games against teams ranked in offense the past six years. . . .

New World Boxing Assn. welterweight champion Meldrick Taylor’s ambitious plans include a mandatory defense against top ranked Luis Garcia of Venezuela, then a rematch with Julio Cesar Chavez and a bout with Hector (Macho) Camacho. . . .

Evander Holyfield’s modesty is refreshing for a heavyweight champion and a throwback to the days of Floyd Patterson, Rocky Marciano and Joe Louis. . . .

The Santa Anita Handicap is shaping up as the most wide open in years. . . .

Now that figures no longer are skated, shouldn’t the name of figure skating be changed? . . .

Mike Lamb, former USC offensive lineman, is displaying his considerable wit and wisdom as co-host with Larry Kahn on KFOX-FM’s “Sports Beat” weekday afternoons at 4. . . .

Julius Erving will play himself in an episode of “Doogie Howser, M.D.” Wednesday on ABC. . . .

It’s hard to recognize the New York Knicks now that John Starks and Brian Quinnett have cracked the starting lineup. . . .

The nationally televised Laker-Celtic matinee at Boston Garden will be the only NBA game played Super Sunday. . . .

Before he was injured, Larry Bird was down in scoring and field goal attempts, butup in assists and shots blocked. . . .

My idea of a well-balanced team is Portland, which has seven scorers averaging in double figures. . . .

The Clippers ought to re-sign Benoit Benjamin before he becomes a free agent. . . .

Wes Unseld is getting a lot out of the talent-thin Washington Bullets. . . .

The Cleveland Cavalier backcourt has gone from one of the best in the league--Ron Harper and Mark Price--to one of the worst. . . .

ESPN tennis commentator Fred Stolle’s son, Sandon, turned pro in the Australian Open. . . .

Patrick McEnroe is mild mannered. . . .

Early candidate for Pacific 10 coach of the year is Jim Anderson, whose Oregon State Beavers are tied with Arizona for the conference lead at 4-1. . . .

Mike Marshall wouldn’t mind being traded to the San Diego Padres. . . .

USC quarterbacks have to learn to stay off the streets of Newport Beach in early morning hours.