The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 38

Eagles take a tackle with their first pick Manning, Leaf go 1-2 in draft as Moss falls Snakebit A look at the Eagles' recent attempts lineman with a first-round pick. With Jerry Rice and Jim Lachey on the board, the Eagles went for the tackle from Indiana. He failed to make the starting lineup as a rookie, then went to prison for sexual assault. The Eagles traded their first-round pick to Indianapolis for Ron Solt, who was suspended for steroid use and was with the team until 1991. to land a first-rate offensive Davis NBA power forward.

Williams was suspended by the NFL for a The Eagles traded their 1992 first-round pick to Green Bay to move up and take Davis, who couldn't play left tackle, struggled at right tackle, and is now a reserve in Atlanta. Holmes showed promise at guard before injuring his knee in 1 995. He was not as effective in 1996 and left for Oakland via free agency last season. He signed with Arizona last month. EAGLES from CI minuscule amount of the substance his system, which is consistent with that." During a phone interview with Philadelphia reporters, Thomas said he didn't want to go into details about the incident.

When he met with the Eagles in Philadelphia recently, he explained what happened Rhodes. The coach was satisfied with the explanation. "I wanted to clear the air," Thomas said. "This is something that happened a year ago. I need to put it behind me.

As an athlete, you have to be careful about choosing the places you're going to be. You're a fishbowl. I understand that." In the third round, the Eagles drafted Jeremiah Trotter, an inside linebacker from Division I-AA Stephen F. Austin, and Allen Rossum, a cornerback from Notre Dame. Trotter impressed personnel people with a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.

He is 6-OVi and 260 pounds, and he came back strong from a torn anterior cruciate ligament- suffered in 1996. entered the draft after his junior season. Rossum, who backed up Eagles cornerback Bobby Tayloras a freshman, made a bigger mark as a return man than as a cover man. Just 5-7 and 180 pounds, he was a two-time ail-American in track as a sprinter. The Eagles did not have a second-round pick, having sent it to the New York Jets earlier in exchange for defensive end Hugh Douglas.

They had an extra third-round pick because of a draft-day trade with Dallas last year. They traded that pick (No. 70 overall) to the New York Giants in exchange for the Giants' third-round pick (85th overall) and a fourth-round pick (119th overall). The trade seemed odd because the Eagles were looking for wide-receiver help in the third round. The Giants selected Purdue receiver Brian Alford with the pick they acquired from the Eagles.

Indianapolis took E.G. Green, a wideout from Florida State, with the next pick. After passing on Marshall's Randy Moss and Utah's Kevin Dyson in the first round, Rhodes had said that the Eagles would look to improve their situation at wide receiver in the third round. Instead, they took Trotter, who will compete for a starting job at linebacker, Rhodes said, and Rossum, whom Rhodes agent addition Keith Sims, a former Pro Bowler for Miami, is pencilled in at left guard. Steve Everitt will return at center.

Richard Cooper, who missed last season with a torn muscle in his left arm, is expected back at right tackle. The odd man out looks to be Barrett Brooks, who started 15 games at right tackle last season after two years at left tackle. Ian Beckles, the incumbent right guard, continues to struggle with an injury to his right foot. "I want to get the five best players out there," said Castillo, who has replaced Bill Callahan as offensive-line coach. Callahan followed Jon Gruden to Oakland when Gruden, the Eagles' offensive coordinator, became the Raiders' head coach.

In an unusual move, Castillo showed reporters end-zone film of Thomas playing against North Carolina, whose line included first-round picks Greg Ellis (No. 8, Dallas) and Vonnie Holliday (No. 19, Green Bay). The Eagles will play both of their teams next season. The tape showed Thomas dominating both players.

According to statistics released by the NFL, that wasn't unusual. Thomas allowed just one sack in his 10 starts last season. "He's a great pass-blocker," Broaddus said. "He's a guy who shuts people out. They didn't ask him to run-block as much.

We can teach him that." Rhodes admitted that he took into account the Eagles' checkered history of drafting linemen. Except for Mayberry, none of the first-rounders taken in the 1990s is still with the team. Antone Davis, who cost the team two first-round picks in a draft-day trade, was a bust. Lester Holmes suffered a leg injury and is now with Arizona. Bernard Williams was suspended before his second season after testing positive for marijuana.

"I'm well aware of that," Rhodes said. "It's in the back of your mind. I'm human. You look at the drafts going back to the '80s and people can say you're snakebit." But the need and the quality of the player outweighed the history. "We allowed 64 sacks last year," Rhodes said.

"We can't let that happen again. We have a young quarterback, Bobby Hoying, we feel good about. That comes into play in my mind. If we don't take care of him, we're going to have no chance at all." drug test in 1995. He has been out ever since.

was drafted to play left guard, but season was marred by a bout pneumonia during training camp. He left tackle last season, surrendering league-high '15-12 sacks. man At 6-foot-8, he had the body of an showed promise at left tackle, but Mayberry compared favorably to former Eagle Mark McMillian. Rhodes, scouting coordinator Bryan Broaddus and offensive-line coach Juan Castillo raved about Thomas' ability. For a man of his considerable size, Thomas moves well.

Combined with his strength he holds Florida State records for the bench press (550 pounds) and leg lift (1,180 pounds) that agility makes hint an imposing presence. Rhodes pointed out that Thomas faced some of the nation's best defensive ends in practice every day. Last year, he worked against Andre Wadsworth, the third pick yesterday. The year before, he faced Peter -if? "if 'if I I positive of football Mayberry his rookie with played a Boulware, who racked up 11 Vi sacks for the Baltimore Ravens last season. "When you ask the guys from Florida State who was the toughest guy to practice against, they say, 'Tra Thomas, Tra Thomas, Tra Broaddus said.

"That helped me a lot," Thomas said. "You go up against the best in practice, the games are easier. When you practice against the best, everybody else you face isn't quite the same." Thomas figures to replace Jer-mane Mayberry, the Eagles' first-round pick in 1996, at left tackle. Mayberry is likely to move to guard, possibly on the right side. Free- Eagles Picks Uth pick Tra Thomas Offensive tackle Florida State 6-8, 340 pounds Thomas came into his own after replacing Walter Jones (now in Seattle) afc the Seminoles' primary tackle.

In Florida State's system, he played on both the right and left sides, often during the same series. He is the same height as former Eagles tackle Bernard Williams but more than 50 pounds heavier. He allowed just one sack in 10 games as a senior. Note: His real name is William Thomas, the same as that of the Eagles lineback-ef. But because he is William Thomas 3d, his family calls him Tra (as in 72d pick Jeremiah Trotter Linebacker Stephen F.

Austin 6-0'2, 260 Jbst 21, Trotter, an inside linebacker, entered the draft after his junior season with the Lumberjacks. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 1996, then came back stronger after reconstructive surgery. stock rose with his head-turning performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.54-sec-ond 40 and displayed a vertical leap of 32 inches. 85th pick Allen Rossum Cornerback returner Notre Dame 5-7, 180 Anyone remember Mark McMillian? The Eagles hope this small, fast Texan can develop into a solid nickel corner. Rossum, who backed up Bobby Taylor, a current Eagles corner, as a freshman, scored an NCAA-record nine touchdowns on returns in his college career three on interceptions, three on punts and three on kickoffs.

In addition, he was an all-American in track in 1995 and 1997. as 3ii 'x 'mm cfimmkm in to in He 0 a ii Unisys v.A.i tMi.y n-k Commentary By Bin Lyon Eagles just won't quit until they get it right DRAFT from C1 "This is a young man who is a great player who made some mis-1 takes," Vikings coach Dennis Green said of Moss. "We think his life is ahead of him. The glass is full." Utah's Kevin Dyson was the first receiver selected, going 16th overall to Tennessee. Beyond Moss' slide, there were no glaring surprises and only two draft-day trades involving the first round.

Manning and Leaf were the only quarterbacks chosen in the first round. There were seven defensive backs, five defensive linemen, five offensive linemen, four linebackers, four running backs and three wide receivers picked. Arizona, which had San Diego's third pick, couldn't pass up Florida State defensive end Andre Wadsworth. Next up was Oakland, which used the fourth pick to take Michigan defensive back and Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, perhaps the best player in the draft. "1 think there's a good possibility' I can play both sides of the ball at Oakland," said Woodson, who tended the draft.

"I want to go in and concentrate on defense. If the coaches feel they can use me on of-' fense, I'd love to go on offense and play ball." Raiders coach Jon Gruden said it will be "down the line" before, Woodson plays anything but defense. But when asked what "down, the line" meant, Gruden "Maybe by the second preseason! game." Dallas used the eighth pick to taker North Carolina defensive end Greg Ellis a surprise to many draft ex-v perts, who had picked him to go lower but got predicted first-rounder Flozell Adams, an offensive lineman from Michigan State, in the" second round. Miami coach Jimmy Johnson, known for stockpiling picks, turned the first deals of the day, trading the Dolphins' first-round pick (19th. overall) to Green Bay for its first-.

(29th) and second-round (60th) selections. Green Bay drafted North Carolina's defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday to fill its gap on the Enis, also at the draft, was tearful when he came to the stage to receive his Bears jersey. He said he-was pleased to join Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, "a blue-collar per- son, like myself. I'm not a fancy running back. One way to describe my running style is I just run hard." Manning was at the draft with his.

family. "We're really proud of Pey-. ton, said Archie Manning, part another 1-2 quarterback tandem in. 1971, when he was chosen No. 2 by the Saints after the Patriots had taken Jim Plunkett No.

1. Archie Manning spoke to reporters with his toothy-grinning son standing beside him. The Colts pre-, sented Peyton Manning a royal blue jersey with his name and the No. 18, which was worn by his father at, New Orleans. (Peyton Manning wore No.

16 at Tennessee.) "I'm glad to know where I'm going," said Manning, a Colts cap atop his 6-foot-5V2, 230-pound frame. "Draft day is just the beginning just the start of a career. New league for a new team, I am ready to go to work." Also swaggering through Theater was Leaf, ecstatic about heading to the Chargers, who desperately sought a quarterback with Stan Humphries forced to retire be-, cause of concussions. "This is something myself and family wanted," said Leaf, from Montana. "I think if San Diego had! the first pick, they would have drafled me as well.

I had such' good relationship with them es-! pecially what they did trading up for me. I'll always remember that. It's something I feel I need to reward them back. "It wasn't supposed to be this way. My dad wasn't an all-American quarterback.

He was an insurance salesman, from Great Falls, Mont." The Chargers paid dearly for the, chance at the 6-5V2, 244-pound sending a first-round (third overall) and second-round (32d) pick, their 1999 first-round pick, and two players to Arizona to move up a spot. "For the next 15 years, he's our man," said Chargers owner Alex Spanos, who came to New York to make the pick. "And I can only tell you we're all very, very excited; over it." North Carolina had a school-record three first-round draftees in El-; lis, Brian Simmons (Cincinnati)', and Holliday (Green Bay). Seven-" teen of the 30 first-rounders came from the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences. In an intriguing second-round move, Detroit passed up Michigan quarterback Brian Griese for East Michigan passer Charles Batch, the third quarterback taken in the' draft.

To get the pick, 60th overall, 1 Detroit gave Miami its selections in the third, fifth and sixth rounds. Denver selected Griese, 91st overall', near the end of the third roud. I 7 a A I back and elevating a small car with his legs. He has bench-pressed 550 pounds, which is the better part of a piano. But mostly what sold the Eagles was the caliber of Thomas' daily sparring partners, the most prominent among them being Peter Boulware, a defensive end who was the No.

4 pick in last year's draft, and Andre Wadsworth, a defensive end who was the third player selected this year. Of Thomas, Wadsworth said: "It's sad what he does to other defensive ends. He sits there and grabs them and treats them like rag dolls." That's quite an imposing testimonial. "People tell me they had wars, real wars, better than the games," Rhodes said of the Florida State practices. He smiled as he talked.

Football coaches love pitched battles. "You know, he Thomas played against the eighth pick in the draft," Rhodes said, smiling again. The smile was because the eighth pick was Greg Ellis, a defensive lineman from North Carolina, who was taken by Dallas, exactly the sort of questionable pick for which the Eagles became famous. For a change, somebody else was on the defensive. The Birds could scarcely believe their good fortune, that a player of Thomas' caliber was still available when their turn came.

Rhodes admitted: "We gave up 64 sacks last year. That just can't happen again. If we don't take care of Bobby Hoying, we don't stand a chance." There doesn't seem to be much doubt about the ability of Tra Thomas. There is some doubt about his off-field habits. "We researched this better than we ever have," Rhodes insisted.

"This is the guy." The Eagles are so sure that they invited the media to a viewing of Tra Thomas films. Juan Castillo, the new offensive line coach, all but chortled as he showed Thomas dominating Ellis, the Cowboys' pick. This film session seemed to be an especially revealing tactic. Usually on Draft Day the Birds are on the defensive. Up to now, with good reason.

GET IT RIGHT from C1 pressing needs, a game-breaker, some flameball to stretch the defense and prevent the safeties from cheating up against the run, seems to me to be the most critical. The Birds played on a severely constricted field last season because defenses didn't respect their ability to go deep. With good reason. The lineman the Birds picked has a bit of a drug history, so if they were going to draft a risk, why not the troubled but incredibly talented Randy Moss? Rhodes' response was: "If you don't protect your passer look, what good is a receiver running 40 yards loose if you can't get him the ball?" He has a valid point. Still, if Moss shows up on highlight films Of course, he could also show up on rap sheets.

And as the Eagles have been proving for the better part of two decades, nothing is more important nor more difficult to assemble than a solid offensive line. Besides, Rhodes calculated that he could fill the receiver vacancy in later rounds. As for Thomas, he is large enough to have his own zip code. One of the statistics credited to him is 91 pancakes. Presumably these refer to blocks and not his latest foray through the buffet line.

"Can you doubt this kid's ability?" Rhodes asked, accusingly. Apparently not. "Then what's not to like?" Well, he is listed at nearly 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds. He could show up weighing 400. He has tested positive twice for marijuana.

The Birds have a sad history with pot-smoking offensive linemen. And while Thomas is hailed by everyone as a devastating pass protector, even the Birds were forced to admit that he would have to be taught to run-block. This is a red flag. The Eagles have demonstrated they do not, or cannot, develop players. Whomever they draft had better be mostly a finished product.

What Thomas has in his favor is enormous size and strength. He has leg-pressed nearly 1,200 pounds, which is rather like lying on his siPdDiRiirs UlatiEJM MjJImsVUUliif sen WW.