The Washington Redskins News
                           April 24, 1995

             Redskins Take the Speed Route in NFL Draft


The Washington Redskins welcomed first-round pick Michael Westbrook to
town yesterday, just a few minutes after they completed the NFL draft 
by selecting a running back, tight end, defensive end, offensive tackle
and cornerback in the last four rounds.

Lower-round picks can be crucial - and initially inexpensive - components
in building a successful team.  Lee Woodall, a sixth-round pick from 
West Chester, became a starting outside linebacker for the Super Bowl
champion San Francisco 49ers in 1994.  The Redskins are hoping for
similar results, even if the odds are long and more than one year might
be needed to achieve them.

"The one thing that jumps out at you as you look at [the new players] 
is that we've been able to upgrade our speed," Redskins Coach Norv
Turner said.  "The guys involved either have great upfield speed or
quickness that we've talked about.

"Along with the speed, obviously, when you put these guys at their
respective positions, I think we will have much greater competition 
at different positions.  The competition will certainly make each guy
perform at a higher level."

During Saturday's first three rounds, the Redskins drafted Westbrook,
Wisconsin center Cory Raymer and Nicholls State safety Darryl Pounds,
who probably will switch to cornerback.

The Redskins picked Miami running back Larry Jones in the fourth round.
Louisville tight end Jamie Asher was taken in the fifth round with a 
pick acquired from Houston in the 1993 Wilbur Marshall trade.  The
Redskins then traded their fifth-round pick to the Los Angeles Raiders
for the Raiders' fifth- and seventh-round choices.

The Redskins chose Lehigh defensive end Rich Owens with the Raiders'
fifth-round choice, Thure with their own sixth-round pick and Illinois
cornerback Scott Turner with the Raiders' seventh-round pick.

Jones has a fullback's body (6-0, 244 pounds) but the Redskins will 
hand him the ball in training camp.  Both backfield positions are very
much up for grabs.

Tight end is perhaps even less settled.

Ethan Horton likely will be released after catching just 15 passes last
season, free agent James Jenkins is likely to re-sign but has not yet
done so.  Coleman Bell was added late last season.  Kurt Haws was a 
fourth-round pick last spring, but went to Carolina in the expansion
draft after not progressing as much as the Redskins hoped.

The 6-3, 243-pound Asher caught 70 passes last season for Louisville 
in Howard Schnellenberger's pro-style offense.  Though tight ends coach 
Russ Grimm said Asher needs to work on his blocking, he sees a difference
with Haws.

"Kurt has the ability and obviously Carolina realized that," Grimm said.
"Whether it was a matter of being a rookie or something else, I couldn't
get Kurt to pull the trigger.  Asher will compete."

Redskins defensive line coach Bob Karmelowicz did wonders in developing
the team's sixth-round pick in '94, Dexter Nottage, who had not played
football since 1991.  He'll try to do the same with Owens (6-5, 255 
pounds), who had serious playing time in only one season at Lehigh.

Scott Turner, who has the same name as the head coach's son, brings
more speed.  The Redskins timed the two-time Big Ten 400-meter
champion in 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

But Westbrook is at the head of this class and yesterday he displayed
a compelling mix of moxie, bravado and respect for his elders.

At 6-3 1/2 and 215 pounds, Westbrook will remind folks of Art Monk,
who played 14 seasons for the Redskins before leaving in an acrimonious
dispute with management.  Westbrook wore No. 81 at Colorado, the same 
number Monk wore here in becoming the NFL's all-time leading receiver.

"My favorite jersey is being retired respectfully," Westbrook said, 
referring to the team's unofficial practice of not giving out certain
numbers previously worn by stars.

Westbrook was in Detroit yesterday morning for a family function before
arriving in Washington with his agent, Joel Segal; a financial consultant,
Tom Seabron; and a local public relations consultant, Beverly Hunt.

There will be plenty of money involved when he signs and the Redskins
are hoping he generates piles of points and positive publicity.

"Like Michael Jordan says," Westbrook said, invoking the name of one
of the sports world's greatest performers under pressure, "give me the
ball with one second on the clock, because I thrive on that.  I look
forward to competing."


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Article by Dave Sell
Washington Post Staff Writer
The Washington Post, April 24, 1995
(Printed with permission from the Washington Post)


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                           Redskins Focus

    An analysis of Washington's performance in the weekend's draft.

To assess how well the Washington Redskins drafted this weekend, project
to 1997 or 1998.  Is Michael Westbrook averaging 15 to 18 yards a catch,
breaking tackles, and scoring touchdowns?  Is Cory Raymer in the starting
lineup, able to pull out from center, get around the guard and block an
outside linebacker?  Are Larry Jones and Jamie Asher contributing?  Is
Darryl Pounds the team's nickel cornerback?

If that sounds a lot to expect, it is.  The Redskins don't have the 
luxury of bringing players along slowly.  There isn't enough talent on
the roster to do so.  Washington's draftees will have to deliver if the
Redskins have any hopes of improving significantly on last season's
3-13 record.

If Westbrook, Raymer and Jones - the running back from Miami taken in 
the fourth round yesterday - pan out, 1995 will be remembered as the 
year Washington's offense began to shape, when the dominant wide receiver, 
the tough, short-yarder halfback and the mobile center joined the young
quarterback, Heath Shuler.  And if Frank Wycheck or Asher, the fifth-round
pick, can contribute at tight end with James Jenkins, it will be a bonus.

If none of those developments occur, 1995 will go down as the year 
the Redskins had the fourth pick in the draft, yet failed to land a 
potentially dominant defensive lineman or a top-shelf running back.  
And it also will be the year front-office people lost their jobs.

"Each year, you want to do more," Coach Norv Turner said yesterday.
"But you start talking about a Tre' Johnson and a Cory Raymer, and 
Westbrook and Tydus Winans at receiver, and obviously the two young
quarterbacks [Shuler and Gus Frerotte] and the running backs ... yeah,
I'm excited."

Westbrook is going to get a chance to start, but remember that 
Washington's plan last year was for Shuler to be a starter on opening
day.  Contract negotiations tend to get in the way of everyone's best
intentions.  And there are adjustments to be made.  The Dallas Cowboys'
Michael Irvin caught 32 passes his rookie season.

Throughout last week, though, NFL coaches and scouts were saying that
the Redskins were about to get a potentially dominant player if they
got Westbrook.  His size (6 feet 3-1/2), speed (between 4.42 and 4.49
seconds in the 40-yard dash) and hands should produce plays Washington
hasn't had in several years - the breakaway touchdown, the tightrope
sideline pattern, the fade routes.

Taking a center in the second round is a bit of reach.  But the 6-3,
290-pound Raymer has physical skills not normally associated with his
position.  For example, the Steelers are able to use all-pro center
Dermontti Dawson in blocking schemes most other teams can't employ
because of Dawson's great mobility.  If Raymer winds up being a 10-year
player, he might give the Redskins similar kinds of flexibility.

Washington's last three picks - defensive end Rich Owens, tackle Brian
Thure and cornerback Scott Turner - are more likely to spend time on 
the practice squad this season, though the Redskins have hopes for the
6-5, 300-pound Thure, taken in the sixth round.

So for now, this draft not only presents the tremendous potential of 
new players, it puts pressure on three players who represent all that
is left of Washington's high draft picks from 1990 through 1993 -
defensive tackle Bobby Wilson (the team's first-round pick in 1991),
cornerback Tom Carter (its first-rounder pick in 1993) and running back
Reggie Brooks (its second-rounder in 1993).

The Redskins decided not to take Warren Sapp or Kevin Carter with their
first-round selection.  That means they'll start the season with Sterling
Palmer, Tim Johnson, Wilson and Tony Woods on the defensive line.  The
others can be solid contributors, but Wilson was supposed to be a star.
His first four seasons, however, have been marred by injuries.  Washington
put $4.5 million into him last season and he has to have an injury-free,
productive 1995.

There's no reason for Carter not to be an outstanding cornerback.  He 
has the size, speed and hands to make an impact, and the Redskins have
shored up the rest of the secondary with acquisitions of free agents
James Washington and Stanley Richard and the re-signing of Darrell Green.
It's important to remember that Carter will barely be 23 by the time the
regular season starts.  But he's got to return to his rookie form.

Brooks may be under the harshest light.  Is he the 1,000-yard rusher 
of his rookie season or the 200-yard rusher of 1994?  In his hands may 
be the answer to Washington's most important question - do they have a
running back who can have 100-yard days on a regular basis?  By not
making a deal to trade up and get Ki-Jana Carter, the Redskins will 
make their bed with Brooks.

"It's like, 'Will the real Reggie Brooks stand up?,'" Turner said 
yesterday.


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Article by David Aldridge
Washington Post Staff Writer
The Washington Post, April 24, 1995
(Printed with permission from the Washington Post)


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               Washington's 1995 Draft Picks

   Round  Player             Pos.  College         Overall
   -------------------------------------------------------
     1.   Michael Westbrook   WR   Colorado            4
     2.   Cory Raymer          C   Wisconsin          37
     3.   Darryl Pounds       CB   Nicholls State     68
     4.   Larry Jones         RB   Miami             103
     5.   Jamie Asher         TE   Louisville        137
     5.   Rich Owens          DE   Lehigh            152
     6.   Brian Thure         OT   California        176
     7.   Scott Turner        DB   Illinois          226
   -------------------------------------------------------

>From The Washington Post, April 24, 1995
(Printed with permission from the Washington Post)
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