Draft focus has shifted from big men to speed

A year ago, the Bears' first-round selection of safety MarkCarrier was the most criticized pick in the NFL draft. This year, itwas the most emulated pick.

In 15 years from 1975 through 1989, only two safeties weretop-10 picks: Kenny Easley and Bennie Blades. After Carrier, thesixth pick last year, was the NFL's interception leader and Rookie ofthe Year, the 1991 draft had two safeties in the top 10. Eric Turnerwent to Cleveland on the second pick, Stanley Richard to Houston onthe ninth.

Carrier wasn't the only strong influence on this year's draftand safeties weren't the only beneficiaries. For years, the draftinggospel for the first round was, when in doubt, take a big man.Lately, though, teams have been drifting toward speed over size.

In 1980-87, eight years, 80 first-round picks played on theoffensive or defensive lines, the size positions. Only 51first-round picks played the downfield speed positions: safety,cornerback and wide receiver. But in the last four years, 1988-91,that 8-5 ratio of size to speed has shrunk to almost 1-1. There were24 linemen in the first round, 21 downfield speed players.

The change is even more dramatic in the first 10 picks of thedraft. In 1980-87, 29 linemen and only 13 downfield speed playerswent that high. Since 1988, nine linemen and seven downfield speedplayers have been in the top 10. This year alone, speed outnumberedsize 5-4. The draft's strength at wide receiver was partlyresponsible, but it might have been 6-3 for speed if Raghib Ismailhadn't signed with the Toronto Argonauts.

Later in the first round, after Miami took wide receiver RandalHill and his 4.3 time in 40 yards, the Buffalo Bills thought abouthaving to play against him twice a year. Their biggest need suddenlychanged from a physical lineman to someone who could cover Hill.They took Illinois cornerback Henry Jones, who might project to aCarrier-type free safety.

Even later in the draft, the Bears felt fortunate to come out ofthe fourth round with cornerback Joe Johnson. After him, personneldirector Bill Tobin said, there was only one more corner with betterthan a 10th-round grade.

Twenty-one defensive backs were drafted in the first fourrounds. The next most popular positions were wide receivers anddefensive linemen, with 18 each. Downfield speed players outnumberedlinemen 39-33. Just one year ago, despite the 1990 draft's weaknessin offensive linemen, the linemen outnumbered downfield speed players38-29. That's an 11 percent swing.

"They're looking for people to cover four wideouts," Tobinexplained.

They still want players who can sack and protect thequarterback, too, but offenses don't leave much time for pass rushesanymore. The action, and the focus of scouts, has moved downfield.