Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 29
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- Chicago Tribune
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- Chicago, Illinois
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- 29
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Chicago Tribune, Monday, April 24, 1989 Section 3 7 PRO FOOTBALL Bears' No. 1 draft choices Trace Armstrong Donnell Woolford Tribune photo by John Irvine first-round choice Trace Armstrong is ee Tom Doloughty. The Florida defensive end is greeted at O'Hare Airport Sunday by club employ- tabbed to replace Al Harris, now with the Eagles. Bears Continued from page 1 were considering dealing their No. 8 pick to the Bears for McMahon, wound up taking Pittsburgh defensive end Burt Grossman.
The Bears traded the 25th pick on the first round to Miami for the Dolphins' second- and thirdround choices. Texas linebacker John Roper was the Bears' choice from Miami on the second round, along with California offensive tackle David Zawatson on their own pick. On the third round, the Bears opted for Texas offensive lineman Jerry Fontenot. traded with the Raiders on the fourth round to move up and select Syracuse free safety Markus Paul. the fifth round, the Bears selected Notre Dame running back, Mark Green (with a pick obtained from Philadelphia) and Alabama linebacker Greg Gilbert.
Bears acknowledged talks San Diego involving McMahon but emphasized that the Chargers initiated the conversation. "'You ought to call McMahon's agent and you ought to call San Diego about that," Ditka said. "Because the Bears didn't initiate it, never started it, never said it was going to happen. We had nothing to do with the rumor. The rumor came from others in this city." McMahon still be traded? can happen in life," said.
"That's why it's America. What a great country." Regarding McMahon's status, Ditka later told -ESPN: "Our whole ambition is to Keep this football team as positive mentally and physically as we can and keep the right people in the program. People who don't want to be part of our program will be part of another program. It's that simple. And it doesn't matter who it is anymore.
People think that's cold and calculating, but it's a fact of life. "We love the people who play for us and people who want to play for us. If we make a trade, or we make a change in our football team, the whole 45 or 47 players are what's con-not just the one individual." Bears' I Donnell Clemson season, 15 1 sack, 1 Also returned Trace tackles, 7 year after smallish for first team John excellent Recorded teams player, ability. Played Dave Roper physical blocker who Bench great size, Jerry scrappy Considered bench press Markus size, but Earned Had 19 Mark player with out of the and strength, Greg shadow of player, he'll Fontenot questions Roper Fontenot Bears personnel director Bill Tobin admitted: "Yes, I talked to San Diego. Name 20 clubs and I've talked to them today." McMahon, slated to battle Mike Tomczak for the starting job this summer, sounds as if he has resigned himself to being traded.
As rumors circulated before the draft that he might go to San Diego, McMahon told WBBMTV: "I've only got one more year on my contract, anyway, so it would be nice to stick around and play that year out. I'll hopefully go to the best bidder, but I think going to San Diego would be a nice change. I know the people there, and I'm looking forward to it." The 188-pound Woolford is a pure cornerback renowned for his splendid manto-man coverage. "I think I can pretty much as a he said. "I love to, work, and I love challenges." The 6-4, 268-pound Armstrong aims to fill the void created by the departure of Harris.
"I can't imagine anybody not planning, "That to has always said Arm- been my goal. I want to be a great player in the National Football League. I want to be one right away. "I think my strengths are my intensity and my ability to get to the quarterback. I need to work on my size and my overall body strength.
"The Bears have a great tradition for defensive linemen. I picks Woolford, DB, Clemson, 5-10, 195: Set career records for passes broken up in a in 1988, and a career, 44. Had 61 tackles, interception and 1 blocked field goal in 1988. punts, averaging 6.6 yards. Armstrong, DE, Florida, 6-3, 268: Had 56 sacks and 1 fumble recovery in his senior transferring from Arizona State.
Considered a defensive end, but extremely quick. A All-America pick by The Sporting News. Roper, OLB, Texas 6-1, 228: An all-around athlete with great speed. 15 sacks last year. An outstanding special who is known for his kick-blocking below expections in 1988.
Zawatson, OT, California, 265: A player with outstanding power. A tenacious will not let up against an opponent. presses close to 500 pounds. Doesn't have but makes up for it with attitude. Fontenot, 0G, Texas 259: A player who relies more on smarts than size.
more of a finesse player, although he can 425 pounds. Paul, Syracuse, FS, 6-0, 203: Has good there are some questions about his speed. All-America recognition during his senior year. career interceptions. An aggressive tackler.
Green, Notre Dame, TB, 6-0, 184: A team good speed. Considered a good receiver backfield. Some questions about his size but no questions about his attitude. Gilbert, Alabama, LB, 6-2, 217: Played in the Derrick Thomas at Alabama. A free-spirited hurl himself over blockers.
Some about his size. A smart player. think they are a team that is suited to my abilities. They have players I really admire, like Dan Hampton." Armstrong's versatility on defense also attracted the Bears, who had defensive coordinator Vince Tobin personally out the mobility of his previously injured knee. "It's not only working him out, it's looking at him on film," said Tobin.
"Hie is very good on the pass-rush. He doesn't have overpowering size, but I think he's big enough. "You've got a guy who made a lot of plays. That's the first thing you look at when you're evaluating a player. He looks like he has good quickness, good movement and good speed." Armstrong, who transferred to Florida after three years at Arizona State, has bench-pressed 375 pounds and been timed at 4.77 in the 40-yard dash.
"As a defensive tackle, played inside, outside, in different situations," said Armstrong, who flew from his home in Birmingham, to meet the local press at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. "Physically, I think I'm best suited to the four-man line the Bears "When you think defense in the NFL, Chicago is probably the first name that comes to everybody's mind. Things couldn't have worked out better for me. I'm going to be coached by a great staff and surrounded by great players in a great sports town. This is the ideal situation." Irish's gets surprise call By Ed Sherman Mark Green thought the National Football League draft had ended after four rounds.
Little did he know that his lucky number would be five Sunday. The Bears selected the Notre Dame tailback in the fifth round of the draft. When Mike Ditka phoned him with the news, he couldn't have been more excited if the team had made him a No. 1. "I can't believe what just happened to me," Green screamed.
"I was kind of down. I was sitting up here and the phone rang. I didn't think anything of it, but it was the Bears. This is great. I couldn't be Green, a 6-foot, 184-pounder, played role on Notre Dame's national championship team, rushing for 646 yards on 135 carries.
He would have been used more on most teams, but at Notre Dame Green shared backfield duties with Tony Brooks. Green rushed for a team-leading 861 yards in 1987. "He comes from a national By Ed Sherman Mike Ditka gave Trace Armstrong what the Florida defensive end probably considers the ultimate compliment. "He's a young Dan Hampton," the Bears' coach said. "He's our kind of player." The Bears are Armstrong's kind of team.
He was overjoyed when drafted him with the 12th pick in the first round Sunday, "I'm ecstatic," Armstrong said. "I don't think things could have worked out better for me. The Bears have a great tradition for defense. They are a team suited to my abilities. I really admire Dan Hampton.
He's one of the best. I feel fortunate to be able to work with It would seem to be a perfect marriage, Armstrong and the Bears. He plays on the left side, and with Al Harris having gone to Philadelphia, that fills one of the Bears' biggest needs. Armstrong, a native of Birmingham, comes to Chicago with all the credentials. The 6- foot-4-inch, 268-pounder was named to most of the collegiate All -America teams.
His strength is quickness off the ball. The only apparent rap against him is size. "He's very good on the pass-rush," said Bears defensive coordinator Vince Tobin, who personally worked out Armstrong. "He doesn't have overpowering size, but he's big enough." Armstrong also says he's healthy. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last October, then played five days later against Auburn.
He had a second operation in' December, forcing him to miss the All-American Bowl against Illinois. "The fact that I was on the field five days after the first one probably caused me to have the second one. I worked out with every team in the league. It's not a factor," Armstrong said of his knee. What was a factor for the Bears is Armstrong's intelligence.
He's expected to graduate with a degree in psychology in May. Coming out of high school, he recorded a 27 on his ACT. Armstrong started his college career at Arizona State. A complicated transcript and tuition problem forced the NCAA to rule in December, 1987, that he would not be eligible for his senior season if he stayed at Arizona State. However, the NCAA did allow him to transfer to another school without sitting out a season.
"It was tough," he said. "I didn't want come in my last year and be a wallflower. I wanted to establish myself as a leader." Armstrong did. "He's got a high level of intelligence," said Florida defensive line coach Rex Norris. "I've had 27 guys play in the NFL.
If I had to compare them, I'd say LeRoy Selmon is on top, and Trace is on the next level. Trace has all the right Armstrong is looking forward to taking the next step in his career. Ditka didn't give him the starting job Sunday, but Armstrong plans to have opening day. "I've never not been a starter," he said. "I'm not used to sitting around.
want to be a great player in the National Football League, and I want to do it right By Fred Mitchell Deion Sanders notwithstanding, all that glitters is not gold. While Clemson All-America cornerback Donnell Woolford doesn't adorn his neck with jewelry the way "Neon Deion" does, the Bears expect him to sparkle in their secondary. "I'm a quiet guy; field. I just do a lot of my talking on the football I don't have to wear jewelry and all that stuff," Woolford said. The 188-pounder was regarded as one of the top punt returners in the country last season in addition to being a punishing tackler in the secondary and a good coverage man.
one," defensive coordinator Vince Tobin said of "Donnell Woolford, covers very well one on the Bears' first pick. "He can bump and run well. He doesn't look like he's afraid when tackling. He looks like a good, solid football player." Woolford became the first Clemson player ever to deflect at least 10 passes in a game three times. "I feel very excited about going up there and playing for the Bears.
They are a great football said Woolford, who is scheduled to meet the Chicago press Monday. "I played left cornerback, and I played a lot of man. I also played a lot of zone and did a lot of run-supporting." Woolford also averaged 15, yards a punt return with two touchdowns in his junior year to finish third in the nation. "Anytime you can go in and help somebody out on the kicking game, that big plus. I'm looking forward to that," said Woolford, who recently was timed in 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
What can Bear fans expect from Woolford? "They will see a guy who will give 100 percent each and every down," he said. Woolford could step in and win a starting job at left cornerback, vacated when veteran Mike Richardson signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Raiders. He would have to beat out Lemuel Stinson and Lorenzo Lynch, both rookies last season. "I feel that I can come in and make an impact. They need a player there, and I think I'm capable of doing the job," Woolford said.
"I think he has a good chance to compete hard all of our needs- defensive end, cornerback and next season," said Vince Tobin. "We, addressed linebacker. Those, probably in that order, were the three spots we felt we needed. "We've lost some quality players off our defense in the last three years, starting with Leslie Frazier in the Super Bowl. We've lost one or two defensive players each year, and I think now is a good time to start replacing Bears personnel director Bill Tobin stressed that it's important for Woolford to join his new club as soon as possible.
"We encourage everybody to finish classes in their semester and get their name on a contract and get up here for July camp," he said. "We don't necessarily care for guys coming in after four preseason Field games and signing and showing up at Soldier while we're having dress rehearsal for our opening game against Cincinnati. So I think that's the key for him or Armstrong. "They've still got to earn a spot on the Bears; they aren't going to be given anything. We feel like they've got a good chance to Squeeze more fun into summer! Introducing Sports Squeeze-a colorful one-liter plastic squeeze bottle filled with your favorite Coke fountain drink.
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He'll be excellent competition for Thomas Sanders. He'll contribute immensely to a quality camp." Green is considered a good team player, although there's some questions about size and strength. He hopes to answer them in Platteville, Wis. "Mike Ditka said they needed a running back and that they were excited to have me," Green said. "I'm going to give it my best shot." Green was one of three Notre Dame players picked Sunday.
Seattle 1 used the 15th pick in the first round to select offensive tackle Andy Heck. Linebacker Frank Stams went to the Los Angeles Rams on the second round. Illinois running back Keith Jones was picked by Atlanta on the third round. Jeff Query, a receiver from Millikin University in Decatur, went to Green Bay on the fifth round. Among those not selected was Northwestern running back Byron Sanders, brother of Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders who had another year of eligibity remaining but elected to turn pro.
Southern Cal quarterback Rodney Peete, the Heisman runner-up, also didn't go in the first five rounds. Heck saw his stock rise considerably in recent weeks. The pro scouts became excited over the converted tight end, who moved to offensive tackle for his senior year. At 6-7, Heck now weighs 285 pounds. "He'll play at 295 in the NFL," said Mike Allman, Seattle's director of player personnel.
"He'll still be quick enough to handle small defensive Obviously, the switch to offensive tackle was the best move of Heck's life. "I wasn't catching many balls at tight end," Heck said. "It's nice to go somewhere you're going to be a success." A.
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