Dr. Z: Offense Is In - 04.25.88

	April 25, 1988 Dr. Z: Offense Is In Paul Zimmerman

MOST POPULAR

TOP THREE BY POSITION
Rated on the Dr. Z 10-point system
QUARTERBACKS	Grade
1. Chris Chandler, WASHINGTON	7.48
2. Mike Perez, SAN JOSE ST.	7.31
3. (tie) Stan Humphries, NE LOUISIANA Scott Secules, VIRGINIA	7.28
RUNNING BACKS
1. Brad Muster, STANFORD	8.56
2. Gaston Green, UCLA	8.55
3. (tie) Craig Heyward, PITTSBURGH Lorenzo White, MICHIGAN ST.	8.25
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Tim Brown, NOTRE DAME	9.05
2. Sterling Sharpe, SOUTH CAROLINA	9.03
3. Michael Irvin, MIAMI	9.00
TIGHT ENDS
1. Keith Jackson, OKLAHOMA	8.38
2. Ferrell Edmunds, MARYLAND	7.15
3. Pat Carter, FLORIDA ST.	7.08
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
1. Paul Gruber, WISCONSIN	8.48
2. Dave Cadigan, USC	8.40
3. (tie) John Elliott, MICHIGAN Randall McDaniel, ARIZONA ST.	7.95
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
1. Neil Smith, NEBRASKA	8.58
2. Michael Dean Perry, CLEMSON	8.43
3. Paul Frase, SYRACUSE	7.55
LINEBACKERS
1. Aundray Bruce, AUBURN	8.45
2. Ken Harvey, CALIFORNIA	7.89
3. Darrell Reed, OKLAHOMA	7.58
DEFENSIVE BACKS
1. Bennie Blades, MIAMI	9.04
2. Rickey Dixon, OKLAHOMA	9.02
3. Terry McDaniel, TENNESSEE	7.81
KICKERS
1. Chip Lohmiller, MINNESOTA	6.85
2. Marty Zendejas, NEVADA-RENO	6.71
3. Teddy Garcia, NE LOUISIANA	6.68
PUNTERS
1. Greg Montgomery, MICHIGAN ST.	6.91
2. Barry Helton, COLORADO	6.88
3. Tom Tupa, OHIO ST.	6.86

It's an offense draft. Nobody can recall a better or deeper selection of wide receivers. At least six of them will go in the first round, including Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown of Notre Dame.

Running back is another loaded position. The first to be chosen could be Pittsburgh's Craig (Ironhead) Heyward, who weighs anywhere between 250 and 280 pounds. Though he has a year of college eligibility left, Heyward was allowed to enter the draft by the NFL, which was obviously influenced by his intention to sue if he were denied. Heyward is one of perhaps eight runners who will be taken in the first round; that would mean that almost half of the top round would be spent on players at just two positions.

At least three teams—Green Bay, Houston and the Giants—might trade away first-round picks for extra choices in the later going. But the most interesting deal could involve quarterback Kelly Stouffer. The Cardinals drafted him No. 1 last year, but couldn't sign him. Now they may prefer to trade him for a high draft choice rather than wind up empty-handed if he's declared a free agent.

MOST UNDERRATED

1. Jamie Morris, RB, MICHIGAN
The Troy Stradford of '88. A gem.

2. Paul Frase, DE, SYRACUSE
Relentless. The motor's always going.

3. Darrell Reed, OLB, OKLAHOMA
Technically sound against run or pass.

4. Stan Humphries, QB, NE LOUISIANA
A raw talent in a thin position.

5. John Driscoll, T, NEW HAMPSHIRE
A tough guy who can also move.

6. Brett Perriman, WR, MIAMI
The third top-notch Hurricane WR.