Redskins Round Out Draft With Linemen
Wilson, Molinaro Will Bulk Up Offense
By Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 26, 2004; Page D01
Mark Wilson watched the NFL draft wind down in Fall River Mills, a tiny town in northern California, as if he were one of the millions of NFL junkies mesmerized by the event.
Except that Wilson watched with his mother, father, two younger sisters, his girlfriend and a reporter from the Record Search Light, a local paper waiting to do a story on the University of California offensive lineman. After a solid four-year career with the Golden Bears, the 6-foot-6, 314-pound tackle believed he was good enough to be selected late in the seven-round draft, held at New York's Madison Square Garden. But with the tenuous nature of the late rounds -- 4 to 7 were held yesterday -- Wilson was prepared to go undrafted.
"I knew in my heart that I was one of the better tackles," Wilson told reporters at Redskins Park in a telephone interview. "I kind of knew I was going to be drafted but prepared if I wasn't going to be. Then all I had to do was pick a team and go there and I'd make the team. All I need is a shot. And that's what I'm going to get."
Wilson will get his shot with the Washington Redskins, who made him the 19th player selected in the fifth round -- No. 151 overall. The Redskins used their final pick, a sixth-rounder, on 6-6, 301-pound Jim Molinaro from Notre Dame, another offensive lineman and the 180th player chosen.
"It's not where you get drafted," said Molinaro, who is expected to play left tackle in the NFL. "It's what you do when you get to the team."
Washington's use of its late-round picks was curious because the team has greater needs on defense, particularly a pass-rushing defensive lineman. But Coach Joe Gibbs said the overriding factor in choosing tackles was a realistic chance to make the roster.
The picks culminate an intensive, secretive process in Gibbs's first draft in a dozen years. The final lineup: University of Miami safety Sean Taylor (No. 5 overall), Utah State tight end Chrisey (third-round pick), Wilson and Molinaro. By acquiring the third-round pick from the New Orleans Saints, the Redskins avoided matching last year's franchise mark for fewest selections in a draft.
"Always, when you look at all that talent and everything, you're wishing you could get a lot more players," Gibbs said. "But to be truthful, we think that we maximized our opportunities for what we had. I felt real good about it."
Most of the hype -- and expectations -- go to the top selections such as Taylor. NFL teams generally view smart low-round picks as those who make the roster and provide depth. However, during Gibbs's first Redskins stint, he and general managers Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly parlayed late picks into key players and occasionally found a star.
Gibbs's best fifth-round selection was Southwest Louisiana's Brian Mitchell in 1990, who is statistically the best returner in league history. Perhaps Gibbs's top sixth-round pick was in 1986 -- quarterback Mark Rypien -- who made the Pro Bowl in 1989 and was named Super Bowl MVP in 1992.
But such players are exceptions. Molinaro and Wilson would do well to become backups to Washington's talented offensive line. They both expressed excitement about working under Joe Bugel, the Redskins' assistant head coach-offense who is considered by some as one of the top offensive line coaches in the NFL. For most of Gibbs's first tenure, Bugel helped mold obscure undrafted players such as Jeff Bostic and Joe Jacoby into part of the Hogs' storied offensive line.
"We want to give them to Buges," Gibbs said, "and let him go to work."
Wilson said: "Knowing that I'm going to be a part of the Hogs' fraternity is really exciting."
Washington's offensive line was plagued by injuries last season -- guard Dave Fiore is contemplating retirement because of an arthritic knee -- and the Redskins were impressed by Wilson's durability at California. The tackle started every game in his college career, setting a school record for offensive linemen with 48 consecutive games (breaking tackle Todd Steussie's record of 46.) Wilson played right tackle in his first two seasons before switching to left tackle in 2002 (when he blocked for quarterback Kyle Boller, now with the Baltimore Ravens). That season, Cal tied for the Pacific-10 lead with fewest sacks allowed (25).
Molinaro's college career stands in sharp contrast to Wilson's. Molinaro was a defensive tackle for two seasons before switching to offensive tackle as a junior to get more playing time.
"It was a big decision for me," Molinaro recalled.
Because of the change, Molinaro has started only 16 games, including 11 as a senior. But the Redskins were impressed with his athletic ability. Gibbs noted that Molinaro ran almost a 5.0 in the 40-yard dash.
"I kind of expected it to happen,"
Last season,
"It would be the perfect fit for what I would choose for me,"
Last season, the Redskins had five of their 14 undrafted rookies make the roster: linebacker Chris Clemons, cornerback Ade Jimoh, tailback Sultan McCullough, linebacker Clifton Smith and tight end Kevin Ware. And the Redskins have turned their attention to undrafted free agents, a group in which Gibbs predicted a star will eventually emerge.
Saturday night and early yesterday morning, the staff reviewed film once more before deciding which players to target.
Thus far, the Redskins have signed eight undrafted free agents for Gibbs's three-day minicamp starting Friday.
"I'm fired up," Gibbs said, "about finding rookie free agents."
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