A Draft Day Full Of Reaches -- Virginia's Ray Roberts Comes To Seahawks With 300-Pound Frame, Wingspan To Match

The Seattle Seahawks think they have laid a cornerstone in their rebuilding program by drafting an offensive tackle from Virginia who has the wingspan of a 747, draws cartoons and hauls around a small block of wood for good luck.

Ray Roberts, 6 feet 6, 304 pounds, was the Seahawks' first-round pick and could lead to a shake-up on the offensive line. Roberts' best position is left tackle, where Andy Heck, the 1989 first-rounder, now plays. Heck could be moved to left guard, a position filled by three Seahawks last season.

After giving up their second- and fourth-round picks in deals for veterans Keith Millard and Rueben Mayes, the Seahawks looked for help on defense in the third and fifth round.

In the third they selected Bob Spitulski, a linebacker out of Central Florida. Their fifth-round pick was safety Gary Dandridge from Appalachian State.

In today's sixth round, the Seahawks drafted running back/wide receiver Michael Bates, Arizona's two-time Pac-10 sprint champion who didn't play football last season.

Coach Tom Flores would have to have a lot of confidence in Roberts to start him at left tackle. There, Roberts would be responsible for protecting the quarterback's blind side, and in many cases taking on the opposition's best pass rusher.

Jim Bollman, the line coach at Virginia, said Roberts would be able to handle that job.

"He'll do great in the pros because when he plays against the best, he plays his best," Bollman said. "He's one of those 300-pound guys who can get out there and take the wide (pass) rusher."

Tom O'Brien, Virginia's offensive coordinator, described Roberts' style yesterday as "playing offense with a defensive temperament."

Said Flores: "He's a natural tackle with extremely long arms (wingspan of 7 feet 3) and has played the position very well at his level, and we feel that he will play the position very well at our level."

Cavalier coaches described Roberts as bright, coachable, fun to be around and a solid citizen off the field. He also is durable, never having suffered an injury of consequence.

In a season when fellow linemen were falling all around him, Roberts began carrying around a small block ("knock on wood") for good luck. He still has it in his luggage.

But Roberts' agent, Joe Sroba of Richmond, Va., isn't likely to let Roberts press his luck too much.

Sroba said his client is likely to attend the club's mini-camp May 8 to 10 without a contract - if he can get proper insurance and contract talks are progressing.

NFL DRAFT

-- Today's Hawk picks

Sixth: Michael Bates, RB/WR, Arizona

Seventh: Mike Frier, DL, Appalachian St.

Eighth: Muhammad Shamsid-Deen, RB, Tenn-Chattanooga

Ninth: Larry Stayner, TE, Boise St.

10th: Anthony Hamlet, DE, Miami

11th: Kris Rongen, G, Washington

12th: Chico Fraley, LB, Washington; John MacNeill, DE, Michigan State

-- Yesterday's picks

First: Ray Roberts, OT, Virginia

Third: Bob Spitulski, LB, C. Florida

Fifth: Gary Dandridge, S, Appalachian St.