April 26, 2003
By ANDREA SZULSZTEYN
AP Sports Writer
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) – Herman Edwards had one question for Dewayne Robertsonafter the New York Jets selected him with the fourth overall pick in the NFLdraft.
“Are you ready to get the quarterback?” Edwards said.
“Yeah, coach,” Robertson answered.
The Jets got the player they wanted Saturday and immediately upgraded theirdefense with the 6-foot-1, 317-pound tackle from Kentucky. They selectedRobertson after sending their Nos. 13 and 22 picks to the Bears on Friday.
Chicago also received a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. Jets fans,known for booing their team’s selections, cheered loudly when Robertson waschosen.
“We’re very excited about the fact that we were able to trade up and getwhat we think is an impact player on defense at his position,” general managerTerry Bradway said.
The Jets drafted another player to fill a defensive need in the secondround, selecting linebacker Victor Hobson from Michigan at No. 53. In the thirdround, they picked Michigan fullback B.J. Askew at No. 85.
There were some anxious moments for the Jets early. With New Orleans and NewEngland negotiating to move up, the Jets had preliminary talks with Detroit tojump to No. 2.
After Houston picked wide receiver Andre Johnson at No. 3, Jets defensivecoordinator Ted Cottrell high-fived his staff.
“He is by far the best inside defensive tackle (available),” Cottrellsaid. “If you want to get a good defensive lineman, you have to select themearly. They don’t just sit around.”
Robertson left school after his junior season. He was a three-year starterat Kentucky with 48 tackles, a team-high five sacks and 13 quarterbackpressures last season.
He was surprised to go in the top five. When he decided to go, the NFL draftadvisory board projected him as a late-first round or early second-roundselection.
“It’s been a blessing,” Robertson said. “After my workout in Kentucky,everything shot straight up.”
Robertson had no idea the Jets were set on him. They scouted Robertsonduring the season and evaluated him even more when he decided to leave school.
“This is a unique player, an active player, a disruptive guy, stays on hisfeet, chases the quarterback,” Edwards said. “He does all of the things youask a guy at his position to do. He’s a guy we expect to come in here and helpus on defense.”
Robertson fills a major need for a team that has little depth on itsdefensive line. The Jets have used the draft to build their front. Last year,they selected defensive end Bryan Thomas at No. 22. In 2000, the Jets pickedstarting ends Shaun Ellis and John Abraham in the first round.
Thomas was a disappointment in his rookie season, and the Jets are hopingfor bigger things from him this year. Robertson also will be expected to stepinto the rotation immediately with Josh Evans and Jason Ferguson.
“He’s going right into the fire,” Cottrell said. “Anytime you go up high,you’ve got to get a player that can go immediately.”
Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy has compared Robertson to Tampa Bay All-ProWarren Sapp, but the Jets shied away from such expectations.
“All he needs to do is be Dewayne,” Edwards said. “When you can buildyour defense in the middle, which most good defenses are built in the middle,that’s where it starts.”
This was the first time the Jets had a top-five pick since 1996, whenselected wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson at No. 1.
Robertson doesn’t mind the comparisons to Sapp and is thrilled to start hiscareer with the Jets.
“It will be a great experience, a great opportunity for me to come in andbe a part of this program,” Robertson said.
Hobson, from nearby Mount Laurel, N.J., was an All-Big Ten selection lastseason and started every game at outside linebacker, leading the Wolverineswith a career-high 99 tackles. He added six sacks and will play strongsidelinebacker for the Jets.
Though his speed could be a concern – he’s in the 4.7 range – Bradway saidHobson plays faster than his times show. And it was important for the Jets tokeep bolstering their defense.
“Our focus was defense,” Bradway said. “That was our goal. In getting adefensive tackle and linebacker, we’re off to a good start.”
