Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993 TAG: 9308110099
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Miami Dolphins' newest running back pounds the middle, shakes tackles, catches the ball and returns kicks. He can't hit a high note, though.
As part of the rookie ritual, the former University of Virginia standout had to sing for his teammates at lunch one day. The performance went badly.
"They booed me," Kirby said.
"Man, we've got to work on Terry's singing," fellow running back Mark Higgs said with a grimace.
Everything else about Miami's third-round draft pick has drawn raves. Coach Don Shula, who hands out praise sparingly, turns generous on the subject of Kirby.
"Lots of pluses. Everything I've seen has been a plus," Shula said. "He's a big, strong back who looks like he can take you on and move the pile. Also, he has great vision to make the right cuts, and when he gets into one-on-one situations in the secondary, he wins those situations.
"He's bright and has picked things up in a hurry. He's an excellent receiver coming out of the backfield, not only getting open and catching it but also being a threat to get additional yardage by breaking tackles or running over somebody."
That sort of critique has observers wondering whether the 6-foot-1, 220-pound rookie from Tabb will supplant Higgs in the starting lineup. At least, the former Cavalier has made unsigned running back Bobby Humphrey dispensable as the Dolphins' lone setback in passing situations.
"It's not too many times that you can find a big tailback that's going to be able to catch the ball," Kirby said. "And I can be the first-down back, too."
During the Dolphins' preseason opener Friday in Atlanta, Kirby carried the ball 10 times for 65 yards, caught a pass and returned two kickoffs for 49 yards. At Virginia, Kirby set a school record with 3,348 yards rushing in four seasons. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry, caught 105 passes and scored 32 touchdowns.
Cavaliers coach George Welsh compares him to Franco Harris, a player he coached while serving as an assistant at Penn State, and Kirby doesn't mind.
"Franco could catch the ball, he could get to the corner and he liked running between the tackles," Kirby said. "So I can definitely see that comparison."
The Dolphins lost at least one running back and perhaps another for the season Tuesday, when Aaron Craver injured a knee and Humphrey balked at an ultimatum.
Craver tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during practice. He will have surgery and likely is out for the season. If Humphrey fails to show at practice today, the Dolphins say their offer of $650,000 for a one-year contract will be substantially reduced. He still wants a $1.2 million deal.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB