Tight End Falls Into Rams’ Lap : Pro football: As expected, they get Bettis. But they didn’t expect to see Penn State’s Drayton in the second round.

The Rams chose Notre Dame fullback Jerome Bettis with their first-round pick Sunday, then gave offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese a pass-catching tight end in the Pete Holohan mold in the second round of the NFL draft.

In addition, in a surprise move that might suggest a lack of confidence in Cleveland Gary, the Rams spent a third-round pick on California running back Russell White. White, who prepped at Crespi High in Encino, was the only runner in Cal history to top the 1,000-yard mark three times.

The Rams, while content with their selection of Bettis and White, were downright giddy about the acquisition of Penn State tight end Troy Drayton, who had been projected by some to go in the first round.

“He (Zampese) is going to wear this guy out catching the football,” said John Becker, the Rams’ director of player personnel. “This is Ernie’s type of guy.

“I’m telling you, this guy is not going to be a bust, or you can slit my throat.”

While in San Diego, Zampese played a prominent role in the design of Don Coryell’s high-scoring offense.

After joining the Rams in 1987, Zampese encouraged the team to make a 1988 draft-day trade with the Chargers for Holohan. Before leaving for Kansas City via Plan B free agency in 1991, Holohan averaged 53 receptions during a three-year stint with Zampese and the Rams.

Jim Price led the Ram tight ends a year ago with 34 receptions.

“If this guy is everything they say he is, we envision this guy being just like that (Holohan),” Zampese said. “Needless to say, we’re happy.”

The Rams had Drayton, a former wide receiver who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds, rated as a first-round pick. The team hoped to satisfy the need for a speedy wide receiver or a pass-rushing linebacker in the second round, but they couldn’t pass on Drayton.

“When I was 7, my mother and grandmother decided that it was best that I stay in Harrisburg (Pa.) with my grandmother, while my mother moved to Whittier,” Drayton said. “She always wanted me to be drafted by San Francisco, the Rams or Raiders. She thought it was too far-fetched.

“When I heard the Rams took me, I looked up and my mother was jumping around and she was basically speechless.”

Drayton’s addition will give quarterback Jim Everett another third-down target, and the selection of Bettis provides the Rams with a hammer on first and second down.

“Bettis will have a big tendency to keep defenses honest,” Ram Coach Chuck Knox said. “He’s a punishing runner. And he has the explosiveness to come out of a hole and break some big runs.”

The Rams had Bettis ranked No. 6 on their draft board, and Georgia running back Garrison Hearst No. 1. They spent much of last week trying to concoct a means of moving forward in the first round to pick Hearst, but after failing, decided Saturday to keep the 10th choice and take Bettis.

“It wasn’t surprising the Rams took me because of the type of coach Chuck Knox is,” Bettis said. “I think his style is my style, so I thought it would be a perfect match.”

The Rams, who conducted a misinformation campaign, believe the Jets let it be known Sunday morning that the Rams were offering defensive tackle Sean Gilbert for the chance to pick Hearst in an effort to force Phoenix to make a trade.

The Cardinals, concerned about the Rams’ interest in Hearst, dealt running back Johnny Johnson to the Jets to move from the fourth position to third in the first round.

The Jets brought up Gilbert’s name to the Rams earlier in the week, and according to John Shaw, the team’s executive vice president, the Rams “laughed.”

The Rams were willing to part with first-, second- and third-round picks to get Hearst, but Knox said the team did not offer Gilbert.

Although the Rams had decided to take Bettis, they sent word around the league that they wouldn’t be able to pass on Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy. At the same time they let it be known that they were no longer interested in Bettis.

The Rams had no intention of taking Kennedy, but they were trying to dissuade teams--particularly the Indianapolis Colts--from jumping in front of them to grab Bettis.

The Colts, who were picking 16th, bought it.

When Kennedy went to the Falcons on the ninth pick, the Colts figured the Rams had lost their man. The Colts wanted Bettis, and believing the Rams were no longer interested in him, they offered the Rams a second-round pick to swap first-round selections.

The Rams would have retreated in the first round and accepted an additional pick if they thought they would still have a shot at Bettis, but they knew that the Colts were going after him.

“Bettis was the guy we had penciled in for the 10th pick,” Knox said, “and we’re very pleased about getting an outstanding football player.”

The Rams traded their third-round pick, the 65th selection, to Indianapolis for the Colts’ third-round pick, No. 73 overall, and the Colts’ fifth-round choice, No. 127. The Rams used the 73rd pick to take White.

The addition of White and Bettis might make Gary expendable. The Rams have anticipated a difficult time in re-signing Gary. They gave him permission to shop his services as a restricted free agent and reduce the compensation necessary to sign him from first- and third-round picks to only a second.

The deadline to tender an offer sheet to restricted free agents passed without any interest being shown in Gary. The Rams, however, might be more willing now to accept lower compensation in trade.

Ram Selections

1. Jerome Bettis, RB, Notre Dame, 5-11, 247

Built like Charger running back Marion Butts and considered the best fullback in the draft. Best suited for a one-back attack, but has experience as a tailback. “My job is to pound the defense and wear them down,” he said.

2. Troy Drayton, TE, Penn State, 6-2, 255

Switched from wide receiver to tight end his junior season. Ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the NFL combine workouts. “This guy really upgrades us athletically on offense,” Coach Chuck Knox said.

3. Russell White, RB, California, 5-11, 215

A productive runner who drew a yawn from NFL scouts. Hamstring injury limited his ability to impress during combine workout. “Nobody had shown a whole lot of interest in me,” White said.