Draft class is in session, so take notes.

Byline: Ron Bellamy The Register-Guard

Our lesson today is the NFL draft, and our guest lecturer is Milt Davis, the 77-year-old Elmira resident who worked as a scout for professional football teams for 36 years - and still does research for the Pittsburgh Steelers - and who, 36 times, sat in the "war room" on draft day.

Class is now in session, for a graduate-level seminar, and you'd think the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, owners of the first three picks Saturday, will want to jot a few notes.

"JaMarcus Russell first, absolutely, to Oakland," Davis said of the LSU quarterback. "He is what they need as a savior. He's not a reach. You will hear people say that the best athlete in the draft is the Georgia Tech wide receiver (Calvin Johnson), and I don't argue with that, but for the Raiders, and what their needs are, and the value they're looking for, JaMarcus is the guy.

"They need him badly. They need him on more than just his physical ability. He wins big games, he's seldom hurt, and he can bring them from behind. The attraction of his heart, to pull along other hearts on the team, that's what makes you great. That is real leadership.

"The second pick, Detroit has to take the big tackle, Joe Thomas (the offensive lineman from Wisconsin). I don't want to hear anything else. He's a player who comes along only every now and then. He'll play for 10 years. Detroit has to take him. I don't care what their problems are.

"The third pick is going to be absolutely crucial. Cleveland is at the juxtaposition. Everything after Cleveland will fall into place."

That's because Cleveland will have a choice of Johnson, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn or Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson - all strong values there.

Which is the key to the draft, as Davis sees it: Getting the proper "value" with a specific pick, a factor of the athlete's ability, medical history, character, projected productivity and longevity (it varies by position) and a team's needs.

"Ability is rare," he said. "It's even rarer to pick ability. We come together at this time of year to find out who is able to do it best."

From experience, Davis knows which teams get it right on draft day (Pittsburgh, though he's admittedly biased there, and New England), and which one probably won't (Detroit).

He knows that coaches on the hot seat tend to reach in the draft, and that no good comes from millionaire owners in the war room. A primer from the professor, which Davis was, of natural history, for 25 years:

On the parameters of the draft: "In general, the first round says `starter, with Pro Bowl potential.' The key word there is `starter.' The second round says `starter who will improve.' The third round says `occasional starter, but has potential to develop to be a full-time starter.' The fourth round says `solid backup.'

"The fifth round says `backup who will improve with time.' The sixth round says `backup who will not improve; a developmental player.' The seventh round says `a crapshoot;' whatever you have to do to fill in the depth chart."

On his philosophy of scouting: "You will sacrifice everything except discipline for speed and quickness."

On the importance, and risks, of drafting for defense: "Defense wins the big games. Defense wins the Super Bowl." But linebackers and defensive ends can be damaged goods leaving college, so be careful.

On intelligence tests for quarterbacks: "I'm not into the quarterback's smarts. I'm interested in his action under pressure. The No. 1 criteria is that, under pressure, he has the ability to lead his teammates with his heart and his courage."

On running backs: "The first six rounds, if you have a decent offensive line, the guy will make 1,000 yards, no matter who he is."

On character: "This will be a big thing in the draft this year. Guys who used to take all these thugs and hoodlums can't do it anymore. The fans are getting tired of it.

"Would you walk down a dark alley with a guy, and would you take him home to meet your daughter? If you can't answer `yes' to both, then get the hell out of Dodge."

Class dismissed.