Getting Out Of The Blocks That’s Been Easy For Chiefs In Recent Games Vs. Hawks

Dennis Erickson must have visions of how quarterback Rick Mirer, bright and athletic, will someday masterfully operate the Seattle Seahawks’ new offense.

In that perfect world, there are no malevolent forces like Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith.

Mirer is vertical at all times. All 206 bones are intact.

Hello, reality.

Erickson’s welcome to the National Football League will be a telling one in a number of respects, particularly because the opponent, Kansas City, is a team that Erickson’s predecessors could defeat only once in the last eight meetings.

And if Erickson’s debut is to earn positive reviews, the Seahawks must accomplish one obvious, yet difficult, task: block somebody.

Particularly Thomas, a K.C. masterpiece who has sacked Seahawks quarterbacks 16 times in 12 games.

“No question, we’ve been very sporadic (in the offensive line),” said Erickson, who has shuffled his line to compensate for injuries and ineffectiveness. “The problems haven’t just been in pass protection, but run blocking, too. We have to play better and more intense.”

That forces Erickson and his staff to try to spackle up the gaping cracks with deceit.

“We have to change things up, do different things in down-and-distance situations that we haven’t done to somehow give them a chance,” Erickson said.

“You have to find different ways with your schemes - keep a back in or do something different with your front because they’re too good and too smart. And regardless of the routes you run and everything else you do, it won’t work if you don’t block.”

Some of these bouts would draw Tyson-McNeeley odds from Vegas.

For instance, it is logical to assume that Thomas, who has made the Pro Bowl after all six of his NFL seasons, might have trouble controlling excessive salivating at the prospect of taking on Hawks left tackle James Atkins, an undrafted free agent who has played in a total of four NFL games lifetime.

Another unlikely duel pits K.C.’s Dan Saleaumua, a 315-pounder who has been difficult for Seattle through the years, against left guard Matt Joyce, who’s never played in an NFL regular-season game.

Things aren’t so bad on the other end of the Seahawks line, where Smith - only a four-time Pro Bowler - gets to line up against Hawks right tackle Howard Ballard, who has been slowed by leg injuries during the preseason.

Adding to the problem is the fact that the Chiefs - as have the Seahawks - retooled their defense to allow for more aggressive line play.

“My feeling was that we have, talent-wise, a very, very good corps of players in the front line,” said K.C. coach Marty Schottenheimer. “And given the nature of their athletic skills, we thought the penetrating-type defense better served their skills than that which we had been doing.”

Faster than you can say Schottenheimer, the K.C. coach was able to pinpoint his primary concern facing the Seattle offense - rookie receiver Joey Galloway.

“He is the real deal,” Schottenheimer said. “With him and (Brian) Blades, they have an ideal combination of two guys who are both excellent catchers and also have the ability to run with it after they catch it.”

On the other side, Schottenheimer gets his first cold view of life after Joe Montana, as Steve Bono takes over as quarterback.

“I would hope things won’t be a whole lot different,” Schottenheimer said. “Joe was obviously a wonderful player who, not only through his abilities, but also with his charisma, is a guy you don’t just replace. But I’m comfortable with our system under Steve Bono.”

Bono, a close friend of Montana, served as his backup in San Francisco and joined him in Kansas City, knowing that Montana would retire after last season. “In other professions they’d call it insider information,” Bono said.

“I know I can’t replace him, and I’m not going to try, but hopefully I can use what I learned from him and go from there,” Bono said.

Schottenheimer comes into this game wary of how much offense Erickson has yet to unleash.

“You’re not quite sure what they may have been holding back in the preseason, so we’re trying to focus on the things we’re trying to get done defensively,” Schottenheimer said. “Right now, we’re more interested in figuring ourselves out.”

Erickson said that perhaps 70 percent of the offense has been unwrapped in the preseason, but that “this is football; there’s only so much you can do.”

Added Erickson, “Oh, you’ll see different things as time goes on, different formations, different motions, all according to who we play and what we think their strengths are.”

And make no mistake, Erickson is not going into this game with the assumption that he will be given any type of first-season honeymoon.

“It’s very important to win this game,” Erickson said. “There’s a certain point you need to get to to get in the playoffs, and every game is important - especially when you play at home.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Seahawks vs. Chiefs The game: 1 p.m. at the Kingdome. Coaches: Seattle - Dennis Erickson, 0-0, first season. K.C. - Marty Schottenheimer, 103-63-1, 10th season. The records: Seattle 0-0. K.C. 0-0. The series: Kansas City leads 20-13. Last week: Seattle fell 17-7 to San Francisco. The Chiefs defeated Minnesota 17-13. The line: Even On the air Television: NBC with Jim Lampley and Bob Golic. Radio: KXLY (920 AM) with Steve Thomas and Steve Raible.