Erickson Puts On Happy Face
It was hard to erase the smile from Seattle Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson’s face Monday. A long injury report made the most concerted effort to do so, but even the owies failed to sideline Erickson’s permagrin and one-liners.
Best news on the bandage brigade is that running back Chris Warren’s ankle sprain and tight end Christian Fauria’s shoulder sprain shouldn’t keep them out of Sunday’s game with Minnesota in the Kingdome.
Updating other Hawks beat up in Sunday’s 23-16 win over Houston: receiver Brian Blades (separated shoulder), out 4-6 weeks; linebacker Michael Barber (hamstring), lost for a month; and fullback Mack Strong (knee), will miss one game, possibly two.
Oscar Gray will replace Strong.
And Gray’s backup? “Extremely good question,” Erickson said. “We’d have to go to one back a lot and we could go with a tight end (Ronnie Williams), which isn’t too much of an adjustment for us” at fullback.
Blades will be replaced by Ricky Proehl and Mike Pritchard. Ronnie Harris also will see more time. , “Thankfully, we have the depth to overcome the injuries,” quarterback John Friesz said.
The shortage of running backs could force Seattle into more three- and four-wide receiver sets.
“We could play the whole game with four wides,” Erickson said, pausing to set up his punch line, “but we might lose two or three quarterbacks.”
Revisiting ‘The Play’
Now the truth can be told. The real story behind Michael McCrary’s blocked kick is … well, allow Erickson to fill in the details.
“I thought it was a tremendous call by me,” he joked. “I got him (McCrary) through there, I thought the bounce was good and I worked with him on the left-handed pitch in the option.”
McCrary stuffed Al Del Greco’s 37-yard attempt, snatched the deflection and pitched the ball to Robert Blackmon, who completed a 61-yard, game-winning return.
Shock of shocks, Erickson awarded game balls to the field-goal block team and special teams coach Dave Arnold.
“That was fun,” Erickson said. “I’ve never been involved in one like that. I’ve been involved in a lot where they miss the kick or make the kick.”
The Play before The Play
Erickson made specific mention of a fourth-down completion from Friesz to Lamar Smith that led to the touchdown tying the score at 16 in the fourth quarter.
“John goes to his third option, basically,” Erickson said. “I asked him, ‘What made you throw it to Lamar?’ He said, ‘Well my clock was ticking and he was open.”’
“You kind of have a clock in your mind of how much time you should have if your protection is good,” Friesz said. “All quarterbacks do, or they don’t stick around long.”
Of the 22-yard pass to Smith, Friesz said, “Proehl was in the slot and I started to go to him, but he was double-teamed. Lamar just flashed right there in front of me.”
Friesz is 3-1 as a starter since replacing Rick Mirer.
“He’s played really well,” Erickson said. “He probably played his best game on Sunday.”
Moon over Seattle
Three of Seattle’s four wins have come against teams with backup quarterbacks - Miami’s Craig Erickson, San Diego’s Sean Salisbury and Houston’s Steve McNair.
Seattle (4-5) won’t have that luxury against Minnesota (5-4). Warren Moon, who didn’t play in the Vikings’ 21-6 loss to Kansas City because of an ankle injury, is expected to return.
“It’s a critical game for them as well as us,” Erickson said. “Especially if you want to stay in any sort of position for the playoffs.”
Follow the bouncing ball
One of the weirdest plays in a weird game was a backward pass from Friesz to Warren on the first play of the second half. It fell incomplete, but since it was thrown backward it essentially became a fumble.
Warren pulled up, thinking the play was over. An Oiler had a chance to scoop up the ball, and possibly run in for a score, but he, too, was fooled.
Warren finally realized no whistle had been blown, retrieved the ball and gained 4 yards, actually helping his rushing average. His longest gain was 5 yards and he finished with 34 on 16 attempts.
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