Let The Mirer Beware: Dome Won’t Tolerate It

Had this football game been in Seattle, I’d be willing to bet there would have been chants of “FRIESZ, FRIESZ, FRIESZ” echoing off the Kingdome walls.

As you watched the punchless Seahawks lose 29-7 to San Diego in the season opener on Sunday, perhaps you screamed something along those same lines at your television set.

If Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson thought those sentiments, however, he kept them to himself - even when he folded his arms behind his head in total exasperation after starting quarterback Rick Mirer tossed his second interception on consecutive pass plays in the second half.

Erickson showed the best readiness of any of the Seahawks on this day when the first question on Mirer’s performance was uttered.

“No way you can put that one on the quarterback,” Erickson said. “Rick did some good things. He made one bad throw.”

Yet Erickson didn’t completely absolve Mirer of guilt.

“He’s as much to blame as everyone else on the football team,” is how the coach put it.

Certainly Erickson is correct. Seattle’s running game was non-existent, the defense yielded when it needed to stiffen and San Diego clearly won the special-teams battle.

Still, the lingering questions remain about Mirer. Can he function in Erickson’s offense? Can he finish off promising drives with touchdowns? Is he the quarterback of the future?

None were answered on Sunday.

While backup John Friesz never so much as warmed up his arm, Mirer compiled adequate stats (24 of 41 for 251 yards, bloated by a late 60-yard completion to Joey Galloway). But if Mirer played decently, as Erickson and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski contended, then why were there only seven points on the scoreboard?

“At times, I felt pretty good,” Mirer said. “But we weren’t consistent enough.”

The Seahawks may not have a quarterback controversy on their hands, but they’re moving in that direction. Erickson’s standing behind his man, but for how long?

Mirer did have a fine preseason, looking much more at ease in Erickson’s offense. However, he had only one touchdown pass in the four exhibition games and none against the Chargers. Friesz’s preseason numbers, earned mostly against second-team defenses, were 28 of 45 for 379 yards and three scores. Mirer was 34 of 59 for 361.

Mirer’s interceptions often come at the most inopportune times. Same goes for his near interceptions. He nearly spoon fed a touchdown to Chargers linebacker Glen Young near the end of the first half, saved only when Young’s mitts failed him.

Mirer’s two second-half interceptions nullified any hopes, however slim, of a Seattle comeback.

Turnovers are magnified against San Diego because of the Chargers’ ball-hog offense. For example, Seattle had only three first-half possessions prior to Young’s near interception.

Bratkowski was “stunned” by the day’s events.

“We certainly didn’t expect that,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of football left to go and we’ve got to go back to work and turn it around next week.”

But he wasn’t down on Mirer. i

“He did some real nice things, throwing the ball. We have to look at the film to see what happened on some things, but I thought there were some really good decisions made,” Bratkowski said.

Indeed, Mirer was sharp on the lone Hawks scoring drive, showing the escapability and toughness that stoke the confidence of the coaches.

Immediately answering San Diego’s first touchdown, Mirer marched Seattle 76 yards. He showed arm strength by zipping an 11-yard completion to Brian Blades. He courageously stood in the pocket and completed a 26-yard pass to Carlester Crumpler, just as Mirer himself was being crumpled by a defender. He showed his competitiveness, extending his body forward on third-and-1 for the necessary yardage.

There were no such drives in the second half. And no points either.

So the quarterback questions will likely crop up again this week, At least until Sunday, when the Hawks stage their home opener against Denver in the Dome. Should Mirer struggle in that one, don’t expect the fans to be timid about voicing their opinion.

, DataTimes