Seahawks Season, Take Two Erickson Directs 2-6 Team To Start Over, Improve Its Act

At least the losses are more dramatic.

Seattle Seahawks fans can recall the days when coach Tom Flores stood impassively on the sideline, with arms crossed in front of that ever-present blue sweater-vest, his face locked in an unwavering blank expression.

One could never tell if the team was winning or losing.

Or if Tom was entirely awake, for that matter.

Dennis Erickson, on the other hand, was so emotionally attuned to Sunday’s game against Arizona that when the Cardinals returned an interception for the game-winner in overtime, he simply collapsed.

He fell in agony - as if gut-shot - to the turf of Sun Devil Stadium.

His being sucked to the ground by the sheer force of frustration is symbolic of the Hawks’ 2-6 season.

But Erickson stressed on Wednesday that he and his team must not concentrate on the fall they’ve taken, but rather on how they can bounce back.

In fact, he’s declared a new season, starting immediately.

“You look at the first half (of the season) and it wasn’t what any of us wanted,” Erickson said. “Things started happening the last four games, the ball started rolling downhill and we couldn’t stop it.

“But what I’ve talked to the team about is that that part of the season is over with, we’re taking the second half as a separate season. We’re starting over with Day One this Sunday and work toward success.”

Seattle plays host to another struggling team, the 3-5 New York Giants, Sunday in the Kingdome. After a 2-2 start, the Hawks have lost four straight.

The problem has not been a lack of effort, Erickson said.

“We all feel the same way. We can all look each other in the eye and know we’re giving great effort,” Erickson said. “That’s all we can ask.”

Before Wednesday’s practice, Erickson said it was possible that injured quarterback John Friesz might be able to come back from his shoulder separation enough to serve as Rick Mirer’s backup against New York.

“Rick’s the starting quarterback, but if we feel John can be the second quarterback, then he will be on Sunday,” Erickson said. If not, Stan Gelbaugh will be the understudy.

Friesz performed well in his first start on Sunday, but the mild shoulder separation is expected to keep him out of practice most of this week - allowing Mirer to return. Erickson will take a wait-and-see attitude on who will start when Friesz returns to health.

“It’s a week-by-week thing,” he said. “The situation was like it was last week when John became the starter - we’ll just see what happens in this game and go from there.”

Mirer’s attitude is good after having been benched, Erickson said. But his league-high 14 interceptions have skaken Mirer.

“Sure, your confidence will be rattled a little bit,” Erickson said. “But it’s not like he’s the first quarterback who has thrown interceptions. Rick is a competitor and a battler and I look for Rick to come back and play and play hard.”

Mirer’s quarterback rating has plummeted to 58.4, 30th in the NFL.

Friesz’s stands 83.4. And in his limited playing time, Friesz has put up the best fourth-quarter numbers of any quarterback in the league, completing 14 of 20 throws for two touchdowns and a rating of 130.

Hawk notes

Third-string running back Lamar Smith, who dashed 68 yards on a carry Sunday, will probably see more action than he has.

“Lamar has kind of been a victim of (back-up) Steve Broussard playing so well,” Erickson said. “We plan on using him more this football game than we have all year.”

Left tackle Ray Roberts will probably play more on Sunday than he has, as well, as his surgically repaired left ankle has healed.

“He won’t start, but he’ll play more this week,” Erickson said, suggesting that Roberts will get more chances to spell starter James Atkins.

The Seahawks’ four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Cortez Kennedy, cast the first official vote Wednesday to kick off this season’s Pro Bowl fan balloting.

“Cortez was picked because the league wanted a nationally known guy,” Seahawks spokesman Dave Neubert said.

Beginning Sunday, fans will be able to vote for their favorite NFL players in stadiums on game days through America Online and at Mitsubishi Motors dealerships. Voting continues through Dec.3.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo