Erickson May Friesz-Out Mirer
The Seattle Seahawks may change their starting quarterback - from mistake-plagued Rick Mirer to backup John Friesz - this week.
Coach Dennis Erickson said Monday that if he’s going to make a quarterback switch, he’ll announce it Wednesday after meeting at length with offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and quarterbacks coach Rich Olson.
“We’re going to sit down and talk about that,” Erickson said.
Mirer had a career-worst four interceptions and a fumble, leading to 24 Green Bay points in a 31-10 loss to the Packers on Sunday. In the Seahawks’ 1-4 start, Mirer has nine interceptions, three fumbles and only one touchdown pass.
“That’s a disappointment,” Erickson said.
At 44.5, Mirer has the lowest quarterback rating in the AFC and the Seahawks are averaging only 14.2 points.
Erickson didn’t give a hint which way he was leaning. And he didn’t say anything to Mirer, who has started 47 of the 49 games he’s played in his four seasons with the Seahawks.
Friesz, a starter with San Diego in 1991, made three starts for Seattle last season and replaced Mirer in the second half against Denver in Week Two.
The Seahawks are at Miami (3-1) on Sunday.
Mirer, the second player chosen in the 1993 draft, was nursing a sore right shoulder and sore right elbow after a fourth-quarter hit delivered by Green Bay’s Reggie White. His ego was bruised, too.
It didn’t help when he had to watch the videotape of the Packers’ game.
“I look at the film and see me doing things I don’t want to do,” Mirer said. “Some of the mistakes I made are ones you just cannot make.”
Mirer didn’t get any more information out of Erickson than reporters did.
“I’d rather hear something than nothing,” Mirer said.
Mirer, who led the AFC with 20 interceptions last season, helped Green Bay take a 17-0 lead in the second quarter with two interceptions and a fumble that gave the Packers the ball on the Seattle 46, 21 and 28-yard lines. The Packers converted those opportunities into two touchdowns and a field goal.
Mirer’s mistakes killed a Seahawks offense that got its first 100-yard rushing day of the season from Chris Warren. Warren got Seattle’s only touchdown on a 37-yard run late in the opening half.
“I thought we would be able to score 20, 21 points a game on an average and we haven’t to this point,” Bratkowski said.
Seattle trailed Denver 17-6 at halftime in Week 2 when Erickson brought in Friesz. The Broncos won 30-22 as Friesz completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Christian Fauria.
Friesz is sure of one thing: It doesn’t matter who the starting quarterback is if the Seahawks have to battle from behind as they’ve done all season. Seattle has been outscored 37-3 in first quarters by its opponents this year.
“The farther you get behind, the more predictable you become,” he said.
Friesz said it’s been a difficult season for Mirer, the onetime Notre Dame golden boy from Goshen, Ind.
“He’s been a winner his whole life and this is difficult for him,” he said.
MEMO: Changed in the Spokane edition