Erickson Planning For ‘98 Seahawks Coach Voices Optimism, But Final Decision Awaits A New Gm

Bob Whitsitt mind-readers, please step forward.

Whitsitt, president of Football Northwest, met with Seattle Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson for 90 minutes Monday. Erickson came away with an impression he will be back for his fourth year with the Seahawks. Whitsitt, though, was noncommittal when asked if Erickson would return.

“That’s certainly the direction …,” Whitsitt said, before hedging. “I mean, we have not even addressed the coach. I’ve told Dennis to move forward and do your postseason analysis and evaluation and we’ll get together after the first of the year.”

Whitsitt wants to hire a general manager, who apparently will have the final call on Erickson. One rumored candidate, Carolina’s Bill Polian, was hired by Indianapolis on Monday. Two potential candidates, Pittsburgh’s Tom Donahoe and Green Bay’s Ron Wolf, are busy with the playoffs, which could delay a selection until February.

“If we hire a GM, everything under the football umbrella will be under that GM,” Whitsitt said.

In other words, Erickson is on hold. He’s proceeding as if he’ll return.

“We talked about things we need to do as far as free agency, offense, defense,” said Erickson, whose Seahawks finished 8-8 by waxing San Francisco 38-9 at the Kingdome Sunday. “It went extremely well.”

Erickson’s future was discussed.

“We talked about it. I have two years left on my contract, that’s basically where it’s at,” he said. “There was never any question about me not being the coach here. We talked about next year and what needed to be done.

“He’s going to talk to three or four guys as far as a general manager is concerned, that’s no secret. That won’t affect me, as far as what I do here.”

But according to Whitsitt, it will.

Meanwhile, quarterback Warren Moon remains undecided. In the next six weeks, he will determine if he has the desire to maintain his rigorous off-season workouts.

He added that his decision might be influenced by those made concerning Erickson and the new GM.

“I would give (the coaches) a definite vote of confidence because I like the way things have been done around here,” Moon said. “I liked the effort Dennis got out of the players. To get that type of effort, there is something about the coaches they (the players) like.”

Wish list

Erickson said Seattle’s first priority should be resigning several players, such as center Kevin Mawae, running back Lamar Smith and receiver James McKnight, who could depart via free agency.

After that, Erickson wants to bolster the offensive line and linebackers. “Those were two areas we kind of targeted and talked about.”

Upon further review

Erickson bluntly reviewed the season, declining to blame an enormous injury list for Seattle’s struggles.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed because we didn’t reach our goal of getting into the playoffs,” he said. “We had our chances, but for a number of different reasons we didn’t win games we needed to in certain situations.”

Many centered on special teams. That unit’s meltdowns contributed to the four-game losing streak that spiked playoff hopes.

“After the New Orleans game, a lot of different things happened to us, particularly in the kicking game, which really made a huge difference,” he said.

Up next

Seattle will pick 15th in the first round of the April draft.

The Seahawks’ 1998 schedule:

Home- Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Arizona and Washington.

Road - Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, Pittsburgh, New York Jets, Dallas and Philadelphia.

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