49ERS Second NFL stint invigorates coach

Dennis Erickson won collegiate national championships with Miami in 1989 and 1991.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The biggest change for the San Francisco 49ers this fall will be the man patrolling NFL sidelines for the first time in five years.
Unfortunately for Dennis Erickson, his team has a similar problem as last year's 10-6 squad -- injuries are plentiful.
Eight years ago, Erickson left the University of Miami for the Seattle Seahawks, his first NFL head coaching job.
Over the next four seasons, the Seahawks (then of the AFC West Division) went 31-33 while division rival Denver won two Super Bowls.
Back to school
Fired by the Seahawks after the 1998 season, Erickson returned to the collegiate ranks, leading Oregon State to a 31-17 record.
In 2000, he was named The Sporting News' coach of the year after the Beavers went 11-1, including a 41-9 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
Last year, the 49ers, under sixth-year head coach Steve Mariucci, won their first NFC West title in five seasons, then lost a second-round playoff game to the Buccaneers in Tampa.
After Mariucci was fired then hired by the Detroit Lions, the Niners, which are owned by John and Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield, hired Erickson as his replacement.
Erickson said his second chance in the NFL has him motivated.
"I'm excited about having another opportunity, especially with a great organization like the 49ers," said Erickson, who won collegiate national championships with Miami in 1989 and 1991. "Ever since leaving the Seahawks, I've been hoping that a situation like this one would pop up.
"I learned a lot in my first go-round at this level," Erickson said. "Hopefully, we'll see a different coach this time."
Unlike most coaches who are asked to take over floundering programs, Erickson is taking the reins of a team coming off two straight playoff seasons. The learning curve is likely to be shorter.
Pressure's on
"We're stepping into a football team that's been to the playoffs, a team that has a lot of talent," Erickson said, acknowledging the pressure. "We've got a quarterback [Jeff Garcia] who already has been successful.
"But we have to be more consistent. There are things we must improve on," Erickson said.
Although Garcia's back has been bothering him during training camp, Erickson said the injuries that concern him the most are the ones suffered by right tackle Scott Gragg and cornerback Jason Webster.
"Gragg has a high ankle sprain and that makes him doubtful for a while. He definitely won't be ready to go this week," Erickson said in a telephone interview from the team's headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif.
Kyle Kosier and first-round pick Kwame Harris will share playing time in Sunday's home opener against the Bears.
Webster has a knee injury that's likely to keep him idle until October.
Mike Rumph, last year's No. 1 draft pick who had a shaky rookie season, is expected to start even though he's been nursing a pulled groin muscle.
Hunch
Erickson said he wouldn't be surprised if the Bears game winds up being is a high-scoring shootout because both teams quarterbacks aren't afraid to shake things up.
"Kordell Stewart is a tremendous athlete -- he isn't afraid to run with the ball and containing him is one of our biggest concerns," said Erickson of the former Steelers quarterback.
"Kordell is a lot like Jeff in that he can duck a rush and make you miss, then make something special happen," Erickson said. "Jeff does a lot of that for us."
williams@vindy.com