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'They're ... going to be good'
Cedrick Hardman, San Francisco defensive end is a seven-year veteran of National Football League wars.
He is big (6 feet 4 inches, 244 pounds), fast and agile -- traits which create massive problems for offensive lines.
Hardman has been a 49er starter for the past five seasons. Barring injury, he will make it six this year. He has been a regular participant in Pro Bowl games.
So, after the 49ers beat Seattle 27-20 in the Kingdome yesterday, Hardman was asked to dwell for a moment on the Seahawks to identify areas of promise on an expansion team that had just rallied from oblivion to get back into a game they had been out of 24-0.
"Well," Hardman said while standing before his cubicle in the locker room. "I sure do like the color of their uniforms."
And then he let go with an all pro chuckle.
But the uniforms were not the only Seahawk characteristics that impressed the 49ers. Monte Clark, San Francisco's rookie head coach, and many of the players cited the Hawks' tenacity for getting back into contention as a major attribute.
"Seriously," Hardman said, "they're going to be a team that, when they get things together, are going to be good. I thought we played well in the first half but then they capitalized on breaks in the second half and got back into it."
Tommy Hart, a nine-year veteran who plays right defensive end (Hardman is on the left end), said of the Seahawks:
"They've got some good personnel. And one thing I like is that they don't quit. They made a hell of a game out of it."
Hart singled out Norm Evans, offensive tackle, for special mention. "He really has great leadership ability," Hart said. "He didn't play as well today as he is capable of, but there is no substitute for that experience."
Evans has been in the league 12 seasons.
Gene Washington, wide receiver with eight years pro experience, was impressed by the Hawks' enthusiasm.
"And they have some good athletes in that defensive unit. I've played against Al Matthews and Eddie McMillan and those are two good defensive backs."
Matthews, who started at strong safety, is starting his eighth season. McMillan, who started at left cornerback, is beginning his fifth campaign.
Washington was impressed too, with Jim Zorn, scrambling quarterback who led the Hawks' second-half comeback.
"The fact he can scramble is a real weapon," Washington said, "particularly on an expansion team where he is likely to face scrambling situations more than if the team was more experienced."
Clark, who has taken over the 49er coaching helm after several seasons as Miami Dolphin assistant coach, praised the Hawks' tenacity.
"They hung in there," Clark said. "Even though they were down 24-8, they stayed with it. And that's got to be important. They showed they had the stuff to hang in there."
Clark said he thought the 49ers accomplished both of their pregame goals, even though they threatened to blow a big lead.
"We wanted to look at a lot of people and we wanted to win," Clark said. "We went with our second unit the entire second half, even when things started to go bad."
Forty-seven of the 63 49ers to uniform saw action. Forty-nine of the 61 uniformed Seahawks played in the game.
"I thought our young linemen played well, " said Clark, who has had to juggle his offensive line in the wake of injuries to four starters.
"Until three weeks ago, Johnny Miller never had lined up at guard," Clark said. "And he has done a great job."
Miller, a rookie, lost a tooth during the game. And Randy Cross, backup center who started for Reid, suffered an Achilles tendon strain.
But despite the potential problems on the line, "the pass protection was excellent," Clark said. "I don't think we had any sacks."
The beneficiary of the protection was Jim Plunkett, quarterback, making his 49er debut. He completed 9 of 12 pass attempts for 122 yards, all in the first half. Scott Bull took over in the second half.
The pass protection "came as a surprise," Plunkett has said. "They just did a super job."
Clark also liked the team's first touchdown drive. The 14-play marathon consumed more than eight minutes.
"At Miami, they called those drives boring," Clark said. "I hope we can be just as boring in Miami."
In the midst of the postgame critique, Clark was interrupted and asked to come out to the players' dressing area. There, he was presented the game ball, a fitting tribute to a man with a win to his credit in his first game as head coach.
"I hope," he told his troops, "we get a lot more of 'em."
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