DATE: Sunday, July 27, 1997                 TAG: 9707270196

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD.                    LENGTH:   70 lines

GRIMM HAS PROVEN WORTH AS A COACH NORV TURNER INITIALLY INTENDED TO FIRE HIM, BUT WAS WON OVER BY GRIMM'S REPUTATION.

The next time someone says that what you do in high school has no impact on the rest of your life, tell them about Russ Grimm.

That's right, that Russ Grimm, the Washington Redskins' offensive lineman extraordinaire from 1981-91. Pro Bowl selection from 1983-86. Member of the NFL's 1980's all-decade team. All-American center at Pitt.

When Norv Turner became Redskins' coach four seasons ago, he was expected to fire the existing staff. But when he'd ask people what they thought of Grimm, then coaching the tight ends, he kept getting the same response.

``Everyone said, `A terrific coach,' '' Turner said. So he dug deeper into Grimm's background. Found out he'd played some quarterback in high school.

``We talked and I was really impressed with how much football he knew beyond offensive line and tight end,'' Turner said. ``Obviously, playing quarterback in high school gave him the opportunity to look at the game from different perspectives. He knew schemes from every position. It was obvious that he'd sat in on a lot of meetings and had absorbed what was going on.''

So Grimm remained as tight end coach, he and line coach Jim Hanifan the only holdovers. When Hanifan left to join Dick Vermeil in St. Louis after last season, Turner began looking for a tight ends coach, because there was no doubt who would take Hanifan's place.

``Coaching tight ends was fine but, for me, this is better, although the results remain to be seen,'' Grimm said. ``I feel at home here and I feel I can do a better job. I can help out better.''

There was nothing wrong with the way Grimm's tight ends performed last season. As a unit, they were responsible for 51 receptions, 577 yards and six touchdowns. They also blocked for the league's top rushing team.

``He was always the first one at Redskin Park and the last to leave Redskin Park,'' said offensive tackle Ed Simmons, who played with, now plays for, Grimm. ``You could tell his whole life was football, whether he was coaching defensive backs, tight ends, whatever.''

Grimm has returned some of the favorite drills employed by his NFL mentor, current Raiders' coach Joe Bugel. That means more agility work, more footwork, more time spent with those man-sized blocking bags.

``I learned one way,'' Grimm says. ``Granted, there are a lot of different ways to coach and teach. In the end, it's still just blocking and tackling and my job is to teach them who to block and how to block them. I want to do that so well that on Sunday, I can stand on the sidelines and say, `Great job, perfect.' ''

Simmons says Grimm and Bugel are alike in one other important way - dialogue.

``This is no knock on anyone else, but Russ talks to us like men,'' Simmons said. ``He's something fresh, something we needed. He even talks a little like Bugel. The other day he told someone, `That guy couldn't beat you in a month of Sundays.' I started laughing. Bugel used to say that all the time. I hadn't heard it in years. No one else even got it, but I did.''

Grimm ought to have one of the league's best lines this season. There are quality veterans in Simmons, Bob Dahl and Jeff Uhlenhake; young starters in tackle Joe Patton and guard Tre' Johnson; improving youngsters like Cory Raymer, Shar Pourdanesh, draftee Brad Badger and World League import Matt Reem. Andre Johnson, Darryl Ashmore, Michael Batiste, Ozell Powell have made a good impression.

``All I'm trying to do is get them better,'' Grimm said. ``If a guy's willing and he's tough, I'll work with him all day, no questions asked. If he's struggling to learn the system and he wants to, I'll stay up all night reviewing it with him. I never want anyone to say that they didn't have the best shot possible to make it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Washington assistant coach Russ Grimm is a workaholic who is the

first to arrive and the last to leave Redskin Park.

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