DATE: Sunday, Noveember 9, 1997             TAG: 9711080735

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C13  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: LANDOVER, MD.                     LENGTH:   49 lines

ZORICH KNOWS WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS SANDERS CAN CREATE

Chris Zorich swears it's true.

``I know a couple of defensive guys who've blown out their knees trying to stay with Barry Sanders when he's making a cut,'' the Washington Redskins newest defensive tackle said. ``That's how hard it is sometimes trying to tackle the guy.''

More than anyone on the Redskins, Zorich knows the perils of tackling Sanders. In six-plus seasons with the Chicago, Zorich faced the Detroit Lions superstar twice a year. Zorich missed their first meeting this season because of an injury. Today, however, he should be smack dab in the middle of the action when the Redskins host Detroit and Sanders at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.

``I look at it as a great personal challenge,'' said Zorich, who signed with Washington on Oct. 31 and played 33 snaps against Chicago with fellow tackle Marc Boutte telling him where to go. ``He gives 100 percent every play. When you think you have a certain side blocked off, he can changer directions on a dime and go the opposite way. There aren't many backs who could ever do that. I think he's the best today, and maybe the best ever.''

Sanders needs just two yards today to post an NFL-record ninth consecutive 1,000-yard season. He needs just 17 yards to pass former Dallas Cowboy Tony Dorsett for third place on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 12,740 yards. Only Eric Dickerson, with 13,259, and Jim Brown, with 18,726, lead Sanders.

Zorich argued that the Bears knew how to contain Sanders, and maybe they did, but the stats don't seem to show that. In the 14 games Sanders played against Chicago during Zorich's stay, Sanders carried 267 times for 1,291 yards - an average gain of 4.83 yards. Then again, Sanders has averaged more than five yards in 46 of the 130 NFL games he's played.

In Chicago, coaches assigned their starting cornerbacks to play Sanders in practice against the first-team defense because no reserve running back had his moves. The Redskins tried a variation of the Chicago plan last week, using tiny, shifty receiver Chris Thomas as Sanders.

``You've got to give your guys a better look,'' defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. ``Chris is someone who can move around.''

Nolan disputes those who claim Sanders running style is overly improvisational.

``I'm not sure he improvises,'' Nolan said. ``He's a great back, with great vision. All the great backs run to daylight; the great backs don't run to darkness. Barry's ability to see daylight where others can't may be the best ever.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Chris Zorich

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