DATE: Monday, April 28, 1997                TAG: 9704280140

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ASHBURN, VA.                      LENGTH:   82 lines

GRIMM BACK AT HOME WITH OFFENSIVE LINEMEN THE FORMER SKINS STANDOUT IS NOW IN CHARGE OF COACHING THE NEW CROP OF BLOCKING MACHINES.

Russ Grimm was the happiest (mini) camper at Redskin Park this weekend.

Grimm, one of the fine offensive linemen to play in the NFL during the 1980s, has spent most of the years since retirement coaching the Redskins' tight ends. With the veteran Jim Hanifan in charge of Washington's blockers, that was as close to the line as Grimm could get and a little bit like being the understudy to the star of a Broadway show.

When Hanifan left Washington after last season to join Dick Vermeil's Gray Panthers in St. Louis, the most natural transition in Washington since Bush followed Reagan took place.

``I certainly feel more comfortable,'' Grimm said during a lunch break over the weekend. ``I feel I can do a better job on the line than I did with tight ends, and I'm not saying I didn't feel good about myself there.

``But it's easier for me to demonstrate a block than it is to demonstrate how to run a corner route.''

Grimm was reminded that the most infamous play of his career was a tackle-eligible pass thrown his way early in the Joe Gibbs Era. History shows that not only did Russ not reel in the pass, he was called for offensive pass interference.

Rest assured, that is not a story Grimm will relay to his new charges. In fact, he says that is one area where he and his beloved predecessor will part ways.

In another age, Hanifan would have made a handsome living as a troubadour. Hanifan hasn't really talked to you until he's dispensed a hilarious tale or two through the smoky haze that engulfs his noggin when he is in full nicotine-intake, which is pretty much every moment he isn't on the football field.

``I don't have stories,'' Grimm said, well, grimly. ``And I don't smoke - unless you count the occasional cigar to keep the gnats away while I'm walking down the seventh fairway.''

Anyone who has seen Grimm down in Corolla or Currituck or Kitty Hawk knows there's nothing ``occasional'' about those stogies, primarily because of the volume of golf Grimm plays when he's down there.

And Grimm, one of the founders of Washington's famed 5 O'clock Club, has stories. He's just chosen not to tell them to players he's almost certain don't remember him and don't care.

``Gotta live in the present, not the past,'' Grimm said. ``People coach different ways. I've told these guys two things: They will be physical and they will be smart. The rest will take care of itself.''

Grimm is not without projects. Last year's No. 1 draft pick, Andre Johnson of Penn State, never donned his uniform, let alone took up residence at tackle, as was hoped.

``I've told Andre that this is the year we'll find out about him,'' Grimm said. ``He's worked hard during the offseason and he's better equipped to play now than he was a year ago.''

Grimm already has made his first executive decision, to shift Shar Pourdanesh to right tackle behind Ed Simmons, and move Johnson to the left side, behind Joe Patton.

``Shar can play both tackles and Andre has the tools to make it on the left side,'' Grimm said.

Primarily because reporters are banned from watching practice during the regular season, the only knowledge anyone had of Johnson were memories of training camp. And there, day after day after day, he wasn't exactly constructing a one-man highlight reel. August memories became November reality and now the perception is that Johnson's a bust. Can't play.

``I don't think you should ever evaluate a first-round pick until after his second season,'' Grimm said. ``Especially on the offensive line. There's a huge difference playing line in college and the pros, for all but a handful of players.''

Someone told Grimm that he'd never struggled.

``We were 0-5, weren't we?'' he argued, recalling the start of his rookie season. ``I remember sitting in a film session after one of those games. We'd just started watching, when Joe Bugel ripped the film out of the projector, he was so mad.

``He told us it was bad enough watching it the first time, he wasn't going to watch it again. And he wasn't going to make us watch it again. Too depressing.''

Pretty good story.

Maybe he'll change his mind about telling it. ILLUSTRATION: Russ Grimm: ``They (Skins linemen) will be physical

and they will be smart. The rest will take care of itself.''

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