Captain, thanks for your response! It's frightening how much the flight deck systems of the 717 mirror the MD-11. This might be helpful.
So let's run with what you're saying. Prior to takeoff, you arm NAV, PROF, right? At what point does the PNF press the autoflight button? It's my understanding that when you press autoflight that also engages the ATS.
Once you advance the throttles to your initial power setting, does the crew press autoflight and the ATS takes the throttles and sets to takeoff clamp?