Calling All Seahawks: Fire Tim Ruskell, Look Ahead To 2010

(Isn't the offensive lineman supposed to be in front of the quarterback?)

Don't tell me you're not shocked, Seahawks fans.

We reeled in one of the prizes of free agency in WR TJ Houshmandzadeh.

We picked the most dynamic player in the 2009 draft when we lock up Aaron Curry at No. 4.

Julian Peterson's replacement even added a new starting defensive end after a trade for Cory Redding, along with a fifth round pick that allowed us to trade up to draft speedy WR Deon Butler in round three. 

We grab ex-Seahawk cornerback Ken Lucas, which allowed us to shift playmaking cornerback Josh Wilson to the nickel role.

Everything was looking good. Don't tell me you weren't thinking playoff contention; we all were, whether or not you have the balls to admit it. 

Even after we lost a game with half the team out in a grinding game against the Bears, things looked hopeful, we looked to be competitive in the face of adversity.

We even trounced the Jaguars by a score of 41-0 on some nicely timed plays and  had what looked to be a resurgent offense—Hasselbeck shined.

But the Seahawks' glaring weakness was exposed: the pathetic offensive line.

Injuries or not, these are the guys blocking. And because the Seahawks cut fourth string tackle Kyle Williams, it means they will be starting their fifth string LT after the bye week if Walter Jones does not return. 

Even with the quick rhythm created by the Seahawks' passing game that still features plenty of short routes, the line could not hold up for the mere 2-3 seconds it was supposed to.

Matt Hasselbeck got sacked five times. I saw Hasselbeck's blindside get rushed every other play, and at least one Cardinal in close on any given play.

Sure, Hasselbeck didn't do great, but Michael Vick couldn't have even escaped the relentless pressure. (Although, my roommate made the comment that “Yes, he could have. He would have just released his pit bulls on the defense.")

In contrast to the seven wide receiver injuries of 2008, the offensive line has crumbled, and opposing teams are very aware of that gaping hole they can run through and ransack our “backs.”

I'm tired of the "what ifs" from this team. The fact is, this team is made up of a bunch of old, injury-prone players. Point the blame at the man who assembled the team, who chose to take on injury-prone, high-quality characters instead of playmakers that will simply stay healthy. 

Patrick Kerney, Marcus Trufant, Walter Jones, Matt Hasselbeck, Chris Spencer, Sean Locklear, Mike Wahle (retired), Rob Sims, Brandon Mebane, Cory Redding, Deion Branch, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson, Travis Fisher, Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu, Justin Griffith

Those are the Seahawks' starters who have missed at least one game due to injury this season, which means that Deon Grant, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Aaron Curry, and Julius Jones are the only starters who have escaped injury. 

No other team has the injury problems that the Seahawks have, and I blame the General Manager for assembling a bunch of injury-prone players.

What first round pick has Tim Ruskell hit spot-on? His great picks, Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill, and solid picks, Josh Wilson, Brandon Mebane, Darryl Tapp, have all spent significant time (or in Tatupus's case, will spend even more), on the sideline.

Chris Spencer

Kelly Jennings

Deion Branch

Lawrence Jackson

Aaron Curry

Those are Ruskell's five first round picks, he has already had to replace Chris Spencer by drafting Max Unger this season. Kelly Jennings has one career INT and should be a dime back, only starting because of injury. Deion Branch has 12 catches for 94 yards and is earning $6.5 million in the exchange. Lawrence Jackson has doubled his 2008 sack total, but he and rookie Aaron Curry have both looked inconsistent at times.

It's too early to judge the last two on this list—I think Curry is on his way to become a top LB in this league—but I think it is safe to say that the three first rounders have been massive duds.

Compare this to former general manager Mike Holmgren, who brought us Steve Hutchinson, Matt Hasselbeck, Robbie Tobeck, Marcus Trufant, Shaun Alexander, Darrell Jackson, Rocky Bernard, and Ken Lucas.

With the exception of Ken Lucas, they were all starters on our only Superbowl team in 2005 (which Holmgren coached), and Ken Lucas is currently the No. 1 cornerback. Matt Hasselbeck and Marcus Trufant still remain cornerstones of the franchise.

Holmgren was never the best general manager, but he laid the foundation that yielded five straight playoff appearances from 2003-2008. Ruskell has not and never will lay a foundation for a team to make a playoff run of that longevity.

We thought Ruskell fixed the roster, but obviously, he has done nothing more than assemble a bunch of injury-prone players.

One year is a fluke. But two years is the start of a nasty trend—a trend that should end with the firing of Tim Ruskell and the letting go of offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.

In addition to working with a short roster, Knapp has not helped the cause with his dreadful offensive play calling.

He tries to run with no line, he tries the deep ball with no time in the pocket, and he is responsible for the lowest rushing total in franchise history, with 14 yards gained against Arizona. Two runs near your own endzone when your down 17-0? Draws for that matter? Pathetic.

He was supposed to be a rushing guru, a stark contrast to the rushing result we saw a couple days ago in the 27-3 uber-fustercluck.

Sure, he is relying on his fourth string tackle, but the obvious weakness at this position just exposes a roster that was assembled by the brain trust.

He still has a bevy of wide receivers and an experienced quarterback—despite their tattered offensive line—the offense should be able to muster more than three points against what was the league's worst pass defense in the Arizona Cardinals.

Sure, we're getting Leroy Hill and Marcus Trufant back, but both haven't played in a while, and Trufant hasn't played a down this season.

Same goes for LT Walter Jones. But even the Hall of Famer will probably take a game to get up to speed.

By then we will have been blitzed in Dallas with our team reeling, and the injured will still be getting back on their feet.

After a win at home against Detroit, we will be 3-5 at the halfway point. I see three games they should win against the Rams, Buccaneers, and Titans. Even if we managed to go 6-5, that still leaves us with road games against the Cardinals, Vikings, Packers, and Texans, and a home game against the NFC West leading San Francisco 49ers.

So, we would have to go at least 4-2 to reach the likely 10-6 we would need, which means from this point on, the team would have to go 8-2 for a playoff appearance.

Get any potential fantasy out of your head because that is just not going to happen. This team is not going to go 8-2 down the stretch with five road games against quality opponents.

Instead look forward to 2010. This team has some solid pieces, but they still have plenty of holes, especially along the offensive line. With two first round picks and what looks to be a high second-round pick, there are some gaps on the roster that can be filled nicely for the future.

We should be looking at offensive line and quarterback in the first round. A guy like OL Russell Okung (rated No. 4 overall in 2010 draft class by Sports Illustrated), makes a lot of sense with one of the first two picks.

Marcus McNeil, Logan Mankins, Randy Thomas, and Michael Roos, are all set to be free agents. All are proven starters and we would be foolish not to at least inquire about getting them this offseason.

The quarterback prospects would likely boil down to Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Jevan Snead—the usual suspects when it comes to 2010 Draft rumors for the Seahawks.

Jason Campbell is the only quarterback of interest I see who is set to hit the market, and I would prefer Seneca to him anyway.

With Julius Jones coming closer and closer to bust free agent status, a guy like Jahvid Best makes a lot of sense in round two.

Darren Sproles and Willie Parker are both set to be free agents too; both burners would be an upgrade over Julius Jones.

If we can repair the offensive line, upgrade our pedestrian RB situation, and begin grooming our QB for the future, this team can begin to lay a foundation in 2010.

I still think Hasselbeck can be a quality QB if his line can block for him. He showed that with time against Jacksonville he can show flashes of Peyton Manning from time to time.

Regardless, unless we can assemble a roster that can stay healthy, protect the quarterback, and block for the running back, we are going to keep going down this bad downward spiral. With some solid names on the market, and some high draft picks, we can still turn this ship around this coming offseason.

If you look at Sports Illustrated ’s new power rankings, they say:

“It's not fair what has happened to Seattle for a second consecutive year, but the truth is, nobody really cares when injuries determine the fate of a team's season. The clubs that get wiped out and lose because of it are just seen as losers. Period. There's no asterisk applied to your record to denote a plague of injuries. Sorry, Seahawks. But that's reality.”

You know, they are absolutely right. No one cares. You still strap up, put your helmet on, and play with what you got. We can't be looking at "what ifs" and "could haves" anymore.

Point the finger at the man filling the roster with all of those injury prone players. The coaches work with what they have, but it’s the brain trust that gives them the pieces.

If you want to point fingers at anyone, aim your blame at Tim Ruskell.