Looking Ahead to the 2010 Seahawks

Well, I think we can really put this baby to bed. Seattle is 3-6, and it's very possible they won't win another game. How about that, Jimmy? You quite possibly are going to do worse than Holmgren did in his swan song.

The first order of business next season will be to show Mr. Ruskell the door. I won't cry too hard if it hits him on the way out.

Sure, like most GMs he picked some lemons and he picked some cherries. However when it comes to the GM gig, it's about the bottom line.

The bottom line is that with Ruskell, the 'Hawks don't win. They aren't building a team that is capable of doing this.

With an uncapped year, and deep pockets from the owner, this is a chance for Seattle to really put something together. They could sign several big contracts that are front-heavy to keep the players beyond the uncapped year and build quickly.

With that said, let's take a look at the team position by position to really figure out where this team is headed.

QB
Matt Hasselbeck is probably going to be back next year. Arguably if Seattle does select the QB of the future in next year's draft, they'll want No. 8 around to mentor him. I don't think you are going to see Seattle outright replace the QB who took them to a Super Bowl.

Seneca Wallace is decent, but he doesn't win games. We've seen that. He's a gimmick QB in our schemes. If he wants to start, he'll need to do it elsewhere.

I don't think you are going to see any immediate changes at this position unless something out of the ordinary happens. Jake Locker? Its a pipedream.

RB
I was excited to see Forsett run all over the Cardinals this past Sunday, however I don't think we quite have our answer yet. If he can show the same level of play for the rest of the year, then I'm more than happy to pause on building up the running game.

If Forsett does manage to step it up, we need a bulldozer like back for short yardage situations. It would be great to have a FB/TB type of player who catches well out of the backfield too, someone who is versatile, so we don't waste a roster spot on a one tool back.

Someone like Leonard Weaver. Oops. Justin Griffith has done fairly well, but I don't see him as that short yardage guy. This is something we could address in free agency or in the draft in the later rounds.

There is a wealth of young running backs that are free agents next year. LenDale White, Chester Taylor and Le'Ron McClain are all backs who could flourish in the system put in place in Seattle. They are multi-tool backs.

Don't rule out Mike Bell either. With the plethora of decent backs in New Orleans, it's unlikely they'll opt to keep both Bell and Pierre Thomas.

TE
Seattle is doing pretty well at TE. However, given their offensive line woes, I would like to see them try to use more two TE sets. If they can't repair the line, then work around it. Aaron Rodgers has been running for his life this season due to O-line problems, yet the Packers are doing much better than the Seahawks.

Tony Scheffler hasn't been used as much in Denver as he would have liked. He would be a great addition to Seattle as he has developed into a well balanced tight end. Bo Scaife and Alge Crumpler are up for renewal in Tennessee. I doubt they'll keep both.

Anthony Fasano from Miami is a strong pass catcher, although I imagine they'll make an attempt to resign him. Hopefully they'll avoid Benjamin Watson. He's a tremendous athlete, but his hands are questionable, and I'd rather not go back to the Stonehands Jackson and K-Drop Robinson era.

WR
Stop! We are fine at WR. We have way too many other areas to focus on to make this a concern. Burleson, Branch, Houshmandzadeh and Butler are a decent quartet. Granted Branch is always hurt, when he does play, he's fairly productive.

On the other hand, there are a ton of playmakers available at this position on the market. It wouldn't hurt to cut the oft-injured Branch and trade Mouthmandzadeh for some younger prospects.

Steve Breaston is a free agent. I'd be hard pressed to say he wants to continue to be a #3 man in Arizona. He's very talented, and it would be lovely to see him in Seattle torching the Cardinals defenders as a hilarious twist of fate.

Lance Moore is also available. He's had some big games in New Orleans, and he would be a great replacement for Deion Branch.

OL
Where do we begin?

Chris Spencer and Steve Vallos are not the answer at center. I'd love to see what Max Unger can do before we start hunting for a replacement.

Jahri Evans and Logan Mankins are both big name guards on the market. However, I'd expect the Saints and Pats to lock them up respectively. If they can somehow get their greasy hands on Mankins it might redeem them in some ways from the loss of Hutch.

Rob Sims is ok, but if we are going to migrate Unger to Center, it does leave a gap. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of opportunities to upgrade in free agency.This of course assumes that we choose to keep Sims.

I think it's entirely possible to see two new guards wearing Seattle blue next year. Daryn Colledge is a versatile lineman who could be a great addition, however his play has dropped off significantly this year for Green Bay.

At tackle, we are really looking at a rough future. Walter Jones is done. He might try to come back again next year, but the truth is, it's not going to be the Big Walt we know and love.

Sean Locklear hasn't shown that he can fill those shoes. He's most likely going to be back at Right Tackle. With a lack of really solid prospects I think they have to turn to the draft.

Personally, I'm hoping they target Bryan Bulaga from Iowa. He's a big burly fighter than could make a big impact on this team.

Bruce Campbell from Maryland is probably the best LT in the draft, but his pension for being hurt will affect his draft status. This should be a Do Not Draft warning for Seattle. They can't afford injury prone players at this point.

Russell Okong is another big name, but I don't think Seattle is going to get a chance to pick him. With Detroit all but assured to be ahead of Seattle in the draft order, they are going to be looking for a big LT to protect last year's investment.

Bryan Bulaga is my guy. He's the latest offensive lineman from Iowa, a school with a long standing history of producing NFL caliber linemen: Casey Wiegmann, Jay Hilgenberg, Eric Steinbach, John Alt, Robert Gallery, etc. Many have said that Bulaga is potentially the best offensive line prospect to come out of Iowa...including the great John Alt.

This is a guy who can learn the ropes while protecting Hasselbeck's twilight, and then transition into protecting the QB of the future.

Regardless of what Seattle does, this is going to be the biggest area of concern in the off season. They need to find a way to consistently protect the QB and open up lanes for their running backs. Without fixing this problem, they can not win football games. Period.

DE
Patrick Kerney might stick around for another season, but the truth is he doesn't have a long term future with this team. Cory Redding hasn't made much of a contribution either.

Lawrence Jackson has consistently gotten better, however I'm still not sold on him yet. I think he needs another season to really make a statement. Darryl Tapp had a solid season two years ago, but he was never really given a shot to stay in that role.

I like Tapp, but I think we can upgrade given what is out there on the market.

Elvis Dumervil is young and extremely versatile. He made the move to OLB in Denver, and to be honest, I was surprised he did so well. Denver is going to have to fork over the dough to keep him.

If Denver continues to nose dive, it would be likely to see them let Dumervil walk in favor of plugging the leaks. If they manage to hold on for the rest of the season, it's more likely that they'll retain Dumervil with a conservative approach towards upgrading for 2010.

Dumervil is what we haven't had in Seattle since Michael Sinclair, a young and aggressive end that heats up the rest of the D.

Michigan's Brandon Graham could be a steal in the second round if Seattle opts to use the draft.

DT
I like Brandon Mebane. I like Craig Terrill and Red Bryant.

I don't like Colin Cole. We need a monster in there.

Vince Wilfork isn't going anywhere. The Pats made their choice by trading Seymour while they still had the chance. Seymour however could be an option.

Seymour can play tackle and end, and would be a massive addition to Seattle. Given Seymour's age, and Oakland's situation, it's very likely that Seymour is going to walk at the end of the season. He could be a big addition to a Seattle defensive line that lacks attitude.

If Ruskell is still around, you can rest assured that he'll pass on head stomping Seymour, but we are hoping Ruskell isn't around to keep that from happening.

Personally, I'd rather see Seattle make a run for Barry Cofield from the Giants.

Don't rule out Terrence Cody from 'Bama. He's more of a 3-4 nose tackle, but he would be an easy solution for their problem against the run. This would be an interesting project for Jim Mora and Gus Bradley.

Big signing a nose tackle type DT, they could mix up 3-4 packages. This would allow them to put Hawthorne and Tatupu on the field at the same time. It might be an interesting option against those pesky teams that come out constantly in 3 WR sets.

LB
I don't have much to say here.

Tatupu is always injured, but we've got a replacement in Hawthorne if he busts.

Hill is good, but he's also always injured. (This is starting to remind me of the late 90's with Chad Brown and Anthony Simmons).

Aaron Curry is a rookie, so the jury is still out. However, so far, Curry has been a big disappointment. He was the first LB selected in the draft, as well as the first defensive player. There have been a lot of other rookies making waves this season, and his name isn't one of them.

James Laurinaitis, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews are all having some solid games. Curry seems confused more often than not.

Leave it alone, and let it simmer a little bit.

CB
Marcus Trufant has yet to repeat his pro bowl caliber performance. He's cost Seattle more than helped them in what little he has played this season. Maybe he needs to shake off the cobwebs, or maybe he's got an empty tank.

Wilson, Lucas and Jennings aren't the answer.

There aren't a lot of good options for upgrading in free agency. There are a ton of free agents, but it seems like a Jekyll and Hyde competition at best.

Carlos Rogers could be an option, and given his iffy play this season it's likely he wont cost much. Of course, his price tag could be inflated by lack of competition.

Seattle may have to sit tight at corner unless they want to burn their second first round pick on Trevard Lindley. It's entirely possible that they will, and I wouldn't be sad to see it happen. He's definitely a playmaker at Kentucky.

S
Deon Grant has played a little better this season, however I'm starting to miss Brian Russell. Babineaux and Milloy have not been very good as replacements.

If by some miracle the Rams let O.J Atogwe go, you can believe Seattle will take a look at him. However, that ain't gonna happen.

I think it's unlikely to see Seattle vie for Eric Berry or Taylor Mays with so many other needs on the table.

However, I have a weird feeling there is going to be a sweepstakes in the later rounds for Myron Rolle at Florida State. He's big and fast like Taylor Mays, and he's a smart guy. Above all else, he's durable.

I sure hope that we see signs of life in the front office in February, because without it, all we watch is a horrible 17 week murder mystery Whodunit .

If this were Clue , the verdict would be:

Mr. Ruskell, in Redmond, Washington with the Transition Tag.