Branch is the biggest wuss of all time. What a waste

Jackson hasn't played that well since the 1st game and Tapp will improve the pressure from the RDE.

We'll probably not see Branch until next game.

We need to get rid of Ruskell and promote Holmgren to GM status. That way we can have new blood at the coaching level, but Holmgren revamping our offense with BIG targets and not a bunch of friggin midgets.

we need to get rid of hawks31 and promote someone else to blogger status. That way we can actually have provocative conversation and questions asked of Frank- rewarding his efforts. Not a bunch of whiners like hawks31 who want to get rid of a guy who wants to be here and keep a guy who doesn't want to be here.

Dude- reality- Holmgren wants to leave- Ruskell wants to be here. Last time I checked there are a ton of huge Wide receivers in this league who Suck!

Holmgren wants to leave because he wants the GM job, not because he hates the team or the city. His entire family lives here! Ruskell has had a few good picks, but he has also dismantled our offense starting with the O Line. And don't give me some BS that Hutch wanted to leave on his own. He wanted to leave because of our front office was not being smart and getting a deal done during the season like he wanted. And then when the time came to lock him up, Ruskell didn't give him the FT. I know that pissed of Hlomgren. You don't see the conflict there? That is one example.

I would also much rather have a huge WR that sucks than a small wide receiver that sucks as bad.

hawks31:
Please think before you post factual nonsense.

Our WRs are of average height - 6'1", and average weight 205 lbs.
They are not exactly midgets. The two best are less than 6' but they have both been significantly injured and are working their way back into the line up. If you want to grumble about how good the taller guys are then go for it, but one is a very raw young player with exceptional physical skills and the other three are either getting conditioned/healthy or used to our scheme. I'd expect the WRs to be reasonably good by the end of this season once they learn what is expected of them in this scheme and get healthy again.

Our WRs are in case you forgot:
Branch 5'9" -192
Colbert 6"1"- 205
Engram 5'10"-192
Kent 6'4"-219
McMullen 6'4"-215
Robinson 6'1"-205.

Holmgren is burned out and hasn't had a good new idea since 2005 and even then some wondered if he hadn't passed his best before date back then. He's done here after this season yet may be back in another capacity elsewhere. After 11 seasons of Holmgren it is time for another agenda, he's been awesome as a head coach, reasonable as a GM/coach but has his blind spots as we all do.

It's the players fault the team is playing poorly not that of Ruskell or Holmgren but Holmgren's extreme conservatism and playing not to lose is helping the team to lose. He needs to let it all hang out some after all they are 1-4 and up against it with critical injuries. They might as well just have some fun and stop being so predictable.

I too grumble about Ruskell but he's done just OK, but will always have to live down losing one of the best OLinemen the team has ever had by not locking down Hutchinson and thus having to screw around with 5 different guys to fill a key position he lost through stupidity. None of the replacements are anywhere near as good as the guy we lost.

I expect this team will have an epiphany soon and will start to get their schmidt together. The D needs to come to Jesus soon and sort out why they are so lousy. The O needs to start converting on 3rd downs. The ST need to start actaully tacjkling when in return coverage. if that happens it's easy enough to get on a roll and to begin to believe in yourselves again.

It's tough to be a winner in this league when you give up games you should win and spot the competition several games before commencing your season. The winners get going when times get tough, it's long past time for the Seahawks to get going.

As Yogi said: "It ain't over until it's over!" It ain't over yet.

"We need to get rid of Ruskell and promote Holmgren to GM status."

Hawks31, Holmgren was not a good GM for the Hawks. That is why he lost that part of his responsibilities. Plus Ruskell is the one who drafted Tatupu, which was a key part of the Super Bowl 2005 run.

The problem with the defense is not the players, its the scheme. Seahawks need a more aggresive defense. When Mora is in charge, I am sure that is what they will do.

"Holmgren wants to leave because he wants the GM job, not because he hates the team or the city."

Hawks31-No. Holmgren is leaving because the Hawks didn't want to extend his contract. Ruskell wants Mora as the coach, and he is the GM.

I do agree the seeing less and less productivit out of Ruskell. He has had some good and bad but for the first time I think there is more bad ( if that is even a sentence)

I would love to see a ledger of the Ruskell moves since he has been here.

Like many GMs, he's had some hits and misses.

Hits - Tatupu, Hill, Carlson, Kerney, Mebane, Carlson

Decent, but certainly overpaid for their services - JP & Grant

Misses - Jamie Sharper, David Greene, Kelly Jennings, Brian Russell, Rob Sims, $haun signing for big bucks, losing Hutch in an attempt to save a few hundred thousand bucks b/c he was "just a guard"

There's certainly more good (like JoeJ) and bad, but this is a good, quick list.

I could include Herndon on the list of bad, but I won't because he made one of my favorite plays in Seahawk history --- the Steelers were getting ready to go up on us 21-3 and Herndon got the int that set up our only TD and pulled us to 14-10. I appreciated that play. Hell, we may not have scored a TD in the game if it weren't for him.

I don't think Hawks31 is completely crazy. Holmgren did pretty well in drafts except for one year. Isn't there a list of all the draft picks, trades and FA acquisitions by both somewhere? That would be fun to see. My issues with Ruskell are more FA/trade moves than drafts. Like the 2 kicker thing which has been beaten to death and of course the left-guard-who-shall-not-be-named situation.

Knowing now what we've seen from Jim Zorn (I realize it's early, but good start) - it would have been nice with a Holmgren/Zorn led Seahawks and a Mora led Huskies. I'm dreaming, I know.

When I am talking about size, it is not just our WRs. We have a great LB crew, but they are on the smaller side. DON'T GET ME WRONG, they are all extremely smart and some of the best in the game. The problem is, we also have a small D-line. Mebane and Bryant will help, but when we had Darby, Terrill, and Bernard in their last year, we got rocked by every team with a good O-Line or this year by bigger backs. You can't play good D against the run when the front line is small as well as the LB crew. Then there is Kelly Jennings and Wislon. We have speed more than physical presents. Picks:

College Note
1 Lawrence Jackson USC
2 John Carlson Notre Dame
4 Red Bryant Texas A&M
5 Owen Schmitt West Virginia
6 Tyler Schmitt San Diego State
7 Justin Forsett California
7 Brandon Coutu Georgia

2007
Rnd Name College Note
2 Josh Wilson Maryland
3 Brandon Mebane California
4 Baraka Atkins Miami (Fla.)
4 Mansfield Wrotto Georgia Tech
5 Will Herring Auburn
6 Courtney Taylor Auburn
6 Jordan Kent Oregon
7 Steve Vallos Wake Forest

2006
Rnd Name College Note
1 Kelly Jennings Miami (FL)
2 Darryl Tapp Virginia Tech
4 Rob Sims Ohio State
5 David Kirtman USC
7 Ryan Plackemeier Wake Forest
7 Ben Obomanu Auburn

2005
Rnd Name College Note
1 Chris Spencer Mississippi
2 Lofa Tatupu USC
3 David Greene Georgia
3 Leroy Hill Clemson
4 Ray Willis Florida State
5 Jeb Huckeba Arkansas
6 Tony Jackson Iowa
7 Cornelius Wortham Alabama
7 Doug Nienhuis Oregon State

Like I said, there were some good picks.., but a lot of the first couple of rounds are smaller guys + 2007 for Branch

BobbyK, its good to see someone here post a balanced response.

Especially during a season in which we are all losing our freakin minds.

Ruskell has done a lot of good things for the team. He also made some mistakes. He has run a better personnel operation than Holmgren did as GM.

The d-line does struggle because they are a little small and don't push the o-line back with any consistency. I don't think Jennings is that bad he's an average nfl player. I'd like to have a corner that took a risk to make a pick once in a while especially in soft zone coverage. If our wr's aren't going to beat anyone deep than they should get weaver and jones involved in the flat. Weavers receiving abilities are being under utilized but it's hard when we can never complete a pass on 3rd down. I love the Hawks but we don't have any elite players except for Hasselback, Tatupu, jones and maybe Kerney. I hope Wallace steps up. I hope Ruskell makes some good picks in the next draft, it's a critically draft for the direction of the team.

The "just let it go and have fun" viewpoint, I don't understand at all. With a raw QB of average talent, raw receivers of average (at best) talent, but a decent to good running game - the 1st thing you do as a coach is "open it up" and go wild?

I don't anyone will be having much fun if Seattle throws 4 interceptions and has a couple fumbles from QB sacks. Which is very likely to happen. And if Holmgren did "open it up", and the turnovers happened, guess what crowd would be 1st in line to criticize him for not running the ball more?

Of course the run-the-ball strategy makes more sense if the defense was at least average, but that's what you face when you only have one bullet (at most) in your gun - you have to pick your poison.

At least in theory, the defense could come together - there's no reason why it can't, even if it never does - whereas Holmgren knows that without a veteran QB and receivers, it's hopeless to go to a wide open passing game.

It is not questions of the defense being more physical but rather physically bigger. That goes for the WR corp. Alexander was not the fastest runner, but you had an O-Line that had played together for a good amount of time and you also had big WRs that were able to be physical with downfield blocking like Joe Juravicious. He was a huge part of that success in 05. Ruskell thought after seeing this, he could rely on individual talent and not the overall group. And he started losing players, some of which he has control over.

"Hawks31-No. Holmgren is leaving because the Hawks didn't want to extend his contract. Ruskell wants Mora as the coach, and he is the GM."

-Exactly my point. Ruskell did not want to extend his contract. And now we are about to lose another asset just like in the past. I am sorry but Zorn should have gotten the nod-he knows the system better. But because of nepotism, he is not. He is winning elsewhere.

"-Exactly my point. Ruskell did not want to extend his contract. And now we are about to lose another asset just like in the past. I am sorry but Zorn should have gotten the nod-he knows the system better. But because of nepotism, he is not. He is winning elsewhere."

hawks31- It would be difficult to argue against your points, even if I wanted to.

But the reality of the situation is:

It is simply too late to change the direction of the ship at this point.

"Ruskell has done a lot of good things for the team. He also made some mistakes. He has run a better personnel operation than Holmgren did as GM."

That's highly debatable. But fact is they've both done a piss poor job of drafting and signing free agents. We need better than Ruskell has given if this team is going to improve. It's gone steadily downhill since he's been here.

"fact is they've both done a piss poor job of drafting and signing free agents"

The Seahawks have had a winning record for the last 5 seasons, prior to this year, which has been decimated by injuries. And in 2005, the Seahawks were 13 and 3, and went to the Super Bowl.

The "fact" is that a team can't draft poorly, or make bad choices in Free Agent signings, and have the 2003 to 2007 record that the Seahawks have.

Give Ruskell his due.

Any new Matt Hasselbeck updates?

Guys,

Holmgren wants to leave because he can't stand Ruskell. To quote Darrell Jackson "Coach Holmgren hates Mr. Ruskell."

And please, spare me the insipid "Who cares what DJack says he ain't here anymore" crap.

Holmgren has a right to be furious with Ruskell after losing not just "one of the best OL's" we've ever had, but let's face it, Hutch is sure Hall of Famer. Truthfully, the team has never recovered from that fiasco.

That said, Sando says that others in the front office influenced the decision. That's fine, but Ruskell must take the ultimate responsibilty. In retrosepct, I would have gladly guarenteed Hutch's money and kept him after seeing how bad the line has been in his absence.

As to Holmgren the GM, do the names Anton Polipoi, Chris McIntosh, Lamar King, Brock Huard, Karsten Bailey or Ike Charleton ring a bell? Holmgren was erratic at best as a GM, and he burned way too many high picks on stiffs, not to mention he drove very productive players in Sam Adams, Philip Daniels, and Todd Weiner out of town.

Ruskell deserves a chance to get things fixed, but he needs to draft a superstar soon or he should be out. He can't rest on his Lofa laurels forever.

On defense, maybe it's time to move Bryant into the starting lineup on run downs along with Mebane and Rocky Bernard at end. the other end spot can be manned by Kearney and Jackson on a rotational basis, with Tapp coming in on passing downs.

For next year, maybe a 3-4 is in order? Use Mebane and Bryant as the NT's, keep Bernard as a DE and rotate Kearny and Jackson at the other end. Move Tapp out as a stand up OLB. So your starters would be Lofa and Hill at ILB, and Tapp and Peterson at OLB. Might be the way to go.

Oriris33 - I think your post is great. And not trying to nit-pick, but I would say its beyond "Holmgren wants to leave" and is now at "Holmgren IS LEAVING (very soon), and in his own mind, he has to some extent, already left".

Not only did Ruskell lose Hutchinson, who Holmgren drafted, Ruskell left Holmgren out to dry on information, as Holmgren thought Ruskell was giving Hutch the "Franchise Tag", and was told by a reporter that Hutch was given the "Transition Tag".

I think Ruskell has done a good job as GM. I also think Holmgren is a very good coach.

But they are just no longer compatible together with the Seahawks. "Communication" often becomes a big problem in these situations. This is not uncommon in the NFL, or in the business world.

Both are good, but not together.

CowboysP, Ruskell's only real contribution to the Super Bowl team was drafting Lofa. This is a team with more holes and needs now than when he got here, IMO.

If you sincerely believe that Holmgren is leaving because he doesn't like Ruskell, then consider this: Maybe Holmgren just can't accept the fact that he himself came up short as a GM.

Let's not forget that Bob Ferguson was the GM in 2003 and 2004, which were the first two years the Seahawks made the playoffs since 1999. By the end of the 2004 season (when the Seahawks were bounced from the playoffs at home, after losing to the Rams for the third time), rumors of Holmgren wanting to leave started swirling. Granted, that may have had more to do with Holmgren's acrimonious relationship with Bob Whitsitt, but Holmgren had also hinted, and has since continued hinting, about wanting another shot at GM.

I don't simply believe that "Holmgren hates Ruskell."

Lofa was not Ruskell's only real contribution. He also drafted Hill, and acquired Jurevicius and Fisher. While I agree that Holmgren and Ferguson deserve their due as GMs, let's not discredit Ruskell either.

As for the holes, that happens when players get older and/or retire, or leave via free agency. Considering the number of injuries this year, I think Ruskell deserves some time to address these issues. You can't expect 3/5ths of an offensive line to be replaced overnight, but I do expect to see some improvement.

Bottomline, it would make sense that Holmgren should just make Offensive personnel decisions, while Ruskell should make Defensive personnel decisions. But in the NFL world, it cannot happen that way. Only one man makes the final decision. Both are specialists in that area, but so far this season - both imploded.

It's kinda antsy to go into next season with Mora as our coach without an offensive guru/specialist who truly knows what cogs are needed in the WCO. With Holmgren gone, and Mora cleaning house most likely, I wonder how our offense will be with Ruskell as our GM.

Holmgren had his weaknesses and mistakes and Ruskell has his, but bottomline the reason why we went to the Superbowl is not just because of Ruskell or Holmgren, it's because everybody bought into the atmosphere and great chemistry. We were a lot more aggressive on defense (I believe Rhodes was the DC - correct me if I'm wrong), but classifed as a "bend but don't break" defense. Our offense was flowing and the team hardly had injuries. This year, we have new people coming in, practicing, which not necessarily ruins the high character atmosphere, but ruins the chemistry.

Is it me or at times are you irritated at the fact that it takes so long to learn the WCO? It's a great offense but has to have little to no turnover on personnel.

We can whine and b*tch all we want but bottomline, the defense we play do not create enough chances for playmakers. Also our offense is so banged up, we don't have the chemistry.

"rumors of Holmgren wanting to leave" Those were rumors he might be fired. His job security was in question prior to the great '05 season.

Osiris, spot on for the most part. I do disagree that Chris MacIntosh was a bust, he had bone spurs in his neck that ended his playing career after a couple of seasons, so we'll never know how that pick would have panned out. But you're right on the others, except maybe Daniels. He made a bee line for another team as soon as free agency hit, just like Ken Lucas did. Sam Adams was a guy that had a rep as a slacker, that he took plays off. He got a ring with the Ravens but look at the defense he was on, still think his Pro Bowl spot was a sympathy vote. Ruskell is a mediocre GM and we can, and need to, do better.

As for Tapp starting, five will get you ten we see Graham and Dunn running the majority of the time to his side, just like Green Bay did in the playoff game last season. He needs to remain as a situational pass rusher, a spot he excelled in during his rookie year.

Anyone who thinks Bob Ferguson did anything more than keep a chair warm during his brief tenure here is completely wrong. This guy was a figurehead, nothing more, Holmgren still called the shots.

Facts:

After gettting promoted in TB Ruskell team made the superbowl in his 2nd season. They had like 5 consecutive seasons after that in which they got worse.

Then he went to Atlanta and the next season the go big, and they immediately went on the long slope DOWN.

He comes to Seattle - again tweeks the team and they go big and get to the super bowl and guess what! The team starts a downward trend.

He does a great job of tweeking the team but has yet to prove that he can win long term. Which I am not sure he can do.

He clearly has an ego - as big as Holmgren. to be successful they need to be able to work together and they can't. IF your GM and HC can't work together you become the Raiders (consistantly bad) or Dallas (great talent -no results)

BWAH.... all this bashing Ruskell about losing Huth.... what have the vikings done since they got him? ONE LG is not the answer to all our problems.... Mike Whale is a very good LG... If we had kept Hutch we'd be w/o another crucial part or two to this team... The hawks are up close to the cap and there would be something else to whine about if we kept hutch. Granted if we kept Hutch and just let Alexander go that year we'd be a lot better off and it'd probably nullify the cap impact... but NOBODY in their right mind would have been happy if we let the league MVP go in 2006.... hindsight is 20/20... we'd all keep hutch and let Alexander go now... but there's no way ANYONE could have known he'd drop off the way he did...