Based on the Seahawks’ actions/inactions during the past two drafts, Seattle GM John Schneider is someone who prefers to stand pat. Before this year’s draft, the Seahawks repeatedly stated publicly that their intention was to trade down from #25. However, when they had the opportunity to do so, the team failed to make a deal. I don’t have any problem with the team if James Carpenter was their guy and they felt he wouldn’t be available to them had they traded down. Just don’t say you’re going to do something and then not do it.

The decision to stand pat is a risky one. You take a gamble that no one else will trade up in front of you and take the player you want. Draft picks are a precious commodity to a team with as little depth as the Seahawks, so the reticence to trade two or more picks for one is understandable. Yet sometimes getting the player you want is worth the expense.

In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Seahawks had the 14th choice and everyone knew who the Seahawks were going to select – Texas S Earl Thomas. Thomas was the perfect choice – a good value for the pick who would fill a desperate need for the team. Suddenly, the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to #13. It was presumed they did so to take Thomas before the Seahawks could. They surprised everyone by taking Michigan DE Brandon Graham. The Seahawks had fallback options such as Idaho G Mike Iupati, but they were extremely fortunate to get the player they wanted in Thomas.

The Seahawks were not so fortunate this year. The team stood pat at #57 in the second round and watched as the players they wanted went off the board. With no acceptable fallback options this time, Seattle traded #57 to Detroit for #75 in the third round and basically picked up an extra fourth rounder (#107).

Ex-GM Tim Ruskell put the Seahawks in the position they are today through poor drafting and other ill conceived personnel decisions. One thing I did like about Ruskell was that he was willing to trade up in the draft. Whether doing so was the wisest thing is debatable (see Deon Butler), I liked the aggressiveness in making sure they got the player they wanted. Schneider has shown an aversion to trading up, which will in the future make teams more comfortable in moving in front of the Seahawks, knowing they will not respond in kind.

The philosophy of standing pat or wanting to trade down is successful only if the draft choices retained or acquired are put to good use. In most cases, these choices are toward the latter end of the draft (fourth round or later). If the Seahawks draft well in these rounds, this philosophy is justified, and vice versa. We won’t fully know for a year or two whether the current front office took the proper course of action. Right now, it’s not looking that great.

This is probably my last post on this blog. I would have loved to remain, but an agreement to do so could not be reached. I hope you enjoyed reading my articles; I had a blast writing them. For those of you concerned that I won’t publicly state I am wrong if I am proven so, I guarantee I will return to this blog (if it is still in existence) and eat as much crow as I have to. Thanks for reading, and goodbye (at least for a while).

One beacon of light in a storm of inconsistency and unfulfilled expectations has been linebacker,David “The Heater” Hawthorne. He has been twice the Linebacker Curry has and doesn’t celebrate after every single play. (Seriously Curry?!) He has led his team in tackles the last two seasons in a row, and is the true leader of this defense whether the fans recognize it or not.

Hawthorne played for TCU and nearly doubled his numbers between his junior and senior year yet remained undrafted. As much as I hate to admit it, this is probably a Ruskell pick: great kid with a great work ethic that is on the verge of something bigger. Once L Hill went down to an early injury in 2009, Hawthorne stepped up, took over, and never looked back.

His tenacity is what defines him as a player. He’s everywhere all the time. Game in and game out. The Heater is always running hot. Hawthorne is a steady force in an otherwise floundering defense. (more…)

12. Continuing their partisan bickering, Dino Rossi and Patty Murray struggle to jointly raise the 12^th man flag, fighting for control of the rope while their aides make statements blaming the other for its slow rise. Seahawks fans write in Chuck Knox on their ballots.

11. After watching Matt Hasselbeck throws three touchdown passes in the 1^st half, Larry Fitzgerald demands a trade to the Hawks midway through the 2^nd quarter.

10. Thanks to the new law allowing police greater powers to detain suspected illegal immigrants, local cops in Arizona interrupt the Cardinals’ game with the Seahawks to detain Arizona defensive back Hamza Abdullah.

9. You never know when Marshawn Lynch is going to unleash the beast, unfortunately for shoppers it was at a the Southcenter Mall. In the melee The Beast ran for 400 yards, injured 14, and in Macy’s alone, broke seven tackles before being brought down by security. When asked for comment, mall security said it was the most devastating combination of speed and power they’d ever seen.

8. With his public image steadily deteriorating, Brett Farve finds himself craving the adoration of fans and mistakenly does the Lambeau leap into the stands at Lambeau Field after throwing a touchdown pass to Randy Moss. It doesn’t end well.

7. Brett drops his unlimited minutes package and returns to T-Mobile’s “Family Plan.”

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When Tim Ruskell was in town, his moves were sometimes predictable. Predictable isn’t a great trait for a general manager, but Ruskell was egotistical and very disciplined in his philosophy on building a football team.

Ruskell wanted to obtain players who had won before. He wanted determined players with experience against the best competition, a team-first attitude, and a relentless work ethic. Most importantly, the player had to be of high character, a stand-up citizen, and well-behaved off the field.

Ruskell’s philosophy landed players like Deion Branch, Patrick Kerney, and Julius Jones. In the NFL Draft, Ruskell opted for experienced, “safe” picks like Kelly Jennings, Lawrence Jackson, and Aaron Curry.

We knew what to expect when Tim Ruskell was in charge. The new regime, however, is still somewhat mysterious.

We had no idea what to expect in last April’s draft. Some people thought John Schneider would submit to Pete Carroll and favor players from Southern California and the Pac-10 Conference. Others assumed the Seahawks would significantly reach for a quarterback like Jimmy Clausen or Tim Tebow.

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1.  He was a Ruskell guy.  This has become a phrase I find myself stating a lot this off-season.

2.  I am not a salary cap expert, in fact, I find it quite confusing at times.  But I can’t help but think the Hawks are clearing his salary for the future.  My understanding is the Seahawks will face a significant cap penalty (as they are paying Housh $6.15 Mill to play for Baltimore) this year, but then will be better off the following season.

3.  Bad Attitude.  This guy never felt like a Seahawk to me.  He never took credit for his own mistakes, and he made sure to point out everyone else’s.  The only consistency he demonstrated was complaining about anything he was asked.   Every Time I think of him, an image of him throwing his arms up on the field pops up into my head.  I would much rather see an upcoming WR who is hungry to show what he can do rather than an overpaid ego who throws the rest of his team under the bus.

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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Seahawks are prepared to move forward without Housh:

The Seattle Seahawks will cut ties with T.J. Houshmandzadeh by trading or releasing him, according to two league sources, and it will promote former Detroit first-round draft pick Mike Williams into its starting lineup for a Sept. 12 game against San Francisco.

A trade would obviously be the most preferable option for the Seahawks. By trading Houshmandzadeh, the Seahawks would not only receive compensation – albeit minimal – they would also be able to dump his large contract on another franchise.

But Houshmandzadeh’s contract, signed last year while Tim Ruskell was making decisions, makes a trade unlikely.  Houshmandzadeh is guaranteed over $7 million in 2010 and has four years remaining on his original five-year deal.

By releasing Housh, the Seahawks would be on the hook for his guaranteed 2010 salary. Even though Paul Allen’s pockets seem bottomless, $7+ million is a lot to pay a player who isn’t on the team.

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 The words, “Super Bowl MVP” just floated out of fans’ mouths, Tim Ruskell couldn’t wait to get his hands on, what seemed to be, a key component of the unstoppable New England Patriots’ offense, and Branch was equally excited to get paid after posting career numbers in receptions (78) yards (998) and touchdowns (5) in 2005. Fans collectively held their breathe and watched… knowing what was about to come… waiting for him to explode… any minute now…

Four seasons later, fans are no longer waiting. The only thing they have demanded as of late concerning Deion Branch is that he be traded or released. The Seahawks and their fans made a time honored mistake by giving too much credit where it had never been earned. They organization took a gamble on what looked to be the MAKINGS of an elite wide receiver only to wake up to the reality of the last four seasons.

Deion Branch has  never been an elite wide receiver in the NFL.  Not with New England and certainly not with Seattle.

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Detroit’s front office is obviously trying to build a competitive football team, but aren’t they aware that Seattle’s roster has only won nine games in two seasons? And don’t they know that most of Seattle’s former players have been dumped as the team moves forward from the Tim Ruskell era?

I understand that sometimes a change of scenery is beneficial for different players. New teams can usually offer better opportunities, more appropriate schemes, and less expectations.

Rob Sims, for example, will probably be a pretty good player for the Detroit Lions. Sims’ style of blocking is more suitable in a power-blocking scheme; the Seahawks switched to a zone-blocking scheme last season, and Sims became expendable.

Playing in the shadow of Steve Hutchinson didn’t exactly promote stress-free development, either. While playing a position that is usually unobserved, Sims was regularly critiqued and criticized for mistakes by Seahawks fans who were used to watching a Hall of Fame guard on the field.

Detroit offers a better opportunity, a better scheme for his talents, and far less expectations for a left guard. Oh, and according to Rob, unlike Seattle, Detroit is a football town.

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According to Football Outsiders via ESPN.com, Justin Forsett ranks ninth on a list of the top twenty-five prospects in the National Football League.

To be eligible, prospects must meet the following criteria:

• Be in the second, third, or fourth year of their pro career
• Have been drafted in rounds three to seven or signed as an undrafted free agent
• Have started fewer than five career games in the NFL
• Still on their rookie contract

Given these conditions, players like Aaron Curry, Charlie Whitehurst, or David Hawthorne are not eligible.

Forsett, entering his third NFL season, has only started two games, both last season with the Seahawks. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft following an impressive career at California.

From Bill Barnwell of Football Outsiders:

Given a chance to carry the ball last year while Rome burned around him, Forsett put up an 18.2 percent DVOA, fourth-beat among qualifying backs. The DVOA of the other Seattle backs wasn’t as pretty: Julius Jones was at minus-6.2 percent, and the remains of what used to be Edgerrin James mustered a whopping minus-30.2 percent. Forsett was also the team’s best receiver out of the backfield. With investments along the offensive line and a guaranteed lack of Seneca Wallace at quarterback, Forsett should remain one of the league’s most efficient and quietly effective backs in 2010. Professionals personnel note: Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell tried to give Forsett away, waiving him after selecting him in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft but got Forsett back after the Colts picked him up and couldn’t find a consistent roster spot.

Prospects on Seattle’s roster who were eligible but missed the cut include Deon Butler, Nick Reed, Red Bryant, and a handful of lesser players.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Of course, Tim Ruskell signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears back in May following his resignation in Seattle. Ruskell, who was the President of Football Operations in Seattle, holds the title of Personnel Director in Chicago.

According to Pompeii, Tim Ruskell is going to have a huge impact in Chicago. As a part of significant front office restructuring, Ruskell brings a new philosophy and has systematically changed the way the organization scouts.

From Pompeii:

Ruskell’s impact on this organization can be significant and lasting.

I never bashed Tim Ruskell during his tenure in Seattle. In fact, I usually supported his decisions. But nine wins in two seasons isn’t enough to keep your job in the National Football League.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but I’m now beginning to second guess some of Ruskell’s decisions. And part of me is excited a new regime has taken over in Seattle.

Ruskell may have a “significant and lasting” impact in Chicago, but that doesn’t guarantee everything will be positive.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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White’s release proves this new regime, like its predecessors, considers character when making personnel decisions. White was facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, but the Seahawks reportedly knew about this when they acquired him in April.

It was White’s poor attitude and lack of commitment that triggered Seattle’s decision to move forward without him. According to several sources, White had problems “making meetings on time, appeared to have a sense of entitlement, and was not coachable.”

At least Seattle didn’t give up much to obtain White – dropping seven spots in the fourth round and nine spots in the sixth round was a bargain. And remember, Seattle also received defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson in the deal.

White’s release was shocking, but does it offer any foresight of what will happen to LeRoy Hill?

I don’t think LeRoy Hill is a bad influence in the team’s locker room. I don’t think he is a selfish player, at least on the field and as a teammate. But considering Hill’s large salary and his recent history of poor decision-making, is his departure from Seattle imminent?

Don’t kid yourself: the Seahawks didn’t ask LeRoy Hill to stay away from minicamps and OTAs because they wanted to give him an opportunity to “deal with personal issues.” Hill hasn’t been allowed to participate because if he shows up and suffers a season-long injury, the Seahawks will owe him his entire $6 million salary.

When Tim Ruskell re-signed LeRoy Hill, he brilliantly added (or at least approved) language that allows Seattle to void the contract if Hill is suspended, among other things. Remember, Ruskell was high on character and Hill had just been charged with marijuana possession following a traffic stop in Georgia.

With a four-game suspension looming, Seattle should have the opportunity to void Hill’s contract and part ways without penalty. Assuming, of course, Hill remains healthy and on Seattle’s roster until he is suspended.

It is unfortunate when Seattle loses out on potential talent because of immaturity and poor decision-making. LenDale White had an opportunity to be a factor in Seattle’s offense – there are better options, but White could have possibly resurrected his career under Pete Carroll.

LeRoy Hill is a talented linebacker who is probably worth his contract if he is actually on the field and healthy. Considering his lack of durability and imminent suspension, the Seahawks are better off moving forward without him. Fortunately, linebacker is a position of depth and there are several capable replacements waiting for an opportunity.

If the LenDale White was anything but a surprise, it was a forecast of how important unselfishness, maturity, and character is to the new front office. John Schneider and Pete Carroll are ready to win, but sometimes winning requires more than just talent.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Webster, who had been the interim general manager following Tim Ruskell’s removal, was the Vice President of Player Personnel in Seattle and is expected to fill a similar role in Tennessee.

“On behalf of Mr. Allen, Tod Leiweke, coach Carroll and the entire Seahawks family, I want to wish Ruston Webster, his wife Gayle and their family the best in their new endeavor with the Tennessee Titans,” John Schneider said earlier, very complimentary of Webster and his contributions to the franchise.

“They are a great family and will be missed by the Seattle community. I personally want to thank Ruston for all of the hard work prior to the 2010 draft, as well as previous drafts with Tim Ruskell. Not only are the Titans getting an excellent football person, they are getting an even more impressive individual.”

Ruston Webster is highly regarded around the National Football League as a talent evaluator, but his tenure in Seattle was associated with former General Manager Tim Ruskell. Webster’s departure is one more step towards completely moving past the Tim Ruskell era in Seattle.

Speaking of Webster’s relationship with Ruskell back in 2006, NFLDraftScout.com’s Senior Draft Analyst Rob Rang said, “He and Ruskell seem to share similar philosophies on grading prospects. Both have the ability to locate players outside of the first few rounds that fit the specific requirements of the schemes their coaches prefer. Each also shows the ability to accurately project the board, maneuvering through the draft to address positions of need, while still maintaining value. The fact that two of Ruskell’s additions to the Seahawks [in 2005], defensive end Joe Tafoya and safety John Howell, were among Webster’s first class as collegiate scouting director speaks of their alignment in the scouting process.”

In addition to Webster’s departure, the Seahawks also announced a pair of promotions.

Scott Fitterer, previously the Western Region Director of College Scouting, has been promoted to Director of College Scouting. Fitterer originally joined Seattle’s staff in 2001 as an area scout.

Eric Stokes, who had been a Midwest area scout, has been promoted Assistant Director. Stokes has been scouting for the Seattle Seahawks for just over a decade prior to his promotion. Some fans may remember Stokes from earlier in his career; as a defensive back, he was drafted in 1997 by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round. He was the third player chosen by Seattle after Walter Jones and Shawn Springs.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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But if you can’t beat them, join them.

After watching Walter Thurmond play very well at the University of Oregon for four seasons, it will be a relief to finally have him on our side. If he can stay healthy, the Seahawks probably found themselves a nice, capable cornerback in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

Thurmond is nearly 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, so he breaks the mold of “small” cornerbacks – despite a thin frame, his physical attributes aren’t bad – that dominated Tim Ruskell’s tenure. He has long arms, great ball skills for a defender, and natural cover skills. Physically, his loose hips and fluidity is exactly what you like to see in a cornerbacker.

When healthy, Thurmond is a great player. Unfortunately, durability is a concern.

He was limited to only four games last season after suffering a knee injury and there is no guarantee he’ll return to top physical form. But even with the injury concerns, Thurmond is a risk worth taking. If he can stay healthy, he is a first- or second-round pick selected near the top of the fourth round. Quite a bargain if he can return from a knee injury and stay on the field.

Thurmond should be a solid special teams contributor his first season and could develop into a solid number-two cornerback in Seattle’s defense if he stays healthy. His natural ability and man-cover skills are definitely worth the risk in the fourth round.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Following Hill’s arrest last year for marijuana possession after authorities found him passed out behind the wheel, I supported his return to Seattle. Hill was designated the team’s franchise player, and later agreed to a six-year extension worth $36 million dollars.

With Tim Ruskell making personnel decisions, Hill’s return was doubtful. But as a first-time offender, Hill assured the franchise, teammates, family, and fans that his mistake was a one-time occurrence and the same poor judgment would not be repeated in the future:

“I want to apologize to my family, my teammates, the Seahawks organization and fans. I am embarrassed by the incident Saturday morning and the poor judgment I showed. Please understand my actions were not consistent with the type of person I hope to become.”

Unfortunately, Leroy Hill was not straightforward about the type of person he hopes to become. Last weekend, he was arrested after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend at his home in Issaquah. This latest offense comes only a few weeks after Hill pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the January 2009 incident.

Unfortunately, Leroy Hill seems to take his career for granted. As a starting linebacker in the National Football League, Hill gets paid millions of dollars every year to do something he loves. He lives a life without major financial worries, is adored by thousands of Seahawks fans, and has enough talent to make a career as a professional football player. If Hill plays his cards right, he could achieve financial security for his family and future generations.

Unfortunately, the Seattle Seahawks will probably play a lot of games next season without its trio of talented linebackers intact. The team has invested millions of dollars in Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu, and Aaron Curry, but all three players have only been on the field for eight plays. Leroy Hill is probably facing at least a one-game suspension plus whatever else happens following the domestic violence charges. Due to his poor judgment and a flurry of unexpected injuries, Seattle’s investment in its linebackers is a broken one.

Unfortunately, Leroy Hill is not a trustworthy person. Second chances are fine, but Hill is running out of opportunities.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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They haven’t made it this far throwing the ball all over the field. They don’t have an All-Pro quarterback. Hell, they don’t even have much of a home-field advantage.

The New York Jets win football games in the trenches. Their offensive line is great, the defense is impenetrable, and they move the football on the ground. The Jets are playing the purest form of football.

How refreshing is it to watch an offensive line that overwhelms opposing defenders? The Jets know how to build an offensive line: invest a few high draft picks (D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Nick Mangold), bring in a couple key free agents (Alan Faneca, Damien Woody), and let them grow as a unit.

Unfortunately, under Tim Ruskell’s watch, the Seattle Seahawks failed to maintain a competent offensive line. The Seahawks nearly ignored the position in the draft and failed to build depth, acquired ineffective free agents (Mike Wahle), and  never experienced any sort of continuity due to injuries.

Remember when the Seahawks had a dominant offensive line? Their strategy wasn’t so different than New York’s; Seattle invested a few high draft picks (Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson), signed talented free agents (Robbie Tobeck, Chris Gray), and started the same five players every Sunday.

With a great offensive line, the New York Jets are able to impose their will on opposing defenses. With a successful running game, the Jets control the clock and wear down defenders.  They’re a good football team with a rookie starting at quarterback.

If Mark Sanchez played for the Seahawks, he’d probably be on injured reserve by now.

Fortunately for Sanchez, there aren’t any expectations; he just has to avoid mistakes. He isn’t required to throw the football around the field, and most of his passes aren’t very complicated – a majority of his attempts are short throws off play-fakes and/or bootlegs.

If we tried that with a rookie quarterback in Seattle, we’d be no better than the St. Louis Rams. We’re not good enough offensively to insert a rookie quarterback and expect wins, so don’t chase Matt Hasselbeck out of town just yet.

The offense is going to take awhile to rebuild, but what about the defense? Will Seattle’s defense ever be great like New York’s?

I know, the Seahawks don’t have a dominant cornerback (like Darrelle Revis), and their defensive line is underachieving at best. But if the right personnel decisions are made, can the Seahawks finally shut down opposing offenses?

I’m cautiously optimistic; the Seahawks have several talented athletes on that side of the ball, and a few new components could drastically change the competency of the defense. Whether it is a lack of talent or a deficient scheme, the Seahawks are unable to rush the passer. The defensive backs appear overmatched, and the linemen appear overpowered.

Hopefully, Pete Carroll and company can identify those weaknesses and improve a 5-11 football team.

The Jets are an obvious underdog, but extremely underrated in my opinion. Their style of smash-mouth, ground-and-pound football is refreshing and enjoyable to watch. Hopefully, the Seahawks can return to prominence in the trenches and find success if the playoffs again.

Until then, I’ll admit: I’m envious of the four teams competing for an opportunity to play in the Super Bowl.