Ruskell: ’08 an anomaly

RENTON, Wash. – Tim Ruskell hardly tries to find much good in the worst Seahawks season in 16 years, which just mercifully ended before any one else got hurt or anything else went wrong.

“It’s been tough, to tell you the truth,” said Ruskell, who as Seattle’s president and general manager was the chief architect of a 4-12 team that went from four-time division champions to out of the current playoffs for the first time in six years.

“It would be hard to put lipstick on that piggy.”

Now it’s up to new coach Jim Mora, his new staff and success amid the franchise’s biggest transition in 10 years to save Ruskell’s bacon.

“No, I haven’t felt like a target. I’ve heard the criticism, and it doesn’t affect me,” Ruskell said of Seahawks fans blaming him for the team’s stunning demise.

There have been underwhelming top draft choices like defensive end Lawrence Jackson. Free agents who had little impact, like fumble-prone running back Julius Jones and the so-far failed trade of a No. 1 pick for oft-injured receiver Deion Branch. And Ruskell has spent the past several years remaking the defense into a smaller, faster unit. Those defenders got mostly pummeled in 2008 by bigger offenses while finishing 30th overall in total defense and last in pass defense.

“A lot of blame to go around. Front office. Players. And coaches,” Ruskell said.

Yet he said he will not make foundation-shaking changes to the roster. His first priority this offseason is to re-sign Leroy Hill and he has already started talking to Hill’s agent to keep the play-making linebacker from leaving in free agency.

Ruskell also said veteran receiver Bobby Engram would like to return. And the Seahawks would like him to stay, though the GM declined to say if he’d offer the 36-year-old a multiyear deal.

Ruskell sees the 2008 season as an aberration. Eight starters from Week 1 went on injured reserve, 16 starters missed games with injuries and seven were out at least five games. That included Matt Hasselbeck, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who has a bulging disk in his back that is still being resolved. He is expected to be ready for minicamps in April.

“But you can’t just say that and then think it’s going to happen (in 2009),” Ruskell said of winning again just because health returns.

“No. We have to have a total recommitment and dedication from everybody in this building.”

Mora is conducting his first staff meetings this week. He is also leading late-night interviews with prospective new assistants, including Casey Bradley, currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is being considered for a defensive job.

On offense, Seattle is running over its pass-first ways of the past decade under Mike Holmgren, who is starting his sabbatical from football now.

The Seahawks officially named Greg Knapp, a friend and former coordinator of Mora’s in Atlanta, as their new offensive coordinator on Wednesday, a day after his hire became known. Knapp’s rushing offenses have been among the league’s top 10 in each of his eight years as an offensive coordinator, the last two with the Oakland Raiders.

The Falcons led the NFL in rushing in three consecutive seasons, all during Mora’s and Knapp’s tenures in Atlanta from 2004-06.

Offensive line coach Mike Solari is the only assistant from Holmgren’s old staff that Ruskell said will definitely return. Knapp and Solari worked together in San Francisco during the mid-1990s.

Seattle finished 19th in the league in rushing at 110.5 yards per game, after being 20th and averaging 101.1 yards per game in 2007.

“With the addition of Mike Solari and Greg Knapp … I think we continue to improve our run game,” Ruskell said. “I’m very much a believer in the run game, as is Jim. And if you get the run game going – and the defense – you look at a lot of these playoff teams, that’s a formula that works.”

Ruskell said Hasselbeck remains his franchise quarterback despite missing nine games while turning 33 years old in 2008.

“Do I have to address that one? Matt’s our quarterback. We’re very happy that he is,” Ruskell said, scoffing at rumors Seattle might dump him and let backup Seneca Wallace take over after Wallace had a strong finish in ’08.

Raiders special-teams coach Brian Schneider is reportedly on his way to Seattle after interviewing in Jacksonville. Green Bay may also be interested in the man some in Oakland feel was that team’s best assistant this past season. Ruskell would not confirm Schneider is a candidate to replace longtime and respected NFL special-teams coach Bruce DeHaven. He and Mora are methodically researching many candidates for the new staff.

Ruskell said he and Mora would like to have the new staff finalized by the week of the annual Senior Bowl college all-star game. That will be played on Jan. 24.