Field Gulls: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Race to the BCS: rankings, in-game scores & blogs Bar-right-arrows



Game Thread: Eagles @ Seahawks

Philadelphia Eagles @ Seattle Seahawks


Backers, haters, recent detractors, today Tim Ruskell's creature is unveiled in near complete form. It's young and it's facing an opponent fit to rebristle its toothbrush with Seattle's short hairs, but the foundation, method and most of the defense of the future will be displayed today. Hold your breath.

Piecemeal and talent poor receiving corps

Some would say the laboratory exploded. Certainly the experiment hasn't been a grand success, but the poor play of Matt Hasselbeck didn't help. Whoever's to blame, I don't think Ruskell's philosophy of assembling a receiving corps with projects and castoffs is likely to change. It's taken some attrition, but two receivers have stuck: Koren Robinson and Kerry Colbert. Each is young, Colbert cost a pick and Robinson looks like a find so either could be around next season.

Three-headed power run game

Ruskell got his big back and well-rounded...eh...speedster, his thunder and lightning, now we finally see if a thumping lead blocker turns Seattle's rush game into something the offense can build around. I'm excited. I was as skeptical as anyone when Seattle drafted Owen Schmitt, but the preseason transformed my doubt into enthusiasm. The kid looks good. Schmitt looks like a unit changing force as a lead blocker, and after two weeks of sputtering against talented rush defenses, a running game revival is vital for Seattle standing a chance against the mighty Eagles.

Fast, small and hard-hitting defense

Yes, it's small. No, it's not that small. Ruskell isn't drafting a true Tampa 2. Sincerely, I'm still not sure what he's constructing. Whatever it is, it's expensive and it's young, with nine regulars drafted in the last four years: Two first round picks, three second round picks, two third round picks and two fourth round picks. Today, we see what if any production can be expected from developmental end Baraka Atkins. We see if Lawrence Jackson has refined his spin move, if he's getting it at all as a pass rusher and if he has legitimate hunger to improve. We see if Kelly Jennings can keep his feet and if Josh Wilson builds on his best game as a pro.

The creature might run amok. It might just suck. Whichever, win, lose or blowout, it's Tim Ruskell's team that takes the field today. I'm excited and fearful. Don't do us wrong Tim. This city's sports fans have suffered enough.

0 recs | Comment 566 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

KC wtf?

Just College trickery

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:04 AM PST   0 recs

I'm still hungover from friday..... God Dammit

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:07 AM PST   0 recs

I showed those trick or treaters whats up :)

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:14 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

That video is hilarious.

That made my week. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. If the kid was face up and moving it wouldn’t be so funny, but he’s face down and motionless and you have to assume he’s dead. It’s like the message is don’t get too drunk or you’ll airplane a kid into a bookcase and kill him.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 11:22 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Not a effective ad when its that damn funny

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:30 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Chris Johnson is the man.

I think he’s the NFL’s next great back.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 11:12 AM PST   0 recs

considering LENDALE WHITE is also putting up yardage...

….I’m inclined to think the OL has just as much to do with it.

by djafrot on Nov 2, 2008 11:13 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

well I thought Lendale always got a bad rap

I personally thought he would be better in the NFL then reggie bush.

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:15 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

I never thought White was that bad, but...

Sure the O-line is good, but Johnson is special. He’s compact and tough plus crazy fast. Johnson is an excellent receiver and can school a DB in space. He’s got a great build and keeps his legs under him. I’d take him straight up over Adrian Peterson.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 11:17 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Hightower emerging.

No touches for James, that’s bad for Seattle. Edge sucks.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 11:31 AM PST   0 recs

And bad for my fantasy team

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:40 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

and good for mine...

…thank you waiver wire.

by djafrot on Nov 2, 2008 12:02 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Finally back home.

Saw the video from last week. Great game.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 11:37 AM PST   0 recs

What were you doing in orlando?

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:40 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Business conference.

Well, that’s the excuse anyway. First night my boss managed to get tickets at the Trop for Game 7 of the ALCS.

After that it was five days of conference, five days of vacation.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 11:44 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

What conference?

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:50 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Gotcha

I was at NACFC. I got to play golf with a Alligator

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:51 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

I'm really sick of governor ads

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Nov 2, 2008 11:39 AM PST   0 recs

I love election season

but I hate political ads during sports. Bah.

Budweiser ads too, for that matter.

by katal on Nov 2, 2008 11:56 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

I've never seen it on this level.

Even the smallest contests are running attack ads.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 11:53 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

The average voter?

Pretty damn stupid.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 12:04 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

how do you know?

it’s 90% subliminal.

by djafrot on Nov 2, 2008 12:06 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Without naming candidates

I have to wonder at what point do attack ads begin backfiring? Sort of the Mac vs. PC effect at play.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 12:06 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

There seem to be a handful of candidates (again, not naming names)

who seem to be running an 80/20 ratio of attack ads to positive ads. I’m somewhat interested in seeing how this all plays out in two days, but mostly I just can’t wait for the commercials to vanish.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 12:09 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I have no idea why (the candidate) is running that strategy

You want to run positive ads so you can get your approval rating to at least 50% (the idea being that if at least 50% of the people like you, you have a good shot at being elected). If you run negative ads, you’re going to drag your opponent’s approval ratings down, but your own rating is going to slip some as well. That’s why a good campaign will run positive ads, while the 527’s attack.

Anyway, it’s going to be great when I can go back to watching sports without being reminded that this quarter has been brought to me by Rossi/Gregoire/etc.

by katal on Nov 2, 2008 12:13 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Not looking forward to that.

Speaking of the American public, I read that the majority of Simpsons fans reported that what they liked best about the show was the colors and when Homer got hurt.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 12:15 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

That explains why the show is still on the air

Or for that matter, how it survived past, like, season 10.

by katal on Nov 2, 2008 12:16 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

It also explains all the imitators.

The colorful and slapstick formula is surprisingly easy to copy.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 12:23 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

well no

simply put… the show’s been on for two decades… YOU try coming up with new ideas for that long.

by djafrot on Nov 2, 2008 12:28 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Not an excuse

There are plenty of other similar shows that have had no trouble coming up with ideas. And those shows have done it without bastardizing half their characters.

by katal on Nov 2, 2008 12:30 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

See the episode where the writers completely change the show's canon

and turn Homer into a grunge musician and Marge into a college liberal arts major instead of both of them being high school sweethearts.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 12:32 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

argh

I’ve heard of that episode. And thankfully, I’ve never actually seen it.

by katal on Nov 2, 2008 12:57 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

please, name one that's been on for 20 seasons.

Or even 10.

What the Simpsons have done is completely unprecedented in popular culture.

by djafrot on Nov 2, 2008 12:37 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Longevity doesn't necessarily mean it's good.

The Simpsons has been stale for years and it’s because the writers chose to deviate away from the formula that made the first seven or eight seasons successful.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 12:46 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Most of the core writers left.

I don’t blame the show for sucking, I just don’t watch it. To me, The Simpsons are like a great band that broke up. The lead singer added some retreads in their place and now they tour under the same name. Technically, it’s The Simpsons still, but the real show ended halfway into season 5.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 12:52 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

holy pass interference in Tenn

even Goose called it. Not even close to looking for the ball.

by djafrot on Nov 2, 2008 12:07 PM PST   0 recs

The NFL Network would be more successful

if I felt like it could improve my life more than 16 days a year.

by katal on Nov 2, 2008 12:09 PM PST   0 recs

Ouch

I’m starting Morris, Wallace, Duckett and Carlson for my FG fantasy team. I think I’m going up against John this week, I’ll give you an early congratulations on the W.

by MFAN on Nov 2, 2008 12:14 PM PST   0 recs

I need it.

I manage to pick the wrong guys to start every week. It’s like, as my life has improved, my fantasy skills have cratered.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 12:16 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Inactives

K Brandon Coutu
QB Matt Hasselbeck
LB Lofa Tatupu
G Mansfield Wrotto
WR Deion Branch
TE Will Heller
DT Howard Green
DE Patrick Kerney

by MFAN on Nov 2, 2008 12:22 PM PST   0 recs

Oh Timmy

if only you could figure out how this whole special teams thing works.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 12:25 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

He's actually not hurt

A team can only have 45 active players on gameday, since Coutu has no chance of playing he’s put on the inactive list.

by MFAN on Nov 2, 2008 12:28 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Dammit

Orton’s hurt, Chicago’s losing.

There goes my season in suicide football.

by katal on Nov 2, 2008 12:27 PM PST   0 recs

Cardinals beating the rams 31-7

Wonder if the Jim Haslett love fest is going to end.

by MFAN on Nov 2, 2008 12:29 PM PST   0 recs

weirdly, not as bad of news as it could be

since it should stick a fork in the Rams and kill any momentum they have… we still need a win in St. Louis.

Of course, we need a win today MORE.

by djafrot on Nov 2, 2008 12:30 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah.

Except in Seattle. Mike Holmgren thinks the shotgun is a gadget.

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2008 12:35 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I love Walrus

but there’s a large part of me yearning for someone a little more…progressive to call the shots.

by BrianL on Nov 2, 2008 12:36 PM PST to parent up   0 recs