they kind of jump out at you like that

Ruskell in my eyes was always quite good at the draft. His free agency moves were very hit or miss, and he had a fetish for players with good character. But he drafted a lot of good players. His biggest problem may have that he kept drafting to try and keep the team in the run for a SB for Holmgren, and it caught up with the team (that and the bad Holmgren drafts) on offense. I was excited to see him draft for the offense right up until the team fired him. Oh well.

I think it was a crappy way to send of Holmgren, I didn’t think he was that bad as an assistant but to make him a coach without an interview.

I also didn’t like that he would take chances on some players – what did Jeb Huckeba and Tony Jackson cost us.

I remember David Carradine

and we can’t underscore Mora’s role in it either.

And I think it’s about time to close the door on Spencer.

John’s point is a fair one, but he’s overstating it.

Tubbs and Mebane together could have been great, yes?

If anything, he’s probably thinking about putting his college degree to use at this point.

But the regime-building decisions are what ultimately got him fired. The coach-in-waiting template was a disaster, and the head coach he chose failed pretty miserably. Allen and Leiweke looked at the whole picture and there was no one else to blame. You can place some blame on Leiweke, I guess, but the only player personnel-related decision he made was putting Ruskell in charge. Maybe he shares some blame for the Holmgren-Mora transition, but again that was Ruskell’s plan that he signed off on. The team was going in the wrong direction despite all the advantages of great facilities, stadium, fanbase, and resources. Ruskell’s head had to be on a plate in order to chart a new course.

I’m looking for some. So far, I’ve found this, not that it’s anything credible…:

Most football experts will tell you that it takes three full years to evaluate an NFL draft class, but don’t tell that to the media, who are only too happy to provide the instant gratification of a thumbs up or down analysis after less than 72 hours.

Well argued.

And I won’t even argue against it.

However, I do think we still need to look at his larger body of work, which goes beyond first round picks.

These types of “misses” are what puts FOs such as NE, Pitt, Philly and others above TR’s. However, he did also have his hits, which is why I feel he was above average. We could certainly have done worse than TR, and indeed, many feel like we are doing worse today, unfortunately. Hopefully, we will have a good draft, and coupled with a more modern scheme, improved use of existing talent, and better game-time coaching, will together get us competitive again.

Holmgren’s were much higher.

What’s more, Hutch and Alexander were classic “Ruskell guys” who slipped, were starters from major conferences. This is total speculation, but I will go to my grave believing the two greatest “Holmgren” arguments were obvious picks for Ruskell has he been at the helm then.

Holmgren had bad luck with injuries, but so has Ruskell. Jennings hasn’t been healthy. Nor has your greatest gripe— Spenser. Also, you are assuming that first rounders all survive and thrive. They’re hit or miss, even in the top 10. That’s why I appreciate Ruskell— while he didn’t hit grand slams, he rarely struck out either, and his middle/late round picks generally made the roster. That’s a win in my book.

But, yeah, I’m not in love with him either. I just don’t think he is as bad as many think.

Spencer was the top rated center and expected to go in the second round, he was picked at 31. Jennings was projected to go in the first. LoJack was projected to go in the first or second round, he was the fifth highest rated DE and was the fourth end taken.

His LB’s were a little above average size-wise. The DL wasn’t big or small. Only the DB’s appear small, but I would ask is that a product of him going for smaller guys, or trying to get the best available guy and not restricting himself to bigger guys.

Due to the small sample size of draft picks and available pool of players, I’m not sure we can say he build it that way compared to being forced to. i.e., if all things were equal and he had an earlier pick, do you still think he drafts small, or he would get a bigger guy if possible.

My biggest gripe in regard to the small corner is taking Jennings, who is a man-to-man guy if he is anything, and trying to place him into a cover2 zone scheme. Not marrying your pick to your scheme is just short-sighted. Or, to counter if they were not determined to go cover2 when they drafted him, moving to Mora and cover2 after already drafting a guy who is best man up is a mistake. (Particularly since Tru is also better in straight man than zone, though he is at least capable of either.)