The Patriot Act

Finally coming down from the euphoria of actually beating the Lambs in St. Louis, I started to think more about HOW we won the game and how this team has been responding to adversity this season.

Porkchop Womack and Itula Mili go down before week one? No problem. In steps Sean Locklear, Jerramy Stevens and Ryan Hannam, and our offense is off to a great start.

Ray Rhodes suffers minor stroke and is participating at limited capacty? No problem. In steaps John Marshall and our defensive schemes are more unpredicable and aggressive than they ever had been.

Lose Bobby Engram and Darrell Jackson the week before the most important game on our schedule? No problem. In steps Joe Jurevicius, D.J. Hackett and Jerheme Urban, and the offense continues to click on all cylinders.

Have one of our inspirational young leaders on defense get carted off the field on a stretcher? No problem. In steps Marquand Manuel and we finally bury our "Arch" enemies on their own field.

Not to get too far ahead of ourselves this early in the season, but if they were going to make a movie about the 2005 Seahawks at this stage of the game, it would have to be titled "The Patriot Act"!

Playing his role as Scott Pioli with more likeness and reality than Jamie Foxx brought to the film "Ray", Tim Ruskell has really created a true "team" atmosphere here in Seattle, and has built character and depth to a point where we can absorb these critical blows that would have easily derailed Seahawks teams of the recent past.

Need fresh legs on the interior of the defensive line? No problem. In comes Joe Tafoya and Rocky Bernard to continue to apply pressure on the opposing QB.

Need better production and field position from your punting team? No problem. Adious Senor Araguz and in steps Tom Rouen, who skillfully pinned the Rams deep in their own end all day.

Obviously, Ruskell is not solely responsible for all of these players, but he should be credited for bringing in a new focus and outlook for the entire franchise, along with a sense of urgency and a rededicated commitment from the entire front office.

So I'm hoping that this way off Broadway production of "The Patriot Act" is a long running success, in the mode of "Cats" or "The Producers", and I'm already looking forward to the sequel next year!