Ruskell's draft history spotty at best

Thursday was incumbent director of player personnel Tim Ruskell's opportunity to interview with Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips for the team's general manager opening.

Ruskell was brought in by recently fired GM Jerry Angelo on April 30, 2010 to be his right-hand man. The two had previously spent 14 years together with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Angelo was the director of player personnel from 1987-2000 and Ruskell was a regional scout from 1987-1991 and director of college scouting from 1992-2000. In 2001, he succeeded Angelo as the Bucs' director of player personnel, a position he held for three years.

Before joining the Bears, Ruskell spent five seasons (2005-09) as Seattle's president of football operations and general manager.

In his first year, the Seahawks won a franchise-record 13 games and an NFC championship before losing in Super Bowl XL.

In Ruskell's five seasons in Seattle, the Seahawks won three division titles and four postseason contests after having claimed three division crowns and three playoff wins in the previous 29 years.

But from Ruskell's five drafts, which included 37 picks, just five players were in the Seahawks' starting lineup in the final week of the 2011 season. Another three were backups and one — tight end John Carlson — was on injured reserve.

That's nothing to be proud of in today's NFL.

Ruskell's first-round picks weren't anything to brag about either. Linebacker Aaron Curry (2009) was a straight-up bust, who was dumped on the Oakland Raiders last October for seventh- and fifth-round draft picks.

Undersized defensive end Lawrence Jackson (2008) didn't work out either. After two disappointing seasons in Seattle, he was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he is a backup but has had 17 sacks in four seasons.

Cornerback Kelly Jennings (2006) had 2 interceptions in five seasons with the Seahawks before being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was a backup in 2011. Chris Spencer (2005) was the starting center in five of his six seasons in Seattle before signing with the Bears as a free agent last summer and starting 13 games at right guard.

Round 2 was better for Ruskell in Seattle.

Center Max Unger (2009) is a solid starter. Tight end John Carlson (2008) missed the 2011 season with a torn labrum but has been a major player when healthy. He battled injuries in 2010 while catching 31 passes for 318 yards, after catching 55 balls for 627 yards and 5 touchdowns as a rookie, and had 51 receptions in 2009 for 574 yards and 7 TDs.

Cornerback Josh Wilson (2007) was a starter in his second and third seasons in Seattle, with the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 and last year with the Washington Redskins. He has 11 interceptions in the past four seasons. Defensive end Darryl Tapp (2006) had 18 sacks in four seasons with the Seahawks before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he is a backup.

Linebacker Lofa Tatupu (2005) was a Pro Bowl pick in the first three of his six seasons with the Seahawks before injuries took their toll and he was cut by coach Pete Carroll in a salary cap move last summer.

Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery, a former Bears area scout, is schedule to interview for the general manager job Friday. The Bears have already interviewed Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III and Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross.

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