The Seattle Seahawks shocked the NFL world – at the very least, the Washington Commanders anyway – by snatching Mike Macdonald within the remaining hour to change into the ninth head coach in franchise historical past.
As a part of the transition, Seattle goes from the oldest coach within the league to the youngest, from any individual who actually embodied the idea of “legend” to an upstart that’s – if we’re being sincere – largely unknown. He’s sensible, appears good at designing protection, folks like him, however main an expert group requires sporting so many hats on the identical time with a purpose to succeed.
Nevertheless, don’t be shocked if coach Macdonald enjoys a fast begin and early success sooner than coach Carroll did. Actually, I feel it’s reasonably seemingly.
That’s not the place the true analysis of Macdonald will lie, nevertheless, extra on that later.
It Can Be Achieved
Because it’s been common this previous week to name Mike Macdonald “defensive Sean McVay,” have a look at the Los Angeles Rams from 2016-2017.
In ‘16, the Rams have been 4-12.
2017 was McVay’s first season as head coach, during which they went 11-5
It might please you, pricey reader, to notice that a kind of 5 losses got here by the hands of the Seahawks.
McTake that, Sean.
Anyway, that’s one heck of a turnaround. Not the largest ever, in actual fact, not even the largest in Rams historical past. However nonetheless, 10-win swings don’t occur on a regular basis.
His motions, play-action mastery, and to be frank, inheriting Aaron Donald in his third season took the league by storm.
Expertise Discrepancy
Pete Carroll took over a equally dismal workforce in 2010. The ‘09 Seahawks completed 5-11, ensuing in the long run of Jim Mora’s profession.
Carroll respectably improved the workforce, however solely to the tune of 7-9 in that first 12 months.
That’s after drafting Russell Okung, Earl Thomas, Golden Tate, and Kam Chancellor that spring. The workforce was so overmatched at the moment that these rookies weren’t in a position to develop quick sufficient to make an even bigger distinction on the workforce.
The 2023 Seahawks have been a far superior roster to the 2009 one. Patrick Kerney led the workforce with 5 sacks that 12 months, and Matt Hasselbeck rode 11 fumbles and 17 interceptions to a 75.1 Passer Ranking. Geno Smith had a 92.1 this 12 months, for the file.
This 12 months, Seattle underperformed their option to 9-8, if something. They despatched a number of gamers to the Professional Bowl video games this 12 months. There are elite weapons at receiver and working again, expertise throughout the board on protection, and the workforce clearly suffered from a scarcity of cohesiveness all through the season. The explanations for above .500 optimism are current and practical.
What Comes After Is What Issues
Carroll had a dropping file in his first two seasons. That feels unlikely to be Mike Macdonald’s path, barring they reduce Geno, draft a rookie, and it bombs.
Like I mentioned firstly, I feel it’s extra seemingly than not that Macdonald could have a sooner begin than Carroll.
That received’t imply he’s a greater coach. Not but.
We bought to witness Carroll do one thing hardly ever witnessed in skilled sports activities – in 14 years, he by no means actually needed to rebuild the workforce. Actually, he outright refused. Macdonald’s actual take a look at comes not in 2024, or ‘25, however whether or not he is ready to maintain success. We watched Sean McVay – a 37 12 months outdated – contemplate retiring after his first dropping season, following 4 seasons of unparalleled success and a Tremendous Bowl championship.
I’m assured Macdonald will probably be shortly profitable.
I’m hopeful that he has what it takes to steer this workforce for the lengthy haul.
