In replacing Pete Carroll, the bouncy, ever-optimistic septuagenarian who made a football brand out of eliminating negativity, the Seattle Seahawks chose to stay on the defensive side of the ball.
From the outside looking in, hiring Mike Macdonald, the 36-year-old second-year defensive coordinator without a collegiate playing career and a long stretch of time under the umbrella of one successful organization, may seem like a risk. But to those who understand both the dynamics of Baltimore’s inner-workings and the pressures that come with rising through the Ravens’ defensive staff, Macdonald is not only a sensible replacement for Carroll, but also a fairly logical choice.
Throughout the coaching search process, there were two refrains attached to Seattle in particular: We shouldn’t be quick to assume that Dan Quinn was returning home, and the Seahawks need some way to combat a long-term residency alongside Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. In that way, the Seahawks don’t necessarily need a coach who is going to come in and maintain a brand. They need a coach who is going to keep pace schematically, and be able to withstand the pressures that come with battling in an intellectually challenging environment. Quinn’s chops as a defensive gameplanner are well established, but Macdonald had an incredible run against the league’s best play callers and quarterbacks this year.
Take a look at this résumé:
• Less than 20 points allowed against the San Francisco 49ers
• 10 and nine points, respectively, allowed against the Houston Texans
• Six points allowed against the Detroit Lions
• Less than 20 points allowed against the Miami Dolphins
• All the while, Macondald blitzed less—yes, I said less—than all but seven teams in the NFL, mostly Carroll and Fangio devotees. However, Baltimore finished the season leading the league in sacks. The Ravens had three more sacks than Kansas City, but sacrificed players in coverage 11% fewer of the time. This is objectively wild.
And then we have an early November beatdown (37–3) of Seattle in Baltimore, where the Seahawks found themselves in perpetual offensive checkmate. The first-down runs were siphoned into the gaping middle of a strong defense and swallowed up. There was rarely any display of intent from the defense, and then, by the time Seattle knew it, third down was coming and so was Baltimore’s unique pressure package. Geno Smith finished that game with a quarterback rating under 50. There is no doubt this game left an impression on the team that would eventually hire Macdonald.
