MacDonald vs Johnson decision time

[therealjohncarlson]

Your reply shows no understanding of the nuances of the situation Kafka is in.
Daboll is an abusive uncontrolled egomaniac who has a reputation of being difficult to work with.
Kafka and Daboll are barely on speaking terms. Daboll took play-calling duties away from Kafka multiple times last year, micro-managing, impulsive, abusive.
Kafka has probably had enough of the unprofessional and abusive environment and Daboll will probably be happy to see him go.

The Athletic has an article here:

Giants coaching staff: Is OC Mike Kafka next to leave? What's going on in hunt for new DC?

Giants coach Brian Daboll took play-calling duties away from Kafka during the season. Maybe multiple times.

theathletic.com

There's another article here:

The truth behind Brian Daboll, Wink Martindale, Mike Kafka and the Giants’ drama

The story of the Giants’ 2023 undoing is about bad football, a flawed process, and the egos behind them.

www.nydailynews.com

The Seahawks probably only have to add some BS "enhancement" to the OC position, adding "Assistant HC" to the title, where it's a "promotion", and Kafka is OC in Seattle.

I think the Seahawks interviewed Kafka twice for HC because they were looking at him for OC and in particular OC for Mike Macdonald, and that perhaps Macdonald, through his agent, gave the Seahawks a list of offensive minds he's be interested in working with, and Kafka was near the top of that list. (MY speculation)

Macdonald, or Johnson if it winds up being Ben Johnson, is already BEHIND in assembling a coaching staff, and the guys he (eventual HC) would want are being snapped up fast by other newly hired coaches.

So let me get this straight. Kafka had the offense underperforming to such a degree on a bad team that his coach had to come in and take play calling duties away from him?

Yeah I don’t want that guy

 

[JPatera76]

So let me get this straight. Kafka had the offense underperforming to such a degree on a bad team that his coach had to come in and take play calling duties away from him?

Yeah I don’t want that guy

Reminds me of the playoff game against the panthers in Carolina, first half was atrocious beast mode couldn’t get anything it was ugly. Halftime, then all of a sudden 2nd half Seattle looked decent and could get things going. then Mike Rob tweeted that cable took over calling from bevell the 2nd half of that game.

 

[Mistashoesta]

I tried to pay particular attention yesterday everytime they cut away to either Johnson or Macdonald. Johnson seemed cold. Emotionless. Maybe he was dialed in. Not sure. That's just the opinion I got when cameras cut away to him. If talks of bringing in a upbeat players coach, similar to Pete is the mission, then I don't think, imo, that they roll with Johnson. I could be completely wrong. Who knows. Time will tell soon.

 

[therealjohncarlson]

I tried to pay particular attention yesterday everytime they cut away to either Johnson or Macdonald. Johnson seemed cold. Emotionless. Maybe he was dialed in. Not sure. That's just the opinion I got when cameras cut away to him. If talks of bringing in a upbeat players coach, similar to Pete is the mission, then I don't think, imo, that they roll with Johnson. I could be completely wrong. Who knows. Time will tell soon.

What did you think when they cut to Macdonald? I didnt notice too much myself

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Honestly, I like both coaches a lot.

I prefer Johnson as an offensive minded coach, but I'd be happy with either as I think they're both REALLY good and can give the Hawks the identity and schemes this team desperately needs to compete.

 

[Mistashoesta]

What did you think when they cut to Macdonald? I didnt notice too much myself

They rarely showed him. He seemed "dialed in" as well though. Big games for both of them. I can completely understand. There isn't another human being on this planet that has Pete's energy. Those will be some pretty big Nike Air Monarchs to fill.

 

[JayhawkMike]

So neither fill the “animated on the sideline” requirement for head coach?

 

[olyfan63]

So let me get this straight. Kafka had the offense underperforming to such a degree on a bad team that his coach had to come in and take play calling duties away from him?

Yeah I don’t want that guy

What part of "Brian Daboll is a narcissistic abusive petty man-child tyrant who nobody wants to work for" (including Kafka) did you not understand?

 

[JayhawkMike]

What part of "Brian Daboll is a narcissistic abusive petty man-child tyrant who nobody wants to work for" (including Kafka) did you not understand?

I’d rather get a new head coach from a positive situation than a negative one.

 

[TwilightError]

I hope its Johnson but guess is MacD.

 

[therealjohncarlson]

What part of "Brian Daboll is a narcissistic abusive petty man-child tyrant who nobody wants to work for" (including Kafka) did you not understand?

My point was that it takes two to tangle. Daboll may be a terrible boss and an asshole like youre saying.. but their offense also sucked which spurred him to be resplaced multiple times. Both can be true at the same time, and probably were in this case.

 

[olyfan63]

My point was that it takes two to tangle. Daboll may be a terrible boss and an asshole like youre saying.. but their offense also sucked which spurred him to be resplaced multiple times. Both can be true at the same time, and probably were in this case.

I'm not really advocating for Kafka as HC, would prefer Macdonald. However, to get two interviews, there is clearly something the Hawks front office likes about Kafka. My "guess" is that Seattle was interviewing him as much to get him on board as Macdonald's OC, given that whoever comes in as HC has to build a staff with the "leftovers" that other new coaches or raided staffs didn't latch onto. Or perhaps they view Kafka as someone who can preserve large parts of Carroll's culture? We're all just guessing.

In any case, I haven't run across any reports of Kafka publicly criticizing Daboll or complaining, but there sure are lots of observers and media who have documented Daboll's unhinged behavior.

Have you ever worked for an abusive, micromanaging boss who literally screamed at you, like Kafka was enduring? Thankfully I've had only ONE of those in my career.

 

[renofox]

Offensive HCs go to SBs while developing young QBOTFs consistently and well.

Defensive HCs watch the SB from the couch while praying that their OC doesn't get sniped so their young QBOTF doesn't have to learn 4 systems in 4 years.

The structural advantages of Offensive HCs are so great that it would be a huge mistake for JS to hire a Defensive HC.

The NFL will eventually cycle back to Defensive HC advantage. But not in time to make a Defensive HC hire now make any sense at all - unless you're hoping for another 5 years of high-floor, low-ceiling Seahawks teams.

 

[King Dog]

Unless Bobo gives his stamp of approval on the new coach I'm out

 

[rjdriver]

Kick. The. Damned. Field Goals.

This ..

Plus:

You ran the ball 8 times in the second half. 8 times. This after manhandling the Niners in the first with the run. The Niners D looked beaten up and emasculated.

If you are going to play the "We go for it on 4th because that's our identity and we stick with it" card, then you should have stuck with the run in the second half. You don't let one fumble change that, just like they didn't let the first failed 4th down attempt change their decision making.

 

[WarHawks]

Offensive HCs go to SBs while developing young QBOTFs consistently and well.

Defensive HCs watch the SB from the couch while praying that their OC doesn't get sniped so their young QBOTF doesn't have to learn 4 systems in 4 years.

The structural advantages of Offensive HCs are so great that it would be a huge mistake for JS to hire a Defensive HC.

The NFL will eventually cycle back to Defensive HC advantage. But not in time to make a Defensive HC hire now make any sense at all - unless you're hoping for another 5 years of high-floor, low-ceiling Seahawks teams.

Great post. So if they go with Johnson, what do we do about the defense?

 

[ivotuk]

Honestly, I like both coaches a lot.

I prefer Johnson as an offensive minded coach, but I'd be happy with either as I think they're both REALLY good and can give the Hawks the identity and schemes this team desperately needs to compete.

I'm on board with this. I think Ben Johnson is cool, calm, and collected. He had some great play designs and calls and they should have won that game. But the players made a lot of mistakes, and SF got lucky with that 51 yard tip/catch by Aiyuk. Granted, hell of a play, but the fact that it stayed within his reach...crazy

 

[chris98251]

One good defensive coach can shut down a whole offensive movement across the league, innovation can give you 4 to 5 years of dominance on both sides of the ball, but a defense usually can adjust much quicker.

 

[rjdriver]

Offensive HCs go to SBs while developing young QBOTFs consistently and well.

Defensive HCs watch the SB from the couch while praying that their OC doesn't get sniped so their young QBOTF doesn't have to learn 4 systems in 4 years.

The structural advantages of Offensive HCs are so great that it would be a huge mistake for JS to hire a Defensive HC.

The NFL will eventually cycle back to Defensive HC advantage. But not in time to make a Defensive HC hire now make any sense at all - unless you're hoping for another 5 years of high-floor, low-ceiling Seahawks teams.

Another solid @renofox

This is why I will be incredibly interested to watch the Lion's next year. Motivation and "Leaders of Men" type coaches drastically rely on their coordinators to achieve success. I like Dan Campbell, because, well, how can you not? However, he will be losing his talented young OC this year. Pierce in Oakland will likewise be interesting to watch if he loses Graham.

Look at Quinn when he lost Shanny. It's a complex balance. A ying yang if you will. Super savvy play callers need strong character motivators as assistant coaches and vice versa. I feel this way about McDaniels in Miami. He's a little too much "one of the boys". Players rally around a leader because he demands respect and believe he would be the first to jump in the foxhole, not because he's a smart, cool guy.

 

[xray]

I'll support any HC hired not named Quinn .