Cut him some slack

[xray]

I'm cutting Mike Macdonald some slack ahead of time . He is coming to the Hawks from a 13-4 championship calibre team , with an elite defense and a 2 time MVP QB . I hope he doesn't expect too much from the Hawks and maybe cuts them some slack as well . GL coach !

 

[SoulfishHawk]

This right here ^^^^

 

[oldhawkfan]

So too soon to say the game has passed him by?

 

[Mase]

- Oh no, not at all. According to many on here, we had embarrassingly poor coaching last year. A head coach way past his prime, a very uncreative OC and a totally incompetent DC. Not sure about that hydration specialist either. Or the towel boy. Despite that, we ended with a winning record and barely missed the playoffs. So with all this new top flight coaching, we should be looking at 12-5 at least.

- Wait, or was it all the players suck? Or the players suck because the coaching sucks. Shoot, I don't remember.

- Sarcasm aside, I like the hires. At least I think I do, in the sense I like what the FO is trying to do. Now to see if it works. if he tears it down to the studs, then yes, we should give him a year or two to reload. But if we hit this year with the roster only mildly churned, we should see double digit wins.

Mase

 

[Chukarhawk]

oh, there will be some cutting!!!

 

[Hawknight]

This is a JS experiment and who will or should be the one who gets credit if these young non nfl experienced coaches succeed or be the one to hold his feet to the fire if they should fail.

 

[fenderbender123]

Yeah, as @Mase alluded to, we were 9-8 last year and decided coaching was an issue. So we should expect an improvement, and at the very least not a signiciant dropoff if there's an adjustment period.

It isn't always about record, though. Context matters. If I see red flags, I'm gonna say something.

 

[JustTheTip]

Yeah, as @Mase alluded to, we were 9-8 last year and decided coaching was an issue. So we should expect an improvement, and at the very least not a signiciant dropoff if there's an adjustment period.

It isn't always about record, though. Context matters. If I see red flags, I'm gonna say something.

We could realistically say that if the previous head of football operations hadn't made the next year or two about salary cap hell in the name of several years of mediocrity. The record may not reflect improvement, but I expect to see a light at the end of the tunnel by the end of the season. May still be a ways off but the evidence it is coming should be there.

 

[pittpnthrs]

Yeah, as @Mase alluded to, we were 9-8 last year and decided coaching was an issue. So we should expect an improvement, and at the very least not a signiciant dropoff if there's an adjustment period.

No we really shouldn't. The coaching change wasn't due just to last year, it was due to numerous years of stagnation. Ownership finally realized the team was going nowhere and a change was needed. The team is going to be drastically changed. Dropoff is probable and should be expected (although not certain) until the new staff align the team as they see fit.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Macdonald has absolutely earned the benefit of a doubt with his body of work in Baltimore, and the defense will need a year at least to turn around after the likely offseason changes.

 

[fenderbender123]

No we really shouldn't. The coaching change wasn't due just to last year, it was due to numerous years of stagnation. Ownership finally realized the team was going nowhere and a change was needed. The team is going to be drastically changed. Dropoff is probable and should be expected (although not certain) until the new staff align the team as they see fit.

I'm willing to give him some time, but like I said it all depends on context. There are few scenarios where I would be okay with winning 5 or 6 games.

 

[KinesProf]

Nah.

He should hold them and himself to a very, very high standard. No slack. This was a 9 win team that underachieved and probably should have been a 12-13 win team.

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

What’s crazy is, I don’t think Seattle is far away from being a potential Super Bowl team….they just needed fresh blood (coaching staff) and new ideas (also coaching staff) and of course some more talented pieces on the team but Seattle can quickly rise to the NFC top teams in 3 years (my opinion) with this new FO….

Give Macdonald 3 years and Seattle will be in the Super Bowl by February 2027!

 

[OneLofaTatupu]

I'm cutting Mike Macdonald some slack ahead of time . He is coming to the Hawks from a 13-4 championship calibre team , with an elite defense and a 2 time MVP QB . I hope he doesn't expect too much from the Hawks and maybe cuts them some slack as well . GL coach !

Part of the reason I’m excited is the expectation is low. I see people predicting a Seahawks Super Bowl and I want to mash my dick in a trash compactor

 

[renofox]

If they make a serious effort to clean up the cap this year, a win total of 5-7 is to be expected.

If they don't, win total of 8-10 is a fair expectation.

If they clean up the cap and still win 8+, MM will have done an excellent job.

 

[ElvisInBlue]

We could realistically say that if the previous head of football operations hadn't made the next year or two about salary cap hell in the name of several years of mediocrity. The record may not reflect improvement, but I expect to see a light at the end of the tunnel by the end of the season. May still be a ways off but the evidence it is coming should be there.

Spot on. MM & JS will have to pay off the credit card binge Pete went on in an attempt to go out on top.

Austerity should be the theme for 1-2 years until the Pete hangover is dealt with.

 

[haroldseattle]

Macdonald is in the honeymoon stage so I doubt he judged to harshly unless there is good reason. For example if the defense continues to suck big time, that would be a concern worth talking about. That's a low bar though and don't see that happening.

 

[xray]

I feel the D will be turned around quickly with Macdonald . My concern is drafting a QB that checks all the boxes for the near if not immediate future . JS really needs to put on his best ' drafting hat ' and nail it in April . And if he whiffs ? We will find out soon enough . BTW...we don't know what their priorities are for the draft . They might go a completely different direction with their 1st pick . Dunno

 

[pittpnthrs]

I'm willing to give him some time, but like I said it all depends on context. There are few scenarios where I would be okay with winning 5 or 6 games.

Players are going to get cut due to the cap space hell they are in and in turn, rookies or new face FA's will step in and replace talented players. It's going to be a process.

Macdonald gets an automatic 3 year pass from me. If progress isn't happening then it's time for yet another do over.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

This ^