How would you define success for Macdonald’s first season?

[toffee]

This article is from field gulls, but how would you define success?

What would you consider a successful first season for Mike Macdonald?

A new coach comes with new expectations... right?!

www.fieldgulls.com

 

[SeaWolv]

Making the playoffs would be an obvious success. Barring a playoff appearance, having a top 10 defense would be a good start.

 

[pittpnthrs]

Success to me is just being able to see the vision he has going forward. With Pete, I couldn't see that.

 

[jammerhawk]

There are a few things:

- a noticeably improved D which can actually stop opponents on the ground and over the middle, one that kicks some butts,
- becoming stronger in the Division (not 3rd),
- being actually able to run the ball when needed,
-not wanting to turn the game off or leave when the same things work over and over against a clueless defensive coaching staff.

For me if those things can happen the team will be better, I don’t expect a SB yet; but want to see genuine physicality that calls upon opponents to respect all phases of the team. Early Pete was hard nosed ball.

I truly don’t want an undefined uncertain team direction that calls upon many fans to want Pete back. That said while the recent trend with Pete was toward negative mediocrity where the team just semed to have lost that physicality that demanded opponents respect, I truly was a fan of Pete but his time was over.

I expect to see a strong D, and the return of a team swagger. For me that’s enough for year one.

The bar will be higher in his second year.

 

[Bear-Hawk]

Last season Seahawks were 9-8 and in third place one game behind Rams.

This year 10 or 11 wins in second place ahead of Rams.

 

[Jerhawk]

Success, to me, will be the defense needs to be ranked at least 16th in yards and points allowed.

An overall better style of play. Better tackling, consistent effort, players look engaged and are communicating. A reduction in penalties.

We also need at least 7 wins. It's a long list, but if the 2024 Seahawks can't check all those boxes, it'll be time to move on from Macdonald.

 

[JPatera76]

Success, to me, will be the defense needs to be ranked at least 16th in yards and points allowed.

An overall better style of play. Better tackling, consistent effort, players look engaged and are communicating. A reduction in penalties.

We also need at least 7 wins. It's a long list, but if the 2024 Seahawks can't check all those boxes, it'll be time to move on from Macdonald.

The bold part is the only part I dont agree on, moving on from a coach after 1 yr imo is a bit shortsighted and dumb. We as fans don't know the extent of how much has changed as well as various things beyond Mac, ie. hold overs from the other regime, how have the players picked up the new overall system (plays, game plans, pre-game workouts, practices, all of it), and does he have ALL the right pieces HE needs to accomplish HIS vision.

It's crazy to me that there (not you necessarily that there are some fans in the seahawk world hoping he fails) It's also crazy to me that fans were willing to give people a plethora of years to "get it right" ... per Pete "we're almost there" , yet are unwilling to extend the same courtesy to a brand new HC, at his first HC gig with a whole new coaching staff.. just mind blowing.

 

[Jerhawk]

The bold part is the only part I dont agree on, moving on from a coach after 1 yr imo is a bit shortsighted and dumb. We as fans don't know the extent of how much has changed as well as various things beyond Mac, ie. hold overs from the other regime, how have the players picked up the new overall system (plays, game plans, pre-game workouts, practices, all of it), and does he have ALL the right pieces HE needs to accomplish HIS vision.

It's crazy to me that there (not you necessarily that there are some fans in the seahawk world hoping he fails) It's also crazy to me that fans were willing to give people a plethora of years to "get it right" ... per Pete "we're almost there" , yet are unwilling to extend the same courtesy to a brand new HC, at his first HC gig with a whole new coaching staff.. just mind blowing.

I want coach Mac to succeed. I really like him so far. I love everything he says, he seems like he's no nonsense, ready to kick anyone's a** who doesn't buy in, ready to kick McVays a**. I'm in his corner 100%.

But he needs to prove it now too. Clint Hurtt talked a good game and we all saw what a moron he ended up being.

Big Mac had some special talent to work with in Baltimore. That defense has studs all over the field, similar to Dan Quinn when he was here and was a hot commodity. Sure, Quinn's Falcons went to the Superbowl, but that was due to Matt Ryan's MVP season and Julio Jones.

Anyways back on topic. If the Seahawks finish the season 5-12, yet have finished, for example, 23rd in defensive points and 21st in yards allowed, and the product, although marginally better, is still not very good. They're committing dumb penalties, DK can't control himself, the tackling hasn't improved much, teams are hitting big plays a lot, the players aren't communication, some seem disinterested... Would you really want to give the guy another season if we see that? I wouldn't. I'm not saying that's what will happen, but we need to see some improvement, otherwise we're just wasting our time and spinning our wheels.

 

[jammerhawk]

Setting arbitrary numbers and changing coaches is somewhat shortsighted.

Improvement and toughness is what I want to see. Finding an edge where that shows through is enough and beating the Rams and Niners.

 

[Appyhawk]

Just want to see defensive improvement up to at least mid-pack in the league. Our W/L record will take care of itself. I takes established coaches more than one year to revamp a defense. Hardly fair to expect a first time HC to do it in less time, especially when saddled with low cap space and limited draft choices to make. I think Macdonald should have to seriously ****up to get canned in less than 3 years.

 

[onanygivensunday]

Regardless of our record, what I want to see is that we're competitive in every game... which translates to being within one score if we lose the game.

Last year, out of our 7 losses, 4 were by more than one score. In 2022, there were 3, which includes the playoff loss to the Whiners. In 2021, there were 5. In 2020, there were only 2, which includes the playoff loss to the Lambs.

 

[SeaWolv]

Success, to me, will be the defense needs to be ranked at least 16th in yards and points allowed.

An overall better style of play. Better tackling, consistent effort, players look engaged and are communicating. A reduction in penalties.

We also need at least 7 wins. It's a long list, but if the 2024 Seahawks can't check all those boxes, it'll be time to move on from Macdonald.

Wow. That's a lot of expectation to put on a first year head coach that is installing a completely new system on both sides of the ball. I suggest we temper expectations a bit more than this and not be so ready to run the guy out of town after the first year.

 

[Jerhawk]

Wow. That's a lot of expectation to put on a first year head coach that is installing a completely new system on both sides of the ball. I suggest we temper expectations a bit more than this and not be so ready to run the guy out of town after the first year.

I don't think what I've listed is that crazy, honestly. He's a defensive coach. If the defense doesn't show a considerable improvement over last season, that is a failure IMO.

Their last two first round picks have been defense. If Witherspoon shows decline like what we saw with Woolen from year 1 to 2, if Murphy is getting pushed around, if Jenkins is half a**ing it on tackle attempts like Diggs was doing, then to me, it's just more of the same old same old. Fire Schneider too.

 

[flv2]

Many on the 2023 team looked like they were just there to pick up a pay check. That has to change. It's a low bar, but if it isn't met Macdonald shouldn't be around for 2025. I expect Macdonald to positively change the culture. What the team looks like in '26 and '27 is anyone's guess.

 

[Crizilla]

any improvement on defense. ANY

 

[toffee]

Simple: Better than Seahawks 2023.

 

[AROS]

For me personally it is seeing the exponential improvement on the OL/DL, as well as the defensive and offensive schemes. Execution of course goes without saying. With the brilliant offensive minds of McVay and Shanahan (in our division no less), it's absolutely imperative to put them on notice with intuitive, unconventional game calling to keep them guessing. If I see that trend this season, regardless of if we make the playoffs or not, I will be very, very excited for what's to come.

 

[chris98251]

Well records are nice, but I want to see a change in attitude, a willingness to be a teammate and work together, cohesiveness comes with repetition and execution, seeing that improve as the season progresses will set us up for the coming years.

 

[MORGULON]

Success to me is just being able to see the vision he has going forward. With Pete, I couldn't see that.

Yes.

At least see the team improving , playing with urgency and passion.
I want to see Seattle curb stomp the poor teams , don't get blown out and if they lose , the team they lose to knows they were just in a
brutal fight.

The Seahawks might not win a bunch of games the first season.
I'm ok with this. Like you , I want to
see them moving forward.

 

[toffee]

Last season Seahawks were 9-8 and in third place one game behind Rams.

This year 10 or 11 wins in second place ahead of Rams.

10-11 wins, winning matters, winning is the end. The rest from schemes to passion to whatever are all just the means towards that end.