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

[CalgaryFan05]

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

> .500 record.

Flirting with or in the playoffs.

Leading the team. Team following him. Discipline issues sorted.

Not blaming a kicker for a loss. Mora..... anyone.... Mora.....

I'd be happy to just see a concrete vision executed, and the end of the word salad/excuses days.

Not to sound to namby pamby about it, but as long as everyone is legit 'doing their best' and the team's pulling in the right direction. Ya know "Always competing"

Not looking for an Owl here. I'd be curious: has a first year coach ever won a SB?

 

[LeveeBreak]

A minimum of qualifying for a playoff spot. Therein lies success!

Win a playoff game, or a good battle post season, down to the dying seconds.

OK, confidence and hope restored.

This^^^^^

Sweeping the Lambs and taking min 1 from the niners would be a cherry on top.

 

[LeveeBreak]

Lot of good responses here. I also won't put a W/L number on what I expect. I'll just say that I want to see a few things to pass the "eye test" that there is improvement, mostly on defense of course.

1. I want the opposing punter to get more attempts than our offense scores TDs.

2. I want to see a real running game that shows more than 3 or 4 plays called.

3. Related to #1, I want opponents to score more FGs than TDs and not many of either.

Why does a walrus come to mind when I read this?

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

If all Mac does is sweep the division, that would be “good enough” for me.

No one is expecting Seattle to “compete” and be “contenders” this year.

However, I’m not “no one” and I fully expect Seattle will be a force to be reckon with.

Seattle will be “better” than what the pundits and “analyst” expect they will be.

12-5 is still my prediction and Seattle advances to the Divisional Round of playoffs in Mac’s first year with Seattle….

Let’s goooo!!!

 

[GemCity]

I’d be happy with marginal improvements on O…calculated risk and seeing our defense go from bottom dwelling to respectable.

 

[ZagHawk]

I want to see the team getting more effective and consistent in the 4th quarter of the season even if by that time they are barely in playoff contention or even missing it. That to me is success that he is building something greater, if the team is a hot bloody mess the entire season than that is a failure and very worrisome.

 

[Treefiddy]

Honestly, just better discipline, more creativity and more determination from the players and staff.
MM deserves at least 3 seasons to get some of his guys and his program rolling.

 

[projectorfreak]

Last year we should have won at least 2 more games
I feel 10+ wins and into the playoffs and a good off season and we can really play

 

[onanygivensunday]

I found it... now I need to read it all.

Thought that this would be interesting to re-read considering last Sunday's victory over the sniveling Forty-whiners.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Feels about where it should be. Starting to improve overall, won a big game Sunday. Lost a couple they had no business losing (Giants/Clams/Giant Clams)

The Rollercoaster. Here we sit 5-5, only a game out and we still have 2 with the Cards and another with the Rams (Revenge time)

Not bad. I'll say it again, it is WAY too early to give up on YOUNG Coach Mike.

 

[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.

In hindsight, apparently my expectation was too lofty. We're already at four losses by more than one score... losing my more than 8 points to the Lions, the Giants, the Whiners and the Bills.

With seven games to go, my definition for a successful season would be to split with the Tweetybirds, beat the Jets and the Bears, and finish the season with a hard-fought W over the Lambs... thereby finishing 9-8 (or better)... and posting a 3-3 record within our division, splitting games with all three opponents.

Lastly, I feel that I need to establish a Defensive Scoring goal for the last seven games. The team with the 12th best defensive points allowed per game is currently the Treetybirds at 22.0.

I will consider this year a HUGE success if we hold our last opponents to no more than 22.0 points/game for the last seven games.

FWIW, we're currently 21st best allowing 23.8 points/game. While the difference is average points per game seems small, the difference in league rankings is significant.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Young

 

[Ozzy]

He's already shown success. This defense was already better than it was for years under the old regime even after they dumped a ton of resources into it. If the past two weeks are what we will have moving forward then he will be a massive improvement from what we had. Get the line fixed this offseason and the future is bright.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Having Lucas and DK Satan back in the lineup is massive. Totally different offense w/out those two, imo.

Also, the addition of Jones at LB will likely go down as the best move in a long while. This kid is special, and incredibly consistent. Total team leader type. I see a C on his jersey next season.

 

[pmedic920]

A realistic chance at the playoffs going into last game or two.


Make the playoffs and that’s huge IMO.

I think too many underestimate how hard the NFL is for coaches and staff, toss in a few first timers and that makes it even harder Imo.

 

[jammerhawk]

The D is already improved, so I’m happy, but it’s early yet. Things could be awesome or just ok. Let’s wait and see. So far so good.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

That's what she said.

 

[toffee]

9-8 is the data point, and achievable at this point. Before the season started, that data point was 10-7, but adjustments were made to accommodate a first-year coach.

 

[SeaofGreen]

Beating the 9ers in Santa Clara

 

[Atradees]

Continued Better defensive play. Offensive line identity with consistent players and play. Winning division and getting a bye. Coming out of the bye with health and swagger. Winning the nfc. SUPERB OWL. A good start would be laying the smack down on Arizona.2x in short border. I mean that's all it take for this Cinderella story.

No sense in tanking for higher draft picks. We will only trade down for 3 Auburn CBs. No first round OL. They take 3 years to develope.

Just beat the cards 2x!