MM was hired to shut down...

[renofox]

the Rams and 49ers offenses.

Next week is his pass/fail test.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Chicago's defense is weak, slow and fat. Tremaine Edmunds in particular had a sufficiently awful day in the red zone to where I was lol'ing watching the highlights.

Shanahan's guys execute brilliantly, and Purdy is going to shred whatever zone defense we offer up. Fifteen touchdowns in the last 4 games is what you call a hot streak.

But we've also got the savvy up front and the speed in the back seven to make him and #23 work for it. We did that in Week 1. And they might be without LT Trent Williams (hamstring).

Plus, their defense is just hurting. 89 points surrendered in the last 3 games, and that includes the Titans. Plus, their promising CB Upton Stout is now in concussion protocol.

Being without Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton is something Shanahan will find a way to hurt us for.

 

[glenwo2]

Chicago's defense is weak, slow and fat. Tremaine Edmunds in particular had a sufficiently awful day in the red zone to where I was lol'ing watching the highlights.

Shanahan's guys execute brilliantly, and Purdy is going to shred whatever zone defense we offer up. Fifteen touchdowns in the last 4 games is what you call a hot streak.

But we've also got the savvy up front and the speed in the back seven to make him and #23 work for it. We did that in Week 1. And they might be without LT Trent Williams (hamstring).

Plus, their defense is just hurting. 89 points surrendered in the last 3 games, and that includes the Titans. Plus, their promising CB Upton Stout is now in concussion protocol.

Being without Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton is something Shanahan will find a way to hurt us for.

If they're without Trent, that is a HUGE...I mean....HUGE advantage for our Defense.

Mafe/Leonard/Lawrence...those guys will have a shot at Purdy-Mouth.

Also, being without Shaheed and Horton simply means that we need to lean more in the running game with some passes to AJ Barner, JSN, and Cooper Kupp sprinkled within.

The name of the game will not be a shootout.

It will be BALL CONTROL.

 

[Torc]

If you think Macdonald is going to consistently shut down the Rams and Whiners, you're mistaken. He was definitely brought in to be their foil, to make sure we're competitive in those games and win our share. All three of these coaches are young; we're in for years of matchups and chess games between these guys. As huge a fan of Macdonald as I am, I just don't see us smacking them down twice a year consistently. We'll have some good and bad games against them.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

 

[Jac]

You never know how the future is going to work out, but I can see a world where both McVay and Shanahan move on in the next few years. McVay's been at it for nearly a decade and might not want the stress of a post-Stafford world given he'd have a big television career. He could recharge and have his choice of jobs coming back. Shanahan is going to have to face a post-McCaffrey world very, very soon. But who knows...

 

[JPatera76]

You never know how the future is going to work out, but I can see a world where both McVay and Shanahan move on in the next few years. McVay's been at it for nearly a decade and might not want the stress of a post-Stafford world given he'd have a big television career. He could recharge and have his choice of jobs coming back. Shanahan is going to have to face a post-McCaffrey world very, very soon. But who knows...

i remember McVay had 1 foot out the door when Stafford was almost as good as done, but then he changed his mind, and so did McVay.

 

[Jac]

i remember McVay had 1 foot out the door when Stafford was almost as good as done, but then he changed his mind, and so did McVay.

Yeah, that's what made me think about it. There was a little smoke around this a couple years ago. And if the Rams win the SB this year, I think there is a better chance than not that both McVay and Stafford leave. I just don't think that the Macdonald-McVay-Shanahan is going to be a thing for the next decade.

 

[Hawkpower]

the Rams and 49ers offenses.

Next week is his pass/fail test.

With the wonders he’s done with our defense, I’m not giving him a fail if we lose Saturday

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

i remember McVay had 1 foot out the door when Stafford was almost as good as done, but then he changed his mind, and so did McVay.

I think it was Chris Petersen that persuaded him to stay. Quite a few rams players thought about retiring and their super bowl win including Aaron Donald at the time

 

[SeahawkSteve80]

I really like Macdonald, but if you don’t think he was hired here to counter McVay and Shannahan, you are severely naive. That’s exactly why he was hired, and so far, his defense has performed MISERABLY against those offenses.

Time and time again, Macdonald’s scheme has failed against the 49ers and Rams. Our defense, our amazing, super special defense, gave up 37 points and over 200 receiving yards to one guy. That is unacceptable, especially if you are a defensive minded coach! That is your job, to be a good defense, and against these two guys, Macdonald’s defense has barely done better than old man Pete’s did.

The team should’ve hired an offensive minded coach. They would’ve been set up for better long term success. Macdonald’s scheme isn’t working, his message will grow old and stale fast, and we’ll be back looking for a head coach within the next 3 years.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

With the wonders he’s done with our defense, I’m not giving him a fail if we lose Saturday

Yeah, win or lose, it's not because Mike "failed"

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

the Rams and 49ers offenses.

Next week is his pass/fail test.

If we take TNF against the Rams, that did not happen for most of the game…hopefully, that was only a warm up for Mac and the rest of the matches against McVay and Shanahan are shutdown!

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Well, the Rams had 3 straight 3 and outs and went 5 straight series without scoring. I'd say Mike made some damn good adjustments.

 

[Jac]

I really like Macdonald, but if you don’t think he was hired here to counter McVay and Shannahan, you are severely naive. That’s exactly why he was hired, and so far, his defense has performed MISERABLY against those offenses.

Time and time again, Macdonald’s scheme has failed against the 49ers and Rams. Our defense, our amazing, super special defense, gave up 37 points and over 200 receiving yards to one guy. That is unacceptable, especially if you are a defensive minded coach! That is your job, to be a good defense, and against these two guys, Macdonald’s defense has barely done better than old man Pete’s did.

The team should’ve hired an offensive minded coach. They would’ve been set up for better long term success. Macdonald’s scheme isn’t working, his message will grow old and stale fast, and we’ll be back looking for a head coach within the next 3 years.

Most offensive gurus outright fail. Aside, it makes no sense to think that you'd get one that would outperform McVay and Shanahan.

A few games of note:
- 11/17/24 against the 49ers: 17 points and 277 total yards
- 9/7/25 against the 49ers: 17 points and 384 total yards
- 11/16/25 against the Rams: 21 points (turnover-driven) and 249 total yards

Pete's defenses: 2020 (22nd); 2021 (28th); 2022 (26th); 2023 (30th)
Macdonald's defense: 2024 (14th); 2025 (6th)

It's not his "rah rah" messages driving those defensive ranks (ala Pete). It's his schemes (i.e., his message isn't going to get stale).

I think JS hired Macdonald because that's the guy he wanted to build with after the 37-3 demolition against the Ravens in 2023.

 

[Trackhawk]

I really like Macdonald, but if you don’t think he was hired here to counter McVay and Shannahan, you are severely naive. That’s exactly why he was hired, and so far, his defense has performed MISERABLY against those offenses.

Time and time again, Macdonald’s scheme has failed against the 49ers and Rams. Our defense, our amazing, super special defense, gave up 37 points and over 200 receiving yards to one guy. That is unacceptable, especially if you are a defensive minded coach! That is your job, to be a good defense, and against these two guys, Macdonald’s defense has barely done better than old man Pete’s did.

The team should’ve hired an offensive minded coach. They would’ve been set up for better long term success. Macdonald’s scheme isn’t working, his message will grow old and stale fast, and we’ll be back looking for a head coach within the next 3 years.

So, he gave up 37 points in defeating the Rams 37-38. and you are suggesting an offensive minded coach would do better? Doing what needs to be done to win is what matters, and he is doing just that. He is going toe to toe with the other top dogs of the division, despite both of their head coaches having 6 years more experience at the position.

In his first two years, we have split with the Rams 2 and 2, with no game decided by more than six points, and with two games going to overtime. Our point differential in the losses is 8 points. In wins it is 6. Net point differential is 2 points, in favor of the Rams. That is as even a split as one can imagine.

In his three games vs SF, we haven't looked quite as good, going 1/3, with our biggest loss coming in week 6 of 2024, when we lost by 12, after being within 5 points with under 2 min in the game. That was a big reason we went out and acquired Jones Net point differential is 13 points in favor of Niners.

But that is with the huge caveat that things may look very different if the Niners team that shows up Saturday is the same as the one that showed up last night. We took them to the wire, in a game we should have won, in week one, and that is when they were at full strength. They come into this game with CMC hurting, and Williams potentially out.

I would say that MM is doing exactly what he was hired to do, and all signs point to a long and fruitful relationship. I can't wait to see what the future holds, as he learns the position more fully, and his vision is more fully realized.

 

[SeahawkSteve80]

So, he gave up 37 points in defeating the Rams 37-38. and you are suggesting an offensive minded coach would do better? Doing what needs to be done to win is what matters, and he is doing just that. He is going toe to toe with the other top dogs of the division, despite both of their head coaches having 6 years more experience at the position.

In his first two years, we have split with the Rams 2 and 2, with no game decided by more than six points, and with two games going to overtime. Our point differential in the losses is 8 points. In wins it is 6. Net point differential is 2 points, in favor of the Rams. That is as even a split as one can imagine.

In his three games vs SF, we haven't looked quite as good, going 1/3, with our biggest loss coming in week 6 of 2024, when we lost by 12, after being within 5 points with under 2 min in the game. That was a big reason we went out and acquired Jones Net point differential is 13 points in favor of Niners.

But that is with the huge caveat that things may look very different if the Niners team that shows up Saturday is the same as the one that showed up last night. We took them to the wire, in a game we should have won, in week one, and that is when they were at full strength. They come into this game with CMC hurting, and Williams potentially out.

I would say that MM is doing exactly what he was hired to do, and all signs point to a long and fruitful relationship. I can't wait to see what the future holds, as he learns the position more fully, and his vision is more fully realized.

Giving up 37 points as a defensive minded coach is flat out not good enough. He should be thankful to Kubiak and Darnold for figuring it out in the 4th quarter and OT, otherwise the storyline would’ve been how Stafford carved up our defense.

Macdonald just isn’t good enough to match wits with Shannahan and McVay. The Ravens also struggled against the Rams with Macdonald. John Schneider should’ve noticed that, but of course he didn’t because he’s not a good GM.

Again, I like Macdonald. Seems like a funny dude and is a great defensive coordinator. Not a head coach.

 

[JPatera76]

Giving up 37 points as a defensive minded coach is flat out not good enough. He should be thankful to Kubiak and Darnold for figuring it out in the 4th quarter and OT, otherwise the storyline would’ve been how Stafford carved up our defense.

Macdonald just isn’t good enough to match wits with Shannahan and McVay. The Ravens also struggled against the Rams with Macdonald. John Schneider should’ve noticed that, but of course he didn’t because he’s not a good GM.

Again, I like Macdonald. Seems like a funny dude and is a great defensive coordinator. Not a head coach.

your really grasping at straws to discredit MM.. when you claim to like him. What kind of troll are you?

 

[SeahawkSteve80]

your really grasping at straws to discredit MM.. when you claim to like him. What kind of troll are you?

I’m not a troll at all. I’m seeing the forest though the trees.

This is a discussion board. I’m discussing my displeasure with Macdonald’s defense against the two offensive minded head coach he was hired to stop.

As a moderator, you should welcome football discussions. This isn’t a group think board, is it?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Giving up 37 points as a defensive minded coach is flat out not good enough. He should be thankful to Kubiak and Darnold for figuring it out in the 4th quarter and OT, otherwise the storyline would’ve been how Stafford carved up our defense.

Macdonald just isn’t good enough to match wits with Shannahan and McVay. The Ravens also struggled against the Rams with Macdonald. John Schneider should’ve noticed that, but of course he didn’t because he’s not a good GM.

Again, I like Macdonald. Seems like a funny dude and is a great defensive coordinator. Not a head coach.

Are you serious? Let me say it YET AGAIN. THE...RAMS....WENT....THREE...AND...OUT....THREE....STRAIGHT....DRIVES.....AND....WENT....FIVE...STRAIGHT.....DRIVES.....WITHOUT....SCORING....IN....THE.....4TH.....QUARTER.

How in the world is that NOT making HUGE adjustments?????????

Clearly it WAS GOOD ENOUGH to beat the Rams. FFS, I truly wonder if some people would physically be hurt if they had to just enjoy a damn 13-3 season, coming off a MASSIVE WIN. This is one of the best defenses in FOOTBALL, PERIOD, END OF STORY.
And here you are whining about Mike. Unreal. Winning isn't good enough? Holy hell.

This dude has PROVEN to be ONE HELL OF HEAD COACH. He's not good enough to match wits with McCrybaby? Um.........HE JUST DID.