The season is coming. The DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Seattle Seahawks and their new mastermind Mike McDonald. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
The 2023 Seattle Seahawks have made a splash. The faltering Ospreys appeared as a very dichotomous team. Both in the temporality of their season, with a promising start before collapsing over time.
But there was also a real split in terms of the level of play between the offense and defense. The first team carrying the second. Pete Carroll paid the price for this observation. Seattle is now looking to get back on track with a new pilot.
Last season: 9 wins – 8 losses, 3rd NFC West
Off-season movements
Notable Arrivals: Mike Macdonald (HC), Ryan Grubb (OC), Sam Howell (QB), PJ Walker (QB), Laken Tomlinson (OL), Laviska Shenault (WR), Jonathan Hankins (DT), K'Von Wallace ( S), Jerome Baker (LB), Tyrel Dodson (LB), George Fant (OT), Rayshawn Jenkins (S), Nick Harris (OL), Connor Williams (OL)
Resignings: Leonard Williams (DT), Noah Fant (TE), Artie Burns (CB), Julian Love (S)
Draft: Byron Murphy II (DT), Christian Haynes (OL), Tyrice Knight (LB), AJ Barner (TE), Nehemiah Pritchett (CB), Sataoa Laumea (OT), DJ James (CB), Mike Jerrell (OT)
Notable Departures: Pete Carroll (HC), Bobby Wagner (LB), Jordyn Brooks (LB), Damien Lewis (OL), Quandre Diggs (S), Jamal Adams (S), Deejay Dallas (RB), Drew Lock (QB)
For the first time since… 2010 and Pete Carroll took over as head coach, the Seahawks finished with a negative point differential (-38). The franchise's board of directors took advantage of this “excuse” to rejuvenate the thinking heads of their football team. Mike Macdonald, 37, becomes the youngest head coach in the league, replacing… the previous oldest (72 years old).
Macdonald is considered a little genius by the followers. A defensive-minded coach, a fine technician and tactician who will have to put this squad back on the right track in Seattle. Last year, in Baltimore, he finished with the second best passing defense according to EPA/game. While Seattle finished 29e against the pass and 31e against the race.
However, Macdonald will have to prove himself with less talent on paper, even if the franchise has brought him defensive “weapons”. By drafting Byron Murphy II. By re-signing the keystone of the line Leonard Williams. And by sniffing out the good moves of the free agency with Julian Love returning and the arrivals of Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson.
The offensive line also needed a facelift. Connor Williams arrives after training camp to fill a center spot that no one has been able to establish themselves at. Christian Haynes is an expected contributor alongside him after being selected at No. 3.e round during the last draft.
In terms of departures, Seattle is not renewing contracts like those of Jamal Adams or Bobby Wagner who have sucked their cap spacewithout giving them any returns. The real departures of important players on the field are Quandre Diggs and Jordyn Brooks.
The Seattle Seahawks' All-Star Team
Quarterback: Geno Smith – Running Back: Kenneth Walker III – Receivers: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Offensive Line (left to right): Charles Cross, Laken Tomlinson, Connor Williams, Christian Haynes, Abe Lucas
Defensive Line: Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams – Linebackers: Uchenna Nwosu, Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker, Boye Mafe – Cornerbacks: Riq Woolen, Tre Brown, Devon Witherspoon (Nickelback) – Safeties: Rayshawn Jenkins, Julian Love
Seattle Seahawks highlights
This attack is known. Last year it worked in the majority of matches despite obvious shortcomings on the interior of the line. For the coming season it is counting on the continuity of its squad, quality and with depth in all positions skill playersThe triplet of receivers with the physical monster DK Metcalf, the experienced technician Tyler Lockett and the fiery Jaxon Smith-Njigba promises to make defenses suffer again.
Quarterback Geno Smith is also one of the satisfactions. Now, everyone knows his redemption arc. All the knowledge he has accumulated during his time away from the field gives him a rare assurance in the back of his pocket. In 2023 Smith was the 4e best quarterback to avoid sacks on the pressures he suffered, while being the 5e quarterback to be pressured the most.
Devon Witherspoon has become, after a career year in the NFL, the boss of his defense and one of the best at his position. Operating from the slot The cornerback is in a position to impact every play. He can follow any receiver one-on-one, tackle running backs hard, and put lightning-fast pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Witherspoon is a rare commodity and the future of the franchise.
Too often overlooked in our previews, we must give credit to special teams when they deserve it. Kicker Jason Myers has never scored so many points for the Seahawks and has achieved 100% on extra points. His punter buddy Michael Dickson continues his recital to push back opposing offenses as far as possible with 50 yards per punt on average.
Seattle Seahawks Weaknesses
Individually, it's hard to single out players and label them as unflattering. Seattle is entering a new cycle, so the real questions will be whether the new coaching staff can charm an already established group.
The defense, as a whole, has been this team's Achilles heel. Nevertheless, there are reasons for hope. Players who are struggling but have potential, like Tariq Woolen, need to bounce back quickly.
The only glaring flaw left in this roster is the lack of a No. 1 quarterback hunter. Boye Mafe served as the No. 1 quarterback last year, but his performance was still not enough to earn him that title. He finished with 9 sacks in 2023, the best mark on the Seahawks.
The X Factor: Ryan Grubb (OC)
Mike Macdonald didn't arrive in Washington State alone. He chose a “local” to accompany him in attack. Ryan Grubb was poached from the University of Washington in the NCAA, he is having his first professional experience in the NFL here at 48 years old.
In 2023, the tactician led his team to the national final. As offensive coordinator, a position he now holds with the Seahawks, his offense overperformed, averaging more than 343 passing yards per game (2e (highest total at the college level). Whether his very vertical precepts will work in the NFL remains to be seen.
While he may be a rookie coach, Grubb has been around for a number of programs. And the guy is a jack of all trades. In no particular order, he has coached running backs, receivers, quarterbacks, linemen, he has been in charge of the running game and finally the entire offense while calling the plays. Experience that will be necessary to succeed in Seattle.
His biggest challenge is to re-energize Seattle's ground attack, especially in the opposing scoring zone. In 2023, the Seahawks finished with 48.15% of touchdowns in the redzone (26e). Worse, the apathetic attack had a total of 32 carries for 18 yards in the last 10 yards. For comparison, the University of Washington gained 130 yards on 47 carries in the same conditions.
Player to watch: Tyrel Dodson (LB)
The choice may be puzzling, but Tyrel Dodson will be an extremely important player in Seattle's new defensive system. The linebacker will be the boss of the defense, sitting in the middle of the field as a control tower and decision maker.
His signature has been largely overlooked, yet Dodson deserves more national attention. The sample snaps is weak for 4 years in the NFL. The ex-Bills was mainly a rotation piece during his rookie contract with Buffalo. But in 2023, he knew how to seize his chance by replacing Matt Milano at short notice, with very convincing performances. In coverage, his profile is closest to that of… Roquan Smith, as luck would have it. The two linebackers are the best at preventing receptions and avoiding creating separation.
His light and mobile physique is a weapon against the pass, but perhaps also a weakness against the run. Nevertheless, progress is being felt and his teammates Jerome Baker or Tyrice Knight are complementary to him.
Seattle Seahawks 2024 Schedule
Broncos, @Patriots, Dolphins, @Lions, Giants, 49ers, @Falcons, Bills, Rams, bye, @49ers, Cardinals, @Jets, @Cardinals, Packers, Vikings, @Bears, @Rams
The audio preview of the podcast
In summary
The first year without Pete Carroll feels like a test phase. Mike Macdonald, as chief scientist, has interesting ingredients to propose a convincing first project.
There will be no weight on the shoulders of the staff to make this defense perform. The latter is coming out of a complicated exercise. On the other hand, the attack must only, but irremediably, settle its small slags.
Finally, the foundations must be laid quickly to build on the short term. There is too much talent in this squad to waste it with a slow rebuild. If accounting results should not be the end goal of the 2024 campaign, the manner will have to be there, at the risk of already having the pressure on the shoulders of these rookie coaches.
