Why Seahawks' HC decision could help them close NFC West gap
The Seahawks couldn't beat the 49ers or Rams this season, so they went out and got someone who did.
On Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is set to become Seattle's next head coach.
In 2023, the Seahawks went 0-4 against San Francisco and Los Angeles, teams that leaped them in the NFC West in recent years. Seattle has one first-place finish in the division in the last seven seasons, in 2020 when it lost at home to the Rams in the wild-card round.
Meanwhile, the Ravens went 2-0 against the NFC West's best this season and also blew out the Seahawks 37-3.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo noted the hire is expected to be seen as a "home run" in league circles.
The Ravens led the league in scoring defense (16.5 points per game), sacks (60) and takeaways (31). The unit also held up its end of the bargain in the AFC Championship game loss to the Chiefs, holding Kansas City to 17 points, its fewest in the playoffs since its 31-9 loss in Super Bowl LV.
Macdonald helped revive edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney's career and coaxed outstanding years out of multiple Ravens defenders, including linebacker Patrick Queen, safety Kyle Hamilton and defensive lineman Justin Madubuike.
Queen had a career-high 133 tackles and allowed his fewest yards per target in pass coverage in four seasons. Hamilton was named All-Pro First Team in just his second year, and Madubuike made his first Pro Bowl after posting 13 sacks.
Clowney had 9.5 sacks, which tied a career-high while playing 57% of Baltimore's defensive snaps, the fewest percentage of defensive snaps he played when available since his rookie year.
Prior to Macdonald's arrival, the Ravens ranked 19th in scoring defense in 2021. He inherits a Seahawks defense that's been in decline for years under former head coach Pete Carroll.
The unit hasn't ranked in the top 10 in either points or yards allowed since 2017, including finishing in the bottom third in the league the past two seasons.
As Schefter alluded to on social media, their struggles aren't due to a lack of talent. The secondary with corners Devon Witherspoon and Tariq Woolen, in particular, has the potential to make a leap in 2024.
The defensive line must be addressed, but with Madubuike a 2024 free agent, Macdonald could get the Seahawks immediate help.
Hamilton gushed about Macdonald to ESPN reporter Cameron Wolfe earlier in the day, prior to the report of him being named Seattle's head coach, making it clear Macdonald has the respect of his players.
That could make the Seahawks an attractive destination for Madubuike and several other of 2024's top defensive free agents.
"Probably the smartest guy in the building," Hamilton told Wolfe. "Whatever is coming in his future, he deserves it."
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