Field Gulls
It’s been almost a week since the Seattle Seahawks had their brutal season opening loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers, and still it feels like the weight of that loss hangs over the team and fanbase. Home division losses also sting a little more, with the consequences usually stronger for playoff races. Beyond the disappointment of losing to a rival (at home) again, it is more about how that game unfolded that has been a cause of confusion and concern.
The surprising shift in offensive philosophies where they abandoned the play-action game, the inability for anyone other than Jaxon Smith-Njigba to produce, Riq Woolen’s collapse, and Macdonald’s decision to kick the field goal late when faced with a fourth and one yard to go. These were all key talking points for Seahawks nation, and it put Macdonald in a unique position. It felt like for the first time, Mike was questioned.
Questions about the running game and play-action
It was pretty clear early in 2024 that Macdonald was not long for the Ryan Grubb experience. Grubb’s inability to run the ball and convert on short yardage opportunities is why he’s at Alabama, and Klint Kubiak is calling plays in Seattle. After a dominant preseason running the ball with a complimentary play-action game, they got away from what they had so strongly preached in the summer. When asked about the running game this week, Macdonald acknowledged that his team has the ability to run the ball well, but “When we have some indecisiveness, it felt like that’s when things got twisted a little bit.”
You have to wonder if, from a rotation side, we’re about to see a changing of the guard at the running back position. Kenneth Walker has all the talent in the world, but indecision has been his biggest issue for the past few years. Zach Charbonnet looked good on Sunday, and just feels like a better fit in the new wide zone scheme. If Macdonald truly wants a physical brand of offensive football, does Charbonnet take the reins in Pittsburgh?
With regards to the lack of play-action, Macdonald acknowledged that the team needed more action and movement. He was short and blunt with his answer saying, “So we’ll call it and we’ll execute it when called.” It kind of sounds like Kubiak’s honeymoon phase ending in August, and that Mike wants the offense he brought Klint here to Seattle to coach. I expect to see a physical ground and pound attack against a Pittsburgh defense that got lit up against the Jets in Week 1.
Questions about Riq Woolen’s future
Multiple times this week, Macdonald has had the chance to be a “player’s coach” and defend the game altering lapses by Riq Woolen. While Mike did compliment him, he did not just hand him his job for week two. Instead, he talked about the job Josh Jobe did, and how this should now be viewed as a legitimate competition.
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