“The biggest difference is: no basketball hoop,” Tyler Lockett told reporters at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Wednesday, according to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. As insignificant as this may appear, it is only one of several adjustments that Mike Macdonald has already implemented as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Several more prominent players walked to the podium to answer questions from media at the VMAC, with the main topic of discussion being the aforementioned improvements that Mike Macdonald is implementing. Some of them are organic changes that should be expected under any new coaching regime (e.g., schemes, language), while others, such as the lack of the basketball hoop, have caught some of the players off guard. Furthermore, he is said to have deleted most/all of Pete Carroll’s motivational signs, which were once a staple of his style. And the players are taking note.
Below are some remarks and information from yesterday’s press conference, as originally transcribed by Bell.
Geno Smith discussed his career resurrection under Carroll and how important their time together was, but still understanding the NFL’s unpredictable reality.
Smith said Wednesday, “That day is one I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life because of what happened to me here.” “Obviously, Coach Carroll, a significant impact on my career, helped me a lot when I joined this club (in 2019). Really helped me, pushed me into the spotlight that I’m in now.
“So for me it was just kind of a terrible moment, to see someone that I love so much, having to part ways with him.”
“But, in the NFL that’s the way things go,” he went on to say. “And really excited about what we have here now.
Smith went on to say that he has seen this before while with the New York Jets, and that it is critical to gain buy-in from the roster. Lockett went on to discuss how coaches and players can build social capital together.
Uchenna Nwosu supplied a couple great — and honest — statements on Macdonald’s manner, stating that he has “loosened up” recently.
“I feel like he’s starting to loosen up now,” Nwosu said, comparing his youthful, rookie head coach Wednesday to his first team meeting in front of the Seahawks’ players on Monday. “The first day was like, ‘I have no idea what’s going on.'” He was, like, I don’t know if he was nervous, or if that’s just his personality.”
Nwosu went on to remark that he is confident that this roster and coaching staff will make some noise this season.
“As a team, I expect a good playoff run,” Nwosu added. “We’ve been close for the previous two years. I feel like it’s time to get over that hump.We have all the players. I believe we have the appropriate coaches today.
Of course, team culture is crucial, but the end goal is to win football games. The alterations that will be on everyone’s mind in a few months will mostly concern the X’s and O’s, for which Macdonald is expected to install an altogether new system.
Julian Love described it as a “blank slate,” while Geno Smith speculated on where some of the changes are coming from.
“Yeah,” Smith replied, “everything is brand new.” It’s all new terminology. There are going to be new safeguards. Everything will be new. It’s a fresh start in terms of knowing the offense. “For all of us.”
“Been watching a lot of Huskies film,” Smith said, nodding. “Those guys were lightin’ it up!”
What remains to be seen is how Mike Macdonald’s style will translate on the field; as a first-time head coach, we don’t have much to go on in terms of how his plans will appear, but the players are beginning to provide a few more hints. When you consider how this will affect their draft strategy, as well as 21 new assistant coaches, we could be looking at a club that is almost unrecognizable this autumn. Hopefully, the most unrecognizable aspect will be a lengthy playoff run…
Remember to read Gregg Bell’s piece for the complete story!
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