Seahawks kick off training camp in the Mike Macdonald era

A lot of questions remain on how the Seattle Seahawks season will go in the first year of the Mike Macdonald era, but one thing is for certain — the players are buying in from play one of the 2024 NFL season.

Training camp for the Seahawks is underway as Seattle was making the pads pop for the second day at camp.

“We’re still learning who we are. We are still chasing that. The guys are bought in. It is great tape to coach off of. We are a ways out right now, but we got time to do it. Just gotta make sure we take advantage of every day,” Macdonald said.

Practice started and fans were greeted to a full strength first team for their beloved Seahawks at their Renton practice facility. Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Devon Witherspoon and Tariq Woolen all were in action on kids day.

There were a couple new aspects of practice that first year head coach Macdonald put his players through. Macdonald’s style is that different from former coach Pete Carroll’s “Competition Thursdays,” but it is a breath of fresh air and has really gotten the players to perform for him.

The first different part of practice involved defensive backs and wide receivers going one-on-one in front of the whole team. The air horn sounded and players, coaches and staffers as well as all of the fans’ eyes turned toward the near field.

Seahawks defenders took on the plethora of weapons that quarterback Geno Smith has at his disposal. Even a player that has the veteran ship like linebacker Uchenna Nwosu enjoyed this competition factor.

“I liked it, it was cool. I wish I was out there. But it is nice to see everybody out there working. It provides a level of competition and gets everybody going. Offense versus defense, that’s what we are all about here with the Seahawks, competing,” Nwosu said.

During the later half of practice, Macdonald sprung a surprise scenario for his offense and defense to work around. The offense needed a touchdown to win with 1:15 left in the game, with the ball on the 15-yard line.

“It is more reps for myself, (Ryan) Grubb and just identifying the situation so the guys understand what they are in. And applying the two-minute that we have installed to this point where everyone has to stay on their toes. It’s fun,” Macdonald said.

It was the defense that came through for the Hawks and won this part of practice. Smith had a passes broken up by Artie Burns and Riq Woolen with an over throw to Metcalf sandwiched in the middle. But that was the turn of practice for the offense.

Arguably one of the most impressive catches in VMAC (Virginia Mason Athletic Center) history went down during redzone drills when Smith found Metcalf who caught a one-handed, back of the end zone touchdown over Witherspoon.

It seemed like the outstretched diving catch from Jake Bobo the day prior would be hard to beat, but Metcalf found a way to do so. He had to turn his body to the right, and while falling backwards, stretched out his right arm and reeled it in over the Hawks’ best defender.

“John (Schneider) said that it might have been all-time top 5 VMAC catch over the last couple of days and he’s seen a lot of good catches around here,” Macdonald said.

From that moment forward, the offense took over and stole the show. There would be the occasional defensive highlight, with cornerback Tre Brown joining Woolen and Witherspoon as defensive players that had a good day and impressed viewers. But it was the offense that won the day.

At the end of practice when talking with media, offensive lineman Charles Cross had a boxing/WWE style belt draped on his shoulder. It is a new post-practice award given to one standout on the field.

“The belt is something that can spice it up at the end … I think the guys get excited about it. You know, it means something to carry that thing (belt) around the building for a day or two,” Macdonald.

Since the offense won the day, Cross was deemed worthy of the championship belt: “Coach was saying how good the offense did today, coming out in the second day in pads. Getting another opportunity to get better day by day,” Cross said on winning the belt.

The Seahawks still have a lot of room to work and by no means look like world beaters. But with the defensive mind of Macdonald as well as the forward thinking former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb dealing with the offense, the Hawks can find ways to confuse a lot of teams, and that is by design.

Macdonald’s football mind is going to give this defense some advantages that is hasn’t had before, and players are taking note.

“His mind is very advanced. He’s a very smart dude, very young dude. Understands things really well, understands offenses and has a lot of answers,” Nwosu said.