Seattle, WA

Klatt: Why Seattle Seahawks' Macdonald isn't just a defensive guru

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2024

Press Room

Klatt: Why Seattle Seahawks' Macdonald isn't just a defensive guru

Mike Macdonald has been one of the NFL’s top storylines this week after guiding the Seattle Seahawks to a 3-0 start.

‘We put our track shoes on’: How Seahawks’ defense rebounded

In doing so, the 37-year-old Macdonald became the first Seahawks coach in franchise history to begin his career with three straight wins. He also became the NFL’s first rookie head coach to start 3-0 since 2015.

At the center of Seattle’s early success has been a revamped defense under Macdonald, who is calling the plays on defense. The Seahawks rank among the league’s best in numerous categories, including first in yards allowed per play, second in yards allowed per game and fourth in points allowed per game.

That only further adds to Macdonald’s reputation as a defensive mastermind following his immense success the past two seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator. But as FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt explained Tuesday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, there’s much more to Macdonald than just his defensive brilliance.

Klatt got to know Macdonald back when he was the Michigan Wolverines’ defensive coordinator in 2021. From conversations he had with Macdonald, Klatt was very impressed by how he approached his defensive play-calling from a holistic, team-wide perspective.

“He was such a bright guy and thought about the game in such a complementary fashion,” Klatt said. “And I remember thinking he was going to be a very solid head coach, and the reason is that he didn’t just think about defense. He thought about the way to call a game that was in complement with the rest of the team.”

As an example, Klatt shared an anecdote about how Macdonald would pick his spots to be aggressive on defense – and why he liked to do so after a Michigan scoring drive.

“He would wait for a moment, (often in) the third quarter, and he would say to himself, ‘This is my time to go and be aggressive. I’m not going to be aggressive all the time, but this is the opportunity, because if I force a three-and-out now, I put a tired defense back on the field, and our odds of creating points are going to be much higher. And then if we get a two-score lead with our offense and the way that our defense plays, that’s basically the game,’” Klatt said.

“And so he would understand these finite moments within games where he was going to change up – whether it’s his schematics or his aggressive nature – in order to give his overarching team a better chance to win. And I have never had a conversation like that, specifically with a defensive coordinator, in relation to the overall game and team. And I just remember thinking to myself, ‘This guy’s gonna make a great head coach.’”

Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard, a colleague of Klatt as a FOX analyst, agreed with Klatt’s assessment that Macdonald views the game differently than most head coaches who double as either an offensive or defensive coordinator.

“I do not feel like Mike Macdonald is a defensive-minded head coach,” Huard said. “I feel like Mike Macdonald is a complementary, football-minded head coach. He’s not calling the signals because of what he wants to accomplish defensively. He’s doing everything in the aspect of a team.

“And that is unique for defensive guys. The ones that I played for in my life, that was not the way (they were) wired. … That is not typically how defensive guys have been brought up through the years.”

Listen to the full conversation with Joel Klatt at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on Seattle Seahawks

• Rost: What we know and don’t know through three games
• How Huard expects a Seahawks reunion with veteran OT to play out
• DK Metcalf at his best? Three ways Huard says he’s grown
• How real is Seahawks’ defensive dominance? 10 stats that stand out
• Why Rayshawn Jenkins was a player the Seattle Seahawks wanted

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Seattle, WA

Southbound I-5 closing overnight this weekend in Fife, WA for new sign

Published

1 hour ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Southbound I-5 closing overnight this weekend in Fife, WA for new sign

FIFE, Wash. – A portion of southbound I-5 will be closed overnight in Fife Friday and Saturday night, according to WSDOT.

The Washington State Department of Transportation says the purpose of the closure is to install a new electronic sign and will need two nights to do it.

Crews will close southbound I-5 from 54th Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road starting at 11 p.m. Friday night until 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Closures will resume Saturday night starting at 11 p.m. as well, and lanes will reopen Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.

WSDOT says the closure will include the 54th Avenue ramps to southbound I-5.

Detours for weekend I-5 closure in Fife, WA

A portion of southbound I-5 will be closed overnight in Fife Friday and Saturday night, according to WSDOT. The Washington State Department of Transportation says the purpose of the closure is to install a new electronic sign and will need two nights to do it. Crews will close southbound I-5 from 54th Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road starting at 11 p.m. Friday night until 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Closures will resume Saturday night starting at 11 p.m. as well and lanes will reopen Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. WSDOT says the closure will include the 54th Avenue ramps to southbound I-5.

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The Source: Information in this story comes from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

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Seattle, WA

Is it time for Seattle Mariners’ Raley to face more lefties?

Published

13 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Is it time for Seattle Mariners’ Raley to face more lefties?

Seattle Mariners outfielder Luke Raley entered this season as one of the team’s biggest bounce-back candidates. So far, he’s on his way to quite the rebound year.

Seattle Mariners’ slow start has featured some bad luck

The 31-year-old Raley has been one of the best Mariners hitters early on, as he was during his first year with the team in 2024. In his first 18 games, Raley is batting .328 (20 for 61) with a 1.002 OPS, four homers, four doubles and one triple.

Raley’s strong early performance featured a candidate for his best game at the plate as a big leaguer on Wednesday against the Padres. He turned in his first career four-hit game, which included a homer and a double. It was the third time in a four-game span Raley had at least three hits.

Just about all of the damage Raley has done has come against right-handed pitching since he’s used as the left-handed side of a platoon in right field. So far this season, he has just two at-bats against lefties.

During Thursday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, co-host Bob Stelton made the case that the Mainers should ride the hot hand and give Raley more opportunities in left-on-left matchups.

“When somebody’s hot – you got very few hitters in this lineup that are hot, Donovan is another guy – I don’t care if there’s a lefty on the hill. Let Luke hit. Let Donovan hit. Let whoever’s hot (hit),” Stelton said. “… This guy is seeing the ball really well right now, let him keep going.”

What the right-handed options to replace Raley have done thus far is another reason Stelton would like to see the outfielder get more same-handed matchup opportunities. Veteran Rob Refsnyder, who is currently on paternity leave, has yet to get a hit in his first 19 plate appearances. And outfielder Victor Robles is on the injured list, leaving Connor Joe as the other right-handed option in right field. Joe has only five at-bat this season, but he hit just .221 in 157 combined games over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The issue of Raley hitting against lefties came up Thursday night when he was pinch hit for by Joe with the bases loaded and out in the sixth inning down 4-2 against Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon. Joe ended up striking out on three pitches.

However, Raley’s track record against left-handers hasn’t been good. He has a career .182 average and .533 OPS against southpaws in 194 plate appearances.

“It’s comfort for a lot of these guys… Maybe it’s just a matter of seeing lefties enough,” Stelton said. “… You’re going to get better by getting used to it and facing those guys… I would think if they’re feeling good at the time, if they’re on a roll, then show them, you know what, I’ve got that much confidence in you. They’re running the lefty out there today and you’re in the lineup, so get ready.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player below. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• It may be time for Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh to make some tradeoffs
• Trevor May: Mariners’ Brendan Donovan ‘has been as advertised’
• Changes helping Seattle Mariners’ Luke Raley look like his old self
• Former Seattle Mariners clubhouse favorite continuing career in Mexico
• How will Bryce Miller’s return impact Seattle Mariners rotation?

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Seattle, WA

Seattle SWAT arrests man accused of waving handgun at passerby in Roosevelt neighborhood

Published

1 day ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

Seattle SWAT arrests man accused of waving handgun at passerby in Roosevelt neighborhood

SEATTLE — Seattle police arrested a 37-year-old man Wednesday evening after investigators say he threatened people with what appeared to be a handgun in the Roosevelt neighborhood.

At about 7:18 p.m., officers responded to a report of a man standing in the street and waving a handgun at passersby in the 7800 block of Lake City Way Northeast.

Police said officers arrived and found a black BMW stopped in the street that was reported stolen, with a man seated in the passenger seat holding a handgun.

The officers tried to contact him, but he appeared to be in a mental crisis or under the influence of an unknown substance, continued yelling, and did not comply with commands.

Police then called the Hostage Negotiation Team and SWAT, and SWAT moved in with an armored vehicle and took the man into custody without further incident.

The vehicle was towed to the North Precinct. Police said officers later served a search warrant and recovered a realistic black BB gun.

The man was transported to King County Jail and booked for investigation of felony harassment, possession of a stolen vehicle, and a felony warrant.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.

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