Seattle, WA

Salk: Seattle Seahawks coach Macdonald's career really starts now

Published

1 year ago

October 9, 2024

Salk: Seattle Seahawks coach Macdonald's career really starts now

It’s five games into Mike Macdonald’s career as Seattle Seahawks coach, and in some ways, it feels like it’s just about to start. But for real this time.

What Seattle Seahawks’ D has been missing in back-to-back losses

You’re probably thinking that sounds insane and I know why. His coaching tenure began when he signed his contract, met the media, and hired his staff. He had to design and communicate his vision, scheme and language. He worked with general manager John Schneider to acquire the types of players he needed. He spoke to the team, ran training camp, got his first preseason and regular season wins and losses. All those moments were important, all fraught with peril, all handled with aplomb by the youngest head coach in the league.

We celebrated his initial accomplishments. He comes off as such a smart guy and his team seemed to respond immediately to his style. We witnessed more communication and discipline than we had become accustomed to seeing. And three games into his career – no, three wins into his career – everything was as smooth as could be. So smooth that even a loss in Detroit barely counted as friction. It was easy to write off, what with the quality of opponent, the number of injured defenders, and the offensive success.

But losing at home to the Giants broke the spell.

The Giants don’t have a good quarterback. They aren’t loaded with talent and they were missing two of their top weapons. This wasn’t written into the script.

Which is exactly why I think Macdonald’s career truly starts now. We often hear how NFL coordinators like to script the first 15 plays of each game before reacting from there. Well, he’s past the first 15 and now it’s time to adjust.

You may hear some Seahawks fans grumble. You might know one or two who has “lost confidence.” The truth is that doesn’t really matter. Fans can (over)react each week without affecting much of anything. But this is Macdonald’s first big test with his players. They have to respect the way he handles the challenge of a losing streak.

We knew there would be fits and starts to this season. That is how it goes for most NFL teams and certainly for rookie coaches. Macdonald wasn’t hired because of his experience or just to make an immediate impact. This was a long-term investment. By his own admission, he is still learning and experiencing things for the first time. What we’ve come to understand is that he is careful to learn from those experiences, and that should serve him well as his career progresses.

But how he handles his first losing streak is a huge thing. Losing is part of life in sports, but it tests completely different muscles than most anything else. We’ve seen it break competitors who never learned how to process it. We’ve seen purportedly solid locker rooms come apart at the seams. We’ve seen coaches lose command of the ship.

To suggest that is all on the table after two losses is ridiculous. Macdonald will get to learn from mistakes along the way and I’d be willing to bet he has an exceptionally long leash. But this will be his first chance to answer some very important questions.

• Can he remain consistent? If there is one thing you hear players (and employees) complain about, it is inconsistency in their boss. People want their leader to be the same person in all situations so that their world is predictable. Predictability breeds comfort. And consistency breeds confidence.

• Can he walk the fine line between making adjustments and sticking with his principles? Macdonald spoke this week about the difference between principles (which are ironclad) and methods (which are more malleable). I have no doubt he understands the difference and will behave accordingly. But the challenge is to project that to the players who must know he has solutions but isn’t panicking. You want to adapt; you don’t want to abandon ship.

• How do the players handle his accountability? Three weeks into the season, ESPN’s Brady Henderson reported on some of Macdonald’s early efforts to instill a level of accountability. We heard about how he “chewed out” players who failed the conditioning test, and then “brought up the issue in front of the rest of the team.” He demands accountability and he wants to be the enforcer.

That style can be immensely effective, especially as a 180-degree change from what preceded it. This locker room likely needed some tough talk. But how will it be received after a couple of losses? Macdonald seems to be just as tough on himself as he is on his players, and that should give him the credibility to press forward in his own style. But this is new territory. Losing tests that credibility and that accountability.

The Mike Macdonald era began last winter and the groundwork for everything he wants to accomplish has clearly been laid since the day he was hired. Now we get to find out how solidly he built the foundation. Because the first tremors of pressure are just starting to roll through.

How he handles it will matter. Whether the Seahawks win will likely matter more. As we know, nothing relieves pressure like a win. And he has a chance for the biggest one of his young career on Thursday night.

Seattle Seahawks coverage

• Seahawks Injury Report: The latest on several key players
• Seahawks-49ers uniforms on TNF may be best matchup of NFL season
• Seahawks swap UW, WSU products on practice squad
• More bad injury news for Seahawks OLB Uchenna Nwosu
• Macdonald: Seattle Seahawks ‘need to get run game going’

Follow @themikesalk

Source link

Related Topics:Featured Home MyNorthwest.com MyNorthwest.com - Seattle news Sports talk and community.traffic weather

Click to comment

Seattle, WA

Here’s why the Blue Angels in Seattle on Monday

Published

4 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Here’s why the Blue Angels in Seattle on Monday

SEATTLE – Known for their high-flying skills above the skies during air shows, the Blue Angels will be in Seattle once again on Monday.

But with Seafair not until the summer, many are wondering why the Navy pilots are in the Emerald City ahead of schedule.

Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets are flying The Diamond Roll (four planes in formation), doing a 360-degree roll as one unit, flying at 400 mph over Lake Washington for the Seafair weekend in Seattle. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Keep reading to find out why the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are in Seattle on Jan. 12.

Why are the Blue Angels in Seattle now?

The Blue Angels returned to Seattle on Monday to begin preseason planning for the 2026 Boeing Seafair Air Show.

Pilots will assess airshow locations, scouting the skies and getting familiar with the landscape ahead of the Seafair Weekend Festival, when they perform in three separate air shows. Their visit brings the iconic Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornets to the city, the aircraft pilots use during the air show.

Blue Angels pilots plan to stay in Seattle until Tuesday, coordinating with Seafair event organizers. Last year, only two Blue Angels pilots were in Seattle for preseason planning, instead of the entire squadron.

When are the Blue Angels coming back to Seattle?

The Blue Angels will fly back to western Washington for the 2026 Boeing Seafair Air Show, on Friday, July 31 – Sunday, August 2, 2026.

They’ll also be in town for two practice runs on Thursday, July 30.

When is the 2026 Seafair Air Show?

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will perform in three air shows throughout Seafair weekend. They’re happening each afternoon on July 31 through Aug. 2 on Lake Washington and at Genesee Park.

The multi-day Seafair Weekend Festival also includes the Apollo Mechanical Cup Hydroplane Races, along with live entertainment, food and drinks, and family-friendly activities. Tickets for the festival go on sale in February.

Who are the Blue Angels?

The Blue Angels is a team of elite Navy flight demonstrators, showcasing their aviation skills in high-speed, precision aerobatic performances.

They perform in air shows across the U.S. each year, with the goal of inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country, displaying the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

Formed in 1946, this year marks the 80th year of the Blue Angels. They take pride in performing for audiences both at home and abroad, showcasing the excitement, precision, and power of Naval aviation.

MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

New Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson talks homelessness, police tensions and World Cup countdown

Seattle leaders combat ‘misinformation’, say open-air drug use still means arrests

Here’s everything to know about the 2026 Super Bowl

Seattle ranks as the best US city for keeping New Year’s resolutions in 2026, data shows

WA trooper struck, injured in multi-car crash on SR 512

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

The Source: Information in this story came from U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Seafair, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.

SeattleSeafairNews

Source link

Seattle, WA

Seattle Seahawks land 2 players on list of potential salary cap cuts in 2026

Published

17 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Seattle Seahawks land 2 players on list of potential salary cap cuts in 2026

No matter how the playoffs go for the Seatte Seahawks, general manager John Schneider and his team are looking at a very busy offseason ahead.

In addition to their usual preparations for the 2026 NFL draft, Seattle has a ton of important players who are about to become unrestricted free agents. That list includes special teams superstar Rashid Shaheed, running back Ken Walker and defensive standouts Boye Mafe, Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant.

It’s going to be really difficult to keep that entire group together, even with a lot of cap space projected to be open in 2026. The Seahawks may have to create room with some salary cap casualties after the season is over.

On that note, Over the Cap has listed a pair of Seattle players as potential cap casualties. Let’s review both of them.

OLB Uchenna Nwosu

Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum (22) dives for a touchdown against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) in the second half at Lumen Field. | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Coming in at No. 46 on OTC’s list is veteran edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu, who has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit just over $20 million. Nwosu has been valuable when he’s on the field but he’s also missed a ton of time due to injuries and it will be difficult to justify his cap hit with so many other players to pay.

Seattle can save a little over $11.5 million if they cut Nwosu, before June 1 or after. However, they would also take on a dead money hit north of $8.5 million, which takes a lot of the flavor out of those cap savings.

In 45 games with the Seahawks, Nwosu has tallied 19.5 sacks, 52 QB hits, 24 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles and eight pass breakups.

That’s a lot of good production across the board as an all-around defender, but he’ll turn 30 years old before next season is over and there are a lot of mouths to feed for Mike Macdonald’s defense.

Over the Cap projects there’s a 58.5% chance that the Seahawks will wind up cutting him. Our best guess is that will be the case, especially if they want to pursue someone like Maxx Crosby on the trade market.

K Jason Myers

Jan 3, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks place kicker Jason Myers (5) kicks a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Levi’s Stadium. | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

The only other Seahawks player who made the list (at No. 77) was placekicker Jason Myers, where the team has an interesting choice to make.

Myers has been around since the 2019 season and he’s come through for them more often than not. In 117 games he’s converted 200 of 232 field goal attempts, coming out to 86.2%. On extra point attempts he’s gone 292/307 for 95.1%.

Those are very solid numbers for an NFL kicker, and when you have a solid option at this position you don’t mess with it.

Another factor working in Myers’ favor is that Seattle really can’t save all that much money by cutting him. According to OTC’s numbers the Seahawks would create $5.1 million in cap room by cutting him, with a dead money hit of $1,875,000.

Five million might get Seattle a decent backup for their interior offensive line, or another contributor to Mike Macdonald’s defense. It’s not enough to really move the needle for this roster, though.

OTC gives it a 52.5% chance that Myers will get cut, but we don’t see that happening. If they want to lower his cap hit, the Seahawks can create a little over $3 million for 2026 with an extension. That’s the only move they should be looking to make at this spot.

Kraken Extend Streak In Comeback OT Loss | Seattle Kraken

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Kraken Extend Streak In Comeback OT Loss | Seattle Kraken

And while Dunn’s head coach insisted afterwards he doesn’t believe in “measuring stick games” the Kraken measured up fairly well in this one considering they played a pretty poor first period and needed half of the second frame to get any type of offense going against the league’s No. 2 defensive unit.

But they eventually got it going and the salvaged point, as Dunn mentioned, was huge in that it allowed the Kraken to remain in third place in the Pacific Division – just two points behind leaders Vegas and Edmonton – as they now embark on a five-city road trip. They extended their points streak to 10 games in the process, going 8-0-2 that stretch to transform a season hinging on the brink.

Mats Zuccarello got the overtime winner for Minnesota, converting a Kirill Kaprizov pass off a 2-on-1 break after the Kraken had been foiled just moments prior on their own odd-man rush. That foiled an outstanding night for Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer, who’d made several huge stops in both overtime and the third period to keep things tied, as well as prior to that frame to give his team the shot at a comeback.

The Kraken had spent the past week filling opposition nets with pucks but waited until the final 17 minutes to score their first goal of this game. By that point, they’d been trailing 2-0 since a pair of 42-foot wrist shot goals by Ryan Hartman and Brock Faber in the first period silenced the home crowd.

“The first period was awful, and our execution was probably the biggest part of that,” Dunn said. “It’s just tough when you’re chasing the game a little bit to start the game. So, we kind of set ourselves up for the second period to come out and play the right way and I thought as the game went on, we got a lot better.

“And I thought it was a pretty competitive game both ways. A lot of chances both ways.”

Grubauer kept things close from there, stopping 31 of 34 shots on the night to give his team a chance to get back in it.

Adam Larsson then got the Kraken on the board three minutes into the final period with a slap shot goal from the right circle after Dunn had rung one off the post on a prior blast seconds earlier. And the Kraken weren’t done yet.

The Wild ran into penalty trouble not long after and the Kraken capitalized on the power play with Matty Beniers banging home a net front rebound off a Jared McCann shot that lifted the home side into a 2-2 tie and sent the Climate Pledge Arena crowd into a frenzy.

Source link