McVay seeks ‘prove-it’ shot against Mike Macdonald

Sean McVay had more success against Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald than anybody last season

“The trap” set by Sean McVay that Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald spoke about before the season is set for this weekend. Which under-40 head coach is going to be the bait?

The only other time that McVay and Macdonald have faced each other as coordinators was Baltimore’s 37-31 OT win over the Rams in 2023, a win for Macdonald as the Ravens defensive coordinator. Macdonald tasted victory, but McVay wasn’t left hungry: L.A.’s 410 yards was the second-most the Ravens allowed last season as the #1 defense, Matthew Stafford’s 282 passing yards was the second-highest tally against Baltimore, and 24 first downs was the most that Macdonald’s defense allowed.

If not for a delay of game penalty and allowing a punt return touchdown in overtime, the Rams could have upset 2023’s best regular season team. Now McVay gets his chance at punt return revenge and with that an opportunity for a “prove-it shot” that Seattle’s new head coach still doesn’t have any answers for the Rams offense.

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Mike Macdonald’s 1st season as head coach

Hired to replace Pete Carroll as the head coach in January, Macdonald replaced McVay as the NFL’s youngest active head coach. Many also referred to him as “defensive Sean McVay” because of his ability to disguised coverages and blitzes in such a way that opposing QBs have a difficult time diagnosing what’s coming, similar to McVay disguising his offensive playcalls by formation.

Unfortunately for Macdonald, his first season isn’t going as well as McVay’s did in 2017.

The Seahawks have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, especially against the run, ranking 29th in rushing yards allowed and 28th in yards per carry allowed. Don’t be fooled by Seattle’s ranking of 19th in points and 22nd in yards allowed because the Seahawks first three opponents were Bo Nix in his NFL debut, Jacoby Brissett, and Skylar Thompson.

The Seahawks started 3-0 but have lost four of five.

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Mutual Respect

McVay went on the radio in Seattle prior to the season and praised Macdonald’s defense for the job done in Baltimore over the previous two years, leading the league in categories like sacks and turnovers.

“I thought they did a great job of playing coverages where you’re like, ‘I don’t know what the (heck) I’m going against,’ because of the way they’re teaching guys,” McVay said, via Seattle Sports. “They teach an understanding of how route concepts distribute and how you don’t have to work as hard throughout the course of the down to allow things to be able to progress.

“You felt like you were playing against 13 players sometimes. … They were such a well-coordinated and a well-executed defense from the players to the coaches. And I respect the coordinators the most that you can see an intent behind what they’re trying to get done. And I thought that showed up consistently on his tape.”

McVay goes on to say that the Ravens did a great job getting pressure and sacks with only four players.

“I’ve got a ton of respect for Mike Macdonald and their coaching staff and those players that brought the stuff to life,” McVay said. “What I think when you watch that team, there was a clear-cut identity. There was an understanding of the intent of what he was calling and how they could execute it. There was a great idea and understanding of how to utilize their personnel.

“I thought they rushed four (pass rushers) as one as well as anybody. They had a great ability to be able to play off one another. I thought Mike did a great job of mixing in pressures, understanding situations, understanding how to attack protections.”

The same is sort of true in Seattle, the Seahawks barely blitz compared to the league average, but the Seahawks don’t have a fearsome front and Josh Allen proved in Week 8 that any good quarterback is going to have an easier time than Brissett.

When asked how he felt about McVay’s praise, Macdonald was half-joking but all-serious when he responded: “Don’t buy the smoke, man. That’s a trap.”

Let’s see who steps in what this Sunday.