First-year Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald comes into his new job with a reputation as a defensive genius . The results of his work the last couple of years with the Baltimore Ravens as their defensive coordinator speak for themselves.
If that’s not enough evidence for you, we’ve also heard nothing but glowing praise from Seahawks players this offseason about Macdonald’s remarkable football IQ. The latest comes from cornerback Riq Woolen, who called Macdonald a mastermind in an appearance on Seattle’s ESPN radio earlier this week. Woolen’s own understanding of the game will grow under Macdonald’s influence, as will that of his partner in crime, rising Seahawks star nickel corner Devon Witherspoon.
That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the league, because Witherspoon is already one of the most instinctual and brilliant defenders in the sport. This anecdote from Mike Dugar at The Athletic illustrates just how deep Witherspoon’s understanding of the game goes – at times even exceeding Macdonald’s.