Tag: Aden Durde

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald will continue calling defensive plays next season

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald will continue calling defensive plays next season

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is spending the early portion of the offseason reflecting on his debut season. Macdonald has already overseen one big-time staff change, relieving offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb of his duties. The Seahawks are now searching for their next offensive play caller.

A similar change won’t be occurring on the defensive side of the ball. Macdonald, who joined Seattle after serving as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive play caller, plans to continue calling plays next season, he recently told reporters. Macdonald rightfully maintains faith in his ability to oversee Seattle’s defense, with assistance from his coordinator Aden Durde.

Seattle’s defense was quite effective under Macdonald’s leadership this season. The Seahawks concluded the campaign allowing an 12th-best 21.6 points per contest. They ranked 11th-best against the pass (211.9/game) and a more middling 16th versus the run (120.8/game). Macdonald’s run defense improved once Ernest Jones IV was acquired at off-ball linebacker.

Like it was in Baltimore, Macdonald’s defense was especially effective rushing the passer. The Seahawks tied for eighth-best in sacks (45) throughout 2024, applying consistent pressure on opposing backfields. There’s no reason for Macdonald to forfeit play-calling duties next season. He’ll continue to oversee a stellar defense in 2025.

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Seahawks have found success despite awful turnover margin

Seahawks have found success despite awful turnover margin

The Seattle Seahawks played a sloppy football game in Thursday’s 6-3 Week 17 victory over the Chicago Bears, the lowest-scoring game of the 2024 NFL season to date. Ryan Grubb’s offense found little success, gaining just 265 total yards, relying on a pair of Jason Myers field goals and a dominant defense en route to victory. The Seahawks turned over the football and were fortunate to avoid additional giveaways.

It’s been a season-long issue for the 9-7 Seahawks, who guaranteed themselves a winning record to conclude 2024 on Thursday.

Tight end Pharaoh Brown was to blame for Seattle’s lone turnover. Leading 6-3 in the third quarter, Brown allowed Bears defensive back Kyler Gordon to rip the football out of his hands. Gordon ran it back and initial confusion led to a touchdown being called. Review assistance eventually correctly ruled Gordon down by contact, and the Bears punted on the ensuing possession after rookie quarterback Caleb Williams took a 14-yard sack. The defense bailed out the non-existent offense.

The Seahawks failed to win the turnover battle. They finished the game at one apiece after Riq Woolen intercepted Williams on Chicago’s final play, a last-ditch comeback attempt. The Seahawks are now negative-7 in the turnover department, seventh-worst in the entire league. The only teams worse than Seattle in giving the ball away are competing for top-five selections in the 2025 NFL Draft (CLE, LV, JAX, TENN, NYG, NE).

As mentioned, the Seahawks were fortunate to avoid additional miscues. Literally one drive before Brown’s fumble, starting quarterback Geno Smith was strip-sacked by ex teammate Darrell Taylor on 3rd-and-3 from his own 48-yard line. Luckily, starting center Olu Oluwatimi recovered, but a drive that had reached midfield was killed and the Seahawks punted on 4th-and-10 after losing seven yards.

It’s incredible that the Seahawks are 9-7 despite consistently losing the turnover battle. Ball security will be emphasized throughout the upcoming offseason. Before we get there, hopefully the Seahawks will possess an opportunity to win the NFC West and extend their season in Week 18.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on defense in Week 15

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Packers on offense in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks did not play a good-quality defensive game in Sunday’s primetime 30-13 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. Matt LaFleur’s offense encountered little resistance en route to scoring 30 points and posting nearly 400 total yards of offense. Nonetheless, these three Seahawks were their highest-graded players on defense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Boye Mafe | 80.0

Boye Mafe did not make the graphic because he didn’t play the minimum required 25 snaps, but it feels silly to discredit 22 snaps. That’s a decent workload, and Mafe maximized those opportunities, earning a stellar overall grade of 80.0. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher tied for the team-lead in QB pressures with three.

Dre’Mont Jones | 79.4

Dre’Mont Jones has steadily improved his form as the season’s progressed forward and that remained the case on Sunday Night Football. The veteran pass rusher recorded three stops and was effective both as a run stopper and pass rusher. Jones has been an impactful defender for Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

Leonard Williams | 69.3

Leonard Williams was a bit quieter than usual given his insane run of form, but he still accumulated a defensive-line-high five tackles. Williams pressured Packers quarterback Jordan Love twice. He also posted a defense-high five stops, matching what off-ball linebacker Ernest Jones IV achieved in this game.

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Seahawks defense comes unglued vs. Packers in Week 15

Seahawks defense comes unglued vs. Packers in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks entered Sunday’s primetime contest versus the Green Bay Packers on the back of several strong defensive performances. Mike Macdonald’s swarming unit was largely responsible for Seattle’s four-game win streak. Unfortunately, it was borderline unrecognizable in the 30-13 defeat to the Packers.

Throughout Seattle’s four-game triumph, Macdonald’s defense was allowing 15.5 points per contest. It’s worth acknowledging those showings occurred against three teams, the Arizona Cardinals (twice), San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets, currently slated to miss the postseason. In a real test versus a playoff-bound Packers offense, Macdonald’s defense shriveled up and failed to meet expectations.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 20-of-27 passing attempts for 227 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He encountered little resistance from a Seahawks secondary that was also whistled for multiple pass interference infractions. All in all, Seattle racked up 108 yards in penalties.

Packers running back Josh Jacobs also rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown via 26 carries. Macdonald’s defense did recover a Jacobs lost fumble, but Green Bay still out-gained Seattle 140-80 on the ground.

Seattle’s defense had been powering the Seahawks towards a potential NFC West division title. They forfeited control of the division for now, with the 8-6 Rams leaping into first place. Simply put, Macdonald’s defense got gut-punched by a quality Packers offense and failed to respond.

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Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon deserves more pass-rushing opportunities

Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon deserves more pass-rushing opportunities

Seattle Seahawks sophomore cornerback Devon Witherspoon displayed outstanding blitzing abilities as a rookie in 2023. The No. 5 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft recorded three sacks and 10 pressures in 14 appearances as an instant contributor. Witherspoon’s versatile ability to rush the passer landed him a Pro Bowl appearance in his first season.

Head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde brought a new scheme to the Seahawks this year. Witherspoon has been a workhorse for the Seahawks in the defensive backfield, but his pass-rushing opportunities have been limited to date. As a result, Witherspoon hasn’t recorded his first sack of 2024 yet. That should change soon, with Macdonald and Durde affording him more opportunities to blitz opposing backfields.

The Seahawks have posted a 25th-best 21 sacks through nine games. The bye week is muddying those numbers a bit, but Seattle’s pass rush hasn’t been effective enough given its personnel. General manager John Schneider has invested premium resources into a front four that features Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, Dre’Mont Jones, Leonard Williams, and Byron Murphy II on any given down.

Macdonald and Durde spent portions of the bye week analyzing all departments. The pass rush is one that requires answers with room for improvement. Perhaps utilizing Witherspoon as a blitzer with increased frequency could solve that woe.

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Seahawks to entrust rookie LB Tyrice Knight after releasing Tyrel Dodson

Seahawks to entrust rookie LB Tyrice Knight after releasing Tyrel Dodson

The Seattle Seahawks pulled a stunner earlier this week when they released starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson from his contract. Dodson has since been claimed by the Miami Dolphins off waivers. The move should afford rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight an opportunity to start next to Ernest Jones IV in a new-look linebacker corps.

A fourth-round rookie out of UTEP, Knight has played sporadically for the Seahawks defense this season. The rookie No. 119 overall selection has totaled 124 defensive snaps. In a Week 2 start against the New England Patriots, Knight posted a run-stopping grade of 70.3, according to Pro Football Focus.

Dodson led the Seahawks in tackles prior to his release with 71 takedowns. Dodson had also been Seattle’s most-snapped defensive player this season, totaling 604 plays, accounting for 98.37% of Mike Macdonald’s defensive snaps.

The Seahawks had however been displeased with Dodson’s performances and the overall state of their linebackers. Macdonald is unhappy with a 26th-ranked run defense that is allowing 139.4 yards per outing. Knight, who was an outstanding run defender in college, could prove to be an eventual upgrade if the Seahawks give him an opportunity, while staying patient with his development.

The Seahawks return from their Week 10 bye to face the San Francisco 49ers this weekend. Former Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey has returned for the 49ers. Knight and the new-look Seahawks defense will face a difficult challenge in their first post-Dodson test.

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Seahawks’ run-stopping metrics through Week 9

Seahawks’ run-stopping metrics through Week 9

The Seattle Seahawks have struggled to stop the run this season. Entering their Week 10 bye, the defense is currently ranked 27th in defending the run, allowing opposing offenses to produce 139.4 rushing yards per game. Missed tackles and gap discipline have been recurring issues across the front seven.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider recently made a notable change to the run defense. Schneider acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV in a trade with the Tennessee Titans in exchange for 2025 draft-pick capital and fellow linebacker Jerome Baker. Despite losing to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9, their starting back Kyren Williams was limited to 69 yards and 3.1 yards per carry. Jones has already improved Seattle’s run defense.

The season-long metrics still leave plenty to be desired. As things stand, the Seahawks have posted a run-stopping-win-rate (RSWR) of 29%, 23rd-best in the league, according to data collected by ESPN Stats & Info. That ranking aligns with what Seattle’s undisciplined run defense has put on tape.

Opposing backfields are rushing for 4.8 yards per carry against Seattle’s defense. That’s tied for the sixth-most yards per carry average allowed by any defense in the NFL. Mike Macdonald’s unit has forfeited a middling nine rushing touchdowns this season.

The Seahawks must defend the run with better efficiency when they return from their Week 10 bye. Acquiring Jones has slightly pushed the needle in a better direction. Using the off-week to course-correct their gap-sound discipline issues could lead to more desirable results versus the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.

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Seahawks defense enjoyed historical success vs. Rams offense in Week 9

Seahawks defense enjoyed historical success vs. Rams offense in Week 9

The Seattle Seahawks lost a heartbreaker, dropping Sunday’s Week 9 NFC West contest versus the Los Angeles Rams 26-20 in overtime. The Rams managed 26 points, 22 first downs, and gained 366 total yards of offense. Most notably, starting quarterback Matthew Stafford strung together an 83-yard game-winning drive via four plays in overtime after taking over possession following a failed Seahawks’ fourth down.

Seattle’s defense may have crumbled when it mattered most, but head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde gave their offense plenty of opportunities throughout the game. The Seahawks forced seven Rams drives to end in three-and-out. That only happened in one of 115 (0.87%) previous games since Sean McVay became the Rams’ head coach, according to data collected by Brian Nemhauser.

The Seahawks out-gained the Rams 424-366. McVay’s offense punted (8) more than Seattle (7) did, and the time of possession was near dead-even, with Seattle owning the slight advantage, 32:53 to 32:10. The Rams converted just 3-of-13 third-down attempts.

Seattle’s defense unfortunately wavered with the contest on the line, and that must be addressed by Macdonald and Durde. But they also enjoyed a historical amount of success against a McVay-led offense throughout the contest. It shouldn’t go unnoticed.

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What does Ernest Jones IV bring to Seahawks defense?

What does Ernest Jones IV bring to Seahawks defense?

The Seattle Seahawks acquired linebacker Ernest Jones IV in a trade with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday in exchange for Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jones will immediately step into Seattle’s starting lineup opposite Tyrel Dodson. He brings aggression and violence to Mike Macdonald’s defense.

Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde have largely been displeased with the outputs of their run defense this season. Entering Sunday’s Week 8 matchup with the Buffalo Bills, Seattle is allowing a 28th-ranked 146.1 rushing yards per contest. Macdonald has routinely criticized the linebackers for missing tackles and playing with poor gap discipline.

Jones could help solve Seattle’s issues. The former South Carolina standout ranked second on the Titans in tackles (44) at the time of his departure. That will also rank second on the Seahawks, with Dodson and Julian Love (55) tied for the team-lead mark.

Jones is a downhill linebacker with outstanding read-and-react ability. Pro Football Focus has assigned him a stellar grade of 68.4 as a run defender this season. That’s notably higher than what Baker (62.6) and Dodson (54.0) have earned this season.

Jones has also been credited with 19 total stops. Jones has missed three tackles, which equals Dodson’s missed-tackle total to date, but is notably lower than Baker’s (6). That alone could help improve Seattle’s run defense.

If there’s one area of Jones’ game that requires improving, it’s coverage. He’s been credited with allowing 12 receptions on 14 targets this season for 151 yards and a passer rating allowed of 111.6, en route to a coverage score of 54.0. The Seahawks will likely continue using Dodson as their main coverage ‘backer, as he’s performed significantly better in man and zone situations, allowing 14 catches on 20 targets for 141 yards, and a passer rating of 89.8.

Jones is an excellent linebacker. The Seahawks were awfully familiar with him from his Los Angeles Rams & NFC West days. Jones is a big-time upgrade for Macdonald’s defense.

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Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald reveals which position Ernest Jones IV will play

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald reveals which position Ernest Jones IV will play

The Seattle Seahawks upgraded their defensive corps on Wednesday by trading Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for fellow linebacker Ernest Jones IV. Jones should immediately help improve Mike Macdonald’s defense. Coach Macdonald already spoke about the player, even offering details on where he fits in the starting lineup.

“He loves football, he’s tough as nails, and we’re excited to get him here,” Macdonald said about Jones. “We’re working through that [his position] right now, but we’ll probably put Ernest at MIKE [linebacker] and have Tito [Tyrel Dodson] at weak-side linebacker right now,” Macdonald said when asked if Jones would step into Baker’s weak-side role.

It’s notable because Dodson had been playing MIKE linebacker in Seattle’s defense this season. Instead of having Jones fill Baker’s previous weak-side role like-for-like, the Seahawks plan to have Jones swap roles with Dodson.

Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde have been dissatisfied with the state of their defense, particularly in the run game. That’s precisely why general manager John Schneider has made aggressive moves in recent weeks to acquire Jones and defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris. Having Jones and Dodson swap positions is another tweak to Macdonald’s in-progress defense.

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