Seahawks Defense: A Mike Macdonald Experiment That’s Failing to Deliver?

The Seattle Seahawks hoped to turn the tide of their struggling defense with the hiring of Mike Macdonald, but the early returns are far from promising. Despite the expectations surrounding Macdonald—a defensive mastermind who previously made waves with Michigan and the Baltimore Ravens—the Seahawks' defense appears to be as vulnerable as ever.

Seattle’s defensive woes have a long history; they finished a dismal 30th in total defense last season and have not managed to break into the top 20 since 2019. The addition of a high-profile coach like Macdonald was seen as a pivotal move to restore the fearsome defense that defined the team during their Super Bowl runs. Yet, as the Seahawks sit at 3-2 after a painful 29-20 loss to the New York Giants, it’s clear that much work remains.

In this contest, the Seahawks were heavy favorites, entering the game with a seven-point edge against a battered Giants team missing key players like standout receiver Malik Nabers and running back Devin Singletary. To make matters worse, the Giants had been struggling offensively all season and averaged less than 300 yards per game. But the Seahawks’ defense allowed the Giants to shred them, giving up a staggering 420 total yards, including 175 on the ground, while being on the field for over 37 minutes.

While the Seahawks managed a couple of defensive stops, including a remarkable fumble recovery touchdown by Rayshawn Jenkins, linebacker Jerome Baker put it bluntly: “Even if you look at that drive, they drove the whole field.” This candid assessment echoes the frustrations felt by fans and analysts alike, as the persistent issues haunting Seattle’s defense in recent years continue to plague them.

The same defensive failures were starkly evident in previous matchups, including a humiliating encounter with the Detroit Lions, where the Seahawks allowed a perfect streak of passes completed against them. Even the New England Patriots, who lost in overtime to Seattle, managed to run for 185 yards, further exposing the defensive fragility.

As for Macdonald, his post-game comments reflected the grim reality: “We got outplayed and out-executed today… when we did create third downs in the first half we didn’t get off the field.” His nonverbal decisions during crucial moments, like opting to go for it on a fourth-and-1 from their own 35-yard line with the game in the balance, raises questions about his confidence in the defensive unit.

This season is still young, but if the Seahawks are going to end their losing streak and become competitive once again, it’s imperative that they find a way to tighten up their defense. It appears the Macdonald hire has not yet yielded the turnaround Seattle was hoping for, and if current trends continue, fans will be left wondering: is a defensive overhaul truly underway or just wishful thinking? Will the Seahawks be able to reclaim their defensive prowess, or are they facing another long season on the gridiron? The answers may determine not only the fate of this season but perhaps the future of the franchise itself.