Mike Macdonald: "I'm Really Proud Of Our Team"

Mike Macdonald (0:00)

All right, well, that happened fast. Good to see everybody. I mean, yeah, it was a great win. Started just like we wanted it to start. Drew it up that way. I just wanted some adversity there. But yeah, I know I was still going to clean all that stuff up in the first half. But I'll tell you what, I mean, just being on the sideline, being with our crew, the guys were poised. Nobody batted an eye. Knew what we needed to do to win the game. Stuck to the plan, made some adjustments, and just kept playing. You know, it's a long game. These games go 60 minutes down to the wire, and I'm just proud of our guys and the effort, the attitude, the togetherness, and I thought they played really, really hard. So I'm proud of the guys. There's a lot of things that obviously we're going to want to attack over the next week, getting ready for New England, and we'll do that, you know. So hopefully we'll make a huge jump from game one to game two.

SPEAKER_2 (0:46)

You mentioned the adjustments. What did you think about what Ryan did with the run game opening of the second half? Seemed there was more of an emphasis in the gap scheme out there.

Mike Macdonald (0:55)

Yeah, just, you know, how they were playing in their fronts, made a couple of adjustments on some of the schemes they were running. And, you know, I thought the O-line, we, O-line played well in the second half. And, you know, and Ken, Ken in particular really made me run so hard. So, yeah, they did a great job.

SPEAKER_3 (1:10)

How encouraging was it, just the way that the guys would defend for a run around? And, I mean, you don't necessarily see that in camp, the practice, but to see them hit like that again.

Mike Macdonald (1:20)

Yeah, it's great. I mean, they get their spirit. I mean, they were really, really poised. And that's what you asked for in game one. Like, you know, any time anything happens, it's like, hey, let's go. Like, we're in the dark place. That's right where we're meant to be. So, AD had a great message to the guys. And I thought he hit it spot on. That's what he talked about. Just anytime, whatever the circumstance is, that's perfect for the Seahawks. And the guys, they're bought in and they did a great job.

SPEAKER_3 (1:45)

Mike, sometimes tackling can be a little bit of an issue in game one, just because there's so little in the preseason in camp. What did you think about the way you guys did tackle?

Mike Macdonald (1:53)

Well, I thought there were some really good open field tackles. I think we can adjust some things to eliminate some of that space without getting into too much detail. Overall, I thought we tackled well. We felt like we did miss and they got some squirrely yards there. But when you run to the ball, you can take shots. And if you take good angles, and guys shouldn't be getting out on your defense. So again, the effort is the biggest thing. And then I'm sure there would be some things we want to look at and try to make some adjustments moving forward. But I thought the guys tackled pretty well.

SPEAKER_3 (2:24)

We have to tell you about Tyler Lockett. He missed some time, obviously. He was out there, week one, leading team receiver, he made that last catch.

Mike Macdonald (2:30)

Yeah, he had been telling me about Tyler. I mean, I obviously know how great of a player he is, but the guy makes plays, man. It's unbelievable. We gave him the closer ball, and they're in the locker room right there. So that was pretty cool. Proud of him, man. I mean, it hasn't been easy for him at all. Training camp, you know, I think he's been frustrated a little bit with where he's at health-wise, but the guy's ready to play, man. And he made a lot of big plays for us today.

SPEAKER_4 (2:50)

Mike, it was a struggle for the O-line there in the first half to kind of see them even things out and find some footing to open the running game up like it did. How good was that to kind of see them fight back?

Mike Macdonald (2:59)

Yeah, it's great. We knew they could do that, you know. I mean, you didn't expect the game to start the way that it did, but it did. And, you know, you got to keep moving forward. And we got great guys on the O-line, you know. And first game, you know, moving around, like I'm just in a different style of defense. So definitely not how we want to start, even though I started, you know, the whole presser here. But, you know, we'll be better moving forward.