Latest news with #MikeMacdonald
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The fatal flaw Seattle Seahawks must address in training camp
The post The fatal flaw Seattle Seahawks must address in training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints. For a decade, the Seattle Seahawks have been a good team but not a great one. They've made playoff appearances, delivered highlight-reel moments, and remained a tough out in the NFC. However, they haven't broken through to the conference championship since 2014. Now, as they open 2025 training camp, the franchise finds itself at an interesting spot. If Mike Macdonald's squad is going to play well into January, the defense will need to carry the flag. Even a top-10 defense can only do so much, though, if the other side of the ball doesn't hold up its end of the bargain. New Look, New Philosophy It's been a full decade since the Seahawks last made it beyond the divisional round. This offseason, they went all-in on change, starting with the offense. Out went coordinator Ryan Grubb, replaced by Klint Kubiak to usher in a more balanced, run-first identity. Then came the shockwaves. Geno Smith was dealt to the Raiders, and franchise cornerstone DK Metcalf was traded to the Steelers. In their place, Seattle is betting big on two proven names. Sam Darnold arrives fresh off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. That's where he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, but also endured a nine-sack playoff meltdown. That underscored how badly he needs protection. To replace Metcalf, the Seahawks landed Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. His precision and reliability could steady the passing game. On the other side of the ball, there's far less drama. The defense returns almost everyone and gets an added boost from second-round pick Nick Emmanwori at safety. That unit looks ready to contend. The real question: will this rebuilt offense rise to meet the moment or be the reason Seattle falls short yet again? Here we'll try to look at the fatal flaw that the Seattle Seahawks must address in their 2025 NFL training camp. The Fatal Flaw: Offensive Line Let's be clear about something: Seattle's fatal flaw heading into camp is its offensive line. Sure, there's more optimism than there was at this time a year ago. However, question marks still loom everywhere except left tackle. Charles Cross remains a bright spot and anchor, but beyond him, there's little certainty. The Seahawks used a first-round pick on Grey Zabel. They hope he can stabilize the left guard position as a rookie. The rest of the projected starting line, which includes center Olu Oluwatimi, right guard Anthony Bradford, and right tackle Abraham Lucas, struggled in 2024. They collectively posted below-average PFF grades and failed to hold up in both pass and run blocking. Lucas, in particular, is a major concern. He's played in just 13 of 34 possible games over the past two seasons due to injury. The best ability is availability, and so far, Lucas has struggled to provide it. Why This Matters for Darnold Darnold's 2024 success in Minnesota came with a significant caveat. He held on to the ball longer than almost anyone else in the league. According to NFL Pro, he averaged 3.08 seconds per throw, which was third longest. He also attempted 73.2 percent of his passes after 2.5 seconds. That was the highest rate in football. When given time, he shredded defenses. When pressured, his efficiency collapsed. That was shown by the Rams sacking him nine times in the playoffs. If the Seahawks can't protect him, this trade could backfire fast. For Darnold to thrive in Klint Kubiak's offense, Seattle's line must give him a clean pocket. Key Camp Battles to Watch Training camp will be defined by battles in the trenches. Oluwatimi will have to fend off Jalen Sundell for the starting center job. Meanwhile, right guard will be an open competition among Bradford, Christian Haynes, and maybe even sixth-round rookie Bryce Cabeldue. At right tackle, all eyes will be on Lucas's health; if he goes down again, Seattle will be scrambling. In that case, either Michael Jerrell or Amari Kight could step in. On the left side, Zabel's development will be critical. If he adapts quickly, he and Cross could solidify the blind side. If he struggles, the entire offense could unravel before it even gets going. The Path Forward The blueprint for Seattle is straightforward. They need to lean on the defense, play complementary football, and trust that Kubiak's offense can protect Darnold while pounding the ball on the ground. Of course, it all hinges on the line. In a division featuring fearsome pass rushers like Josh Sweat, Braden Fiske, and Nick Bosa, Seattle's ability to keep its quarterback upright may determine whether the Seahawks finally break through. Otherwise, they might endure yet another January disappointment. If the offensive line takes shape in camp, the ceiling for this team rises dramatically. If not, 2025 could be yet another chapter in a frustrating decade. Related: Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes somber admission about DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett Related: AJ Barner sends Sam Darnold warning ahead of QB's first Seahawks season
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross has surgery for finger injury
RENTON, Wa. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross will be sidelined for the next few weeks because of surgery for a dislocated right ring finger. However coach Mike Macdonald said Thursday that Cross is expected to be ready for the season opener. Cross, 24, had been practicing with a dislocated finger and would have been able to keep playing had the injury occurred during the regular season, Macdonald said. But, with more than a month remaining until the Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 7 to open the regular season, the timing was right for Cross to have surgery. 'We felt like it was a good opportunity to fix it so he didn't have to worry about it once it heals,' Macdonald said. 'So, we're looking at a couple, few weeks here. Expect him to be back before the San Francisco game." Cross, a first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2022, is entering his fourth season with the team. Seattle picked up an option for his contract for the 2026 season, which guarantees Cross $17.56 million. He has started 48 games across his Seahawks tenure and missed three games in 2023 because of a toe injury. ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross has surgery for finger injury
RENTON, Wa. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross will be sidelined for the next few weeks because of surgery for a dislocated right ring finger. However coach Mike Macdonald said Thursday that Cross is expected to be ready for the season opener. Cross, 24, had been practicing with a dislocated finger and would have been able to keep playing had the injury occurred during the regular season, Macdonald said. But, with more than a month remaining until the Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 7 to open the regular season, the timing was right for Cross to have surgery. 'We felt like it was a good opportunity to fix it so he didn't have to worry about it once it heals,' Macdonald said. 'So, we're looking at a couple, few weeks here. Expect him to be back before the San Francisco game.' Cross, a first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2022, is entering his fourth season with the team. Seattle picked up an option for his contract for the 2026 season, which guarantees Cross $17.56 million. He has started 48 games across his Seahawks tenure and missed three games in 2023 because of a toe injury. ___ AP NFL:
Newsweek
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
NFC West Over/Under Win Totals: 49ers Boast Division's Highest Win Total
Coach Mike Macdonald's Seahawks are one of the most interesting teams in this division after trading away QB Geno Smith and signing Sam Darnold as his replacement. Coach Mike Macdonald's Seahawks are one of the most interesting teams in this division after trading away QB Geno Smith and signing Sam Darnold as his replacement. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With NFL preseason almost upon us, our 2025 NFL betting preview continues today with the first of eight division-by-division looks at the regular season win total markets for each team. In the NFC West -- where the Rams, Seahawks and Cardinals all finished with between 8 and 10 wins during the 2024 regular season -- oddsmakers expect another tight race between all four teams. 2025 NFC West Win Total Odds Right now, the Seahawks and Cardinals are seen as slight underdogs in this division, but there's little separating those two from the 49ers and Rams, as you can see below. DK FD bet365 49ers 10.5 (o+110; u-130) 10.5 (o-110; u-110) 10.5 (o+110; u-130) Rams 9.5 (o-145; u+120) 9.5 (o-140; u+120) 9.5 (o-145; u+115) Cardinals 8.5 (o-115; u-105) 8.5 (o-125; u+105) 8.5 (o-115; u-105) Seahawks 8.5 (o+115; u-140) 7.5 (o-130; u+110) 8.5 (o+130; u-160) The current NFC West outrights also speak to how balanced this division is. The 49ers are the favorite at DraftKings, but at +150 (followed by the Rams at +195), they're far from a lock. The only current division favorite with longer odds at DK than San Francisco is Detroit at +155 to win the NFC North. The biggest questions in this division are A) what to expect from the 49ers, who went just 6-11 last year after winning at least 10 regular season games in 2021, '22 and '23 and B) whether 37-year-old Matthew Stafford can lead the Rams to their fifth playoff appearance in the last six years. That's not to rule out big seasons by the Cardinals or Seahawks, though, as we'll detail below. Best San Francisco 49ers 2025 Win Total Bet No team in the league is expected to take a bigger leap than Kyle Shanahan's 49ers, who won just six games in 2024 due in large part to star RB Christian McCaffrey getting injured and missing all but four contests. San Francisco's top O-lineman, veteran left tackle, Trent Williams also missed 7 games in 2024. The Niners plummeted from 5-4 following a Week 10 win at Tampa Bay to 6-11 for the franchise's worst finish since 2018. I'm not questioning San Francisco's ceiling, especially if McCaffrey and Williams can stay healthy. Still, I'd recommend either staying away from this team's total or taking the under, as there's no guarantee that 37-year-old Williams and McCaffrey (who has now missed at least 10 games in three of his last five seasons) stay on the field. And we haven't even talked about a San Francisco D that allowed 35 points or more in four of its final seven games last year, including no-shows in Weeks 17 and 18. It's also worth noting that while 15 teams finished 2024 at 10-7 or better, only nine teams in the entire league reached 11 regular-season wins. Best bet: Under 10.5 Wins (-110 at FanDuel) -- 0.5 units Best L.A. Rams 2025 Win Total Bet The Rams have been one of the best teams in the NFL down the stretch the last two years. They recovered from a 3-6 start by winning seven of their last eight in 2023 to clinch a playoff berth, and almost beat Detroit on the road in the Wild Card round. Somehow, Sean McVay's pulled off another remarkable rally last year: L.A. was 4-5 after nine games, but went 6-2 down the stretch to win the NFC West. Led by Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, the young Rams' D sacked then-Vikings QB Sam Darnold nine times (!) in a 27-9 wild card-round rout. With another year of experience, that unit should be a handful again. And while Stafford is a question mark in his age-37 season, the L.A. offensive line will almost certainly be much better this year after that unit was decimated by injury last September and October. If the Rams get a full season from Puka Nacua and/or high-upside free agent signing Davante Adams, they could easily clear 9.5 wins. In fact, the best win total bet for the Rams is a small play (like a half-unit) on Over 10.5 wins at +135 -- Over 9.5 feels well within reach, but too expensive at -140 or shorter. Best bet: (Alt) Over 10.5 Wins (+135 at DK, bet365) *Bonus bet: Rams to Win NFC West (+195 at DK) *Did I mention I'm bullish on this team? Best Arizona Cardinals 2025 Win Total Bet I must admit I'm not sure what to expect from the Cardinals. Arizona won as many games in 2024 (8) as it did in 2022 and 2023 combined, as Kyler Murray enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career. Still, last year was tainted by a 1-4 skid from Week 12-17 that spoiled a 6-4 start and cost the team its first playoff berth since 2021. Arizona strikes me as a team that will once again be good for a few impressive wins (see: last year's 41-10 evisceration of the Rams in Week 2). But although I expect offseason acquisitions Dalvin Tomlinson at DT and Super Bowl-winning pass rusher Josh Sweat to improve the defense, I don't expect those two alone to dramatically change Arizona's outlook. With that in mind, I'm leaning toward Arizona to go under 8.5 wins at plus-money. Best bet: Under 8.5 Wins (+105 at FanDuel) Best Seattle Seahawks 2025 Win Total Bet The Rams weren't the only NFC West team to shake off some bad early-season injury luck and finish strong. In Year 1 under head coach Mike Macdonald, Seattle started 4-5, but finished 10-7 after winning six of its last eight. The offense will look very different with Darnold taking over for Smith, who threw for over 4,300 yards while completing 70 percent of his passes last year. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba's breakout in his sophomore campaign makes the offseason deal that sent DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh easier to stomach. Seattle also parted ways with last year's No. 3 and No. 4 targets, Tyler Lockett and TE Noah Fant, though. Darnold throwing to JSN, 32-year-old Cooper Kupp and journeyman Marquez Valdes-Scantling could bring a big downgrade from what the Seahawks had a year ago, especially if the O-line fails to take a step forward after a rough 2024 campaign. The good news for Seattle is that it should be good defensively after a strong finish on that side of the ball last year (the Seahawks allowed just over 18 points per game over their final eight games of 2025). I have my doubts about Seattle winning more than eight games or so, but I do expect this team to do just enough to go at least 8-9. Best bet: Over 7.5 Wins (-130 at FD) Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through any links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Seahawks general manager John Schneider gets contract extension through 2031
Seattle Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider signed a contract extension through the 2031 season on Wednesday. Schneider is the longest-tenured GM in franchise history, having held the job since 2010. The Seahawks did not disclose terms of the deal. 'The extension of general manager John Schneider's contract is a testament to his 15-plus years of football leadership and success,' Seahawks owner Jody Allen said in a statement. 'I am confident that John will continue to deliver real results and a continued strong partnership with head coach Mike Macdonald that is already contributing to our winning culture on and off the field.' The 54-year-old Schneider first joined the Seahawks in 2000 as director of player personnel and then returned to the franchise in 2010 as GM and executive vice president. Seattle made the playoffs in Schneider's first season and won the Super Bowl in his fourth. During Schneider's time as GM, the Seahawks have compiled the sixth-best record in the NFL at 147-96-1 and have won 10 or more games in nine of the past 13 seasons. Seattle has made the playoffs 10 times in 15 seasons and has won five NFC West titles and two conference championships under Schneider.
