First-time Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald comes to his new job with a reputation as a defensive geniusThe results of his work over the past two years with the Baltimore Ravens as defensive coordinator speak for themselves.
If that’s not enough for you, we’ve heard nothing but glowing praise from Seahawks players this offseason regarding Macdonald’s remarkable football IQ. The latest comes from cornerback Riq Woolen, who called Macdonald a mastermind During an appearance on ESPN Seattle Radio earlier this week, Woolen will deepen his understanding of the game under Macdonald’s influence, as will his partner in crime, rising Seahawks star cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
It’s a scary proposition for the rest of the league, as Witherspoon is already one of the most instinctive and brilliant defenders in the sport. This anecdote from Mike Dugar to The Athletic illustrates how deep Witherspoon’s understanding of the game is – sometimes even surpassing MacDonald’s.
Devon Witherspoon Shows Off His Football Knowledge
“Macdonald was in the process of installing a defensive scheme when Devon Witherspoon spotted a flaw in the plan. The second-year cornerback warned against that particular approach and explained what the downside would be. Macdonald disagreed. When it came time to implement the plan during the visit, Witherspoon was right, and the exact conflict he predicted came to fruition. “He told me about it,” Macdonald said with a laugh during a post-practice huddle outside the locker room last week.
Gorgeous.
Assuming he stays healthy and improves his tackling that was spotty here and there during his rookie season, Witherspoon should have a real chance to earn a first-team All-Pro nod this year. Some analysts even consider him an outsider to win the defensive player of the year award price.
