RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Mike Macdonald started and ended his first training camp practice as a head coach with the fans.
Before kicking off Seattle Seahawks training camp on Wednesday, Macdonald engaged the crowd sitting on the grass berm overlooking the team’s waterside practice fields, waving his arms to fire up the crowd.
And two hours later, he headed back over to the same area to sign autographs for those who hung around till the end.
“You can’t take the smile off your face to be in this setting, in this organization, this city, these fans, our guys, just a special day. It’s awesome and a great start with the guys,” Macdonald said.
While a new era in Seattle has been underway since last January when Pete Carroll was let go following 14 seasons in charge and Macdonald was hired as the youngest coach in the league, it really kicked into gear with the start of training camp and the 6 1/2-week runup to the season opener on Sept. 8 at home against Denver.
Macdonald is the face of how the Seahawks move ahead, given the keys to the franchise but asked to do so following in the footsteps of the most successful coach ever to come through Seattle. While the Seahawks tailed off toward the end of Carroll’s tenure, they still won five division titles, two NFC championship and the only Super Bowl in team history under his watch.
That’s the goal for Macdonald, to get Seattle back into that conversation among the elite teams in the NFL. But that’s down the road. For now, the focus is on the day-to-day of running his first camp.
“Before practice if felt a little different coming out here and you’re like, ‘Wow, OK, I’m responsible for what is going on out here.’ It’s pretty cool,” Macdonald said.
What Macdonald saw on his first day was mostly what he expected. There was the welcome sight of linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker on the field after both were sidelined for most of the offseason program with injuries. There were pinpoint passes from Geno Smith and a couple of highlight catches by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
But there were also a few new wrinkles. The music wasn’t quite as loud as the past. Fans were asked to put their phones away during practice. With an entirely new coach staff working together, Macdonald and several of his coordinators and assistants wore headsets to communicate through part of practice, an idea presented by offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
“It’s something we’re testing out right now. I think it’s probably going to stick around and it’s just another opportunity for us to really sharpen our operation,” Macdonald said.
O-line updates
Macdonald said there is no timetable for when right tackle Abe Lucas (knee) could return. Lucas played in six games last season due to continued issues with his knee and started training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Lucas started 16 games in 2022 as a rookie after being selected in the third round out of Washington State.
“We’re trying to get there as fast as we can. I think it’d be fair to say that we were hoping it would go a little faster up to this point, but we’re in a process of bringing him back,” Macdonald said. “We have a plan for him, but I can’t tell you right now when exactly he’ll be back.”
Macdonald also said the Seahawks had a “great” visit with veteran free agent Connor Williams, who is coming off a major knee injury suffered last December with Miami. Macdonald said Williams would likely play center for Seattle, but it’s unclear if the sides will come to an agreement or if Williams will look elsewhere in free agency.
Seahawks and safety Julian Love reach agreement on 3-year extension
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks and safety Julian Love have reached agreement on a three-year extension that could be worth up to $36 million.
Love’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on Wednesday following the first day of Seahawks training camp. The deal will keep the safety tied to Seattle through the 2027 season.
Love, 26, signed a two-year deal with Seattle before the 2023 season after spending his first three years with the New York Giants. He quickly emerged into a critical piece of the Seahawks’ defense, in part because of his ability to play multiple positions in the secondary.
Love started 12 of 17 games and finished with career highs in solo tackles (85), interceptions (four) and was selected to the Pro Bowl. He was the NFC defensive player of the week for Week 15 of last season after having nine tackles and two interceptions in a win over Philadelphia.
Love has regularly been considered one of the players with a chance to thrive in the defensive system of new Seattle coach Mike Macdonald, in part because of his versatility.
“(Julian) in particular, a guy that will be able to move around, change some different spots. You don’t see that yet, but he’ll be a guy we’ll be able to move around and utilize in a pretty sweet way,” Macdonald said during offseason workouts in May.
Macdonald also praised Love’s leadership and presence on the field.
“On the field he has elite poise, and that’s something we’re chasing. If something doesn’t go our way let’s keep our poise, play the next play. The game is slow to him, so to be able to communicate at a high level shows you what it should feel like when he’s out there,” Macdonald said.
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