Reaction To Mike Macdonald Getting Hired & More w/ Rob Staton

Senior Sports Journalist for BBC Sheffield, Rob Staton joins the show! Rob gives his insight on the Seahawks hiring Mike Macdonald as their new head coach, who are some offensive coordinators that he wants the Seahawks to go after, what is the future of Geno Smith, and much more.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Let's go across the pond our goodfriend Rob Staton, who's joined us many
many times. We'll make Rob aregular. We just got to figure out
the details with Rob. Don't worryabout it. Rob's gonna be a regular
with us at some point. Seniorsports journalists have a great BBC Sheffield and
a Seahawks draft blog dot com.Hi Rob, how are you? Hey?

(00:20):
Guys? Congratulations on the basketball game? Really please? Yeah? Can
you work in some cougar merch nexttime you do a show and stop pandering
to the UDUB crowd. Well,the thing is, when I went to
Seattle before COVID, there was cougarstuff everywhere, and I actually did get
a couple of things, But whenI went Thanksgiving, I couldn't find any
cougar gear, so I didn't bringany back with me. If anyone wants

(00:42):
to send me any, then I'llgratefully wear it. Well, we'll send
you something if I send you cougargear. Can you send me one of
those cool BBC microphones? Please?Oh? Yeah, you can have anything
you want. We have a lotof BBC sort of stuff. Hey,
what's the deal with those microphones?Though? The hand held and you hold
it like an inch from your mouth. What's the deal with those things?

(01:04):
Yeah, it's just because I thinkwe're more softly spoken in the in the
Great United Kingdom, and maybe theyou Americans need to keep the mic a
bit further away from your mouth.So that's what it is. We just
need to be a little bit closer. That's just so cool, all right.
Well, we've talked to you manytimes about what the Seahawks and what
direction they would go in. Robinand I think we were, well,

(01:26):
you and I were in agreement.I think Jim was liked McDonald or liked
it didn't matter. I guess whatside of the ball they were on.
But we had trumpeted up Ben Johnson, he was one of the finalists,
didn't get the job. They gowith the defensive coach, Mike McDonald.
What was your first reaction and hasthat first reaction changed now here in the
last you know weakers so since hasbeen hired. Well, the first reaction

(01:49):
was I when Riley mentioned that Iwanted an offensive minded head coach. But
when Ben Johnson, whether he withdrewfrom the situation or whether he was basically
kicked out of it because hearing mixedthings about whether he interviewed well, whether
he wanted too much money. Eitherway, he was not a contender anymore.
It seemed that Bobby Slowick was outof it after just one interview.
He didn't get a second interview.So then if you are like myself wanting

(02:13):
an offensive minded head coach, itmeant there was Mike Kafka and nobody else.
So at that point you have tosort of consider what else is out
there? Who are the options?And I think when you look at who
else was out there, if youput Mike McDonald and Dan Quinn and some
of the other names that were outthere, I think Mike McDonald was the
was the more intriguing hire. There'sa been a mystery there. You know,

(02:36):
people were speaking very highly about himwhen you listen to sort of Garofflo
on your show and Ian rapperpaut wason with you, and they're speaking as
if this guy. I think thequote from Rappaport was that he's the Sean
McVey of defense. That's a reallyinteresting thing to hear. And then when
you actually listen to him at hispress conference, Look, he gets to
the point he doesn't say a thousandwords when ten are enough. You know,

(02:58):
that's going to help with communication.I thought he spoke very very well.
He had that sort of look inhis eye which showed a degree of
distermination. I came away feeling moreexcited about the Silks than are having a
long time. You know, itfelt that the Silks for a few years
were just meandering along, whereas nowit's more intriguing and it's exciting to see
which what kind of shape this newyear is going to take. What about
the offensive coordinator candidates that are beinglobbied about Ryan Grubb from the U dub

(03:23):
Tanner engstrand the Detroit passing game coordinator. Either one of those two hit your
fancy there, Robbers or somebody elseeither. I mean, I take either
of those two guys. Tannet Engstrom, of course, is Ben Johnson's passing
game coordinator. And it seems tome, look, if you can't have
Ben Johnson, why not have BenJohnson's right hand man, gone bring the
offense from Detroit to Seattle, orthen you've gone and got the best of

(03:44):
both worlds. You know, peoplewould just debating Ben Johnson or Mike McDonald
before the hire was made. Thisenables you to get kind of get both,
doesn't it, you know? AndTanner Engksom's very bright. It seems
like one of those sort of youngupcoming offensive coordinators. I've listened to a
couple of his press conferences. Ithink he's very intruing lean candidate, and
I think he'd be a perfectly acceptableperson to comeing and run the offense.
Ryan Grubb, you know, he'she's been very highly rated for a while.

(04:08):
Nick Saban wanted to hire him ayear ago. We've all seen what
kind of production p Fresno State andWashington have had. There's a little bit
of concern there. You know,Washington's offense as explosive and as dynamic as
it is, and it's not justyou know, the air raid offense,
but there are a lot of predeterminedreads where the quarterbacks look into the sideline
and he's basically told what to do. You can't really do that in the

(04:29):
NFL, but I would expect thatRyan Grubbs well aware of that, and
if he comes in, he willadapt, he will be able to build
this thing, and I just thinkit's it all sounds very good at the
moment. You know, the candidatelike Joe Cullen's been linked for the defensive
coordinator. I think that would bea great appointment. Tanna Engstrum and Ryan
grubberin link with defensive coordinator. Thatwould be a great appointment. I like
the fact that Jay Harbor has saidto his dad, no thanks, Dad,

(04:50):
I'm gonna go and work in Seattleinstead to be the special teams coordinator.
I think it's all moving in theright direction. Rob Staton again with
US covers the sea Hawks Seahawks Draftblog dot com. If you haven't read
it, please go read it todayand also follow Rob on YouTube for all
of his insight analysis videos. Upthere YouTube dot com to search Rob State

(05:15):
and you will find all of hiswork. If they will go in the
direction of Ryan Grubb, which Ithink many people out here just to give
you the pulse of the city,I think are excited about the possibility of
Ryan Grubb coming back to Seattle tobe the offensive coordinator. Would what's the
level of pause or concern because hewould be a first time coordinator in the

(05:38):
NFL and you've got a first timehead coach. Is it too much of
a youth movement? I think thatis a valid argument to make and the
true answer is, we just don'tknow. Because you can look at the
Washington offense and like I said,there's a lot of predetermined reads. You
could make an argument that that's justnot going to work. But then there

(05:59):
are so many people saying positive thingsabout Ryan Grubb and saying that, look,
you know, the NFL's had himon their radar for a while,
and you see that. Look whenyou look at Oregon's offense, it's like
seventy five percent screens. It's designedto make life as easy as possible for
Bodex. When you watch Michael Pennix, he's launching the ball into you know,
layered passes thirty yards to the sideline. He's throwing darts right down the

(06:24):
middle for big touchdowns in big games. In the Sugar Bowl. You know,
this is not a conservative, highpercentage offense. This was a big
risk taking offense explosive plays, whichis the kind of offense that I think
John Schneider wants. I think it'sone of the reasons why he's been sort
of thinking of making Mike Kafka hishead coach and now his offensive coordinator,

(06:45):
is because he wants that Andy Reid'sstyle of offense taking shots down field.
I don't think he wants this tobe a methodical, safe offense. And
the one thing that kayln Neboorn andRyan Grubb have done is they have produced
an explosive offense, but they're lookhow the question that other the question I
would ad to what you said,is how much of the success that Washington's
had is down to Kailand deer Boarand how much is down to Ryan Grubb.

(07:09):
It's Kaylan deer Boar's offense, butRyan Drubb calls the plays. You
know, is he capable of designingan offense for the NFL as well as
being the play caller? Is hea good play caller rather than a good
play designer. Is there something youcan put with him if that is the
case, that can help him withplay design, if he is an exceptional
play caller. I think these arethe things that they've got to work out.
So it's a bit of a concern. But at the same time,

(07:30):
you know, I tend to leantowards perhaps what some of those Husky fans
are saying. It's incredibly intriguing tosee if he gets the job, what
he can do well. And thenrob to Puck's point here. I mean
they brought in Leslie Frazier's assistant headcoach, former head coach at Minnesota,
Bill's defensive coordinator, and an extensiveresume, and he's sixty four years old,
so they've addressed that in a wayof getting an older veteran guy in

(07:54):
here. Yeah, they absolutely have. I love that, you know,
because it's somebody who, if he'snot too short, how to handle this
thing, because you were going tocome up against all sorts of stupid stuff
as a head coach, you know, players just having concerns about nothing or
complaining or you know, guys gettinginto it on the practice field, whatever
it is that he's not going tohave experienced before where he's the guy who

(08:15):
the book stops with him. He'sgoing to have to make a decision,
and now he's got somebody that hecan just take to one side. How
do you handle this, Leslie?You know, give me your advice and
be a real sounding board for him, and not just that you know they're
scheming and their ideas. Because he'scoming out of the Baltimore the harball system
for the first time, he's nowgot somebody who has been around the NFL
for so long there's worked with differentcoaches. It's just a fantastic point.

(08:37):
It's exactly the can of appointment thatI think they had to make for a
first time head coach. When youthink of Sean McVeigh, how much did
Wade Phillips help him when he wentto the Rams for the first time.
Is the defensive coordinator, but someonewhos been a head coach, been around
the league for a long time asthat sounding board, Leslie Frager to company,
he's not just going to offer somereal tactical help and some coaching help,

(08:58):
but he's also going to be amentor for my McDonald. I think
that was a home run appointment.I say, I like the fact that
one of the harbors is coming into run the special teams. I like
the names that have been linked withoffensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. It seems
like a far cry, you know, with a great respect to Pete Cowell,
than just hearing Pete Cowell say we'vegot to get it right. Don't
worry, just give me another week. I'll sort this out. Give me

(09:18):
another year. I'll sort this out, whilst recycling his own staff at defensive
coordinator and just finding guys for offensivecoordinator. It's a fresh start for the
Seahawks and one's very exciting. Doyou like that he wants to call the
plays? You don't see that,And maybe it's more I'm trying to think
the last head coach that did thaton the defensive side, Rob, You
don't see a lot of like defensivemind coaches actually call the defense. You

(09:41):
see it all the time on theoffensive side. But do you like that
that strategy or decision on his partas of now that he will be the
one actually calling the place. WhatI did like about it was that he
seemed to suggest that that was ashort term measure that he wanted to bring
somebody onto the staff who within ayear or two could perhaps take on those

(10:03):
play calling duties. And look,if they're going to bring in Joe Cullen
as defensive coordinator, I don't thinkthey're setting up Joe Cullen to do that,
because he's a very experienced NFL coach. I think he would be coming
in again to provide his experience andhis wisdom and to help the defensive line
because that's his specialty. But Ithink when they were looking at Zachary or

(10:24):
who is such an impressive guy.And it's a real shame that he staid
in Baltimok's he would have been aperfect defensive coordinator for this. I think
he wants to bring somebody in whois young, who is upcoming, who
is bright, who's also got newideas. What did he what was the
term that he was like growth mentalityor something like that that he wants his
coaches to have. And I thinkhe wants to bring somebody in who can
do that, who he can guide, you know, that can develop into

(10:46):
being a play caller for the defensewithin two years. And I just thought
this guy's store about this. Youknow, one of my concerns with McDonald
was doesn't even know what he wantsto be as a head coach because he's
just sort of come from nowhere withintwo years to be one of the star,
higher rated coordinators in the league.As he had the time to sort
of think about who his staff's goingto be, what his vision's going to

(11:07):
be, what he wants a MikeMcDonald's coach team to look like. And
it seems to me like, yeah, he's got some clarity on that.
So I would imagine that on topof these sort of very experienced coaches that
were seeing come in that we're goingto see sort of a bright, younger
coach come in who maybe within ayear or two will end up being the
defensive coordinator and will end up callingthe place for him. Well, next
Friday, he's got one of hisbiggest personnel decisions coming up, Mike McDonald

(11:30):
win Gino Smith's contract, whether toguarantee the base salary or not. Which
way do you think he's going togo with that? I think everybody's looking
at this the wrong way, Jim. I think everybody's sort of giving their
own opinion on Geno Smith as towhether he should stay or not. And
what we have to do is getin thehead of John Schneider. What did
John Schneider actually think when he didhis press conference, his solo press conference,
his answer on Geno Smith was soloopwarm. There was no mention of

(11:56):
next season. He just said,yeah, do you know what, last
year he started well and then kindof faded, and this year he kind
of didn't start well and then improvedas the year went on, and that
was it. And it felt likejust such an underwhelming, non committal answer.
And then Mike McDonald was in hispress conference and says, well,
yeah, you know, Gino's good, he's at the Pro Bowl. But
I'll tell you what he Drew Locke. You know, Drew I mentioned Drew

(12:16):
Locke's name was a free agent.He's not even contractor to the Seauks next
year. And so say we wantto build around the quarterback and we'll see
how that situation plays out. Tome, I just get the set of
the real sense that these two guysare not that committed to Gino Smith and
that what John Shnider actually wants todo. I think he wants to draft
a quarterback. I think he's itchingto draft a quarterback and go younger at

(12:37):
that position and build for the future. It's not unheard of for when a
new regime starts to get a newcoach in to pair them with a new
quarterback. If this is going tobe a growing pain year for the defense
with a new offensive coordinator, whynot get the growing pains out of the
way quarterback as well. If youare going to draft a guy. So
if that is their mentality, thisis what Shnaida has to think of,

(12:58):
I might be able to get Drewlock for five million dollars. Gino Smith's
cap hits thirty one point two million, So I might think Geno smiths better.
You might think Geno SMIs better.What John Snada has to think is
is Geno Smith so much better thanDrew Lock to justify thirty one point two
million versus Drew Lock being on fiveor six million as a guy who might

(13:20):
even lose a job to a rookie. I think that's how they're going to
approach this. So I don't thinkit's a four gone conclusion Gino's hit.
What I think is going to happenis he will get past that date that
you've mentioned there, five days afterthe Super Bowl. I think when they
get to the combine, they're goingto make some calls Pittsburgh, Atlanta,
you know, some of these teamsthat needed quarterback. I think they're going
to try and trade Geno Smith beforeMarch twentieth, when they'll make the same

(13:41):
saving, get a pickback, allowGino to go and start somewhere else.
I think that's what's gonna happen.Yeah, Yeah, I'm with you.
I think they've tipped their hand onthat, and I just think that the
cost is way too much. Ithink that they are not committed to how
really good they're going to be nextseason because they're gonna take their lumps.
They just will. It's a newstaff, there's any expectations. They'll say
all the right things that they wantto win and it competing for a championship,

(14:05):
But they have to look at realityand they can save that money and
start building, I think, oragain, we talk about it all the
time. You're gonna win and losewith the guys upfront, and they got
to they got to improve that interioroffensive line, and they got to improve
that that defensive front, probably torun you know, his system, especially
on the on the defensive side.And if they hire a Grub, I
mean, the speculation will just runrampant that they're gonna draft Michael Penix.

(14:26):
Hell, they might draft Panics regardlessif they hire another you know, offensive
coordinator. Let me ask you realquick, I got about a minute left.
What did you make of Penicks's decisionnot to play in the Senior Bowl?
Is it a red flag? Uh? That's what your read flat.
But he had an underwhelment week.You know, I've seen people saying he
had a great week. He didnot have a great week. They were

(14:46):
all Indwelman, Boonix was indwell me, Michael PENICKX was underwhelming, Michael Pratt
was underwhelming, Spencer out. Theydid okay. I thought it was a
kind of a meh week from thequarterbacks there, and I would have liked
to see him start because he didn'tthrow the ball deep much at all during
the week. So getting that game, throw it deep. Bonux through one
sixty five yards at a flea flicker. Why can't Michael Penix do that?
But Pennix sorry Nix and Rattler throughfour passes? Could Michael Penicks not have

(15:09):
thrown four passes in the game.Yeah, I've kind of split on it.
I don't I don't know which wayit's. You know, it's gonna
be there in practice. Why notplay? Uh yeah, well, well
let's talk about the on the onthe other side of the commercial. All
right, Hey, you're the best, thanks for doing it, and uh,
we'll carve out something for it.We're gonna send you some cool gear.

(15:30):
You send us a microphone, andwe're gonna call it good good.
All right, you're the best.Thanks Rob anytime, guys, Thank you