The task faced by any new NFL coach is to quickly evaluate his squad and determine how personnel may be utilized differently to achieve better results.
After all, if the previous outcomes were acceptable, they would not likely have their new job.
For Seattle’s Mike Macdonald, the quest is doubly difficult as he replaces Pete Carroll, who is only the winningest coach in franchise history and the only one to bring a Lombardi Trophy to the Pacific Northwest.
One of Macdonald’s key weapons is DK Metcalf, a rangy wide receiver who had a sterling 2023 season.
Per Tom Pelissero, Macdonald told “The Insiders,” “We want to get DK the ball a lot, too.”
The new head man added that Metcalf would be utilized as a “moving target” to make covering him much more of a challenge for opposing defenses.
It’s not like Metcalf is not already productive.
After all, last year he gained 66 more yards than the prior season on 22 fewer catches.
And the star out of Mississippi overcame injuries to post an impressive career-high 16.9 yards per reception average.
With Geno Smith finding new life on the West Coast and slinging the football around, it should not be surprising to see Metcalf return to the 90-catch plateau he achieved in 2022.
With a powerful 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame, Metcalf is a matchup nightmare for defensive coaches, and the 36-year-old Macdonald would be well-served to center much of the offensive focus on this primary target.
This could be a very interesting season in Seattle.
