EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — How good can Mike Macdonald be?
Ok to trick a 41-year-old, three-time NFL MVP right into a game-losing mistake.
The Seahawks’ rookie head coach, 4 years youthful than the New York Jets’ star quarterback, made historical past for Leonard Williams Sunday.
And that made the Seahawks’ chilly afternoon within the Meadowlands go from disastrous to divine.
Earlier this season, Macdonald dialed again his multiplicity and disguising inside Seattle’s protection. That was as a result of his Seahawks have been battling mere fundamentals, not to mention his tips. The crew was in final place beneath the NFC West, giving up acres of yards and bushels of factors.
Now, with the season in its stretch run, the defensive whiz is displaying off the schemes that made Seattle rent the 37-year-old away from the Baltimore Ravens final winter because the NFL’s youngest head man.
And — presto! — the Seahawks (7-5) are in first place. They’ve received three straight video games heading right into a showdown rematch with the division-rival Arizona Cardinals (6-6) subsequent weekend within the desert.
“We talk about December football, and this is when you want to be playing your best ball,” Macdonald mentioned after Seattle’s largely inexplicable rally 26-21 previous the unhealthy New York Jets.
“I wouldn’t say that is our greatest recreation. However we received, and that’s all that issues.
“So it’s about stacking those wins. And you got to play a certain brand of ball to win in December.”
That model is turning into extra Macdonald’s model of complicated, disguising and shifting protection.
Halfway by means of the second quarter Sunday the lowly Jets (3-9) had simply recovered a fumble on a kickoff return by Seattle’s Laviska Shenault. That they had the ball contained in the Seahawks 10-yard line. New York already led 21-7. It was 9 yards from seizing a three-score lead, and possibly the sport.
On second down, Rodgers was not pressured. He had vast receiver Garret Wilson free behind cornerback Josh Jobe for a landing on the best aspect of the tip zone. However Rodgers (21 for 39, 185 yards) overthrew Wilson by 2 yards incomplete.
On third down, Macdonald had Williams transfer from defensive finish to nostril deal with, over Jets heart Joe Tippmann. On the snap, Williams charged one step into the road. Rodgers learn Williams move speeding, so the 20-year veteran who’s seen all of it learn Williams was out of the protection plan, as traditional.
Besides he wasn’t.
Macdonald’s play name this time had Williams dropping into protection after his feigned cost. Rodgers didn’t anticipate a 6-foot-5, 310-pound nostril deal with to be in the way in which of his throw over the center to Wilson breaking on an in route.
That’s how Macdonald fooled Rodgers on this recreation’s pivotal play.
“That’s pretty much what that drop’s meant to be,” Williams mentioned after Seattle’s comeback win he sparked. “Our method is to ‘rush to touch.’ So I rush the guard. As quickly as I get palms on him (the quarterback) thinks I’m coming. Then on the final second I come out.
“And the ball just happened to be in arm’s reach.”
Like a volleyballer, Williams tapped the unsuspecting Rodgers’ throw from the place a linebacker usually covers, straight up within the air, to himself. Williams caught the rebound on the Seahawks 8-yard line. And he took off operating the opposite means.
Took off like he by no means ran earlier than.
“He ran like hell,” speedy Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen mentioned, in admiration.
Williams bought throughout the sector to the Seattle sideline. His teammates have been there cheering him on, as no Jet confirmed as much as gradual him down. When the defensive finish they name “Big Cat” bought to midfield, he wanted a pal.
“I didn’t expect to get that far,” Williams mentioned, smiling.
“I assumed I used to be operating quick. …However all my teammates have been hyping me out, telling me I used to be movin’ on the sideline.
“I looked up to my left and right, and once I crossed the 50 I was actually looking to pitch it to somebody. But I saw ‘Spoon’ (cornerback Devon Witherspoon) and my whole defense, the cavalry, pretty much running down the field. They were all almost more excited for me to get that touchdown than myself.”