5. The Seahawks have a high standard for special teams that they haven’t reached yet.
Last season, the Seahawks special teams play was a huge factor in Seattle making it to the Super Bowl and playing well in all three phases of the game is something Macdonald emphasizes. Good special teams play can significantly alter the momentum of a game, as Seattle learned last season and Macdonald knows the Seahawks can be better in that area.
“The standard is higher on special teams here,” Macdonald said. “We’ve proven that, and the guys will get it right, but there’s definitely a sense of urgency to make it look like us and play our style of ball on.”
On Sunday, Seattle’s average drive began on their own 26-yard line, while the Commanders were starting, on average, at their own 37-yard line. This was in part because of kicks returned for decent yardage and missteps, like a kickoff not making it into the landing zone, which is a penalty and allows a team to begin their drive at their own 40-yard line.
“To put it plainly, it’s not good enough,” Macdonald said on Seattle’s special teams play. “There’re things process-wise that we can improve on. We’ve talked about this throughout training camp, and really since we got here, but a Seahawk play needs to look like a Seahawk play. There are plays on tape that we’re not doing that.”
