Mike Macdonald explains reasoning for Seahawks finally doing joint practices

Under Pete Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks had opportunities for joint practices in preseason, but Carroll wasn’t too keen on the idea. Enter new head coach Mike Macdonald, and the Seahawks are already doing things differently.

For the first time since 1991 with the Atlanta Falcons, the Seahawks will hold scrimmages ahead of a preseason meeting. The team will fly to Nashville early for two sessions with the Tennessee Titans before playing their exhibition matchup on Aug. 17.

Speaking with media at mandatory minicamp earlier in the week, Macdonald referenced his past seasons with the Baltimore Ravens when addressing the decision to have joint practices.

Via Seahawks.com:

“They did it just about every season that I was there,” Macdonald said. “Again, you’ve had some great experiences when it’s handled the right way and then some not as great to put it politely. So it’s really about controlling the environment. Guys understand what the spirit of the whole thing’s about and I believe we will be able to get that done.”

This will be a new experience for the likes of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and many others who’ve spent their entire careers in Seattle and thus haven’t had NFL joint practices. Former New York Jets guard Laken Tomlinson is one of the exceptions, saying “it’s another tool to sharpen the iron.”

Macdonald sees upside in facing other competition, even in a non-game environment.

“We know a lot of the coaches over there, how they operate and it’s an opportunity to put it in a setting where you can control the tempos, control the drills, get some high intensity [workouts] for the guys so they’re ready to roll. It’s just easier, a little bit controlled than true game reps.”

For Macdonald, the team can benefit from the practices. “It’s hard to go against yourself all the time, especially all the way through OTA, so it’ll be good to see another offense. And for our offense, it’d be good to see what they’re running on defense. It’s just good to see different styles.”

I suppose the next aspect of preseason to find out about Mike Macdonald’s philosophy is the extent to which projected starters will play in the three exhibitions.