Once the Hawks announce a new head coach can you do a brief article on some things you would like to see the team do moving forward (very open ended, take it how you wish)? And then encourage people to comment their own thoughts? I would love to share my own thoughts on what I hope the team does with players, free agency, the draft, etc and also would be interested to read what others are hoping for. Just seems like a fitting topic in the midst of an offseason with so much change.
There is still a chance we hire Kafka. John could be doing due diligence for the biggest decision of his career that affects everything and everyone surrounding the organization and his life. So, he wants to interview Johnson and McDonald thoroughly before making his final decision. I will back him, regardless, but I agree that there is something to both schools of thought I see a lot of y'all subscribing to:
1) hire an OC for HC because you won't have your innovative offensive mind poached later.
2) hire a DC as HC because the rules inherently make defensive gameplanning and adjusting harder, therefore someone successful at a harder task should be valued more.
I can get with SSJ's prediction because of the well laid out reasoning behind it (I expected nothing less from you, Ken).
I think they all have question marks, but there are no slam dunks. The question, "was their success more du to them or their personnel?" Is apropos of all, but I think Kafka has the best argument against it with Daniel Jones.
My totally uninformed wish list:
1a) Kafka
1b) McDonald
1c) Johnson
For the reason I mentioned about, but; ultimately, because I want to quote Spaceballs and say "Ready Kafka?" a lot, and for the underlying theme of metamorphosis that comes with someone named Kafka.
Patrick Mahomes’ fourth trip to the Super Bowl caused me to revisit the 2017 draft. In retrospect (I.e., hindsight):
* Seattle’s 2017 draft was so bad and 2018 draft so unproductive that Schneider could have traded every pick in both drafts to get in front of KC to draft Mahomes and still come out way ahead. Instead, he pursued one of his too-clever-by-half stratagems of trading down for draft capital, resulting in the disastrous 2017 draft. I make the point to illustrate just how far behind the 8-ball those drafts left the team (2016 was awful, too)
* Of the nine teams drafting ahead of KC, only the Bears took a QB (Mitch Trubisky). Only Carolina could say with a straight face that it was truly set at QB. Leonard Fournette (4), Corey Davis (5), and John Ross (9) are out of football. Solomon Thomas (3), Jamal Adams (6), and Christian McCaffrey (8) are with different teams. Only Myles Garrett (1) and Mike Williams (7) remain with the teams that drafted them
* Picks 10-17 were arguably the heart of the draft even without Mahomes
The moral of the story is that the #16 pick is attractive. If there’s a QB Schneider likes outside of the top 2-3, there’s likely a trade up to be made.
Dan Campbell lost Detroit multiple games this year with over-aggressive 4th down play. I don't agree with risking points and field position when you already have a big lead.
I'd take Ben Johnson, then Kafka. Mike MacDonald was brilliant, but I think Patrick Graham and Ejiro Evero are likely more ready for the big chair, culture building and have offensive experience. I think Slowik stays in Houston and is a hot name again next year.
Yes I think it’s either of Johnson or McDonald bc if it were Kafka there’d be no reason to have already hired him. Unless you’d hire a head coach based on an interview rather than his body of work. Which scares the hell out of me.
I've been thinking Macdonald for the last week for the reason that the Seahawks, had they wanted Quinn or Kafka, they probably would have already hired them. Also, the Seahawks enjoyed quite a number years of success with a defensive minded HC. Add it all up and MacDonald makes a lot of sense for the powers that be. Also, I read that Quinn is interviewing with the "Moons" tomorrow and that they have a strong interest in him. So I believe that Johnson or MacDonald are the two who JS has been holding out for.
The real questions is how to pronounce it? I'd call him "cough-ka," but I've heard others say "caff-ka." If hired as our HC or OC, we're going to need to come to some consensus.
I still think it is Kafka. Johnson is going to the Moons and I don’t think they go defense. I think they are going offense for three reasons: 1 teams normally don’t go the same side of the ball in back to back HC hires; 2 it is what Green Bay would do; and 3 it is harder to dictate to a DC coach who their OC will be than vice versa, and it sounds like John has control over the hire of the coordinators as well. But the only thing I am sure of is the Seahawks will have a coach this week.
Connection between the GM and Johnson, position to draft a quarterback, $50 million in cap space to acquire, weapons, and low initial expectations. Oh, and in Vegas the odds 1 to 10 (you have to bet $10 to win one if you’re taking Johnson as Washington’s head coach)
I guess I dislike the Hawk defense more than I dislike the offense, so I prefer MacDonald. After watching the Lion's play calling, if Johnson was hired, I would not be unhappy.
The 2023 Ravens defense under Macdonald led the league on points allowed per game (16), sacks (60) and takeaways (31), becoming the first team to lead each of those categories in the same season.
My only question concerning Johnson is, Who on the Lions made the call to go for it on 4th down in the 4th quarter, when they were down by 3 at the time and could have kicked a tying field goal?
I can't imagine that decision comes from anyone other than the HC. If it's "go for it" then the OC may call the play (depending on team), but I just can't imagine any HC delegating the go/kick decision.
Campbell has his guys keyed To Win. Tying isn't in the cards. Their resolve was faltering, so he demanded they find it one more time. This describes their entire season.
Exactly. Two calls by Campbell to go for it rather than kick a field goal, either of which ties the game (but more importantly doesn’t swing momentum to the other side) and if they hit both, Lions win
I can't imagine that any OC has total autonomy to call 4th down "GOs". Even if Campbell gave him green light to go whenever he wanted, it falls on Campbell. Even if they were rogue calls by Johnson, Campbell still is responsible via establishing the enviornment to go, but not reeling it in during important moments. At the very least, he's responsible under the "everything on your watch is your responsibility" idea that all HCs have.
I am hoping the Seahawks choose MacDonald or Johnson, simple for taking a chance with a “high risk high reward” young couch. I would be okay with Kafka as well in hopes that we draft a QB in the first or second round (trade). If the hawks pick Quinn I will be very disappointed at this point.
I just read that Johnson is staying in Detroit for another year!
Very tough call, but I think Macdonald has the lead, although very close call. I would be happy for Mac or Lions OC. Both outstanding.
Once the Hawks announce a new head coach can you do a brief article on some things you would like to see the team do moving forward (very open ended, take it how you wish)? And then encourage people to comment their own thoughts? I would love to share my own thoughts on what I hope the team does with players, free agency, the draft, etc and also would be interested to read what others are hoping for. Just seems like a fitting topic in the midst of an offseason with so much change.
There is still a chance we hire Kafka. John could be doing due diligence for the biggest decision of his career that affects everything and everyone surrounding the organization and his life. So, he wants to interview Johnson and McDonald thoroughly before making his final decision. I will back him, regardless, but I agree that there is something to both schools of thought I see a lot of y'all subscribing to:
1) hire an OC for HC because you won't have your innovative offensive mind poached later.
2) hire a DC as HC because the rules inherently make defensive gameplanning and adjusting harder, therefore someone successful at a harder task should be valued more.
I can get with SSJ's prediction because of the well laid out reasoning behind it (I expected nothing less from you, Ken).
I think they all have question marks, but there are no slam dunks. The question, "was their success more du to them or their personnel?" Is apropos of all, but I think Kafka has the best argument against it with Daniel Jones.
My totally uninformed wish list:
1a) Kafka
1b) McDonald
1c) Johnson
For the reason I mentioned about, but; ultimately, because I want to quote Spaceballs and say "Ready Kafka?" a lot, and for the underlying theme of metamorphosis that comes with someone named Kafka.
Patrick Mahomes’ fourth trip to the Super Bowl caused me to revisit the 2017 draft. In retrospect (I.e., hindsight):
* Seattle’s 2017 draft was so bad and 2018 draft so unproductive that Schneider could have traded every pick in both drafts to get in front of KC to draft Mahomes and still come out way ahead. Instead, he pursued one of his too-clever-by-half stratagems of trading down for draft capital, resulting in the disastrous 2017 draft. I make the point to illustrate just how far behind the 8-ball those drafts left the team (2016 was awful, too)
* Of the nine teams drafting ahead of KC, only the Bears took a QB (Mitch Trubisky). Only Carolina could say with a straight face that it was truly set at QB. Leonard Fournette (4), Corey Davis (5), and John Ross (9) are out of football. Solomon Thomas (3), Jamal Adams (6), and Christian McCaffrey (8) are with different teams. Only Myles Garrett (1) and Mike Williams (7) remain with the teams that drafted them
* Picks 10-17 were arguably the heart of the draft even without Mahomes
The moral of the story is that the #16 pick is attractive. If there’s a QB Schneider likes outside of the top 2-3, there’s likely a trade up to be made.
Dan Campbell lost Detroit multiple games this year with over-aggressive 4th down play. I don't agree with risking points and field position when you already have a big lead.
I'd take Ben Johnson, then Kafka. Mike MacDonald was brilliant, but I think Patrick Graham and Ejiro Evero are likely more ready for the big chair, culture building and have offensive experience. I think Slowik stays in Houston and is a hot name again next year.
1. Ben Johnson
2. Mike Kafka
3. Patrick Graham
4. Ejiro Evero
5. Mike MacDonald
Will never make my list: Dan Quinn.
Yes I think it’s either of Johnson or McDonald bc if it were Kafka there’d be no reason to have already hired him. Unless you’d hire a head coach based on an interview rather than his body of work. Which scares the hell out of me.
Maybe we manage to sign some sort of manage?
All good choices. I'll be happy to get our head coach and let him go to work recruiting coaches.
I've been thinking Macdonald for the last week for the reason that the Seahawks, had they wanted Quinn or Kafka, they probably would have already hired them. Also, the Seahawks enjoyed quite a number years of success with a defensive minded HC. Add it all up and MacDonald makes a lot of sense for the powers that be. Also, I read that Quinn is interviewing with the "Moons" tomorrow and that they have a strong interest in him. So I believe that Johnson or MacDonald are the two who JS has been holding out for.
It’s the third interview with Quinn, second in person.
I like the idea of a coach named Kafka. Preferably Franz, but I'll take Mike.
The real questions is how to pronounce it? I'd call him "cough-ka," but I've heard others say "caff-ka." If hired as our HC or OC, we're going to need to come to some consensus.
Kahf-ka? Like the bug-man...
that's my vote
I still think it is Kafka. Johnson is going to the Moons and I don’t think they go defense. I think they are going offense for three reasons: 1 teams normally don’t go the same side of the ball in back to back HC hires; 2 it is what Green Bay would do; and 3 it is harder to dictate to a DC coach who their OC will be than vice versa, and it sounds like John has control over the hire of the coordinators as well. But the only thing I am sure of is the Seahawks will have a coach this week.
Why do we think the WFT has first choice? I'm not at all sure they do.
Connection between the GM and Johnson, position to draft a quarterback, $50 million in cap space to acquire, weapons, and low initial expectations. Oh, and in Vegas the odds 1 to 10 (you have to bet $10 to win one if you’re taking Johnson as Washington’s head coach)
I guess I dislike the Hawk defense more than I dislike the offense, so I prefer MacDonald. After watching the Lion's play calling, if Johnson was hired, I would not be unhappy.
The 2023 Ravens defense under Macdonald led the league on points allowed per game (16), sacks (60) and takeaways (31), becoming the first team to lead each of those categories in the same season.
My only question concerning Johnson is, Who on the Lions made the call to go for it on 4th down in the 4th quarter, when they were down by 3 at the time and could have kicked a tying field goal?
I can't imagine that decision comes from anyone other than the HC. If it's "go for it" then the OC may call the play (depending on team), but I just can't imagine any HC delegating the go/kick decision.
Campbell has his guys keyed To Win. Tying isn't in the cards. Their resolve was faltering, so he demanded they find it one more time. This describes their entire season.
Exactly. Two calls by Campbell to go for it rather than kick a field goal, either of which ties the game (but more importantly doesn’t swing momentum to the other side) and if they hit both, Lions win
But was it a call by Dan Campbell or Ben Johnson?
100% the HC. The OC just has the “oh shit now what” moment.
I can't imagine that any OC has total autonomy to call 4th down "GOs". Even if Campbell gave him green light to go whenever he wanted, it falls on Campbell. Even if they were rogue calls by Johnson, Campbell still is responsible via establishing the enviornment to go, but not reeling it in during important moments. At the very least, he's responsible under the "everything on your watch is your responsibility" idea that all HCs have.
If they had a plan and that plan were Quinn, then it would have already been quinn.
I am hoping the Seahawks choose MacDonald or Johnson, simple for taking a chance with a “high risk high reward” young couch. I would be okay with Kafka as well in hopes that we draft a QB in the first or second round (trade). If the hawks pick Quinn I will be very disappointed at this point.
A high-risk/high-reward young..."couch"? Are we talking leather vs fabric upholstery here? 😜
Typo kidding aside, I agree - I'd be okay with any of the other three but disappointed with Quinn.
Tim Couch was high risk, high reward.... let's not do that again, ala Rick Mirer.
Woof, that was a bad one lol. 😂
With the assumption that Johnson is taken, Macdonald, then Kafka sounds good.