After starting the season with three consecutive wins, the Seahawks have dropped two in a row, and in the process shown that, while there is a lot to like about this team under first-year coach Mike Macdonald, there's also plenty to clean up.
And with a Thursday night NFC West showdown with the 49ers on deck, the Seahawks don't have time to dwell on their recent losses. Instead they know they need to clean things up quickly to get ready for a tough opponent on a short week.
"It just wasn't good enough to win the game in all three phases and as a team, we've got to take it on the chin, and we've got to move forward and look to make the improvements we need to make to go win," Macdonald said Monday. "It's pretty much that simple and we've got a great opportunity on Thursday night to make it right with a great team coming in here, division rival. So it should be a great game."
For Macdonald, facing a little adversity early in his career as a head coach isn't changing his approach, because even if the Seahawks had won these past two games, their focus would be on finding ways to improve.
"We could be 5-0 right now and I'd be telling you guys the same thing," Macdonald said. "Just like when we were 3-0. It's the same message, it really is. We're early, we're growing, we're not there yet, and we want to get there. We want to get there really bad, and we're going to work really hard to make it happen."
So what is Macdonald's message to his team coming off losses to the Lions and Giants in the past week? Quite simply, the Seahawks need to get the truth of what has gone wrong so far, and find ways to get better. And with a Thursday game coming up, they know they need to do so quickly.
"We're going to be positive, but we're also going to tell each other the truth," Macdonald said. "The film doesn't lie on what it is. We're 3-2. We've done good enough stuff to win three games out of five. You are what your record says. We've also lost two games and just so happened to be the last two. We didn't do enough to win those two games as well. When you break down each game, it's very clear on why we won or lost those games. So, let's attack those things that we're not doing well, let's try to enhance the things that we are when we were able to take advantage of those opportunities, and let's go to work. It's still really early. You'll learn about our football team, the only thing that we want to know how to do is just go back to work, do it better, and just rock and roll. To have each other's backs, keep each other accountable, tell each other the truth, and move forward. That's the only thing you can't do in these situations. It's the only thing I know how to do, so that's what we're going to do."
There are always going to be multiple areas in which a coaching staff wants to improve, but two clear things that emerged from Sunday's loss were that the Seahawks need to run the ball more on offense, and need to do a better job of stopping the run on defense.
As well as Geno Smith has been playing so far this season—"Geno is a big bright spot on our football team right now, he's galvanizing force," Macdonald said—Macdonald knows it's not the best formula moving forward to lean so heavily on the passing game. Last week in Detroit, Kenneth Walker III carried only four times in the first half while Smith attempted 24 passes, then things balanced out more in the second half with Walker carrying eight times for 74 yards. On Sunday the Seahawks were even more imbalanced, with Smith throwing 40 times while Walker and Zach Charbonnet combined for seven carries.
"We all know we need to run the ball more," Macdonald said. "Everybody knows that, our opponents know that. Our players in our locker room know that, (offensive coordinator Ryan) Grubb knows that, our coaches do, and I do. We have to create more situations where we can run it as well. And that's a team stat as well. So that's all three phases where we have to create those."
On the other side of the ball, the Giants were able to rush for 175 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. With the Patriots able to rush for 185 yards against Seattle in Week 2, and with a dangerous 49er rushing attack coming to town Thursday, the Seahawks know they need to get better in that facet of the game.
"We're not stopping the run the way we need to be in certain coverages that we're asking to do," Macdonald said. "That's on the edge guys, but it's on the interior guys, second-level players, it's all 11 guys. If the ball squirts out and you force the ball, but your secondary contained player isn't where he's supposed to be, which I'm not saying that happened in every situation, it could be a corner and the ball gets out. So, to attribute it to just the edge players I think is unfair to those guys. There's plenty for them to work on as well. But your run stat, it's a team stat, it's all 11 guys and how it works together."
Despite the recent losses, the Seahawks have a lot to be proud of early this season, but what those losses have shown is that they still need to get better, and with a Thursday night game coming up, the clock is ticking.
"We're in the second quarter of the season," Macdonald said. "We know that for sure right now, and it's time to move. It's time to go forward. So first quarter of the season 3-1, you'd be thinking overall, 'Hey, we're in a good spot.' 3-2, not as good. We're never going to be satisfied."
The Seahawks and 49ers face off on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks fullback Dan Doornink (33) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Oct. 7, 1979. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 35-24. (AP Photo/Al Messerschmidt)
San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana (16) passes during an NFL football game against Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 25, 1985, in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game, 19-6. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers' Terrell Owens catches the game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia while Seattle Seahawks' Shawn Springs defends during the fourth quarter in Seattle, Monday, Oct. 14. 29, 2002. The 49ers won, 28-21. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive back Marcus Robertson (31) gets ready to make sure San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst (20) is stopped on Sunday, December 1, 2002, in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 31-24. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks' Antonio Cochran (78) celebrates a fumble recovery by teammate safety Ken Hamlin on the first play after the 2-minute warning in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-19. At left is 49ers' Ron Stone. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
San Francisco 49ers running back Kevan Barlow (32) looks for hole in line on Saturday, December 27, 2003, in San Francisco, California. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 24-17. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck looks for room to pass under pressure from San Francisco 49ers' John Engelberger (95) and Derrick Hamilton (88) in the first quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Darrell Jackson, right, runs in for a touchdown past San Francissco 49ers' Ronnie Heard on a 33-yard pass reception in the first quarter Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)
Seattle Seahawks' D.J. Hackett (18) grabs a touchdown pass in front of San Francisco 49ers' Shawntae Spencer in the first half on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith attempts to pass under pressure from Seattle Seahawks' Craig Terrill, right, and Rodney Bailey (95) in the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 41-3. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws downfield while under pressure from Seattle Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson, left, in the second half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18) cannot hold on to a pass in the second quarter as San Francisco 49ers strong safety Mark Roman defends in the second quarter Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore, center, fumbles in front of Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp in the first quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 12: Tight end Marcus Pollard #88 of the Seattle Seahawks spins after the reception against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 12, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. Seattle won the game 24-0. (AP Photo/Thomas E. Witte) Marcus Pollard
Seattle Seahawks' Josh Wilson defends as San Francisco 49ers' Isaac Bruce makes a 33-yard reception in overtime in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Seattle. The 49ers won 33-30. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones, left, carries the ball in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry (59), top, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Glen Coffee (29) during an NFL football game in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Justin Forsett in action against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ruvell Martin (82) catches a pass in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements (22) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (15) against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) drives for the end zone during an NFL game against Seattle Seahawks defensive back Kam Chancellor (31) on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. The 49ers won the game, 19-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tries to make a tackle while blocked by Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller (86) during the NFL week 7 football game on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 in San Francisco. The 49ers won the game 13-6. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman comes down with an interception ahead of San Francisco 49ers' wide receiver Randy Moss in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the 49ers 42-13. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes against the defense of San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (52) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, left, intercepts a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) catches a 35-yard touchdown pass at 13:44 of the fourth quarter of the NFL NFC Championship playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, January 19, 2014 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 23-17. (AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson (10) heads downfield during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Nov. 27, 2014, in Santa Clara, Ca. The Seahawks won the game, 19-3. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Wagner, left, closes in on San Francisco 49ers' Carlos Hyde, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) drops the ball after scoring a touchdown ahead of San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite (57) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) catches the ball against San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers, 37-18. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Jeremy Lane (20) tackles San Francisco 49ers' Raheem Mostert (31) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
In this third in a series of seven photos, Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson leaps over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Will Redmond, left, as defensive tackle D.J. Jones (93) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sept. 17, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
