Mike Macdonald Explains Decision to Fire OC Ryan Grubb

[Jville]

 

[Jville]

 

[seabowl]

First of all I get that McDonald and Grubb had different viewpoints on offensive scheme but that kind of stuff needs to be known before you hire the guy. Secondly, I would not necessarily assume that Huff is safe. All McDonald basically said was Huff is not tied to Grubb.

 

[Jville]

It seems to me that the next step should be interviews for the Offensive Coordinator position. I would assume everything else would follow from a OC hire. During that interview process, remaining members of the offensive staff could decide to move on to other opportunities outside the Seahawks culture.

Roster Churn.

 

[GemCity]

Ben Johnson!

Ok…my wet dream will end shortly.

 

[Hawkpower]

First of all I get that McDonald and Grubb had different viewpoints on offensive scheme but that kind of stuff needs to be known before you hire the guy. Secondly, I would not necessarily assume that Huff is safe. All McDonald basically said was Huff is not tied to Grubb.

But why wouldn’t you fire a guy who’s unit was a huge part the reason why the offense struggled?

Makes it seem as if the decision was less about results and more personal.

Because if it’s just results based, the oline coach should have been first, right?

 

[HawkRiderFan]

Thanks for posting. As much as I would have liked more detail I appreciate the fact he holds back to not completely throw Grubb under the bus.
As far as Huff not gone today, maybe they thought it was scheme putting the lineman into assignments that didn't play to their strengths. I don't know the details of line play but hear stuff like some guys are more suited to a zone running scheme etc.
That being said, MacDonlad saying Huff is a Seahawk seemed more like a "for now" think than his job being safe

 

[cymatica]

But why wouldn’t you fire a guy who’s unit was a huge part the reason why the offense struggled?

Makes it seem as if the decision was less about results and more personal.

Because if it’s just results based, the oline coach should have been first, right?

How much of the struggles came from Grubb's predictable offense that was giving the defense huge tells? What is an Oline supposed to do when superior athletes across from them can pin their ears back without having to pay for it?

Detroit is considered to have one of the best olines, but they just happen to have the best coordinator who is a master at keeping defenses guessing. It's gotta be nice when the man across from you has to think and react. Even the best olines still need help from their play caller not tipping plays, utilizing the screen game, play action, rollouts, etc.

Maybe Huff is a good coach who was being held back by be forced to ask his players to do the impossible. If he's in over his head I don't doubt for a second Mike will make a change

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

Ben Johnson!

Ok…my wet dream will end shortly.

Johnson will be a HC soon. I’m sure.

 

[Shane Falco]

Talk about a guy unwilling to throw someone just fired under the bus. Couldn't really get any understanding, other than the reasons we already feel, of why he moved on from Grubb. He wouldn't even say what he wanted in an offense because it would point to what Grubb was not. Pretty classy dude.

 

[cymatica]

He didn't need to throw Grubb under the bus, the Internet did that for him

 

[kidhawk]

But why wouldn’t you fire a guy who’s unit was a huge part the reason why the offense struggled?

Makes it seem as if the decision was less about results and more personal.

Because if it’s just results based, the oline coach should have been first, right?

I believe this firing comes down to the simple fact that Grubb didn’t do a good job of scheming out the running game and winning time of possession. Ball control and clock control is very important to a defensive coach.

I’d bet our next hire gets us more balance and a better rushing attack to keep defenses guessing and help keep our defense on the bench more.

I’m also certain that the new coordinator will have some say in his assistants. Some will stay and some will go.

 

[12thManInTheBox]

Dude… the more interviews I hear - the more I just see how bright Mike Macdonald really is. He’s always in a “playing chess”mindset. You could even tell on the questions he was processing so much info and had a million thoughts but held on to all of them as others have mentioned to not throw Grubb to the wolves. I’m convinced we have something special at HC.

 

[GetNjigbaWithIt]

I believe this firing comes down to the simple fact that Grubb didn’t do a good job of scheming out the running game and winning time of possession. Ball control and clock control is very important to a defensive coach.

I’d bet our next hire gets us more balance and a better rushing attack to keep defenses guessing and help keep our defense on the bench more.

I’m also certain that the new coordinator will have some say in his assistants. Some will stay and some will go.

This says it all

 

[Hawkpower]

I believe this firing comes down to the simple fact that Grubb didn’t do a good job of scheming out the running game and winning time of possession. Ball control and clock control is very important to a defensive coach.

I’d bet our next hire gets us more balance and a better rushing attack to keep defenses guessing and help keep our defense on the bench more.

I’m also certain that the new coordinator

I'm sure you're right.

But again, if MM is holding his assistants responsible for performance, then one has to wonder why Huff (and to a lesser extent Harbaugh) are still employed.

It wasn't just about performance. There was something personal there.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I'm sure you're right.

But again, if MM is holding his assistants responsible for performance, then one has to wonder why Huff (and to a lesser extent Harbaugh) are still employed.

It wasn't just about performance. There was something personal there.

Clash of philosophy. Mike MacDonald comes from the Harbaugh coaching tree, he's been around both Harbaughs for around 10 years at this point. The question I pose to you is this; did our offense look like anything from a Jim or John Harbaugh lead team? Obviously, Mike MacDonald is his own man, but if we look at the systems he came from -- it's very much so run dominated offenses that use play action to take the top off of defenses.

We didn't see any of that in Seattle. It was a collegiate style offense that liked using short passes with YAC potential to get yardage in place of the run game. Our run plays when drawn up were uninspired, there wasn't much play action, we used the pistol way too much for my liking.

 

[HawkRiderFan]

Was it the Arizona game where after an unsuccessful pass in the red zone the camera caught MacDonald mouthing "we didn't we run?"

I think more commitment to a balanced O is something obvious that he wants

 

[seabowl]

But why wouldn’t you fire a guy who’s unit was a huge part the reason why the offense struggled?

Makes it seem as if the decision was less about results and more personal.

Because if it’s just results based, the oline coach should have been first, right?

he hasn’t said whether or not Huff will be back. On top of that, their offensive line has been bad for years now. It didn’t just start this year.

 

[kidhawk]

I'm sure you're right.

But again, if MM is holding his assistants responsible for performance, then one has to wonder why Huff (and to a lesser extent Harbaugh) are still employed.

It wasn't just about performance. There was something personal there.

I don’t see it as holding him responsible for performance as much as his overall scheme didn’t mesh with what he wants from an offensive philosophy standpoint.

 

[Kamcussionator]

I'm guessing MM wants a Chuck Knox/Tom Catlin-type offense. Defensive coaches loves them some ball-control offense!