Since Mike Macdonald took over the Seattle Seahawks, the team has quickly become one of the best defensive teams in the league, winning the NFC West division crown, earning the top seed in the NFC, and finding themselves two wins away from a Super Bowl.
The Seahawks were very aggressive last offseason, going all-in by bringing in veterans on both sides of the ball, including Cooper Kupp, Sam Darnold, and DeMarcus Lawrence. Still, they needed to show they could put it all together.
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It doesn't take an expert to see that this season, Seattle has done just that, finishing 14-3 in the regular season, behind an elite defense and stacked offense, but if you ask Macdonald what has been the primary factor in the Seahawks having a turnaround, he believes that OTAs are the reason.
"We would not be here without the participation we had during OTAs and minicamp. I'm convinced of that," Macdonald admitted during his press conference on Thursday ahead of their third matchup of the season against the Los Angeles Rams.
In the past, "optional" offseason workouts, similar to OTAs and minicamp, have faced some backlash and questioning on whether they are needed, but hearing that they do from a second-year head coach with a chance to get his team to a Super Bowl, I think more fans should appreciate those kinds of activities before the season.
With the early opportunity for players to build camaraderie before the games truly matter, it makes sense why Macdonald believes this is why, to many, the Seahawks are the favorites to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
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