MIKE McDONALD: We were scheduled for practice tomorrow, but told the guys that we're not going to practice, that we're done for our spring program.
Just really couldn't be happier with the effort. That's what I was telling them. The effort, the intent, the energy, the attitude, all the things we're asking them to do, they responded every day. Just really excited about where we're at.
We've been going at it here. We had the extra week with the new staff and everything. Felt like it was an opportunity to get out of here healthy and have a great off-season.
Q. What have you learned about Jaxon Smith-Njigba throughout this spring, getting to know him, what he can mean for your offense?
MIKE McDONALD: I mean, I preface everything with we don't know yet with the tempos. Again, we're not contesting for footballs. Pads aren't on, game plans, the whole thing.
He's a guy that we can focus our offense around, with our guys. Tyler Lockett is still a great player. DK Metcalf, phenomenal player. Noah Fant. I mean, he's definitely going to be a massive piece of what we're trying to do offensively.
Q. Is he okay?
MIKE McDONALD: Yeah, I think so. I think he nicked his shoulder a little bit. We're just going to play it safe.
Q. Tempo withstanding, not contesting footballs, you saw the corner group flex their muscles today. What do you think about where that group is at right now in terms of depth and picking up the defense?
MIKE McDONALD: Well, I think you've seen their confidence grow every day. It just comes with understanding what we're asking them to do, understanding the scheme, how it fits, how it all plays together. Got a good part of the defense in now for quite a while. Just getting those extra reps every day, you can feel they have a lot of confidence in what they're doing.
It's cool to see. Having some fun out there.
Q. What does that say about the players and coaches that you let them go a day early?
MIKE McDONALD: I hope we're building what we're trying to build. I think we're on our way. But shout-out to our coaches, too. We just try to take advantage of every meeting, stack those meetings over and over and over again, stack every opportunity we've had on the fold.
Just felt it was time to say we've gotten great work in. Let's get the heck out of here.
Q. What was the reaction from the players?
MIKE McDONALD: I felt like the word spread a little bit from the guys. I told our leadership council that's what we were doing. Might have had a leak in the locker room. They sounded excited.
Q. Was it the same idea not doing the last OTA last week?
MIKE McDONALD: No. We canceled an OTA to go to the military base. There's some other things going on there.
It was, Hey, let's change it up, go hang out with the troops for a day. That was the thought.
Q. Has that process from when you got the job to now, has there been any kind of surprises or...
MIKE McDONALD: Again, I've said this before. It's hard to, like, have a hundred thousand day plan where every hour is etched in stone. You have to be flexible, be able to move and shake.
If you go in with that mindset, if things pop up, you're expecting the unexpected to a certain extent.
I wouldn't say just roll with the punches, but apply the principle of what we're trying to achieve.
Look, I'm really excited about where we're at. I told the guys, we haven't stopped anybody yet, we haven't scored any touchdowns yet, nor should we. It's not the time for that.
But I feel really good on, like, the foundation we've been able to build. It will be good to get a couple days' break. I'll be excited to start camp. It's an exciting time of year.
Q. What have you learned about being a head coach in this off-season?
MIKE McDONALD: Just take the long view on things. I mean, we got a lot of great people that are working in this building. It's not just me. We got a lot of talent, a lot of great people that want to help the team.
If we deploy all those people the way that we want, I think we can create something really special.
Q. You mentioned taking a couple days off for yourself. What do you hope to get done between now and training camp or than maybe recharge?
MIKE McDONALD: Camp is pretty much planned. Make some final tweaks, that sort of thing. There's a lot of studies I haven't been able to get to like on top that I personally want to get to when I have more time on my hands.
At some point you do have to get away. Quick trip planned with my wife. Family will be in town. It will be a good time to get away, get back into a routine outside of the building.
Everyone should take that mentality: get away, get refreshed, be with your loved ones, be safe.
Yeah, it's an opportune time. Haven't had a break since maybe last year, so it will be good.
Q. Anybody you think won't be ready for you for the start of training camp?
MIKE McDONALD: Statuses haven't really changed since anybody you've asked about. There will be a couple guys reassessed come when training camp starts.
Again, it's not smart to just throw a guy back into the wolves and get all the reps that he would be getting come week eight of the season. We'll may it safe with the player loads and try to be smart about it.
Q. Saw Anthony Bradford get back today. Where does he fit into the O-line?
MIKE McDONALD: He's right there. He's right there. Just good to see him out there. Missed a little bit of time there throughout some of the OTAs. He's right in the mix.
Got a great competition, especially on the right side of the line, and he's right there. He's got a great opportunity to go earn himself a job.
Q. Christian Haynes, what do you see from him, I guess?
MIKE McDONALD: He's doing some good things. I think Christian's game is when pads are on, when he's moving people, getting to the next level, things like that.
Right now it's hard to feel the offensive line pushing the pile, moving the line of scrimmage. Hopefully we see that when pads come on.
Q. Random one. But Leslie Fraser is one of the first guys you hired. You worked under him a long time ago in Baltimore. When do you remember about your first encounter with him?
MIKE McDONALD: I think reemphasizing the things we talked about. I love Leslie Frazier. There's a lot of people in this world, especially football world, that love that man. His reputation is well-earned.
Man of faith. Man the character, integrity. He's a leader, servant-leader. A lead communicator. I always go back to that, but he's just got a way of kind of getting people's guard down when he wants to give them a message. I really appreciate that about him.
But trust him 100% all the time. Just I'm really happy he's a Seahawk.
Q. Coming with your defensive background, now you're a head coach, for you personally, do you kind of have to learn how to look at that both ways?
MIKE McDONALD: You see me. I'm not like, All right, that was a good play, let's go to the next one. Let's not get too crazy out there.
It's easy to go back on tape and say, This is what happened or we could have made a better decision with the ball. There's some plays where interceptions happen, guys make a great play. You kind of tip your cap and move on.
I think you got a mixture of those today. Again, I know this sounds weird, but if it's a sweetly executed play, I'm like that's what gets me going at this point in time. Okay, that was great. Great communication, we leveraged the ball, rush lanes look good, quarterback puts the ball out on time. Okay, that's a good play for the Seahawks. Those are the plays with Jason right now.
Q. We saw a little bit of it just now. What do you think of the energy?
MIKE McDONALD: It's great. I told him today I couldn't believe he was the smartest football player of all time and it's only his second year in the NFL. He's got an answer for everything.
No, hey, man, be yourself. That's who he is. We love him. He's a great player already in this league. We're really excited about him.
Again, all those guys are great, man. Energy is right where we want it.
Q. Do defenses need guys like that?
MIKE McDONALD: Absolutely, yeah. We talked about it the other day as a team. We got to be a player-led team, man. Championship teams, coaches can only take the guys so far. Doesn't matter. You can lead from whatever your role is.
Devin has a unique role that's specific to him, which we're like Uchenna's role would be a little bit different than his role, more vocal with the guys. We want to start in the roles your in, let's rock'n roll.
Yeah, the energy is pretty great.
Q. How does he stack up football IQ-wise?
MIKE McDONALD: Is he going to hear this or not (smiling)?
No, it's high. For a second-year guy, to be able to take something from the meeting, register is quickly. The questions he asks are really spot on, like no BS-type questions. He understands a concept. He understands, you can tell he's visualizing himself going through all the rules. When he's clear, it's good. When it's not, he nails it, takes it right to the field.
Yeah, it's pretty high.
Q. It seemed like the whole secondary, guys being out there, pretty good.
MIKE McDONALD: It's a passing camp. When you're playing pass all the time, there's no threat of the ball just splitting the defense right down the middle. We're working all of our coverages, all the things, the disguises with there's a penalty if you're wrong. You get into games, there's a threat of a run coming right downhill, it just changes things.
It's great to see the confidence and the play speed and the communication. But you need to develop that first before you got to go smack somebody in the mouth, then play your pass responsibility, so...
Yeah, I mean, if that makes sense, that's where they're at.
Q. What happened with Shenault?
MIKE McDONALD: I think he hit his toe or something. Nothing crazy. Something with his toe.
Q. Was George okay?
MIKE McDONALD: Yeah. He's just on a load thing right now. He'll be fine. There will be someone that will manage his reps come camp.
Q. How much are you going to split them out and have them catch passes for you this year?
MIKE McDONALD: I'm not going to answer that on the road (laughter). That may not be the first thing we thought of when we signed him.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports