Mike Macdonald joined the NFC West this year as the Seattle Seahawks head coach after leading the Baltimore Ravens defense the past two seasons. In advance of Macdonald's first season in the division, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay heaped praise on the 36-year-old first-time coach.
During a recent interview on , Robert Mays asked McVay about facing Macdonald's defense last year in Week 14 -- a Ravens 37-31 overtime win.
"I thought they did a great job of playing coverages where you're like, 'I don't know what the (heck) I'm going against,' because of the way they're teaching guys," McVay said, . "They teach an understanding of how route concepts distribute and how you don't have to work as hard throughout the course of the down to allow things to be able to progress.
"You felt like you were playing against 13 players sometimes. ... They were such a well-coordinated and a well-executed defense from the players to the coaches. And I respect the coordinators the most that you can see an intent behind what they're trying to get done. And I thought that showed up consistently on his tape."
The praise for Macdonald didn't stop there after Baltimore led the NFL in points allowed (16.5), takeaways (31) and sacks (60) last season.
"I've got a ton of respect for Mike Macdonald and their coaching staff and those players that brought the stuff to life," McVay said. "What I think when you watch that team, there was a clear-cut identity. There was an understanding of the intent of what he was calling and how they could execute it. There was a great idea and understanding of how to utilize their personnel.
"I thought they rushed four (pass rushers) as one as well as anybody. They had a great ability to be able to play off one another. I thought Mike did a great job of mixing in pressures, understanding situations, understanding how to attack protections."
Macdonald was asked Thursday about the overpouring of praise from a new division rival. He playfully warned against taking the bait.
"I don't believe a word that he's saying," Macdonald said, via . "Don't buy the smoke, man. That's a trap."
Macdonald added: "We've got a lot of respect for all the coaches in our division. ... Definitely have our hands full, but we're up for the challenge."
McVay, 38, and Macdonald, 36, are two of the youngest NFL head coaches and both roundly viewed as two of the best minds in football. Twice a year, they'll battle wits on the gridiron. The first comes in Week 9 when McVay's Rams visit Macdonald's Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle.
