Analyze the film of Super Bowl LX as we break down Mike Macdonald’s "modular defense" and the surgical B-gap pressure that neutralized Drake May and the New England Patriots. From Sam Darnold’s historic redemption to Kenneth Walker’s MVP performance, discover why this Seattle masterclass serves as the definitive "belt to ass" blueprint for modern defensive football.
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In this episode:
Mike Macdonald’s Defensive Masterclass: A deep dive into the “modular” defense and the surgical B-gap pressure that neutralized the New England Patriots.
Sam Darnold’s Redemption: The narrative of the 29-year-old quarterback exercising his career demons to become a Super Bowl champion.
Kenneth Walker’s MVP Performance: Analyzing the persistent Seahawks run game that eventually broke the dam and secured Walker the MVP.
The “Early” Patriots: Why Drake May and a young New England roster struggled to find comfort against a top-tier defensive unit.
Lessons for Young Coaches: Why this Super Bowl serves as a “pure” coaching blueprint for teaching modern defensive leverage and complexity.
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Timestamps:
00:00:01 - Super Bowl Viewing Rituals & Family Dynamics
00:01:49 - Post-Game Tape Study & Initial Reactions
00:02:13 - Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl Championship & Career Redemption
00:03:19 - Drake May’s Development & The “Early” Patriots
00:05:47 - Box Score Nuance: Kenneth Walker vs. Trash Yardage
00:09:40 - Mike Macdonald & The “Defensive Sean McVay”
00:10:44 - Building the Coaching Tree: Baltimore/Michigan Pipeline
00:14:43 - The Non-Negotiables: Turnovers & Explosives
00:17:36 - Defensive Schematic Breakdown: Harassing the B-Gap
00:19:44 - 5-Man “Dog” Pressures & Odd vs. Even Spacing
00:23:25 - Coverage Masterclass: Quarters, Tampa 2, & Match Concepts
00:26:33 - “Hot” Blitzes: 6-Man Pressure on 3rd & Long
00:28:43 - Devin Witherspoon: The Ultimate Defensive Leveraging Tool
00:30:22 - The Educator Mindset: Coaching the Player First
00:33:30 - Patriots Defensive Game Plan & Christian Gonzalez Analysis
00:38:56 - Offensive Turning Points: AJ Barner & Wide Zone Play-Action
00:43:03 - Drake May’s “I’m Young” Wall & Tight Window Struggles
00:47:33 - Offseason Outlook: Can the Seahawks Run it Back?
01:03:03 - Final Referendum on the 2025 Defensive Season
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