Seahawks' Mike Macdonald plans to utilize Dre'Mont Jones' versatility: 'He can do a lot of things'

Mike Macdonald’s arrival in Seattle might just be what unlocks Dre’Mont Jones‘ full potential.

Jones’ first season with the Seahawks didn’t amount to spectacular numbers off the heels of a three-year, $51 million contract he signed last year. The 4.5 sacks Jones produced in 2023 were the lowest since his rookie season with the Denver Broncos, but Macdonald’s scheme is expected to benefit a versatile player who can play multiple positions along the defensive line — and vice versa.

“I think his skill set lends to trying to play a little matchup ball with him or setting another guy up,” Macdonald said once minicamp concluded, via ESPN’s Brady Henderson. “He can do a lot of things. We’ve talked about it, but we’re really excited about Dre’Mont.”

Macdonald’s strategy provides pre-snap visuals that often baffle rival offensive lines. This disruption persists post-snap, with Macdonald’s defensive units securing top-five positions in terms of sack totals in his two NFL seasons as a defensive coordinator. This includes the league’s highest sack total of 60.0, achieved by the Ravens in 2023.

Jones’ inaugural season with the Seahawks demonstrated reliability, even amidst low sack statistics. He achieved career-best records with 49 tackles and 12 QB hits, participating in all 17 games. However, the 27-year-old’s capacity to play both inside and outside on a consistent basis was not fully utilized in the last season – an aspect Macdonald intends to modify in 2024.

Leonard Williams, who arrived in Seattle via trade midway through last season, is another versatile piece for Macdonald to employ alongside Jones, and the veteran has been preparing this offseason by practicing at multiple positions.

Williams stated, “I believe it’s beneficial for us as it allows us to create matchups that put the defensive player in an advantageous position, while simultaneously confusing the offense.”

The offense finds it challenging to study our strategies as Dre’Mont’s position often switches. They might see him as a five-technique on film but he could be playing zero- or three-technique during the game. This makes it difficult for the offense to plan against a specific player because of our frequent positional changes.

In his first year as head coach, Macdonald will focus on enhancing the Seahawks defense, which ranked 30th last season with an average of 371.4 yards allowed per game. This task will undoubtedly present some challenges.

The unit’s projected lineup already reflects the end of Pete Carroll’s legendary tenure following the offseason exits of Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. Seattle has the capacity to replace longtime veterans with a stellar young secondary and a versatile D-line that was reinforced with the first-round selection of Byron Murphy II in April’s draft.

Anticipate that Jones will emerge as a crucial player in implementing Macdonald’s approach of masking and disrupting at the point of attack.

“Having versatile players who can perform different roles in both the run and pass game, and having more big guys, allows us to expand our personnel groups and generate diverse strategies,” said Macdonald. “It ultimately benefits us. We’ll review our performance this spring and reassess our plans before camp starts. Then, we’ll monitor the progress throughout camp. I believe it’s essential to have this mindset. If you stick to a standard formula, you’re limiting your team’s potential growth.”