Quotes about Coach McMackin

About GM's 2-inch-thick defensive playbook, Adam Leonard said:
"When he first gave me the book, I thought, 'This is going to be crazy to read all of this.' That's from all of the years he's been coaching." (HA)


About how each play comes with a diagram and a detailed explanation, Adam said:
"It doesn't just show you what to do, it tells you why you're doing it and the situation it's used. It's a big book, and there's a lot of terminology, but it's not complicated." (HA)


About how he made his first playbook 34 years ago as a 24-year-old head coach at Oregon's Aloha High School, GM said:
"I kept adding to it. Really, I didn't take anything out of the playbook." (HA)


About how he's added chapters during his time at Miami, Texas Tech, SJSU, and in the NFL, GM said:
"I've learned as much from offensive coaches. It's grown over the years. The longer you coach, the bigger your playbook gets." (HA)


About how he uses a PowerPoint system to supplement his lessons, GM said:
"Let's say we're talking about a blitz. I punch a button and we can see (a video clip of) the blitz from an actual game. Kids watch videos. They get tired of you drawing on the board. That's why we wanted to put it on PowerPoint, too." (HA)

HA Note: "He said the next stage is to do the "John Madden-type" Telestrator, which would allow him to draw diagrams onto the videos."


About how GM spent 4 practice sessions during spring training conducting strategy meetings instead of working on the field, Adam said:
"He has that teacher's approach. He wants to make sure we learn the plays and the reason we're running them before we practice them. He's a teacher and a coach." (HA)


About the playbook, FS Desmond Thomas said:
"If you follow the book and do what you're supposed to do, you'll be OK." (HA)


About how he doesn't believe in hitting the offense too hard in camp, GM said:
"Everywhere. Miami, Seattle, San Francisco. The first time here (1999). Go full speed and don't take them to the ground. Our practices are as good a tempo as anyone in the country." (HSB)


About how you can teach tackling fundamentals without risking injury, GM said:
"We're always working on tackling, pursuit. Use your eyes, rip, wrap, keep your feet moving. Our job is to get them into position to do that. I'm not worried. We have natural hitters. We know they're going to hit." (HSB)


About how he wants to see more big plays out of his defense, GM said:
"We want to make more plays. Our quarterbacks are so accurate, so it's hard. But we came up with a couple today, including Desmond's. Our thing is to get the offense back on the field. Interceptions, sacks, tackles-for-loss." (HSB)


Pleased with the defense so far, GM said:
"For the first week I'm really happy. Everyone's working hard. The attitude has been outstanding. You do bed check and the lights are out and they're all in their bunks. There's no doubt they have some certain goals in mind and they know it starts here." (HSB)


About the battle for safety spots, Monteilh said:
"It's a great competition. We've got guys like Des, we got Dane (Porlas), we got new guys coming in. The young guys might be given a chance to play, too." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Defensive backs coach Rich Miano said JC transfer Erik Robinson and true freshman Le'Marcus Gibson have practiced well, and walk-on cornerback Jakeem Hawkins has been a "pleasant surprise."