When Ernest Jones IV arrived from the Tennessee Titans in the middle of last season, he seemed to ignite the Seattle Seahawks’ defense. But you could argue that the change was already underway. At some point early in the season, it appears that head coach Mike Macdonald determined that he didn’t just need one new linebacker. He needed two.
So Macdonald made an extraordinarily uncommon move. He said goodbye to both of his opening day starting linebackers midway through the season. He didn’t simply bench Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. He sent them packing. Baker was traded as part of the deal that brought Jones to town.