Pros and cons of Geno Smith potentially being Seahawks long-term quarterback
Making the case against Geno Smith
When looking for a franchise quarterback, I am looking for someone who can elevate the team and the franchise. Someone who can carry a team through injuries, or get the job done on the road in a hostile playoff environment. Smith took a beating last year, and fairly or unfairly, it did affect his total production. His completion percentage dropped by 5.1 percent from the previous year. His yards per game and passer rating dropped by nearly 10 points each.
While Smith has proven to be a master in the play-action game, the rest of his game leaves me wanting more. His mobility which was beautifully on display in 2022 seemed nonexistent last year. His inability to be a threat in the intermediate passing range hurt this offense tremendously.
When the injuries affected the o-line, and the running game went stale, Smith and the offense looked like one of the worst in the NFL, essentially chucking it deep on 3rd and long constantly, or praying Kenneth Walker could break a big run once or twice a game. Injuries or not, that is simply not sustainable.
Quarterbacks are almost always judged by how they perform when it matters most, and that was an area in 2023 where Smith was arguably the best in the league. Despite the struggles on offense last year, Smith produced four fourth quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives, both best in the NFL.
While this is fantastic, this became a necessity due to the struggles of Smith and the offense in the second and third quarters. Seattle was one of the best offenses in football in the first and fourth quarters, but one of the worst in the middle.
Was this because of injuries, Shane Waldron, Smith, or Pete Carroll’s style? Honestly, I think it is a mix of all the above. All of the excuses are gone, except for Smith. A new system, a new OC, and the likelihood of better health should provide us the clarity to see if Smith can be a consistent playmaker for a full 60 minutes.