Seahawks GM reveals when Geno Smith took control of offense

Seattle Seahawks common supervisor John Schneider noticed quarterback Geno Smith cement himself as a professional substitute for Russell Wilson even earlier than the 2022 season acquired underway. 

Schneider not too long ago advised ESPN’s Dan Graziano that Smith “took his recreation to that subsequent stage” and took full management of the Seattle offense as quickly as head coach Pete Carroll named the veteran final September’s Week 1 starter following a summer time competitors that additionally concerned former Denver Broncos signal-caller Drew Lock. 

“He went from saying, like, ‘Hey, if it is Drew, I am right here to help him, I will again him’ to a few weeks later, ‘Okay, my workforce now,'” Schneider stated about Smith. “There was plenty of stress on him, and he dealt with it excellent.” 

Apparently, star huge receiver DK Metcalf instructed final month he knew Smith would defeat Lock to win the QB1 gig earlier than the workforce opened coaching camp roughly one yr in the past. Metcalf added at the moment Smith really erased any doubts about his management qualities shortly earlier than and in the course of the Week 8 victory over the New York Giants on Oct. 30. 

Smith turned one of many extra optimistic tales of final season en path to incomes the Related Press Comeback Participant of the Yr Award and his first profession Professional Bowl choice. Per ESPN stats, he led the league amongst certified gamers with a 69.8% completion proportion, and he additionally completed the common season tied for sixth with a 60.8 adjusted QBR, eighth with 4,282 passing yards and fourth with 30 passing touchdowns. 

Earlier than the March deadline for groups to make use of their franchise tags, Seattle signed Smith to a three-year contract that in the end may grow to be a one-year settlement relying on how he performs this fall. Schneider indicated there was little drama relating to Smith’s standing this offseason. 

“He was nice in the course of the [contract] negotiations,” Schneider stated of Smith. “It wasn’t confrontational in any respect, it was a extremely optimistic negotiation. And we have been in a position to get that executed in a timeframe the place he was actually in a position to personal the offseason and take the fellows with him (for coaching classes).”

Seattle is not internet hosting a quarterback battle this time round, as Smith entered August the membership’s undisputed starter forward of the Week 1 recreation versus the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10. He nonetheless will once more discover himself taking part in for some long-term job safety with the group, and that may very well be all of the motivation Smith wants to point out his 2022 marketing campaign was no fluke.