RENTON, Wash. — Over the offseason, Mike Macdonald challenged Geno Smith to take the subsequent step as a pacesetter. The Seattle Seahawks’ rookie head coach wished the Twelfth-year quarterback — a fiery competitor who hasn’t at all times saved his cool within the warmth of the second — to be what Macdonald referred to as “the voice of poise” in antagonistic conditions.
The Seahawks have confronted loads of these through the two straight losses that adopted their 3-0 begin.
In opposition to the Detroit Lions in Week 4, with Ford Discipline rocking on “Monday Evening Soccer” and Detroit’s offense rolling in opposition to Seattle’s short-handed protection, Smith threw for a career-high 395 yards to maintain the Seahawks in it. He drew reward from Macdonald postgame for the way he stayed calm amid the chaos.
In opposition to the New York Giants on Sunday, Smith was sacked 5 occasions by means of the primary three-and-a-half quarters. Seattle’s offense managed six factors in that span. However late within the fourth, Smith drove them 95 yards for a landing, then led one other drive that put them in place for a tying area aim attempt that was blocked.
“He is robust as nails, man,” first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb mentioned. “He is a complete warrior. … This week, in all probability greater than any week, it will’ve been very straightforward for him to let frustration take over his recreation.
“That is the factor you see from a veteran quarterback is a man that may nonetheless be passionate and be himself and discover a method to get himself again to room temperature to make good choices and nonetheless give us an opportunity to win.”
That may be a huge query Smith has been answering as he tries to cement himself because the Seahawks’ long-term reply at quarterback. Now comes one other one — can he beat the San Francisco 49ers?
Since changing Russell Wilson, Smith has but to beat the 49ers. If he desires to show to the Seahawks that he is worthy of a brand new contract that he sought this offseason, a win over their division rival is one other field Smith can examine when Seattle hosts San Francisco on Thursday evening at Lumen Discipline (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video).
Together with playoffs, Smith is winless in 4 tries in opposition to the 49ers since 2022, lacking one in all their matchups final season due to a groin damage. The Seahawks are 0-5 in opposition to San Francisco in that span, they usually’ve been dominated each bit as a lot because the mixed rating of 148-72 would counsel.
Their newest matchup comes with every group’s season at an early crossroads. The 49ers fell to 2-3 after blowing a 13-point lead Sunday as their protection has struggled, they usually’ll once more be with out working again Christian McCaffrey. The Seahawks sit atop the NFC West at 3-2 however are coping with an inconsistent protection and overmatched offensive line, two points which have dogged them in current seasons.
However a brand new offense offers hope that Smith and the Seahawks can change their fortunes in opposition to San Francisco and keep atop the division. Earlier than they turned in an all-three-phases clunker in opposition to the Giants, Smith was off to a powerful begin in Grubb’s system, rating ninth in QBR over the primary 4 weeks.
“Geno is a giant vivid spot on our soccer group proper now,” Macdonald mentioned. “He is a galvanizing power. The man’s competing his tail off … doing loads of nice issues, so let’s hold it going. We’re 5 video games in, we have an extended method to go. However the excellent news is we acquired one other recreation right here to make it proper and have Geno take the subsequent step in his recreation. And we anticipate him to take action.”
SMITH’S RESUME DURING his two-plus seasons because the Seahawks’ starter consists of a number of accomplishments of a franchise quarterback.
He led the league in completion charge on his method to a Professional Bowl and a wild-card berth in 2022. Final season, he threw an NFL file seven go-ahead touchdowns within the fourth quarter or extra time. His stretches of brilliance embrace one of the best QBR of any quarterback over the ultimate six weeks of 2023. Because the starting of 2022, he ranks eighth amongst certified QBs in that metric.
For all of the uncertainty about Smith’s long-term future — the Seahawks have been reluctant to publicly decide to him this offseason then traded for QB Sam Howell in March — there’s been no query that his contract is a relative discount.
Smith’s $25 million common ranks twentieth amongst quarterbacks and sits a whopping $35 million behind Dak Prescott’s new league-high APY of $60 million. Smith’s QBR of 61.9 because the begin of the 2022 season ranks eighth amongst quarterbacks with a minimum of 15 begins in that span. That is higher than 13 of the 19 QBs who earn more money than him per 12 months.
Smith confirmed earlier than the season that his agent reached out to Seahawks basic supervisor John Schneider this summer season to inquire a few new deal, which was a nonstarter for the Seahawks given their coverage of not remodeling contracts which have a couple of 12 months left.
“That is simply regular enterprise,” Smith mentioned of his want for a brand new deal. “Nothing fallacious with that.”
It is sure to be revisited this coming offseason, when Smith will probably be eligible for a brand new deal as he enters the ultimate 12 months of a three-year deal signed in 2022.
Smith is about to make $25 million in 2025, although that determine may enhance by as a lot as $15 million through escalators. Smith is at the moment on tempo to hit three of them, which might qualify him to make an extra $6 million.
Making Smith one of many 10 highest-paid quarterbacks would probably imply giving him a deal averaging a minimum of $50 million. As of now, $40 million is tied for the Fifteenth-highest APY on the place, although that can probably change this offseason with San Francisco’s Brock Purdy eligible for an enormous extension.
Within the meantime, Smith will attempt to beat Purdy for the primary time Thursday evening. Whereas he had his trademark accuracy in his 4 losses to San Francisco — a 72.1% completion charge — there was not a lot manufacturing, averaging solely 217 passing yards with three complete touchdowns to a few interceptions. He is been sacked a mixed 14 occasions whereas Seattle’s offense has averaged solely 10.5 factors. Among the many 23 groups Smith has confronted in that span, his 44.8 QBR in opposition to the 49ers is his fourth worst.
“Geno has performed OK in these video games,” former NFL quarterback Brock Huard mentioned. “… However Thursday evening, I believe he’ll must be higher than he was Sunday afternoon the place I believed two, 3 times he sacked himself as a substitute of getting out of hassle or discovering an outlet.”
THE NEW OFFENSIVE scheme has been working for Smith.
As they’ve accomplished usually this season, the Seahawks went no-huddle early of their Week 2 win over the New England Patriots. Going through a second-and-5 close to midfield, Smith surveyed the protection and despatched TE Noah Fant in movement. Broad receiver DK Metcalf lined up within the slot and ran a go route proper by means of a confused Patriots secondary. Their busted protection resulted in a 55-yard landing and illustrated how Smith can thrive in Grubb’s scheme that tries to place defenses in a bind.
Smith leads the league by means of 5 weeks with 1,182 passing yards, whereas his 72.3% completion charge ranks second. His 5 landing passes are much less spectacular — particularly in comparison with his 4 interceptions, although two of them have been off deflections and one other got here whereas Seattle was in desperation mode late in a 13-point loss to the Lions.
Grubb, Macdonald’s most necessary rent this offseason, coordinated one in all faculty soccer’s most prolific offenses over the previous two seasons on the College of Washington. The Seahawks then lured him away from Alabama after he had agreed to observe coach Kalen DeBoer from Seattle to Tuscaloosa.
As Huard defined, Grubb makes use of shifts and motions in the identical manner that 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and his offensive disciples do — to “change the image” for defenses on the fly. One of many targets of pushing the tempo with a no-huddle is to make it more durable for defenders to get on the identical web page as they’re adjusting to a brand new offensive look.
“The thought behind that’s, there’s going to be breakdowns of communication, that you simply simply cannot sustain with all of these image frames persistently and continuously, and particularly with tempo,” Huard mentioned. “That is when this factor has actually thrived this season and has, actually, for years with DeBoer and Grubb, is you combine these appears … you bust communication and massive performs observe.”
The Seahawks rank 14th in proportion of offensive performs (58.1) by which they’ve used movement at or earlier than the snap, in response to ESPN Analysis. They’ve run the third-highest proportion of no-huddle performs (25.5), a mode that Smith thrived in throughout his faculty days at West Virginia.
“I like the truth that we’re very aggressive, an up-tempo attacking type offense,” Smith mentioned. “That is one thing that is enjoyable to be part of, simply the best way that Coach Grubb calls the video games. He isn’t afraid to get the calls off the sheet. He is being aggressive, he is attempting to assault the protection, he is setting issues up.”
And the brand new OC is working a lot of the offense by means of his quarterback, a minimum of for now. The Seahawks rank first in designed go charge (71.1%), partially due to the sport script in addition to the 2 weeks they did not have Kenneth Walker III. Macdonald has made it clear that they should run the ball extra, however Smith has taken benefit of his further alternatives to throw it.
Dropping again greater than another quarterback has additionally meant extra possibilities to scramble. Smith has rushed for 146 dashing yards — seventh-most on the place — and a landing on 20 makes an attempt.
Smith ranks eleventh in QBR (63.5) whereas taking part in behind an offensive line that sits third-worst in go block win charge (48.3%).
“Within the first 12 months of a system with loads of new ideas, I have been impressed together with his command of it,” Huard mentioned. “… In management, in command and I believe he actually, actually enjoys taking part in on this scheme and it matches, I believe, loads of his ability set.”
THURSDAY NIGHT IS a chance for Smith to get his first win in opposition to the 49ers, but additionally an opportunity for the Seahawks to show the tide within the NFC West.
San Francisco has received the division the previous two seasons and 3 times prior to now 5 years, reaching the Tremendous Bowl twice in that span. However with a win, the Seahawks would have a two-game lead over the 49ers, one head-to-head victory and a 1-0 file within the division. San Francisco, in the meantime, would fall to 0-3 in NFC West play, having already misplaced to the Cardinals (2-3) and Los Angeles Rams (1-4).
The Seahawks’ struggling protection stays removed from full energy, with Uchenna Nwosu headed to injured reserve, Byron Murphy II set to overlook a 3rd straight recreation and Riq Woolen out as nicely. Which suggests the Seahawks would possibly want Smith and their offense to hold them once more in opposition to a protection that is had their quantity.
“They are not going to attempt to trick you so far as scheme goes,” Smith mentioned. “They’ll line up and power you to beat them for 60 minutes. We respect them. They have been a fantastic group, particularly lately. It is time for us to go on the market and get it accomplished.”