NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Geno Smith came along at the right and wrong time for the Seattle Seahawks. After the Russell Wilson fiasco, the Seahawks were going to turn the franchise over to Drew Lock and then take their chances in the NFL Draft. But along came Smith.
During the 2022 season, Smith easily had his best year as a pro where he threw for 4282 yards and 30 TDs coupled with a completion percentage of 69.8. That not only earned the Seahawks a 9-8 record and a playoff berth, but it earned him a nice new contract.
However, while Smith was having a career resurgence, Jalen Hurts was in the MVP battle and leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the best record in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers were being led by the last pick in the 2022 Draft and on their way to the NFC Championship Game. The New York Giants were making their playoff push and the Minnesota Vikings were on their way to winning 13 games.
With all that going on, Geno Smith was trying to revive a franchise that just traded away their face for a ton of draft picks. Smith never flinched and for good reason, he was the feel-good story of the season.
With Smith at the helm, the Seahawks have gone 15-13 in the last 1.5 seasons. To be honest, while the wins still outweigh the losses, Geno has been average at best. Not so much his fault, but he’s still the QB they need. He’s just there at the wrong time.
Is Geno Smith The Answer For Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith can’t beat out Hurts, Brock Purdy, or Dak Prescott who get all bigger headline stories. All Smith has done has taken a team that was supposedly heading for a rebuild and quietly made them a playoff contender.
But are they really in the same group as the Eagles, 49ers, and Cowboys? Not quite. They can be lumped in with the Minnesota Vikings. Good teams but something is missing.
Even this season, it’s more of the same. The Seahawks are 6-5 heading into their Thursday Night game against the Dallas Cowboys and are still in contention for a playoff spot. A win here would go a long way not only for them but for Smith as well.
This was to be the season where they came from out of the shadows. The Seattle Seahawks have the weapons on the offense side of the ball but still, there are too many ups and downs. It’s hard to replace a player like Wilson and all he did for that franchise but Smith has the tools to get the job done.
What Smith has to focus on now is winning on a consistent basis. His counterparts are not only putting up MVP-type umbers, but their teams are consistently at the top of the standings. While Smith will be judged on the yardage and TDs, it’s the wins that will separate him from the rest.
Giving the ball to Smith was the right choice, however, he came along at the wrong time for the Seahawks when other teams were making their moves as well.
