Two years ago, Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks surprised just about everybody. After Seattle traded star quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver, experts didn’t think too much of the Seahawks. But behind a career year from Smith, Seattle surprised the National Football League and made the playoffs.
While they ultimately lost to San Francisco, building blocks were laid. The team took a slight step back last season, but hopes to get back to form in 2024. They’ll have a new head coach in Mike MacDonald, who will have Smith to use at his disposal.
Prominent ESPN analyst Mina Kimes took up for Geno on Friday. During her afternoon appearance on NFL Live, Kimes defended Smith against criticism of the Seattle offense in 2023.
“Here’s a stat about Geno Smith that’s gonna blow your mind. On first down in the NFL, you know where he ranked in QBR? First. It wasn’t Mahomes, it wasn’t Jackson, it wasn’t Brock Purdy. It was Geno Smith,” Kimes said. While that standing decreased over the course of the down and distances, Kimes said that had to do with offensive line instability.
“Geno Smith was not the problem with this offense last year,” Kimes closed with.
The Seahawks also have a new offensive coordinator, but a familiar face to Seattle. Ryan Grubb, who held the offensive coordinator position with the University of Washington football program, decided not to join Kalen DeBoer at the University of Alabama, and instead now coaches professionally. We’ll see what Grubb has in store for the offense after Shane Waldron left for Chicago this offseason.
