Seahawks QB Geno Smith Reveals 'Main Thing' to Improved Offense
The Seattle Seahawks' season was in danger of slipping away after Week 14. Being on a four-game losing streak, the Seahawks sat at 6-7 and needing to buck the trend to keep their playoff hopes alive.
With the offense stuttering as in three of the four games they lost, no more than 16 points were scored while they had at least one turnover in each.
But things changed against the Philadelphia Eagles with Drew Lock as the offense clicked into gear on a game-winning drive in Week 15. Then the following week against the Tennessee Titans, with Geno Smith back under center, again, another game-winning drive saw Seattle make it back-to-back wins.
But what has been the catalyst for the turnaround in form?
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“Better execution," Geno Smith said. "That’s always going to be the main thing. Starting with protection, starting with play calling then protection, me getting the ball out on time, being accurate, being decisive in my decision making, receivers, route runners running great routes, getting to the open spot at the right time, catching the ball.
"We’ve had a bunch of where we’ve thrown short of the sticks and guys have had to make somebody miss or catching and getting two or three extra yards. Guys understanding the situation and just being locked and executing, I think that’s been the total difference.”
Thanks to the offense finally clicking, the Seahawks as it stands are in the playoffs but will need to win out to secure their spot.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are next on the schedule at Lumen Field on Sunday, so the Seahawks will want to take care of business and not have their playoff hopes coming down to the final week of the season against the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle will face a Steelers team in a confident mood thanks to Mason Rudolph's efforts in the 34-11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals as he looks to make it back-to-back wins.
“Obviously, he had a really good game last week, and the NFL is hard," Smith said on Rudolph's efforts last week. "It’s not easy to win for any quarterback, a starter, or who’s stepping in. Hats off to him for playing a tremendous game."
With their playoff ticket not yet punched, the Seahawks, who are 5-2 at home this season need to continue to play the kind of football that saw them snap their losing streak.
No turnovers, and get the offense clicking, while Clint Hurtt's defense needs to get after Rudolph.
And if they continue to "execute" better, it will go a long way to securing the ninth win of the season, and may just secure Seattle's passage into the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
