Seattle Seahawks: The Geno Smith Story – It’s the hope that kills you

Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks.

Geno Smith played two games as the Seattle Seahawks quarterback this year. Both times he gave the ball away late when his team had a chance to win.

Maybe there were unfair expectations about what Geno Smith could do against Pittsburgh on Thursday night. A week earlier, he looked good in relief when Russell Wilson left the game due to injury. Smith rallied the troops, moved the ball, and kept the Seattle Seahawks in contention. Or, at least, in contention enough to give 12s hope of a late rally.

L.A. Outage

Then when it came down to crunch time, Smith failed. Although he moved Seattle downfield late in the fourth quarter when a touchdown could have closed the gap to two points with 2:49 remaining, he threw a bad pass to Freddie Swain on third- and-ten from L.A.’s 14-yard line. The Seahawks had to settle for a field goal.

On their next possession, Smith threw an interception to seal the Seahawks’ fate. Granted, receiver Tyler Lockett tripped on the play, but Smith was locked into throwing that pass.

Steel Town Meltdown

After another few days of first-team reps, the former West Virginia QB looked even worse in Pittsburgh. Nobody thinks he can complete the RW3 moonball, 50 yards to a streaking Lockett or D.K. Metcalf. Then again, they didn’t foresee his abysmal outing last Thursday either.

Geno didn’t have a great game, but the Seattle Seahawks fought hard and took the contest to overtime. Some will say that Smith was clutch on the final drive of the fourth quarter; I beg to differ.

I would counter that most of his completions were to an otherwise unguarded running back in the middle of the field just a few yards past the line of scrimmage. On the controversial Metcalf fumble, Smith could have thrown a pass to take D.K. out of bounds after the catch and stop the clock.

In the end, all it did was set him up to choke once again as he was useless in the extra period. On their first possession, Seattle gained 13 yards. Fortunately, they got the ball back for another chance to win. Too bad Smith fumbled the ball away on the Seahawks 16-yard line, gift wrapping Pittsburgh’s winning kick.

Hope is a four-letter word

This week the Seahawks return to prime time as they host New Orleans at Lumen Field. Fans of the show Ted Lasso are familiar with the phrase “it’s the hope that kills you.” Thanks to Geno Smith, there aren’t high hopes for the Seattle Seahawks while he’s their quarterback. Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me. Do it to me a third time, and I deserve what’s coming.

The situation reminds me of an interview I heard a few years ago. A NASCAR crew chief said he’d rather put a young driver in his car over a veteran he knows can’t win. Judging by Smith’s 12-20 career record and his 31 touchdown passes to 37 interceptions, it’s established that he isn’t a winner.

Unlike NASCAR, there isn’t a group of hot-shot young guns tearing up the lower levels of football that the Seattle Seahawks can turn to. All the Seattle Seahawks have available is three inexperienced pros behind Smith.

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What do you think about Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.

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