Geno Smith, the newly acquired quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, has quickly established himself as a pivotal figure in the team’s locker room. In March, the Raiders traded for Smith from the Seattle Seahawks. He is expected to bring some long-awaited stability to the quarterback position. The Raiders were all in on Smith, signing him to a two-year, $75 million extension just 16 days after trading for him.
Even when things went south last year, Smith finished with a stellar 70.2% completion percentage and 9.5 Y/A. He averaged a completion percentage of 68.5% and threw for an unbelievable 12,961 yards. During those 54 games (52 starts), he totaled 76 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. His unique combination of talent, leadership, and execution under pressure has earned him the leadership role that all of his teammates respect.
Smith’s path to the top has been a story of perseverance. As he came into the NFL as one of the most hyped prospects ever, he experienced adversity in his life and career at each turn. Yet undeterred, he returned fire and wrested his starting job back. This extensive journey has certainly impacted his philosophy over the game. It has given him the opportunity to understand the finer points of how to run a team.
Chip Kelly, the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, has expressed high regard for Smith’s skill set and leadership qualities. Kelly, who previously attempted to recruit Smith when coaching at Oregon, referred to him as a “blessing” for coaches. Smith’s 11-year career would make him very experienced in learning new systems with a track record of team abandonment on offensive coordinators.
“He’s great. Geno is literally like a second coach.” – Chip Kelly
Smith’s football IQ is through the roof, which will make him a huge asset for the Raiders. Kelly commended Smith on his ability to quickly process information and execute winning plays. Whether it’s running game concepts or offensive philosophy, he’s constantly bouncing ideas that he picked up from his prior coordinators around with Smith.
“His football acumen is really off the charts, and it’s impressive to be around him.” – Chip Kelly
It’s Smith’s running ability that has really opened Kelly’s eyes. The offensive coordinator believes that Smith’s mobility is underrated and can provide an additional dimension to the Raiders’ offense.
“I think he runs better than people give him credit for. I think he can beat you with his feet [and] keep plays alive.” – Chip Kelly
Beyond what he can do on the field, Smith has proven to be an infectious teammate. Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, one of Smith’s former college teammates at North Carolina State, praised Smith’s consistency and work ethic.
“I truly mean that. He knows what he is doing [and] he shows up the same every day. I haven’t seen him have a bad day.” – Jakobi Meyers
He said he couldn’t wait to learn from Kelly and the rest of the coaching staff. Individually and collectively, they will determine the course of the team’s future! Foster focused on the collaborative atmosphere that flourished inside the Raiders’ quarterback room.
In that room with him and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, a cyclone of possibilities, concepts and design goes into motion. The whole atmosphere is electric with creativity and collaboration. Kelly said, highlighting the experimental culture that encourages player artistic growth.
As training camp approaches, Smith aims to solidify his role as a leader and help shape the Raiders’ offensive strategy moving forward. He looks forward to contributing to the team’s success under head coach Pete Carroll’s guidance and fostering an environment of growth and competition.
“I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.” – Geno Smith
Smith will bring some much needed experience, resilience, and leadership to this Raiders squad. He will be an instrumental tool, as they look pathed towards prospering prosperity outside of next flat’s NFL season. So do his fans, and his future teammates. Of course, fans can’t wait to see just how big an immediate impact he’ll have on the team’s performance on the field.
Leave a Reply