Seahawks coach Pete Carroll: QB Geno Smith is the real deal
Now that the Seattle Seahawks season is officially in the books courtesy of the San Franciso 49ers over Wild Card Weekend, the focus turns immediately to strengthening the roster for next year. The first order of business could be re-signing quarterback Geno Smith.
Smith had a stellar first season as Seattle’s starter, setting franchise records and continuously topping the league in stat after stat. While he was far from perfect at times, he’s been quick to take accountability, and the Seahawks could very well decide that Smith is the franchise quarterback of their future.
“He’s for real,” coach Pete Carroll said after Saturday’s loss. “Geno is the real deal. He can do all of the things that a terrific quarterback does. His movement was probably more of a surprise that he was so efficient with his movement – he could always throw it. His ability to stay poised and calm throughout the season, throughout the year – with all of the hype and the buildup, he could have gone south five different times, and he never did. He never wavered. His leadership really stood out. His voice in the locker room, his voice with our players, he said the right stuff all year, right up to today. ”
Since he only signed a one-year deal last offseason, if Smith and the Seahawks are unable to reach an agreement on a new contract, he’ll hit the market in the spring as an unrestricted free agent. He’s certainly earned the right to be a starting quarterback.
“It’s a great story, it’s a great story for a lot of players, in other sports, wherever you want to go, if you keep hanging in there and you believe in yourself, and you don’t let the messaging outside of you affect who you are and what you are, you’ll find your best,” Carroll continued. “I think Geno has found his best, and he’s ready to come back and go again. I thought he had just an unbelievably great season for us.”
