The Case for Geno Smith, Part 2: Breaking Down the Offensive Line Troubles
After starting the season 3-0, the Seattle Seahawks have now dropped four of their last five games, falling from the top of the NFC West to the bottom. Amid this downturn, quarterback Geno Smith has found himself at the center of criticism. But as we discussed in Part 1 of this series, much of this blame does not rest on Smith’s shoulders.
Two factors significantly contribute to the Seahawks' recent struggles: the challenges of adapting to Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb’s Air Raid-style offense and the Seahawks’ underperforming offensive line. The latter issue is glaring; in the team’s latest loss, Smith was sacked seven times by the Rams, evidence of a line unable to give its quarterback enough time to operate.
The numbers tell the story. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), which grades offensive linemen on both pass and run blocking using a range from -2 to +2 per play, Seattle’s offensive line currently ranks 29th out of thirty-two teams. This marks a decline from their rank in 2022, when they were three spots higher. Only three NFL teams now have a line with a lower PFF grade than Seattle's, underscoring the protection gap Geno faces each game. Remarkably, Smith still holds the top passer rating in the NFL, a testament to his effectiveness even under relentless pressure.
By comparison, teams with top-tier offensive lines include the Detroit Lions (#1), Philadelphia Eagles (#2), Indianapolis Colts (#3), Cleveland Browns (#4), and New York Jets (#5). Among these, only the Eagles and Lions are division leaders, with records of 7-2 and 8-1, respectively. The Colts are 4-6, sitting second in the AFC South, while the Browns are last in the AFC North at 2-7, and the Jets are third in the AFC East at 3-7. While offensive line strength correlates with success in some cases, it is clearly not a guarantee, as seen in the varied performance of these teams.
The pressure Smith faces is stark. Statmuse.com ranks him as the NFL’s sixth most pressured quarterback. Other frequently pressured quarterbacks include Kirk Cousins of the division-leading Falcons (ranked #1 in pressure), Joe Flacco of the Colts (#3), and Aaron Rodgers of the Jets (#5). Notably, less pressured quarterbacks include Russell Wilson (#9) in pressure ranking) and Jared Goff (#16), showing that Smith operates in one of the toughest offensive environments in the league.
Seattle’s offensive line struggles have contributed to an unpredictable “Jekyll and Hyde” effect, disrupting the consistency necessary for sustained success. Smith’s production, despite these obstacles, makes a compelling case in his favor. The challenges he faces under pressure every game is extraordinary, and his ability to keep Seattle competitive under such conditions shows a level of skill that goes beyond the typical blame placed on a quarterback.
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