Behind Enemy Lines: 5 Questions with All Seahawks Reporter Corbin Smith

Let's check in with All Seahawks and Locked On Seahawks correspondent Corbin Smith on what the Giants might be in for on Monday night.

This week, we're checking in with All Seahawks reporter and Locked On Seahawks host Corbin Smith for insight on the Seattle Seahawks, whom the Giants host on Monday Night Football. 

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Geno Smith is fast showing that last year wasn’t a fluke. Where have you seen the biggest leap in his game?

While Smith has maintained his elite accuracy from a year ago and continues to excel throwing downfield, his continued improvement managing the pocket and helping mitigate the pass rush has clearly been the area where he has taken another big step forward in his second season as Seattle's starter. 

Missing both of his starting tackles, the veteran quarterback has done a fantastic job of both getting rid of the football quickly and navigating within and outside of the pocket when he needs to in order to create time for receivers to get open while also helping himself stay clean. 

Compared to even a year ago, his footwork from the pocket is night and day - he almost seems to have eyes on the back of his helmet. 

On top of that, he has benefited from being in the same offense as a starter two years in a row for the first time since college, so he has demonstrated both improved command of the scheme and an enhanced standing as an on-field leader in the huddle.

How does a healthy Jamal Adams change the complexion of that Seahawks defense?

When healthy, Adams has flashed game-wrecking ability for the Seahawks, creating matchup problems due to his rare skill set at the safety position. He commands immediate attention from offenses when he's playing in the box due to his innate ability to find his way to the quarterback as a blitzer and teams have to game plan for his presence, opening up opportunities for others along the defensive line. 

Though he isn't at his best when he's asked to play as a deep safety, he has the coverage skills and physicality to hold his own against tight ends and big-bodied slot receivers, giving defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt more flexibility with three-safety sets featuring Quandre Diggs and Julian Love as well as other nickel and dime packages. 

In addition, he has been a standout run defender throughout his career and should only further bolster a run defense that has improved leaps and bounds so far this year compared to when they finished 30th last year without him in the lineup.

What's the biggest concern you have from a matchup perspective with the Giants?

Seattle has invested draft picks and free agent dollars in its offensive line the past two years and the interior trio of Damien Lewis, Evan Brown, and Phil Haynes has been a major upgrade over last year's group. However, injuries have been a problem in the trenches, including Lewis missing a handful of snaps last week and Haynes being sidelined by a calf issue, which forced rookie Anthony Bradford into the lineup for his first career start. 

With an extra day to rest before Monday's contest, the Seahawks hope to have their interior line back at full strength, but even if that is the case, they have historically had major issues blocking Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, who single-handedly destroyed their game plan in a home loss in 2020 and caused problems shutting down Ken Walker III last year in Week 8. 

If they aren't able to protect Smith and keep Lawrence and Williams from grounding their run game, it could be a long evening on offense even with the obvious firepower Seattle has at the skill positions.

The Seahawks will win this game if ______.

They can establish the run and force Daniel Jones to beat them with his arm. The Seahawks should have major advantages at the skill positions on both sides of the football across the board, especially with cornerback Riq Woolen set to return after missing a week with a chest injury. 

But football games are won in the trenches, particularly on the road, and if the Giants are able to find some traction on the ground with or without Saquon Barkley, it will take pressure off of Jones and give him his best chance at success after a slow start to the season. 

On the other side of the ball, Seattle flexed its muscles a bit with the run game against Carolina last week and New York hasn't been able to stop the run through the first three games, so getting Walker and Zach Charbonnet the football early and often should be a recipe for success and create play action pass opportunities for Smith to his talented stable of receivers.

What’s the best way to stop Kenneth Walker III?

Though he's made strides not trying to do too much compared to his rookie year, Walker can be a bit of a feast or famine runner due to his propensity for trying to bounce plays outside and utilize his elite athleticism rather than just get downhill and take the yardage given to him. 

When he's been held in check, teams have been able to generate quick penetration into the backfield and held contain to prevent him from turning on the jets and rocketing outside. That's easier said than done given the second-year back's elite explosiveness and elusiveness, but the Giants were able to do that successfully last year by getting multiple defenders to him quickly and preventing him from working his shake and bake magic in space. 

If he's granted any wiggle room, however, as the Panthers learned the hard way last week, he has home run hitting capabilities and can turn a sliver of daylight into a chunk play as a runner or receiver.

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