Seahawks QB Geno Smith's Rise: 'He Changed,' Says DK Metcalf
The Seattle Seahawks took the NFL world by complete surprise last season in large part thanks to the out-of-nowhere play of quarterback Geno Smith.
Smith, 32, had been a backup for years when he took on the unenviable task of replacing franchise quarterback Russell Wilson. He surpassed all expectations, completing an NFL-best 69.8 percent of his passes for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns. After leading the Seahawks to a surprise playoff appearance and setting multiple single-season passing records, Smith won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.
However, Smith's transformation into a capable starter didn't just happen overnight. He was actually competing with Drew Lock for the starting job last offseason, so he had to stand out. Smith accomplished that not just on the field, but by blossoming into a leader in the locker room.
In an appearance on Fubo Sports' "Getcha Popcorn with T.O. and Hatch," Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf recalled Smith's rise to becoming the team's leader.
“Just going into training camp, he’s the first one out there and the first one at the facility,” Metcalf said. “He’s watching film. He’s not talking. He just had his head down and he’s working. Week 8, he gave us a pregame speech and you could just see everyone locked in on him because they had seen how much he had matured and changed."
Smith certainly emerged as a leader last season. But this new insight from Metcalf shows fans to the great extents he took this responsibility,
"He wasn’t the same Geno," Metcalf said. "He was like, ‘This is my team now. Y’all are gonna listen. I’ve put in the work and I’ve put in the time to where I have stapled my name in Seattle.’ And everybody just started to respect him.”
Metcalf also praised Smith for leading in his own style, not just imitating Wilson's. The star receiver added that Smith's fresh perspective endeared him even more to his teammates, and that bond paid dividends throughout the season.
With a fresh extension in hand, Smith will be looking to build on his breakout performance this season.
You can find Jonathan Alfano on Twitter @JonAlfano_News
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