Geno Smith is conscious that to be the person, you could beat the person.
For Smith and the Seattle Seahawks, meaning determining a strategy to defeat the San Francisco 49ers, the reigning NFC convention champs and Tremendous Bowl runners-up, in a prime-time recreation on Thursday evening.
The Seahawks lead the NFC West at 3-2 however have misplaced two straight video games, whereas the 49ers are 2-3 and have misplaced three of their previous 4.Â
San Francisco, nonetheless, has received 5 straight video games towards Seattle. And the video games have not been shut, with the Seahawks shedding by a median of 15 factors per recreation. An enormous motive for that’s as a result of Seattle has averaged solely 11.6 offensive factors per recreation within the 5 losses.
Smith is 0-4 (together with postseason) as a starter towards San Francisco. In these 4 matchups, he has accomplished 72% of his passes for 868 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He is been sacked 14 occasions and has posted an 86.9 passer score.Â
These aren’t precisely exemplary numbers for the two-time Professional Bowler.Â
“They acquired playmakers throughout the protection,” Smith advised reporters this week. “They play collectively. They fly round, they have swagger. They’re confirmed, they consider in themselves. They arrive proper in, they don’t seem to be going to try to trick you so far as the scheme goes. They will line up and power you to beat them for 60 minutes.”
To date the season, Smith has accomplished 72% of his passes for an NFL-high 1,466 yards — together with a league-high 385 yards within the fourth quarter — with 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He is additionally been sacked 18 occasions. Solely Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson has been sacked extra (26).Â
For Smith, Thursday’s contest offers a chance to indicate he belongs within the dialog as among the finest signal-callers within the league. Within the second 12 months of a three-year, $75 million contract, Smith wish to earn a contract extension.Â
Taking part in properly towards groups like San Francisco would go a good distance in getting that executed. Smith additionally turns 34 on Thursday and can be enjoying on his birthday for the primary time in his profession. Â
To date this season, Smith leads the NFL with 199 cross makes an attempt, and new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb would love extra stability, taking a number of the stress off the QB to hold the offense.
Grubb lamented he didn’t get operating again Kenneth Walker III extra touches in Seattle’s disappointing loss at dwelling to the New York Giants final week. The Seahawks are averaging simply 105 speeding yards a contest, No. 22 within the NFL.Â
“I will personal that,” Grubb advised reporters this week. “Obtained to get the ball to Ken extra. And I believe we had loads of run recreation within the plan, did not have something to do with not having sufficient requires that, simply did not get known as.Â
“For us, we leaned on the mistaken factor. And I believe if we get Ken 10 extra touches, 15 extra touches, issues are going to look totally different. In order that’s 100% on me. My job is to ensure I get all our guys in the most effective place doable to win the sport. And I did not try this.”
New Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald, the Baltimore Ravens‘ former defensive coordinator, will get his first alternative to sq. off towards San Francisco offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan. One motive the Seahawks employed Macdonald was as a result of his revolutionary protection gave the 49ers suits in Baltimore’s lopsided victory over San Francisco final Christmas.
On Thursday, nonetheless, the Seahawks can be short-handed on protection with three starters out: Professional Bowl cornerback Tariq Woolen (ankle), edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu (thigh) and rookie defensive deal with Byron Murphy II (hamstring). Security Julian Love (hamstring) can be a game-time determination.Â
“They have been engaged on this scheme, and it has been evolving for a very long time — 30 years,” Macdonald advised reporters this week when requested about going through San Francisco’s offense. “In Baltimore, we have gone towards Kyle when he was in Cleveland after which since he is been in San Francisco. So, we’re each accustomed to one another’s schemes.
“They do an amazing job. … They know what they’re doing, they aim stuff proper. This recreation is a 60-minute battle of who’s going to outplay who for the size of the sport. It is at all times been that means for whoever they play, and we acquired an amazing problem forward of us.”
The 49ers have struggled to this point this season, with playmakers Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel lacking time as a consequence of accidents. However Kittle and Samuel are again within the lineup, and there is loads of time for San Francisco to place collectively a profitable streak that catapults them again among the many high groups within the NFL. In 2021, the 49ers began the season 2-4, acquired sizzling in the course of the second half, snuck into the playoffs and superior to the NFC title recreation.
Nick Bosa: Seahawks ‘undoubtedly feels’ like a must-win for 49ers?
“We all know how huge this rivalry is,” Smith stated. “These are predominantly two of the higher groups within the league over the previous 10 years, and it is at all times going to be a slugfest. We respect these guys. They’ve some nice gamers on their facet, they usually’re confirmed. So far as we go, we have confirmed ourselves as properly. It is a big-time matchup.
“They have been an amazing group, particularly lately. It is time for us to go on the market and get it executed.”Â
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking theLos Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, theLos Angeles Chargers for ESPN and theSeattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at@eric_d_williams.
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