There may be no more overused word in sports than "elite," a moniker that should be exclusively reserved for the top five players at any position. While Geno Smith has been very sharp over the last two seasons as Seattle's starting quarterback, at no point in his career except for one game last season against Dallas has he played at a top-five level. However, his offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb believes Smith belongs in the "elite" club of quarterbacks around the league.
This comes from a conversation Grubb had with beat reporters earlier this week at Seahawks training camp. Here's what he had to say about number seven going into Year 3, per Mike Dugar at the Athletic.
"For people that haven’t seen Geno throw in person, I think he’s special... I’ve watched plenty NFL film on plenty of guys, and Geno’s throwing talent, arm talent, the way it comes out, accuracy — you get to know him, and you start watching him, and you’re at practice with him now every day, and you’re like, ‘Two years ago this guy led the league in completion percentage.’ I’m not surprised at all. He’s an elite quarterback.”
Grubb makes some good points here, but it doesn't change the fact that there were at least 10 better NFL quarterbacks than Smith at this time last year and since he's also been passed by three young up-and-comers in C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence.
Smith is remarkably accurate, highly underrated and one of the best fourth-quarter performers in the game today. The sport is constantly evolving, though and right now he probably belongs somewhere around 14 or 15 in any respectable QB rankings.
That said, there is reason to believe Smith's game may reach new heights previously unseen this year under Grubb, who should be the best offensive playcaller Smith has gotten to work with since he entered the NFL.
To be continued...
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