FOX’s Cowherd: Geno is a ‘great story’ but not Seahawks’ future at QB
Dec 8, 2022, 12:02 PM | Updated: 2:53 pm
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and QB Geno Smith celebrate a win over Arizona on Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd, like many media members around the country, had little expectations for the Seahawks heading into the 2022 season. But after 12 games, the Seahawks are 7-5 and find themselves in position to make the playoffs.
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Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos – who Cowherd and others felt would shine with Russell Wilson at quarterback – are among the league’s worst teams this year, which will benefit Seattle, which receives Denver’s first two picks in the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to trading Wilson.
A big reason for the Seahawks’ success and the Broncos struggles? The play of the two teams’ quarterbacks. Geno Smith has thrived in Seattle while Wilson and the Broncos have the league’s worst scoring offense this year.
“They’re both absolutely shocking,” Cowherd told Seattle Sports 710 AM’s Brock and Salk on Thursday. “I’ve said this about Russell, there’s no precedent for a quarterback who had four straight years of a 100 quarterback rating and now is awful … Like Russell was good in Seattle with a bad offensive line, with B-minus or C-plus running backs, with a defensive head coach (in Pete Carroll), and he was getting like 104 or 103 passer ratings. That’s ‘A’ quarterback material. And Geno was done.
“I mean, the Geno story is weird. He was not only a bust in New York he was viewed as just a complete backup.”
Smith leads the NFL in completion percentage, is sixth in passing yards and tied for fourth in passing touchdowns, but Cowherd thinks his success has been helped by the Seahawks “acing” their 2022 NFL Draft class, especially with two rookie offensive tackles and a starting running back. Additionally, the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams are among the worst teams in the NFL, and another NFC West rival, the Arizona Cardinals, have also been a major disappointment.
Smith has done well enough to keep the Seahawks from drafting a quarterback early in next year’s draft, Cowherd said, as he thinks Seattle should focus on adding an interior defensive lineman, a center, a cornerback and a receiver in the first two rounds. Cowherd does think the Seahawks can add an intriguing quarterback by using a draft pick, but in a different way than you might think.
“What if you went and said our third-round pick, we don’t love these quarterbacks, why not build the roster up? Stay with Geno and go call the Packers and say, ‘We’ll take Jordan Love for a third,'” he said.
Love, a first-round pick in 2020, is Aaron Rodgers’ backup with Green Bay. He’s played sparingly since being drafted as Rodgers has continued to start and play at an MVP level.
“He’s going to be 25,” Cowherd said of Love. “Three years in Green Bay. Played some games. Pete is 70. Does he want to teach a 21-year-old kid? … I look at Jordan Love and I’m like, he’s 6-4, he’s mobile, he’s been in the NFL three years. (And) Seattle has a surplus of picks.”
The Seahawks are a shock team and may be having a “very weird outlier year,” Cowherd said.
“And let’s not pretend Geno’s the answer. It’s a great story. He’s not a great player,” he said. “I think sometimes we confuse that in the media with this is a great story. There have been guys who have had great years … I think what Seattle’s done is remarkable and awesome. But let’s remember this league gives us annually major surprises that don’t last. I mean, guys, the Rams are a bottom-five team in the league today.”
According to @ColinCowherd, there is a surprise team in the NFL every year. Care to guess which team he believes fits that description? OK, he might be a little more surprised than others. But it was great to have him on this morning.
Listen/subscribe: https://t.co/1dVHshmECs pic.twitter.com/7rdtDfC1dw
— Mike Salk, Seattle Sports Station (@TheMikeSalk) December 8, 2022
So what about Wilson, the Seahawks’ former star quarterback? Cowherd thinks former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich will be coaching Wilson and the Broncos next year.
“He can build a staff … I think they hire Frank Reich and they concentrate on rebuilding the O-line,” he said. “They’re great on defense, good weapons (on offense).”
Cowherd thinks Smith will regress next year while Wilson will be better.
“The league proves this to us over and over again. (The Broncos) will be a competent team next year, battling for a playoff spot,” Cowherd said.
Listen to the full interview with Cowherd at this link or in the player below.
