BUMP AND STACY

Bump: Two ways the next Seahawks OC can help Geno Smith

Jan 24, 2025, 1:14 PM

It remains unclear who will be leading the Seattle Seahawks’ offense next season.

Daniel Jeremiah: Why a Seattle Seahawks rebuild wouldn’t make sense

After letting go of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, the Seahawks are still searching for their next offensive play-caller. Whoever the next coordinator is will likely be tasked with trying getting the most out of veteran quarterback Geno Smith.

After resurrecting his career with the Seahawks in a breakout 2022 season, Smith hasn’t quite recaptured the same level of success behind center over the past two seasons. The 2024 campaign was an especially up and down one for Smith, who finished fourth in the league in passing yards but also had the third-most interceptions.

Outside of the turnovers, is there a way Seattle’s next offensive coordinator can help the 34-year-old Smith improve his game? Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus shared his thoughts during his Four Down Territory segment Thursday on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy.

Bumpus pointed out two things he could see a new offensive coordinator helping Smith improve. One is an area of the field he had the most problems throwing to, which is intermediate throws (10-20 yards) to the left side. Smith had a passer rating of just 56.9 on intermediate throws to the left, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That was his worst mark of any passing area and 28 points below league average.

“You’ve got to find a way to make that more comfortable,” Bumpus said. “When you’re right-handed, throwing left is obviously going to be harder. You’ve got to open that shoulder and throw.”

Another issue Bumpus pointed to is the lack of explosive passing plays from the veteran signal-caller this season. Smith ranked 17th among quarterbacks in passes of 30-plus yards.

“There are no concepts that get you to 30 yards, essentially. Thirty yards is that weird area,” Bumpus said. “You can throw a go (route), you can throw a post and you’re going to land around 35, 40 yards and get some run after the catch. So 30 yards to me, when I see that stat, that means there’s a lot of run after the catch happening.”

Some of the leaders in the category of passes of 30-yard plus in 2024 were Detroit’s Jarred Goff, Denver’s Bo Nix and San Francisco’s Brock Purdy. Bumpus sees similarities it what those teams’ offenses do.

“There’s a lot of crossing patterns that get these guys open, which allowed them to run after the catch,” Bumpus said. “So I’m not knocking Geno – ‘Oh, you’re not hitting the 30-yard mark.’ That just tells me that an offensive coordinator needs to find ways to get their ballers the ball in space, so they can run and pick up some YAC (yards after catch) and pick up some yards and take some pressure off of Geno.”

The Seahawks were around the middle of the pack in yards after the catch this past season, sitting in a five-way tie at 12th in the league at 5.3 yards. However, Seattle’s top receiving targets were below that average. Jaxon Smith-Njigba averaged 4.8 yards after the catch and DK Metcalf 4.0.

“An OC needs to come in and get our ballers the rock in space,” Bumpus said.

Listen to the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Could moving Abraham Lucas be answer to Seahawks’ guard issues?
• Seattle Seahawks get strong projection for additional draft picks
Third team reportedly talks to Pete Carroll about being head coach
• 2 Takes: Insiders’ views on two top Seattle Seahawks OC candidates
• Rost: Two reports about Seattle Seahawks OC search stand out

Bump & Stacy Show

Bump and Stacy

Potential Seattle Seahawks target Taysom Hill...

Stacy Rost

Rost: Could versatile Saints player be a fit for the Seahawks?

Stacy Rost ponders if the Seattle Seahawks would interested in a player New Orleans could part ways with due to salary cap issues.

11 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: The #Seahawks Will Emphasize TOUGHNESS w/New #Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak | #SeattleSports

New Seahawks Offensive Coodinator Klint Kubiak joins hosts Michael Bumpus & Stacy Rost to discuss why he came to Seattle and his offensive vision for the Seahawks. —- Listen to The Bump & Stacy Show weekdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. live on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports App, or on-demand […]

16 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: How Valuable are the #Mariners Prospects? w/Joe Doyle | #SeattleSports

Michael Bumpus and Stacy Rost are joined by Joe Doyle, host of the Over-Slot podcast to discuss the Mariners prospects, outlook for this season and detail his conversation with Jerry Dipoto. —- Listen to The Bump & Stacy Show weekdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. live on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle […]

2 days ago

Seattle Seahawks Noah Fant...

Zac Hereth

The ‘critical’ position in new Seahawks OC’s scheme

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak shared why versatility is key for an important spot on the field.

2 days ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: “You gotta have an IDENTITY.” — New #Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak | #SeattleSports

New Seahawks Offensive Coodinator Klint Kubiak joins hosts Michael Bumpus & Stacy Rost to discuss why he came to Seattle and his offensive vision for the Seahawks. —- Listen to The Bump & Stacy Show weekdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. live on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports App, or on-demand […]

2 days ago

Seattle Seahawks Zach Charbonnet...

Zac Hereth

New Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak describes vision for offense

New Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak sat down with Bump and Stacy to break down the scheme he brings to town.

2 days ago

Bump: Two ways the next Seahawks OC can help Geno Smith