Arizona Cardinals can’t get caught sleeping vs. Geno Smith, Seahawks

TEMPE — Not that way back, the Seattle Seahawks had been considered by many as one of many worst groups within the NFL heading into the season.

Caught between four-year professional Drew Lock and a 32-year-old Geno Smith at quarterback following the departure of Russell Wilson by way of commerce this offseason, Seattle’s offense was on a transparent path of regression, if not full catastrophe.

Or so we thought.

After successful the beginning job this offseason and changing into a full-time starter for the primary time since 2014, Smith is popping heads and retaining Seattle proper within the thick of issues divisionally at 2-3.

By way of 5 video games, the sign caller has accomplished 75.2% of his passes for 1,305 yards and 9 touchdowns to 2 interceptions. He’s tops within the league when it comes to passer ranking (113.1) and accuracy and is fourth amongst NFL sign callers in QBR (74.8).

He’s additionally using his legs, chipping in 77 yards and a rating on 20 makes an attempt.

Smith’s play has the elevated an offense that was anticipated to flounder, with the Seahawks posting the fourth most anticipated factors per play.

“It’s not like he’s throwing checkdowns, both,” defensive finish J.J. Watt mentioned Thursday. “He’s throwing 50-, 60-yard bombs and dropping it within the bucket and enjoying nice soccer. He’s placing them in good conditions, he can transfer when he has to. He’s doing an unbelievable job, so it’s an awesome problem for us.”

The QB could also be completely different in Seattle, however the ones on the receiving finish stay largely the identical behind the trio of Tyler Lockett, D.Okay. Metcalf and Will Dissly.

Lockett (406) and Metcalf (372) are first and second amongst Seattle’s wideouts in receiving yards. The pair has mixed for 4 touchdowns and 10 performs of a minimum of 20 yards to this point this season.

Dissly presently paces all Seahawks with three touchdowns. The tight finish is nicely on his approach to his finest season as a professional.

For the Cardinals, retaining Seattle at bay will come all the way down to successful the battle within the trenches and retaining the Seahawks one-dimensional.

That begins with wrecking Seattle’s run recreation. Arizona received’t have to fret about beginning operating again Rashaad Penny, who was having a profession 12 months earlier than a damaged fibula suffered final week sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

The Cardinals should take care of Kenneth Walker III, nonetheless. The rookie stuffed in nicely rather than Penny in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, recording 88 yards and a landing on eight carries. He had rushed for simply 58 yards on 15 makes an attempt earlier than Week 5.

“Penny was having an awesome 12 months, however this child is particular,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph mentioned Thursday. “They might get higher with this man. I don’t know. They’re doing it (Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll’s) means: operating the soccer and taking pictures. It’s going to be a problem to cease the run recreation first with numbers and method and guys making performs after which take away (Lockett and Metcalf).

“It’s nearly an inconceivable activity when you consider, loading the field for the run and taking away these two receivers. So, we’ll see the way it will get finished.”

And with a run recreation in examine, that permits Zach Allen and Watt to go to work on Smith.

The duo has lifted up the cross rush early on this season. The sack numbers will not be excellent on paper — it’s final within the NFL with six — however opposing quarterbacks are feeling the stress.

In opposition to a Seahawks offensive line that options two 2022 draft picks, alternatives ought to be there, particularly for Allen, who’s coming off back-to-back weeks with a sack and has eight QB hits on the 12 months.

EXTRA POINT

– Kyler Murray on Smith:

“I used to be an enormous Geno Smith fan (when) he was at (West Virginia). He’s enjoying actual scorching proper now. He’s enjoying rather well. We’ve bought be locked on this week as a result of he’s enjoying … in all probability a few of the finest soccer any quarterback within the league is enjoying proper now. The protection might be prepared. We’ve bought to be prepared on offense to place up factors and we all know that.”

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