In terms of raw numbers, Smith has only thrown 11 touchdown passes and is tied for the league lead in interceptions (10). Some of that has to do with the fact that he has thrown more passes (342) than any quarterback by a wide margin in a one-dimensional offense, but more than anything, being under persistent siege behind a terrible offensive line has left him with his hands tied behind his back most of the time trying to turn trash into 24 karat gold.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Smith has been pressured on more dropbacks than any other quarterback (147), but that number only tells part of the story. According to Hayden Winks of Underdog Fantasy, the veteran quarterback has had to deal with 93 pressures that were originally recorded as blocked and still turned into pressures in less than 2.5 seconds. In other words, the offensive line has identified who to properly block in those situations and simply cannot protect them.

“We have to do a better job of taking care of Geno throughout the game,” coach Mike Macdonald said Monday. “We have to be more efficient in those first opportunities so that teams do not attack us in the second half. And it is difficult. Now, in those situations, at the end of the day, we have to be more efficient. Control of the ball. We cannot put the ball in danger. Geno knows that. I know that’s why he’s very hard on himself right now, but it’s more a reflection on us as a football team than just Geno getting hit. job”.

As would be the case with any quarterback, Smith’s numbers have dropped significantly under the weight of all those quick pressures. According to Pro Football Focus charts, he ranks 13th in completion rate (49.2 percent), 26th in passer rating (49.5), fifth in turnover-worthy plays (seven) and first in interceptions (nine) when pressured. Despite it all, he ranks 17th in sack-to-pressure ratio (18.3 percent), a testament to his ability to maneuver the pocket and extend plays.

But when Smith has had a clean pocket, few quarterbacks have been better this season. He currently ranks third in completion rate (78.1), second in big throws (11), seventh in yards per attempt (8.4) and 10th in passer rating (108.6) at 233 Clean, pressure-free recoils. He managed to do that while still ranking 24th in time to throw (3.25 seconds) on those plays.

A strong argument can be made that Smith has dealt with more misfortune this season than most quarterbacks and that several of his 10 interceptions were not his fault.

Starting in Seattle’s season opener against Denver, thanks again to shaky protection, Smith shot below the knees on the team’s first drive, leading to his pass falling well short of the intended target for a interception. Fast forward to Week 3 against Miami, Calais Campbell deflected a pass at the line and it fell into the hands of Zach Sieler for a pick.

In just two additional examples of bad luck affecting Smith, receiver DK Metcalf admitted he ran the wrong route in the second half against the 49ers in Week 6, allowing the cornerback to undercut the throw as he moved downfield on a center. Last Sunday, while his second pick was a questionable call that backfired on a 106-yard touchdown return, his first interception bounced off the hands of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and his third came after tight end AJ Barner was clearly restrained by a defensive lineman.

In that sense alone, it can be argued that at least 50 percent of Smith’s interceptions this season were not his fault, if not more. PFF’s charts back up that sentiment, as they’ve only charged him with 10 turnover-worthy plays all season and a 2.3 percent turnover-worthy play rate, which ranks 17th. among 26 qualified quarterbacks.

After opting not to make a deal at the last second of the deadline to bolster their offensive line, even with tackle Abraham Lucas potentially returning after the break, the chances of the pass protection improving dramatically from here on out seem slim. or null. Putting Howell, who led the league in interceptions and had 65 sacks last year as a starter for the Commanders, behind that group would be waving the white flag while rolling the dice on his development in a less than ideal environment.

In reality, Smith has willed Seattle to a 4-5 record by somehow putting up solid numbers in an offense that has been fairly dysfunctional for most of the season for reasons beyond his control. Playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL without a reliable running game to complement him, he has had to shoulder the load in bad circumstances. The number of quarterbacks who could do better in the same environment can probably be counted on one hand.

With just one game left in the NFC West, it would be a terrible miscalculation for the Seahawks to bench Smith right now, and in doing so they would be learning the wrong lessons from a disappointing first half. Instead, with Macdonald saying “everything is on the table” for evaluation during the break, personnel and scheme changes should be the focal point to provide more support to a quarterback who continues to be unfairly scrutinized and should be viewed as part of the solution. it’s not the problem.

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