Seahawks OC: Geno Smith early edge on Drew Lock with familiarity, DK Metcalf a priority

It’s (way, it’s-only-May) early, but Geno Smith has had an initial lead on Drew Lock in the competition to replace Russell Wilson as the Seahawks’ quarterback.

If only because of familiarity.

That was what Seattle offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said Thursday. The team’s play caller and chief quarterback groomer had a 25-minute interview on 93.3 KJR radio Thursday afternoon.

The 42-year-old coach is entering his second season as Pete Carroll’s offensive play caller for the Seahawks. He had a few other interesting comments on the radio Thursday:

• He said guards Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes may get some snaps at center every few practices or so “but right now the primary focus is on them at guard.” Waldron likes what he’s seen in leadership and know-how from Austin Blythe. The Seahawks signed the former Rams starting center this offseason to a one-year, $4 million contract in free agency. He will replace departed Ethan Pocic as the starter.

• He said configuration of the base offense will depend on who emerges as a second and third tight end and a third wide receiver. In 2021, the Seahawks went with “11 personnel” — one tight end, one running back and three wide receivers — more than 60% of the time. Will they feature more two-tight-end sets? Noah Fant arrived from Denver in the Wilson trade to be the new number-one tight end. Will Dissly re-signed with Seattle for bigger bucks than expected ($24 million for three years). He figures to be the second tight end over third-year veteran Colby Parkinson. The Seahawks are waiting for Dee Eskridge, their top draft pick last year, to emerge as the third wide receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Eskridge missed most of his rookie season with a severe concussion.
  
  

• And Waldron told KJR afternoon host Ian Furness that, no, Carroll doesn’t get on the headset on third and 2 and tell him to “run the ball.”

“No,” Waldron repeated, chuckling.

Yet the most pressing issue Waldron discussed Thursday is the one that matters most to Seahawks fans, and to the team’s chances to succeed in its first season without Wilson in 11 years.

The competition to replace Wilson is only in phase two of the league’s offseason workout program. The offense and defense can be on the field, but are not allowed by league rules to practice against each other. The team’s first set of organized team activities and practices begins Monday.

“Right now, Geno has done such a good job of carrying over (the offensive principles from 2021). He already had a head start over Drew right there,” Waldron said.

“We have a long time to go. We are just in T-shirts and shorts right now, going against air. We have a long way to go to see where this competition (goes).”

What Lock’s shown

Waldron said in the few weeks he’s gotten to see the 24-year-old Lock throwing on the field, he’s been impressed. The coach has seen the Lock he and the Seahawks saw at the end of Lock’s rookie season of 2019 with Denver. That first year he came back from a sprained right thumb on his throwing hand to win four of five starts to end the Broncos’ ‘19 season.

“Drew has a good, calm presence in the huddle out there, (things) we saw in the last three games of his rookie year,” Waldron said.

“The thing I like about Drew is, really, his ability to make every throw on the field. The way he moves and he changes his arm angle and doesn’t have to be just a (static) pocket passer out there.”

Asked if he and the Seahawks believe Lock can become an “elite” NFL passer for Seattle, Waldron said: “I think when you get to that point it’s because you’ve gone out on the field...and proving it.”

It’s been obvious since the trade of Wilson to get Lock, the others and the draft picks that the Seahawks’ plan is for Lock to begin proving it.

Smith’s early edge

Waldron talked on KJR about another advantage Smith, 31, has had early on in offseason workouts over Lock: Easy, established rapport with teammates he’s had the last three years in Seattle as Wilson’s backup.

“The thing you see of Geno is his connection with his teammates. At that position, that’s huge part of that,” Waldron said.

Smith was despondent following losses in his first two starts for the injured Wilson last season. His fumble in Seahawks territory in overtime at Pittsburgh handed the Steelers their game-winning field goal Oct. 17. A week later at home against New Orleans, Smith took costly sacks late in a 13-10 loss to the Saints that dropped Seattle to 2-5.

Then the following week at Jacksonville in his third and final start replacing Wilson, Smith had what Carroll has called a nearly perfect game. Smith was 20 for 24 passing for 195 yards and two touchdown throws to DK Metcalf in a 31-7 home win over the lowly Jaguars. That day Smith won a game he started and finished in the NFL for the first time since Dec. 28, 2014, when he was starting with the New York Jets to begin his career.

Thursday, Waldron said of Smith for 2022: “For Geno, it’s keep developing that confidence and that consistency from day in and day out.”

The bottom line: If Lock isn’t the starter for week one against Wilson and Lock’s former Broncos at Lumen Field Sept. 12, then Lock and his new team’s plan will have failed in training camp and in three preseason games of August.

The Seahawks re-signed Smith as known insurance in case Lock falters.

Metcalf a priority

The team also has re-signing Metcalf as a top priority before the final season of his rookie contract begins with that Denver opener. Carroll has stated he believes it will get done this summer.

“We don’t plan on him going anywhere,” Carroll said April 30.

Metcalf, the 2020 Pro Bowl wide receiver who set a team record with 1,303 yards in receptions, has stated his desire and expectation to remain in Seattle for a long time.

“I will say, we are going to get something done,” Metcalf said this month on a podcast with Hall-of-Famer Shannon Sharpe.

What has Waldron seen with Metcalf now that Wilson, his mentor, is gone?

“He’s driven to succeed,” Waldron told KJR. “He has increased his leadership role.

“It’s knowing he has a skill set that, really, is a top-notch skill set. ...The Sky’s the limit for DK for what he can be in this league.”

Metcalf recently got out of the walking boot he’d been in since foot surgery to correct pain he played through while rarely practicing between games last season.

“I’m not worried about DK being in shape. I know that,” Waldron said, chuckling in reference to Metcalf’s Adonis-like body.

Waldron was the passing-game coordinator for coach Shane Waldron’s Rams until Carroll hired him to replace Brian Schottenheimer as Seattle’s play caller before last season. For years in Los Angeles Waldron coached Cooper Kupp, the Super Bowl’s most valuable player in February from Yakima and Eastern Washington University.

KJR’s Furness asked Waldron what similarities he perhaps sees with Metcalf and Kupp, the All-Pro who led the NFL with 145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdown catches last season.

“One thing I think that is really similar (with Kupp) is DK has an unbelievable understanding of the defensive structure and coverages tilting toward him, the cornerback’s technique and leverage he’s using (with his body during a play),” Waldron said.

Asked if he needs to do a better job getting Metcalf the ball more than last season, Waldron said that’s always a priority for the Seahawks.

“With DK’s skill set, that’s something we are striving to do, is get DK his touches,” Waldron said. “Because that’s going to make us a better offense...

“I put that on us.”