Carolina Panthers Coach Praises Seahawks QB Geno Smith

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith may have some detractors, but Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales isn't one of them.

Speaking Thursday on "The Season" with Peter Schrager the former Seahawks assistant coach, who spent three seasons with Smith as his quarterbacks coach in 2019 and 2022, spoke highly of the veteran going into his 12th season in the NFL.

"He was clearly a veteran, and he knew where the ball went. Nobody throws a prettier ball than Geno Smith," Canales said.

In addition to serving as Smith's direct position coach for two seasons, his first season in Seattle in 2019 and again in 2022, Canales was the Seahawks' passing game coordinator in 2020-21.

When Smith first signed with Seattle in May 2019 the team still had Russell Wilson entrenched as the starting quarterback.

Even back then Canales knew the Seahawks had something brewing with the former West Virginia passer.

According to the now-Panthers coach, Smith completed 78 percent of his attempts during training camp leading up to the 2019 season.

"It spins tight. He's accurate. He's got the right amount of zip, but he's [also] got touch. So, all those things were there, but we had Russ," Canales said.

Everything that Canales said is precisely why new Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb holds him in high regard, and why head coach Mike Macdonald said in March there isn't any sort of quarterback competition with backup Sam Howell going into the 2024 season.

With Smith entering his sixth season with the Seahawks this fall and a looming contract extension hanging on how he performs with Grubb, there is ample motivation to have a strong season given all the pieces around the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.