Geno on the Go: Seahawks’ QB Becomes 2024’s Secret Weapon on the Ground

Geno on the Go: Seahawks’ QB Becomes 2024’s Secret Weapon on the Ground

 

 

The Seattle Seahawks’ longest run in their recent win against the San Francisco 49ers came from an unexpected source: Geno Smith’s game-winning 13-yard scramble. That moment not only secured the victory but also highlighted a growing trend in Seattle’s offense.

 

 

 

 

Smith’s Surprising Rushing Role

With that run, Geno Smith has climbed to second on the team in rushing this season:

• Kenneth Walker III: 493 yards
• Geno Smith: 222 yards
• Zach Charbonnet: 217 yards

While Smith’s mobility has proven to be an asset, his rushing production is more a reflection of the Seahawks’ struggling ground game than a strategic advantage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rushing Struggles

Despite having two second-round running backs, Seattle’s ground attack has been inefficient. Consider these stats:

• Explosive Runs (10+ yards):
  • Geno Smith: 12
  • Kenneth Walker III: 9
  • Zach Charbonnet: 6

Smith leads the team in explosive runs, none of which were designed plays. By comparison, Saquon Barkley has 26 such runs on his own this season.

 

 

 

 

The root of the problem lies in the blocking. Among 50 qualified rushers:

• Walker averages 1.8 yards before contact (YBC), ranking 44th.
• Charbonnet averages 1.4 YBC, ranking 49th.

As a team, the Seahawks rank 23rd in YBC, though recent performances suggest even that number feels inflated. Since Walker’s return in Week 7, he and Charbonnet have managed only one run longer than 11 yards—a touchdown by Walker.

 

 

 

 

 

Geno Leading by Example

Smith has been the team’s most efficient rusher, averaging 5.6 yards per carry even when factoring in sneaks and kneeldowns. Without those plays, his success rate surpasses Walker’s 45%, which is below league average. Charbonnet, at 40%, is statistically one of the least effective rushers in the NFL.

 

 

 

 

A Silver Lining

One area where Seattle has excelled is scoring on the ground. The team’s 13 rushing touchdowns are tied for 7th in the league. Ironically, many of those touchdowns have come after Smith’s would-be scoring passes were tackled just short of the goal line, padding the running backs’ stats at the expense of Smith’s passing numbers.

 

 

 

 

The Bigger Picture

The Seahawks’ current rushing woes are eerily reminiscent of 2017, when Russell Wilson led the team in rushing during a season marked by inefficiency and a declining offensive line. That year foreshadowed Wilson’s reduced effectiveness as a dual-threat QB and served as a low point for Seattle’s offense.

This season, the problem isn’t just Smith playing behind a shaky pass-protecting line—it’s the entire unit’s inability to run block effectively, including tight ends and receivers. If this trend doesn’t change, the Seahawks’ offense will struggle to reach its full potential, jeopardizing their playoff chances.

 

 

 

 

 

Hope on the Horizon?

The return of Abe Lucas and the continued development of rookie Olu Oluwatimi could provide a much-needed boost to the run game. For now, however, Geno Smith’s legs are carrying the load—literally and figuratively. To make a deep playoff run, Seattle needs more from its rushing attack to complement its quarterback’s efforts.