Pete Carroll stands on business when it comes to defending Geno Smith after poor outing vs. Chargers on MNF
Pete Carroll will always defend Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.
Against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Las Vegas Raiders did not play up to the standard they had hoped for. Not only that, but they didn’t play the way everyone thought they would, considering all of the offseason moves they made, including hiring head coach Pete Carroll.
Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback-turned-Raiders QB Geno Smith also didn’t play the way anyone expected. But his coach is always going to stand on business for him.
“Yeah, he took shots, put the ball up, and tried to give the guy a chance to make the play, Dont’e [Thornton Jr.] and Jakobi [Meyers], and they defended him well,” Carroll told reporters on Tuesday. “They were back there. In retrospect, it looked like it was really difficult to be hopeful, and he was trying to make something happen… I know what he was thinking, and I know the shot that he took, and he threw a ball that was catchable, possibly, but it was a challenge.
“And so a couple of them came up — they made their plays, and they did a nice job with it. So I’m not going to slow him down. Taking the shots instinctively are there for him. But we will evaluate, and if there’s a better option, let’s not give them their opportunity to get the football from us.”
Smith can’t have another game like that.
Raiders need Geno Smith to be that ‘70% guy’
After the loss on Monday Night Football, Carroll said that Smith is a “70% guy, and tonight he wasn’t.” They need that version of Smith most nights if they want to win. That’s how the offense was able to look as good as it did against the New England Patriots, with Smith completing 71% of his passes. When you’re completing 70%, you’re less likely to be throwing interceptions.
Granted, Smith had one in Week 1, but he didn’t have three like he did in Week 2. Turnovers are the easiest way to lose a game, and the Raiders had three on Monday, all from the QB. The Chargers had one turnover, but it came late in the game when they were already up two scores. If Smith can cut down on the turnovers and show that accuracy we all know and love, they will be alright.
But let’s not act like it’s all Smith. His protection was terrible all night. And, it felt like no one was ever open. There wasn’t much separation against a Chargers secondary that isn’t known for being elite. But you wouldn’t know that just by watching the game. On Sunday, the Raiders play the Washington Commanders, a team that may have a banged-up Jayden Daniels. This would be the perfect time to get things back on track.
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