Quarterback Geno Smith spoke with the media after the second day of training camp, and shared details about his busy offseason, about his hunger to improve upon a promising 2022 campaign and more.
Offseason
Smith spent his offseason on a U.S. tour, practicing with some of his teammates over the summer, helping him get ready for training camp.
Smith spent time in Dallas, Miami, USC, UCLA and at the University of Washington with players like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tyler Lockett, Dareke Young, Bobby Wagner and DK Metcalf.
"It was just a good chance for us to connect on a personal level more than in a group setting," Smith said. "I just think that the one-on-one is just really good for us."
Smith said the experience with the players over the summer is different than a practice setting with an entire team.
"One on one experience talking ball, and really just getting to hang out. Hanging out with your teammates being more than just teammates. Being a friend," Smith said.
Season Goals
The team has a goal to get better and build off of what they were able to accomplish last season when they went 9-8 to earn a Wild Card berth, with Smith earning AP Comeback Player of the Year honors.
"We got to have that mindset that we want to get better every single day," Smith said. "No two days are the same, nothing we did last year is going to be able to help us this year except for the confidence."
After signing a three-year deal earlier this year, Smith says there are advantages during training camp to being the starter, but the mentality is still the same as last year when he was competing with Drew Lock for the starting job.
"I just had a really bad taste in my mouth after that playoff game. I didn't want it to end," Smith said. "I just went straight to work. I was preparing for this opportunity this season."
While Smith is getting more reps with the starters, Lock is getting his reps in too.Smith is happy to have Lock back this season, but also hopes to see him get his shot as a starter someday.
"It's a bittersweet thing, because I know he's a starter and I know he can go and do great things. I want him to go get that opportunity somewhere but when he's in the room with me, we are going to push each other. He makes me better, hopefully, I make him better as a player," Smith said. "When he gets his opportunity, he is going to kill it."
Appreciating Top 100 Honors
While at the Pro Bowl, Smith said he talked with some of the other players about what it meant for him to have the season he did in 2022 and be at his first Pro Bowl appearance. Multiple players told Smith, who was a backup for seven seasons before finally getting another chance to start, that his story inspired them.
"If I could be an inspiration to anyone, I'm happy with that. I want to continue to help people and overcome things, I believe I'm an overcomer. That's something that I take pride in and really appreciate," Smith said.
This year was his first time being recognized in NFL Network's Top 100 list, an honor he appreciates because the list is voted on by players.
"It was a blessing to be recognized by my peers," he said. "It's my first time but you all know me, I'm not satisfied with that but it's a blessing just to be in there."
Take a look at the 53-man roster for the 2023 Seahawks.
0 LB Devin Bush is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Bush (0)
1 WR Dee Eskridge is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1)
2 QB Drew Lock is in his fifth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2)
4 P Michael Dickson is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
5 K Jason Myers is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
6 S Quandre Diggs is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6)
7 QB Geno Smith is in his 11th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7)
8 CB Coby Bryant is in his second year in the NFL and his second year with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8)
9 RB Kenneth Walker III is in his second year in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
11 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
14 WR DK Metcalf is in his fifth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14)
16 WR Tyler Lockett is in his ninth season in the NFL and his ninth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16)
19 WR Jake Bobo is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19)
20 FS Julian Love is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
21 CB Devon Witherspoon is in his first season in the NFL and first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
22 CB Tre Brown is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22)
23 CB Artie Burns is in his eighth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23)
25 RB Kenny McIntosh is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
26 RB Zach Charbonnet is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
27 CB Riq Woolen is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
30 CB Michael Jackson is in his fifth season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson (30)
31 RB DeeJay Dallas is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31)
32 S Jerrick Reed II is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32)
33 SS Jamal Adams is in his seventh season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33)
Seahawks TE Brady Russell is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38).
41 LS Chris Stoll is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
44 FB/LB Nick Bellore is in his 13th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks fullback/linebacker Nick Bellore (44)
51 C Olu Oluwatimi is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51)
52 LB Darrell Taylor is in his fourth season in the NFL and fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52)
53 LB Boye Mafe is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
54 LB Bobby Wagner is in his 12th season in the NFL and his 11th season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54)
55 DE Dre'Mont Jones is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55)
56 LB Jordyn Brooks is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (56)
Seahawks outside linebacker Frank Clark (57).
58 LB Derick Hall is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
59 LB Jon Rhattigan is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59)
63 C Evan Brown is in his sixth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Evan Brown (63)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
67 OT Charles Cross is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67)
68 G Damien Lewis is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks guard Damien Lewis (68)
72 OT Abraham Lucas is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72)
75 G Anthony Bradford is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)
78 OT Stone Forsythe is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
84 TE Colby Parkinson is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84)
87 TE Noah Fant is in his fifth season in the NFL and second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87)
89 TE Will Dissly is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89)
90 DE Jarran Reed is in his eighth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90)
93 NT Cameron Young is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Cameron Young (93)
95 NT Myles Adams is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95)
97 Mario Edwards Jr is in his ninth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97)
