After an offseason break that included trips to Los Angeles and Dallas to work with teammates, Geno Smith was back at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday.
Training camp doesn't kick off until next week, but after rookies reported Wednesday, quarterbacks and players dealing with injuries reported Thursday, another step as Smith prepares for his third season as the Seahawks' starting quarterback.
"I'm super excited for this team," Smith said. "I've been working with guys throughout the break, and all the guys are looking really good, really sharp. We've been studying, getting together, going over the plays, just getting ready for training camp and for the season. I'm just so excited where we are right now, physically and mentally, I think we're in a good place."
Traveling to meet his teammates where they live and/or train in the offseason is something Smith has done in recent offseasons, both as a way to get more individual time with guys than if he organized one big group outing, and also to ease the burden on those players. This year, he worked out with players in his hometown of Miami, with DK Metcalf in Los Angeles, and with a handful of players in Dallas.
"For me, it's to be able to get that one-on-one work with certain guys," Smith said. "DK and I for the past three years have gotten really good work in at UCLA. It's been a lot of one-on-one stuff, and we've been able to really work on our relationship on and off the field. A lot of guys live in Dallas, so making it convenient for them, and I like Dallas as well, so it's good to be able to travel a little bit on the break."
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Some of Smith's offseason, from trips to L.A. to work out with Metcalf to work sessions in Miami, are familiar to him, having done the same thing in recent offseasons, but as Smith arrives in Seattle this week, it is to begin a training camp that will be a new experience for everyone involved, from new head coach Mike Macdonald to his staff to the players.
"He's taken ownership and he's doing it with his style, with his own persona," Smith said. "He's implementing his style on this team, he wants us to be a tough, hard-nosed, flying-to-the-ball-on-defense, scoring-a-lot-of-points-on-offense type of team. Have that swagger, have that confidence that we're going to be a team that no one wants to face. He makes sure that we know that. It's a new head coach and a new staff, but a lot of the same players, so the makeup of this team remains largely the same, just under new management."
As Macdonald explained this offseason, he, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and the rest of the staff are continuing to push Smith to be even better as a player and a leader, a challenge Smith has embraced at every turn.
"I love how Geno works," Macdonald said during offseason workouts. "We are pushing him to take the next step as a football player and as a leader, and he's answering the call. I'm really excited about Geno up to this point. I have such a respect for how hard this man works at his craft."
For his part, Smith said Thursday he likes the way Macdonald is challenging him to continue to grow even as he prepares for his 12th season in the league.
"Everything can get better," Smith said. "We're not going to be complacent, we're not going to be satisfied, and that goes for on the field as well as off the field. So when he talks about leadership, he talks about leading by example, but also being that vocal leader in the offense and in the huddle, and that's something that can continue to grow. The way I communicate with teammates, communicate with fans, the community, just every part of leadership, he wants to challenge me, and I embrace that challenge and want to meet it head on."
And Smith expects that improvement to extend beyond leadership. At 33, Smith says his arm is better and he is running faster—he posted evidence of the latter during offseason workouts—than ever. So at a time when some fans and pundits are wondering how much longer Smith will be Seattle's starter or debating on how and when to replace him, Smith is only focused on getting better and helping the Seahawks win games.
"I'm still getting better," Smith said. "I've made leaps and bounds physically, I'm still getting stronger at my age. I don't know if that's rare or not, but that's something I'm doing. I've gotten faster, I don't think I've ever thrown the ball as good as I am right now. I'm in a really good place, just accuracy wise, and I can throw the ball farther than I ever have. That's the reason why I think I can still improve, because I work hard and I push myself, and I'm seeing the improvements within myself. The outside noise never bothered me and never will; I know internally what I can do, and I know I'm still not a finished product."
With Smith feeling stronger and faster than ever, and with the entire offense excited about what they can do under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Seattle's Pro-Bowl quarterback is expecting exciting things out of the offense in 2024.
"The big plays, being able to attack defense, and that's not just in the passing game, but also in the running game," Smith said when asked about what excites him about the offense. "Having the types of weapons that we have, the type of offensive line that we have, and if we can all jell and mesh together, we can be unstoppable."
The Seahawks rookies participated in their first training camp practice on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Hayden Hatten (84) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks guard/tackle Sataoa Laumea (63) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Jack Westover (89) and linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) and linebacker Nelson Ceaser (46) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Nelson Ceaser (46) and linebacker Devin Richardson (43) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Jack Westover (89) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kobe Lewis (44) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks guard/tackle Sataoa Laumea (63) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kobe Lewis (44) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kobe Lewis (44) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Richardson (43) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks linebackers coach Josh Bynes works with linebacker Devin Richardson (43) and linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Carlton Johnson (37) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Carlton Johnson (37) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Garret Greenfield (76) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Richardson (43) and linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Devere Levelston (98) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and guard/tackle Sataoa Laumea (63) at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) and center Mike Novitsky (60) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Jack Westover (89) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kobe Lewis (44) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Jack Westover (89) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Hayden Hatten (84) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) and defensive end Nathan Pickering (57) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks center Mike Novitsky (60) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
