Geno Smith Reacts Strongly to Reports Suggesting Potential Replacement Due to Struggles with Interceptions
Geno Smith, the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, has responded fiercely to recent reports suggesting that the team may be looking to replace him in the near future due to his struggles with interceptions and low QBR. Smith, who currently leads the NFL with nine intercepted passes, addressed the rumors head-on in a fiery post-practice interview.
“I’ve heard the talk, and I’ll tell you this — I’m not going anywhere,” Smith said with frustration. “I understand the criticism, but I’m not going to sit here and let people question my ability. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am, and I’m not about to let a few mistakes define me.”
Despite leading the league in interceptions, Smith remains a key figure in the Raiders' offense. His low QBR has also drawn scrutiny from fans and analysts alike, with many speculating that the Raiders are looking to make a change at quarterback sooner rather than later.
“The constant talk about replacing me is ridiculous,” Smith continued. “No one in that locker room or on this team wants to win more than I do. Yes, I’ve made mistakes, but I’m the guy who’s going to keep fighting and getting better. If anyone is ready to turn this around, it’s me.”
Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has not commented directly on the rumors but has expressed confidence in Smith’s ability to improve and lead the team. “Geno’s a competitor, and we believe in his ability to bounce back,” McDaniels said. “We’re all focused on getting better, and that includes Geno.”
As the Raiders continue to evaluate their options at quarterback, Smith’s determination to prove his worth and silence the doubters could play a crucial role in his future with the team. Despite the mounting pressure, Geno Smith remains resolute in his belief that he is the right man for the job.
These Chiefs snap count trends should worry fans after Week 5 loss
Week 5 was a tough one to take for Chiefs Kingdom. Watching Kansas City shoot itself in the foot in every facet of the game—from coaching to execution and in all phases—was not a fun way to invest a few hours on a Monday night. Credit to the Jacksonville Jaguars for doing what it takes to walk away with a fourth victory in five games.
But we all have to move on, and that means our interest in the results goes from a single win or loss to the story that game will tell within a grander picture.
To get a better idea of how coaches are using Chiefs players and/or managing their workloads or raising expectations for younger prospects, we thought it was the right time to look at snap counts from Week 5.
Here's what we can take away from the Chiefs snap counts in Week 5.
Chris Jones can't keep this up
Let's forget for a moment that Chris Jones shrugged at the final play of the game in Week 5. Jones played 83 percent of snaps against the Jaguars, and that's a number that's tough to stomach in a midseason game like this one—primetime or not.
Yes, Omarr Norman-Lott was questionable coming into the game and ended up inactive. Yes, the Chiefs have a serious talent deficit inside beyond Jones (even with Norman-Lott available). But therein lies an issue to be addressed. This is not a situation to be weathered.
Jones is the engine up front. There's a reason they pay him $30 million annually. But you don't run a car into the ground, and the Chiefs need to ease off the throttle when it comes to Jones' usage. This is not sustainable, and Brett Veach would do well to make a bigger move than bringing back Derrick Nnadi (while dumping Mike Pennel).
Where was Nohl Williams?
Who is the hottest rookie for the Chiefs? Even more than Josh Simmons in the last week or two, Nohl Williams has been earning rave reviews from national pundits and Chiefs faithful as a physical corner who has surprised everyone with his NFL-ready play. For a position lacking its biggest offseason investment to injury (Kristian Fulton), Williams' arrival in the league has been a major boost for the Chiefs' secondary.
While watching the Chiefs-Jags game on Monday, however, many fans wondered why they weren't seeing more of Williams. In fact, he only played four total snaps in the game. Let's track the progression of snaps for Williams so far this season:
If you can make that make sense, let me (and everyone else) know.
Offensive line continuity is very helpful
The improved play for Kingsley Suamataia in particular and the Chiefs' offense as a whole wasn't just about Xavier Worthy's return from injury in Week 4. It's also a byproduct of an offensive line that has been able to stay healthy and play together so much through five games.
Even with Josh Simmons landing on the injury report with a late questionable designation (illness), he was still able to suit up and play 100 percent of snaps on Sunday, which gave the full unit yet another perfect day in terms of reliability.
There are issues with the Chiefs' offensive line, but availability is not one of them, and having more time together to develop chemistry and work out kinks is going to do wonders for their ability to carry the offense deep into the season, especially with an entirely new left side of the line.
Brashard Smith was oversold
The Chiefs have been hoping to see greater dynamism in the backfield after watching the limited productivity of Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco through the first month of the season. In comments to the press before Week 5, both head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy mentioned Smith's need for more responsibility to raise the ceiling at the position.
Imagine the surprise, then, when Smith closed out Week 5 with only six snaps on offense, a steep drop from the 19 he'd earned (and did quite well with) in Week 4's win over the Baltimore Ravens. And it's not as if Smith didn't look good in those limited snaps. He had an excellent 60+-yard return on special teams (which was nullified by a penalty, of course) and had 3 catches for 32 yards in the passing game.
Different games will call for different offensive schemes and areas of emphasis. That much is understandable. But we hope the greater trend is toward more of Smith, not less.
