Geno Smith Wins Quarterback Competition

At Friday night's post-game press conference, Pete Carroll confirmed

that Geno Smith maintained his lead over Drew Locke and would be the starter

[{"selector":"#anim-26d1ea4a-859e-482e-97fb-b33590210103 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

on September 12 at opening night against Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos.

[{"selector":"#anim-72b620dc-2864-4ac5-b488-a8efefca459a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Carroll cited reasons for Smith's handling of the ball as well as Shane Waldron's offense

[{"selector":"#anim-49d49cca-1326-4322-83fa-af804b422762 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.1867468919976%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

as he dominated Locke. In this season, Smith's drive only got 13 points while Locke's drive got 34.

[{"selector":"#anim-5a6acbfd-81ef-46c0-8e27-2a43ddd5faa3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-56.44468084937374%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

In camp, Smith worked almost exclusively with the first team,

[{"selector":"#anim-4ec91276-821a-49e3-942c-3d093b30c410 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-56.89655147218181%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

while Locke was working with the backup. One time he made the first-team rep

[{"selector":"#anim-82d944b3-87fe-441f-b83d-137de9e6f218 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

but couldn't start last Thursday against the Chicago Bears.

[{"selector":"#anim-cd688d7a-cf84-44c6-b677-59f3c8c7a87c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.004882691170405%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Seven years away from his last full-time job, Smith is now tasked

[{"selector":"#anim-354a7886-f352-4698-bda9-6c01bc789880 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.014307089439377%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

with being the immediate successor to Russell Wilson's Seahawks.

[{"selector":"#anim-6a9e8277-eb95-4ad7-b0e4-d3e5f37fa9e3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]