Seahawks 24, Dolphins 3
Q. The long pass to DK, kind of what that play was and how that broke so open right there?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, that was a play that we had been repping all off-season, give DK the option to read that right there. If we get the coverage we like, he's going to take the top off it.
So they were playing low quarters on that side; they play up half to the other side; we got the safety in the position we want him, and he really bit down on the dig route and DK was able is it get behind him.
I thought the protection was great. Allowed us the extra second we needed to get ball downfield. That was a big play for us.
Q. Is the purpose of that to put the safety in a spot he can't change positions when Metcalf heads up the field, that he's already leaning the wrong way?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, just knowing coverages, you know that safety is gonna be in a quarters coverage. He is going to be more aggressive to any end cuts or underneath rounds.
So we tried to take advantage of that. The corner back didn't overlap over the top so we were able to get the exact look we wanted, and like I said, DK read it perfect and protection was great; allowed us to get the play off.
Q. Speaking of DK, how about the deep sideline pass?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, that was a great catch by him. Great job to keep his toes in-bounds. Any time you got a DB with his back turned to any of our targets, but especially a guy as tall as DK, you want to give him a shot there.
He did a great job right there. I thought that was a great play.
Q. Most of the second half it a lot of penalties, getting behind the sticks. How impactful was it at the end to be able to overcome that and be able to put the game away with the run game, which had been stagnant for most of the game? To be able to physically punish them that way and set the tone and really finish off the game.
GENO SMITH: Yeah, I thought Coach Macdonald did a great job throughout the week talking about our run game and how in his words it's a softening process. It's not always going to hit early in the game. You got to keep wearing them down and stick to it. I thought Grubb did a great job continuing to call the runs that we had advantaged looks.
Then our O-line took over the game really in the second half. One of the things we got to get better at is just those laws like you said. Started out fast. We wanted to do that. We wanted to come out and start fast, but then we put our foot on the gas, and I think that's where we got to take the next step. We're up three scores or two scores, let's keep pushing the lead.
Obviously their defense did a great job stopping us. Two turnovers that we can't have. I've got to do a better job with that. Overall, liked the way we finished and really just gutted it out.
Q. How big of a deal was it for the defense to hold them to three points after the first interception?
GENO SMITH: You know, those type of things, when we talk about complementary football, those are the things we talk about. Situations aren't always going to be perfect. Again, we got to eliminate the mistakes, and that starts with me. I got to eliminate putting our defense in tough spots.
To see them go out and not flinch, not bat an eye, go out there and put the clamps on that offense and hold them to three points, the only points they got throughout the game, and then they had another big time stop late in the game right before the big drive.
You know, so the way they're playing is lights out. Man, it's going to give us a chance to win every single game we play. As an offense, we left a lot out there. I'm going to be honest with you, I'm really pissed off at the way I performed. I think we got to get better.
Q. The first interception from the end zone, something specific you feel like you should have done different there?
GENO SMITH: Shoot, man, just not throw an interception. You know, I don't know exactly what to say. Felt like the ball was just tipping up in the air today.
But still, something I can do to make sure that don't happen.
Q. Can you talk about what about the way Miami defending Noah Fant that made him a bigger option today?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, I think the way that teams cover us, man, we got DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon, Noah Fant, Ken Walker, Zach Charbonnet, Kenny Macintosh, Pharaoh Brown. All our guys, you know, they're all capable of making plays.
The great part about my job is that it's easy because I just have to read the defense and get the ball into the hands of the play makers. I let the defense dictate what it's going to be on that day. If they want to double DK, it's going to open up for other guys. If they want to double DK and Lockett, then you got matchups for Jaxon and Noah.
We got some unselfish guys out there, and at any given time it could be a guy's day.
Q. Aside form the interceptions, what were you disappointed about in your game today?
GENO SMITH: Just the fact we scored 17 points right in the first quarter. Felt like we came out great, and then for some reason we couldn't just get over that hump. I kept trying to push the guys. Hey, man, we got to put our foot on the gas, score more points.
You know, I'm right at the forefront of that. As I said, man, like whatever it takes to get it done. I can't pinpoint it right now. I'll watch the film. Whatever it takes for us to get better and to push ourselves and reach that next level, that next step we're talking about, that's something that I lay right at my own feet.
I take it real personal.
Q. What did that 98-yard drive mean to the offense after you guys had some challenges last three games from that position?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, just the resilience that we have as an offense and really as a team. But if you look at this offense, any time we're stuck in a rut or there is something negative that happens or I throw an interception, next play, touchdown to DK, right?
So we have a resilient group the guys. We knew at that point we hadn't been doing anything in the second half after the first quarter. Our defense been playing lights out. We got to give them something. We got to give them something.
We're backed up, but we got to flip the field. I thought we were determined to go out there and score, give us another lead, and allow our defense to play just with that much more of an edge.
Q. Big picture, you guys are 3-0; rest of the division is 1-2. As you say, there is a lot you can get better at. How do you feel about where you are right now?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, any time you can win the games that you play, that's what you play for. That's all that matters, is that we win. However we get it done, I'm not really particular about that.
But, yeah, 3-0. It's a great start. We still got more games to play, 14 more. You know, we got to lock in going on the road to Detroit, another tough environment.
But we been there before, so we got to lock in and make sure that we put these games behind us, because we already played them, and get ready for the next one.
Q. How far do you think you are as a offense from where you can be?
GENO SMITH: I think we're right where we are supposed to be. I think we're right where we're supposed to be. We have won three games. We've had our ups and downs. We had our great moments and had our not-so-great moments.
I think that's a good sign for us. I know we're going to put it together and start clicking here soon.
Q. You talked about resilience. As a quarterback, some quarterbacks, if they have a bad play or two will go into a downward spiral. What is it about you and your experience where even if you just have to grind it out, you don't let those bad plays get you down, you put that into pushing forward more?
GENO SMITH: I just think process over results. So trusting my process. I know I got three interceptions on the season. They've all been in the most flukey ways possible. I know I'm not being reckless with the football. That's never my goal. I trust myself, my preparation, the type of player that I am.
So my confidence never wavers at any time, no matter what happens in the game good or bad. But the process is what matters the most. As long as I'm going the proper process I believe that I'm doing the right thing.
Q. Did the down moments early in your career really influence and inform that about how you view the game now?
GENO SMITH: Yeah, I didn't have any down moments in my career, man. Like I said, I've been blessed to be in this position for 12 years now. A lot of the people would love to be in my shoes.
So from that perspective I think helped me not have down moments. Any time I do throw an interception or have a bad play, I just think about, hey, man, you're you, so be you. Simple.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports