Geno Smith: ‘I have been too aggressive.’ A Seahawks run game would sure help him vs 49ers

Geno Smith is trying to get the Seahawks back on their previous playoff track.

The seven-year backup for four NFL teams also is trying to extend his wondrous, renaissance season into Christmastime.

He’s trying too hard.

“I think I have been too aggressive as of late,” the 32-year-old quarterback said Tuesday, two days before his 7-6 Seahawks host division-leading San Francisco (9-4).

“So I have to get back to what I was doing early on, which was taking what they give me and allowing us to have a complementary football team where we all play together and not feel like we are just trying to push the envelope or trying to push our limits to see what we can do.

“We know what we can do, but we have to stay on schedule.”

That schedule has been more off than airlines at SeaTac this time of year.

Seattle has lost three of its last four games, all to teams with losing records. The latest defeat, a second straight galling one at home, came when Carolina eliminated the Seahawks’ depleted running game. Seattle’s defense couldn’t stop the Panthers running, either, allowing 223 yards on the ground.

That left Smith to win the game almost by himself, throwing to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

With perfection the requirement, Smith was impatient.

Two forced interceptions

Smith said he watched the film from Panthers game 10 times in a day in a half since the loss.

What he saw: The Seahawks’ very first offensive play last weekend is an example of what he’s talking about.

The Panthers rolled down the field to a field goal on the game’s opening possession. On the ensuing scrimmage play, Smith had Metcalf open at the sideline left at about 8 yards. He had Lockett bracketed by Panthers about 20 yards down field.

Instead of taking what the defense was giving him, Metcalf for an 8-yard gain on first down, Smith tried to wedge a pass in to Lockett.

Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn came off Metcalf, ran back and easily intercepted a pass at least one other Panther may have made a play on.

“That was not a good play,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said, uncharacteristically.

“It was one of his plays that he regrets the most. Tried a little too hard on the play. He (has to) put the ball in the flat really easily on the first play of the game. I mean, that’s really the play.”

The next snap, Carolina scored a touchdown for a 10-0 lead.

It was 17-0 when Smith had run just six offensive plays for Seattle.

The second interception Smith threw in the 30-24 loss that wasn’t the close was also a forced pass.

With the score 17-7 and Seattle on a third and 9 in the second quarter, Smith used a hard count, shouting cadences. Panthers safety Myles Hartsfield and defensive end Brian Burns lunged across the line just before the snap.

At least that’s what Smith thought.

He proceeded as if he had a free play, as coached. Smith just chucked the ball to Metcalf about 18 yards down the field. Two Panthers were on either side of the receiver Cornerback CJ Henderson easily intercepted the pass.

Officials never threw penalty flags for Carolina being offside. The Panthers converted that gift for three more points and a 20-7 lead.

That was 10 points Smith handed to Carolina before halftime, with his first two-interception day in eight years. The way the Seahawks can’t stop offenses, that was basically the difference in Seattle’s desperate attempt to come back from being down so much early.

After the game, Smith took responsibility for not, as he said, playing up to his standard.

Shane Waldron trusts Geno Smith

Smith now has 25 touchdowns, fourth in the league, against eight interceptions this season after his three TDs with the two picks against Carolina.

“At times, he’s done a great job of being aggressive down the field when the timing or the rhythm of the play has allowed it,” Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said. “I think there’s some times, too, there’s an instance where you think you have a free play but it wasn’t confirmed quite yet, being aggressive right there.

“I know those are things that you try to avoid.

“But he is all coming from the right place when he makes those decisions. Those are snap decisions that you’ve got to make in the heat of the moment.

“I know he is his harshest critic. But I think he’s done a great job throughout the course of the season mitigating risk throughout the course of games and really taking care of the football.”

Smith knows the key to Seattle’s Thursday night is not committing turnovers against the rolling 49ers and their punishing defensive front seven that have won six consecutive games. San Francisco smacked the Seahawks 27-7 in Santa Clara, California, in week two. Smith and Seattle’s offense didn’t score that day.

Seahawks need to run

It would sure help Smith if the Seahawks find even a semblance of a professional running game to help him Thursday. Seattle’s backs ran 10 times for 28 yards against Carolina. That was Travis Homer and Tony Jones, because Kenneth Walker and DeeJay Dallas missed last weekend’s game with ankle injuries.

Walker was full go in practice Tuesday for the first time since he injured the inside of his ankle in the first half of the team’s rally past the Los Angeles Rams Dec. 4. That has the rookie lead back who has nine touchdowns in 7 1/2 in that role on track to play against the Niners.

“Our guys upfront have to battle, and I have to get the ball out,” Smith said of controlling star Nick Bosa and the 49ers pass rush. “I have to get the ball out on time, on schedule, keep us in manageable third downs and not third and longs where they can pin their ears back.

“Stay balanced. Keep the game plan balanced. And not be one-dimensional.

“I think we will have a good opportunity to really try and stop him from making great plays out there.”

Smith has a prime opportunity to get back to the formula that has had him the favorite for NFL comeback player of the year most of this season. When the defense drops off to take away Metcalf or Lockett or both deep, take the 5- or 8-yard gain underneath that foes are leaving open. And when there are shots to take deep, do so — after running ball slows down the defense’s pass rush to allow Smith time to throw deep, too.

“Geno has done a tremendous job all year of taking what defenses are giving him,” Waldron said.

“I know, hey, it’s not always going to be perfect over the course of a 17-game season, and Geno knows that, too. All you can do is keep learning from the mistakes and move forward, and try to better as a result of those.”