The Las Vegas Raiders fought hard against the Tennessee Titans. They were able to generate pressure on defense, particularly thanks to linebacker Devin White, who put on a monster performance. Maxx Crosby remains one of the league’s most relentless disruptors, and the offense is starting to find its groove in the run game with Ashton Jeanty. However, quarterback Geno Smith has continued to struggle under center.
Geno Smith’s Turnover Troubles are Holding Back the Raiders
Smith, who was expected to bring stability and veteran poise to a young Raiders roster, has instead become the team’s biggest liability. But he was honest about his mistakes and gave a unique answer to his latest interception, which brought his total up to 10.
“I told Coach [Pete Carroll] I need to go jump in the lake, or ocean or something.”
The numbers paint a clear picture: Smith has thrown a league-high 10 interceptions and, in Week 6’s win, averaged just 2.9 air yards per pass, the second-lowest mark by any quarterback in a game this season. Only Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love’s 1.2 air yards per attempt against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 was worse.
For context, Smith averaged eight air yards per attempt through the first five weeks, suggesting that the Raiders‘ offense has dramatically shifted from a vertical approach to a checkdown-heavy game plan. That’s not necessarily by design… it’s a symptom of a quarterback struggling to go through his reads and sling the ball downfield.
The Raiders may have walked away with a win against the Titans, but it was hardly a performance that inspired optimism about their offensive direction. Instead, it highlighted the growing concern that Geno Smith’s inconsistency is holding back the team.
Interceptions, Hesitation, and a Growing Disconnect
The most glaring issue through six games has been Smith’s carelessness with the football. His 10 interceptions don’t just lead the league; they’ve also come at crucial moments.
Even Smith acknowledged the frustration following the Titans game, saying, “It wasn’t as clean as I would like, obviously, I can’t throw an interception in that situation. I was trying to dirt the ball… it’s just a lot of bad luck stuff happening to me but I’m in control of that.”
That’s right, you are in control of your mistakes, and they have to stop.
What makes this especially concerning is that the Raiders‘ defense isn’t going to be able to put up the type of performance they had against the Titans every week. White’s historic performance against Tennessee, which included nine tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one interception, isn’t going to happen every week.
If Smith can’t turn things around soon, the Raiders may have no choice but to explore other options under center. Because right now, he’s the one holding the team back.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Geno Smith Gets Brutally Honest About What’s on Everyone’s Mind appeared first on Heavy Sports.