The new quarterback for the Seahawks discusses his game-improvement goals and Ryan Grubb’s scheme.

One of the biggest narratives leading up to the NFL Draft was the quarterback issue for the Seattle Seahawks. Once again, Seattle did not select a player in the draft; backup Drew Lock joined the New York Giants in free agency. Sam Howell, a former starter for the Washington Commanders, was traded to the Seahawks at that time.

It is already known that Geno Smith is the starter and Howell is the backup, at least for the time being. Given that the former North Carolina standout is only 23 years old and has only played one season, there is a natural tendency to think that he has untapped potential and the makings of a franchise quarterback.

For the first time since the trade, Howell talked with Seahawks media at Thursday’s OTAs. Having thrown a league-high 21 interceptions in 2023, he stated that he needs to improve in the area of ball security.

“I believe I am capable of playing a smarter ball.” The turnover rate is simply way too high for what I wanted and what the squad required, in my opinion, because there were occasions when we were down significantly in a game and I was trying to force something to happen, trying to get us back in the game. Therefore, I believe that’s something I can definitely learn from last year—just playing smarter and better football,” Howell remarked. “My first year of starting, I learned a lot.

Although I could talk about what I’ve learnt all day, it was really wonderful for me to have that experience and those in-game moments. It was my second year, but I played for the first time most of the time, so nothing compares to receiving those live game reps. There are undoubtedly many lessons to be learnt, and I believe those lessons will help me improve the next time I get the chance.

The Commanders finished worst in points allowed with a mere 4-13 record. With 612 pass attempts, Howell led the league; most of his stats, both positive and negative, came when the team was behind.

A new offensive coordinator joins the team. After a less than stellar tenure with the Commanders, Eric Bieniemy is back at UCLA as the offensive coordinator. In the meantime, Ryan Grubb, who was successful at Fresno State and Washington, was hired by the Seahawks from the collegiate levels.

Here is a brief excerpt of Howell’s comments regarding Grubb’s offense:

Howell praised Grubb, saying, “I just love how he can mix up the tempo and really keep defenses on their heels.” “You don’t see that very often in the NFL… How determined he is to get the ball down the field and how aggressive he is. That’s the offense I want to play in, and it’s kind of like what I’ve done in the past.

Howell remarked, “We have so many great players.” “Coach Grubb has already demonstrated that he knows how to use his talent. Playing quarterback in this scheme is going to be a ton of fun.

Of course, we’re only in the early stages of OTAs, so we won’t really know how the offense will look until much later. Any discernible changes will be available for fans to see at training camp in July.