Raiders OC Kelly, WR Meyers gush over QB Smith

HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders are successful the 2nd week of OTAs, and backmost Geno Smith has already made a beardown impression.

Just inquire wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, whose look lit up with excitement erstwhile talking astir his caller teammate aft Thursday's practice.

Since Meyers entered the league successful 2019, helium has played with 9 starting quarterbacks, and 5 successful 2 seasons successful Las Vegas.

Yet the beingness of Smith has fixed Meyers thing helium hasn't felt since being teammates with erstwhile backmost Tom Brady arsenic a rookie successful New England: stability.

"I genuinely mean that," said Meyers, who is coming disconnected his archetypal twelvemonth with 1,000 receiving yards. "He knows what helium is doing [and] helium shows up the aforesaid each day. I haven't seen him person a atrocious day."

Smith was acquired successful a commercialized with the Seahawks successful March with the anticipation that helium would supply the stableness Las Vegas has sought for successful the backmost presumption since Derek Carr near successful 2022. Granted, the Raiders volition person to hold until the regular play to spot if Smith was genuinely worthy trading distant a third-round prime and giving the 2-time Pro Bowler a two-year, $75 cardinal extension.

But helium has made strides frankincense far.

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly called Smith a blessing for coaches, saying Smith provides a wealthiness of acquisition owed to playing for aggregate coordinators passim his 11-year career.

Kelly said helium would prime Smith's brain, asking the 34-year-old however his erstwhile Seattle violative coordinators, Shane Waldron and Ryan Grubb, would grip definite situations oregon telephone plays.

Kelly mentioned Smith would telephone him successful the evening aft signifier to sermon what happened during the day.

"He's great. Geno is virtually similar a 2nd coach," said Kelly, who joined Las Vegas aft helping Ohio State triumph a nationalist title arsenic its violative coordinator. "When you're successful that country with him and [quarterbacks coach] Greg Olson, determination [are] a batch of ideas going around.

"His shot acumen is truly disconnected the charts, and it's awesome to beryllium astir him."

Smith besides expressed his sentiment for playing nether Kelly, who tried to enlistee him portion helium was the manager astatine Oregon. Smith said he's ever revered Kelly and it's a "dream travel true" that some of them are unneurotic successful Las Vegas.

Kelly has admired however Smith tin get the shot retired of his hands rapidly and believes the quarterback's moving quality is underrated. Smith had 17 carries that resulted successful a archetypal down past season.

"I deliberation helium runs amended than radical springiness him recognition for," Kelly said. "I deliberation helium tin bushed you with his feet [and] support plays alive."

Smith has already established himself arsenic a respected person successful the locker country -- 1 of the reasons wherefore manager Pete Carroll wanted to reunite with the seasoned awesome caller aft six seasons successful Seattle.

Kelly said portion of the crushed Smith has been a large person is that helium is relatable to each players. Smith understands what it's similar being a highly-touted imaginable coming retired of assemblage to being a backup successful the NFL and having to combat his mode backmost to the top.

After Smith's 4 seasons with the New York Jets -- who drafted him successful the 2nd circular successful 2013 -- didn't spell arsenic planned, helium was a backup for the Giants and Chargers. He past joined the Seahawks successful 2019, serving arsenic a backup for 2 seasons earlier emerging arsenic the team's starter aft Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos successful 2022.

Smith completed 68.5% of his walk attempts portion throwing for 12,961 yards, 76 touchdowns and 36 picks successful 54 games (52 starts) successful Seattle.

"There's not a batch of guys that person shown that resiliency," Kelly said. "He tin beryllium truthful relatable to everybody, due to the fact that he's benignant of lived that life. He's been a precocious draught pick, [but] he's besides been a feline that has been told that a squad doesn't privation him.

"The information that he's done it and travel retired to beryllium the mode helium is present is simply a testament to him. He's special."

Smith expressed his excitement astir helping the Raiders physique nether Carroll and the remainder of the coaching staff.

He believes he's surrounded by talented players successful Meyers, choky extremity Brock Bowers and rookie moving backmost Ashton Jeanty, who helium claimed to beryllium "wise beyond his years."

"I can't hold to spot however it each comes together," Smith said.