Pete Carroll: Drew Lock 'nipping at' Geno Smith's heels in practice

The former Denver Broncos quarterback, part of the package that sent Russell Wilson to Denver, was beaten out for the starting job this preseason by Geno Smith. Smith has been one of the league's biggest surprises this season, and Carroll believes the competition in practice keeps Smith's fire lit.

"It's good...that he's got [Lock] nipping at his heels every day in practice, said Carroll. "It's the whole thing about competition; it's good and we like [that] it continues to be this way," he continued.

His praise of Lock came after he was asked whether Smith could serve as the team's answer long-term at the quarterback position.

Carroll has coaxed the most out of his veteran quarterback. His ability to toe the line between demonstrating confidence in Smith as the team's starting QB while also pushing him so complacency doesn't set in will be key to seeing how things unfold.

Seattle is 2-3 and a game behind San Francisco for first in the NFC West.

Smith is the team's starter for the foreseeable future, but as long as Lock is on the roster, it appears as though Carroll believes he has a secret key.