QB Geno Smith endorses new Raiders coach's 'explosive' attack

In his short time with the Las Vegas Raiders, quarterback Geno Smith likes what he sees from new coordinator Chip Kelly's offense.

The Raiders are continuing voluntary organized team activities for the week of May 19.

In a story by Ted Nguyen published in The Athletic on Tuesday, Smith cited the good rapport he has with Kelly, adding, "Learning this offense, I've been in three different systems in three years. And so I've been able to adjust, and that is something that I'm good at."

No matter who the offensive coordinator was with the Seattle Seahawks, Smith — whom the Raiders traded for in early March — found a way to put up career numbers. He is hoping to do the same, and perhaps even better, under Kelly, which can bode well for the Raiders in hopes of getting the offense in high gear after finishing 27th (303.2 yards per game) in 2024.

In the past three seasons, Smith passed for 12,226 yards and 71 touchdowns. The 34-year-old threw for a career-high 30 touchdowns in 2022 and a career-high 4,320 yards last season with Seattle.

With the Raiders, Smith's starting wide receivers will be Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, rookie Jack Bech and Pro Bowl tight end Brock Bowers, who had 1,194 yards receiving and five touchdown catches last season.

Kelly, the offensive coordinator for national champion Ohio State last season, hadn't served as an NFL offensive coordinator until he joined the Raiders. The big test for the Raiders will be to see if Kelly learned from his mistakes when he was an NFL head coach with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15, 26-21 record) and San Francisco 49ers (2014, 2-14 record).

In Kelly's lone season at Ohio State, the Buckeyes averaged 35.7 points.

"The offense is really good," Smith said. "I'm looking forward to it. Won't give too many details, but we're looking to be explosive and efficient."

With Bowers, Meyers, Tucker, Bech, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty and possibly another veteran wide receiver, there is no reason why the Raiders shouldn't be taking big strides on offense this season under new head coach Pete Carroll and Kelly.