Heinz and I spoke with Mike Smith yesterday on The Morning Drive. If you'd like to listen to the interview, you can check it out now on DoubleT1043.com.
Below is a transcript. Big ups to Drew for transcribing this today.
Q: What has this offseason been like for you compared to maybe last year or even the first year that you guys got here because it seems very quiet which is maybe by design, but can you describe the difference between what you guys are going through this year as opposed to last year?
Smith: I think my whole life playing football, I don't think I've ever been more hungry than this year, playing and coaching. I just got that bad taste in your mouth, and I think that is how it is with everybody around here. Everybody is just working , everybody is just grinding, and not a lot of people are saying a lot of stuff. I think everybody is just ready for the season to get started. We have something to prove. I think our first year after winning that Holiday Bowl, I think everybody was just excited but with the year that we had last year, it wasn't a great year, and now everybody is just ready to get this thing started, everybody is just on a mission.
Q: Having that attitude, everybody must be looking forward to the three really big tests early with Arkansas, TCU, and Baylor. All three teams present their separate challenges but it's a great way to prove last year was in the past and moving forward against Arkansas because they are just going to run it, run it, run it.
Smith: Yeah like you said, three great opponents early on, it's a tough schedule, but I think that's what we need to prove to people that we are different than we were last year. With our d-line thing that I've been selling them this year is that we are different creatures than we were last year. You watch the film and they are going to have the same numbers but they aren't the same d-line that we had last year and that's us as a team. That is our mindset going in to this whole thing and our kids have done a great job of buying in and taking care of business.
Q: The different creature stuff, saying that y'all are a different d-line, how much of that is mentality and how much of that is scheme?
Smith: Both actually, but I think the majority of it is mentality. The game of football is about mentality, it is a tough man's game, it's not the same game as when we were children and that's what I've been selling to the whole d-line which is something we needed to get better at especially up front on the d-line. This group that I have right now, they have just 100 percent bought in and have been really big in training this summer and in seven-on-seven and summer workouts. Our strength staff has done an unbelievable job, it is a night and day difference especially with the inside guys. Rika Levi is 320 pounds right now and just the way he is moving around and Keland, you know all of those guys, Marcus Smith has really come along, Josh Outlaw too. It's all about the mindset with these guys but part of it is scheme, we had to clean up a bunch of technique stuff, but I could not be more proud of our d-line.
Q: Could you tell us something that maybe we don't know that might surprise us about this team or what is something that maybe you've observed?
Smith: The leadership. I think last year we had a bunch of great guys, but we were missing that vocal leader. I think on defense and offense and football in general, you need those guys that say this is what it is going to be, this is what we are going to do. I'll give y'all an example, we were doing sleds a couple days ago, I mean it was hot and there would be times last year where they would actually be fighting each other, but this year they are building each other up, growing up as players and you have Micah Awe that's actually trying to lead, Pete Robertson trying to lead the team and I love seeing that.”
Q: How much weight has Rika Levi lost or is it just about putting it in the right spot?
Smith: He has lost close to 40 pounds which is great. I had given him a goal whenever I took over and I told him what weight he needed to be at and every day he has fought to get there. Rika as well as all of these guys have a chip on their shoulders, I mean it was embarrassing the way we played last year, they're embarrassed, I'm embarrassed, and they want to prove that they are different players.
Q: This time last year Josh Outlaw was playing along the offensive line and now he is playing on the defensive line. How much progress has he made and what should people expect from him going into this season?
Smith: He has made a lot of progress. He has played offensive line his whole life, but the thing about Josh is that he has got some dog to him, he reminds me of Pete when I had first got here. Pete had a long way from a football knowledge standpoint, but he was hungry. I always say that if you got balls and heart I can teach you the rest…I don't know if I'm allowed to say that on the radio or not. That's what Josh has, he is very raw, he's got to get better with his eyes and with his keys and all of that stuff, but I'll take that especially upfront, you want guys who are big and nasty and have a mean streak to them, you want guys who are going to bang heads and Josh has that about him and I'll take that all day.”
Q: Talk to us about the new defensive coordinator, talk about coach Gibbs and what he has brought to this team, what are some things that you have seen and learned from him so far?
Smith: One of the great things I like about Gibbs is he has had about ten years in the NFL and he coaches like that. He is a bit more even keel, he is not always yelling or screaming, not always freaking out. There is a certain way he wants us to play, a certain style of defense, and he almost treats it like the professionals do. I love his scheme, he does a great job of breaking down an offense. In the spring going against our offense, I got to see how he calls a game, his mindset and his philosophy and it's been good. I've learned a lot of football from him already, and I don't think we could've hired a better person for our team than David Gibbs to come in and turn this team around.”
Q: I know y'all are kind of limited in what you can do with these guys in the summer time, but from what you've heard and what you have seen, who are some newcomers who really make a big impact this year?
Smith: Upfront everybody is returning, but I think Breiden Fehoko will add some help to us, add some depth but he is young and he still has a ways to go. I just think, especially upfront, the development of these guys, I cant wait for this season to start so everybody can see and say wow, this group really is different. I'm the type of coach, maybe it's being around Rex Ryan so much, that we are going to be different. We were the worst d-line in the country last year and we are going to be the best d-line this year, that's one of my goals and I truly believe we have a chance at it. We have Pete Robertson coming back and Branden Jackson on the other side, I don't think there are two better pass rushers in the conference than those guys and I'll put that pressure on them. You got to be successful with those guys, then you add Rika and the jump he has made, then you add whoever that tackle spot is going to be, whether Keland or Breiden, and it is going to be a good group. To be successful on defense, we better be good because if we are not, we won't be good on defense and I let those guys know that every day.
Q: We've talked a lot about containing the run, winning the plus/minus in the turnover department, eliminating those stupid penalties, and putting pressure on the quarterback, and I've kind of called that my four-point plan, but is it really that simple?
Smith: It sounds simple, but it is a little bit trickier in the Big 12 than most with those quarterbacks who can run. In the NFL it is a bit different, you see Russell Wilson here and there, but it's not to the extreme of what you see in the Big 12. That's what I think makes the quarterback at TCU so good, we even have our guy here Pat who gets back there and can scramble. So you always have to keep an eye on that, then you add the running game to that which adds an extra gap. It's a different conference which is what makes it fun, it is definitely a challenge but these guys are ready to accept it.
Below is a transcript. Big ups to Drew for transcribing this today.
Q: What has this offseason been like for you compared to maybe last year or even the first year that you guys got here because it seems very quiet which is maybe by design, but can you describe the difference between what you guys are going through this year as opposed to last year?
Smith: I think my whole life playing football, I don't think I've ever been more hungry than this year, playing and coaching. I just got that bad taste in your mouth, and I think that is how it is with everybody around here. Everybody is just working , everybody is just grinding, and not a lot of people are saying a lot of stuff. I think everybody is just ready for the season to get started. We have something to prove. I think our first year after winning that Holiday Bowl, I think everybody was just excited but with the year that we had last year, it wasn't a great year, and now everybody is just ready to get this thing started, everybody is just on a mission.
Q: Having that attitude, everybody must be looking forward to the three really big tests early with Arkansas, TCU, and Baylor. All three teams present their separate challenges but it's a great way to prove last year was in the past and moving forward against Arkansas because they are just going to run it, run it, run it.
Smith: Yeah like you said, three great opponents early on, it's a tough schedule, but I think that's what we need to prove to people that we are different than we were last year. With our d-line thing that I've been selling them this year is that we are different creatures than we were last year. You watch the film and they are going to have the same numbers but they aren't the same d-line that we had last year and that's us as a team. That is our mindset going in to this whole thing and our kids have done a great job of buying in and taking care of business.
Q: The different creature stuff, saying that y'all are a different d-line, how much of that is mentality and how much of that is scheme?
Smith: Both actually, but I think the majority of it is mentality. The game of football is about mentality, it is a tough man's game, it's not the same game as when we were children and that's what I've been selling to the whole d-line which is something we needed to get better at especially up front on the d-line. This group that I have right now, they have just 100 percent bought in and have been really big in training this summer and in seven-on-seven and summer workouts. Our strength staff has done an unbelievable job, it is a night and day difference especially with the inside guys. Rika Levi is 320 pounds right now and just the way he is moving around and Keland, you know all of those guys, Marcus Smith has really come along, Josh Outlaw too. It's all about the mindset with these guys but part of it is scheme, we had to clean up a bunch of technique stuff, but I could not be more proud of our d-line.
Q: Could you tell us something that maybe we don't know that might surprise us about this team or what is something that maybe you've observed?
Smith: The leadership. I think last year we had a bunch of great guys, but we were missing that vocal leader. I think on defense and offense and football in general, you need those guys that say this is what it is going to be, this is what we are going to do. I'll give y'all an example, we were doing sleds a couple days ago, I mean it was hot and there would be times last year where they would actually be fighting each other, but this year they are building each other up, growing up as players and you have Micah Awe that's actually trying to lead, Pete Robertson trying to lead the team and I love seeing that.”
Q: How much weight has Rika Levi lost or is it just about putting it in the right spot?
Smith: He has lost close to 40 pounds which is great. I had given him a goal whenever I took over and I told him what weight he needed to be at and every day he has fought to get there. Rika as well as all of these guys have a chip on their shoulders, I mean it was embarrassing the way we played last year, they're embarrassed, I'm embarrassed, and they want to prove that they are different players.
Q: This time last year Josh Outlaw was playing along the offensive line and now he is playing on the defensive line. How much progress has he made and what should people expect from him going into this season?
Smith: He has made a lot of progress. He has played offensive line his whole life, but the thing about Josh is that he has got some dog to him, he reminds me of Pete when I had first got here. Pete had a long way from a football knowledge standpoint, but he was hungry. I always say that if you got balls and heart I can teach you the rest…I don't know if I'm allowed to say that on the radio or not. That's what Josh has, he is very raw, he's got to get better with his eyes and with his keys and all of that stuff, but I'll take that especially upfront, you want guys who are big and nasty and have a mean streak to them, you want guys who are going to bang heads and Josh has that about him and I'll take that all day.”
Q: Talk to us about the new defensive coordinator, talk about coach Gibbs and what he has brought to this team, what are some things that you have seen and learned from him so far?
Smith: One of the great things I like about Gibbs is he has had about ten years in the NFL and he coaches like that. He is a bit more even keel, he is not always yelling or screaming, not always freaking out. There is a certain way he wants us to play, a certain style of defense, and he almost treats it like the professionals do. I love his scheme, he does a great job of breaking down an offense. In the spring going against our offense, I got to see how he calls a game, his mindset and his philosophy and it's been good. I've learned a lot of football from him already, and I don't think we could've hired a better person for our team than David Gibbs to come in and turn this team around.”
Q: I know y'all are kind of limited in what you can do with these guys in the summer time, but from what you've heard and what you have seen, who are some newcomers who really make a big impact this year?
Smith: Upfront everybody is returning, but I think Breiden Fehoko will add some help to us, add some depth but he is young and he still has a ways to go. I just think, especially upfront, the development of these guys, I cant wait for this season to start so everybody can see and say wow, this group really is different. I'm the type of coach, maybe it's being around Rex Ryan so much, that we are going to be different. We were the worst d-line in the country last year and we are going to be the best d-line this year, that's one of my goals and I truly believe we have a chance at it. We have Pete Robertson coming back and Branden Jackson on the other side, I don't think there are two better pass rushers in the conference than those guys and I'll put that pressure on them. You got to be successful with those guys, then you add Rika and the jump he has made, then you add whoever that tackle spot is going to be, whether Keland or Breiden, and it is going to be a good group. To be successful on defense, we better be good because if we are not, we won't be good on defense and I let those guys know that every day.
Q: We've talked a lot about containing the run, winning the plus/minus in the turnover department, eliminating those stupid penalties, and putting pressure on the quarterback, and I've kind of called that my four-point plan, but is it really that simple?
Smith: It sounds simple, but it is a little bit trickier in the Big 12 than most with those quarterbacks who can run. In the NFL it is a bit different, you see Russell Wilson here and there, but it's not to the extreme of what you see in the Big 12. That's what I think makes the quarterback at TCU so good, we even have our guy here Pat who gets back there and can scramble. So you always have to keep an eye on that, then you add the running game to that which adds an extra gap. It's a different conference which is what makes it fun, it is definitely a challenge but these guys are ready to accept it.
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