The Hidden Mike Smith
August 29th, 2017
“Maybe you can stop a cool breeze?”
Wow, did we see a different side of Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith.
Smith, in his second year with the Bucs, is one of the nicest men you will ever meet. He seems to always have a kind word and a wide smile for everyone. Looks you in the eye and treats you like you are the most important person on earth when in conversation.
There have been a few tidbits here or there during the first three episodes of this season’s “Hard Knocks” to show that Smith just might have an ornery side when away from the public’s eye.
Boy, did that show through tonight.
Smith wasn’t a major player in tonight’s fourth of five season episodes, but he made his presence felt. Cussing, hollering, both on the practice field and in the coaches’ box. “Hard Knocks” even caught Smith dropping an F-bomb.
Once, during the loss to the Browns at the Den of Depression in the third preseason game, Smith, in a moment of frustration, sighed about his defense, “We couldn’t stop a marching band.”
Later, towards the end of a quarter or a drive by the Browns — we aren’t really sure when because of creative editing — an assistant laid down a stat sheet on the desk to Smith’s immediate right. Without even blinking at the sheet of paper, Smith grimaced and gritted his teeth as if he wanted to punch a hole through the window in front of him, and in one fell swoop crumbled and tossed the stat sheet aside.
Again, every encounter Joe has had with Smith, he’s like your favorite doting grandfather. Just a wonderfully kind man. But tonight’s “Hard Knocks” showed, when it’s time to practice football or it’s time to play football, Smith can transform from Mr. Rodgers into Mike Ditka.
August 30th, 2017 at 12:38 am
Scott99 says he wasn’t mad at his players he was mad because the Bucs had lost another game at home. Thus giving joe more ammunition to call it the den of depression. And he was upset that he had let Scott99 down. So Scott as you are drinking a beer with the professor from u of Tampa no that he apologizes for the Bucs d and the GOP
August 30th, 2017 at 1:42 am
My favorite doting grandfather loved him his grandkids, but let somebody mention a nazzi or tojo around him and see what happened.
August 30th, 2017 at 3:05 am
Someone ruffled jeffbucs feathers.
August 30th, 2017 at 4:42 am
I loved that Smith is doing that fake smile you do when you’re p/o’d and instantly, by old man standards, switched to f/u mode and showed that paper who the boss is. Yeah that sounds snarky the way I wrote it, but seriously, I loved that, it really made me laugh the instant change in demeanor. Mike Smith has been very entertaining thus far in the coaching booth to watch.
August 30th, 2017 at 5:21 am
I remember Smitty showing his mean side getting at it with Antonio Bryant on the sidelines back in 08/09.
August 30th, 2017 at 10:34 am
That’s one of the great things to emerge from HK. Not that I’m surprised but when you see it up close it’s impressive.
Smitty wadding up that stat sheet at the end of the game and tossing it in the can was great.
Watching Duffner was entertaining as well…hey I’m hard on you because I’m helping you make this team!
And Koetter…he will take on anybody including #3….the line about being a smart asss was pretty entertaining. It seems like DK and #3 have a father/son type relationship. #3 is notorious for appreciating “hard coaching” and while it’s clear DK loves #3 he’s not going to spare the metaphorical rod and spoil the child.