Be wary of preseason stats says Bucs DC Mike Smith.

If anyone thought preseason games were important, Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith had a word of caution. Actually, more than a few words.

Bucs fans have been starved for a double-digit sack man like Joe thirsts for a cold beer on a Florida summer Friday afternoon. So when the Bucs led the NFL in preseason with 16 sacks only fueled the fans’ hunger.

Simply put, Smith doesn’t think much of that preseason accomplishment.

“I don’t want to put a whole lot of stock on what happens in the preseason,” Smith said today at One Buc Palace in the first of his weekly in-season pressers. “I am very pleased and we as a staff are very pleased with the production we had in the preseason. There were a number of guys that were able to continue to the numbers we put up in the preseason.”

Later, when asked about preseason and prepping for the Dixie Chicks, Smith again waved off the notion that preseason is an indicator of the regular season.

“That is the great thing about the opening weekend in the NF,L there is a lot of gamesmanship that goes on in the preseason in terms of what you are going to show and what you are not going to show,” Smkth said. “I am sure we are going to see a lot of things [Sunday] with what we call ‘unscouted looks.’”

Another interesting side element about pass rushing that Smith said was that folks can expect a regular rotation of a lot of Bucs defensive linemen on passing downs. It’s all about stamina, Smith said.

“When you are rushing the passer, I think it may be the most draining thing you do on a football field.”