2nd half of the season begins today in Raymond James, and it’s a chance for the Bucs to show they are “getting it” if indeed they are. If this truly is like the 1996 season with Tony Dungy, and I believe it is, the Bucs should be entering the phase where they are starting to get it defensively, and even though the last two opponents haven’t been world beaters, the Bucs have looked better against them. Lovie Smith has jettisoned some well known players who were not buying into the system, or not sticking to their jobs, which was causing the big plays against the defense.
Without perfect cohesion this defense does not operate properly. Unlike other systems, the Tampa Two is predicted on each player to do ONLY his job, not compensate for someone else if they don’t do theirs properly, otherwise you have TWO players out of place instead of just one.
The Offense will have Josh McCown back, and his second go at the helm should be better as he has an improved (if ever so slightly) offensive line since the last time he led the team, as well as a more experienced Mike Evans. Running Back Charles Sims could provide much needed running prowess from the backfield.
Either way, the Bucs need to WIN, not lose and get a higher draft pick. In 1996 the Bucs winning gave the team and fans the feeling the team was on the verge of turning 14 years of losing around. That was far more valuable than any pick in 1997.
Instead of a higher pick, the Bucs opened 1997 with a home win over the 49ers and opened up to a 5-0 start and a 10-6 wild card birth playoff season. There are QBs to be had in the later rounds of the first round and even the 2nd.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR-
LB Lavonte David
• David has 8.0 career sacks, and needs two more to pass Hardy Nickerson (9.0 from 1993-99) for eighth-most sacks by a linebacker in franchise history. • David has six career interceptions, and needs two more to pass Hardy Nickerson (seven from 1993-99) for sixth-most interceptions by a linebacker in franchise history.
LB Mason Foster
• Foster has two career interceptions returned for a touchdown and, 
with one more, can tie CB Wayne Haddix (three from 1990-91), CB Aqib Talib (three from 2008-12) and CB Mike Washington (three from 1976-1984) for the third-most interceptions returned for a touchdown in franchise history.
QB Mike Glennon
• Glennon has 29 career passing touchdowns and needs three more to tie QB Brian Griese (32 from 2004-08) for the eighth-most passing touchdowns in franchise history
• Glennon has 4,025 passing yards and needs 40 more to pass QB Shaun King (4,064 from 1999-03) for the 10th-most passing yards in franchise history.
WR Mike Evans
• Evans has caught at least four passes in all seven games he has played this season. If he catches at least four passes against Atlanta, he will be the first Buccaneers receiver since Kellen Winslow (11 consecutive: 11/8/09 vs. Green Bay-9/19/10 at Carolina) and first Buccaneers rookie to record at least four receptions in eight staight games since MIchael Clayton (eight consecutive: 10/3/04 vs. Denver-11/28/04 at Carolina).
• Evans recorded over 100 receiving yards at Cleveland. If he records 100 or more receiving yards against Atlanta, he will be the first Buccaneer since Vincent Jackson last season (two consecutive: 10/13/13 vs. Philadelphia-10/20/13 at Atlanta) and the first Buccaneers rookie ever to record consecutive 100-receiving yard games.
• Evans recorded two receiving touchdowns at Cleveland. If he records two or more receiving touchdowns against Atlanta, he will be the first Buccaneer since Vincent Jackson last season (two consecutive: 10/13/13 vs. Philadelphia-10/20/13 at Atlanta) and the first Buccaneers rookie since Horace Copeland (two consecutive: 10/24/93 vs. Green Bay-10/31/93 at Atlanta) to record consecutive multiple-receiving touchdown games.
• With 100 or more receiving yards and two or more touchdowns against Atlanta, Evans will be the second player in franchise history – and the first rookie – to record consecutive games of 100 or more receiving yards and two or more touchdowns (also Vincent Jackson, two consecutive: 10/13/13 vs. Philadelphia-10/20/13 at Atlanta).
• Evans has four receiving touchdowns this season and with one more he can tie Tim Wright (five in 2013) and Kevin House (five in 1980) for the third-most receiving touchdowns by a rookie in team history.
• Evans has 460 receiving yards and needs three more to pass Warrick Dunn (462 in 1997) for 10th-most, 13 more to pass Doug Martin (472 in 2012) for ninth-most, 48 more to pass James Wilder (507 in 1981) for eighth-most, 72 more to pass Kevin House (531 in 1980) for seventh- most, 98 more to pass Mike Alstott (557 in 1996) for sixth-most and 112 more to pass Tim Wright (571 in 2013) for fifth-most receiving yards by a rookie in team history.
WR Vincent Jackson
• Jackson has 10 100-yard receiving games as a Buccaneer, the fifth- most in franchise history. He needs one more to tie Joey Galloway (11 from 2004-08) for fourth-most and two more to tie Keyshawn Johnson (12 from 2000-03 – one in postseason) for third-most 100-yard receiving games in franchise history.
• Jackson has 17 receiving touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to pass Gerald Carter (17 from 1981-87) and Keyshawn Johnson (17 from 2000-03) for eighth-most in franchise history.
LB Danny Lansanah
• Lansanah has two interceptions returned for a touchdown this season and, with one more, can tie LB Derrick Brooks (three in 2002) and CB Wayne Haddix (three in 1990) for the most in a single season in franchise history. • Lansanah has two career interceptions returned for a touchdown and, with one more, can tie CB Wayne Haddix (three from 1990-91), CB Aqib Talib (three from 2008-12) and CB Mike Washington (three from 1976-1984) for the third-most interceptions returned for a touchdown in franchise history.
RB Doug Martin
• Martin has six 100-yard rushing games as a Buccaneer and needs one more to tie Mike Alstott (seven from 1996-06), LeGarrette Blount (seven from 2010-12) and Reggie Cobb (seven from 1990-93) for seventh-most 100-yard rushing games in franchise history.
• Martin has 13 rushing touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to pass Doug Williams (13 from 1978-1982) and LeGarrette Blount (13 from 2010-12) for 10th-most, two more to tie Earnest Graham (15 from 2004-11) and Lars Tate (15 from 1988-89) for eighth-most in franchise history.
DT Gerald McCoy
• McCoy recorded two sacks at Cleveland. With two or more sacks against Atlanta, McCoy will be the first Buccaneer to record consecutive games with two or more sacks since Simeon Rice (five consecutive: 10/27/02 at Carolina-12/1/02 at New Orleans).
• McCoy has five career multi-sack games and needs one more to tie David Logan (six from 1979-1986) for the fifth-most in franchise history and the third-most by a defensive tackle in team history.
K Patrick Murray
• Murray has connected on three field goals of at least 50 yards on the season. With one more he can tie Rian Lindell (four in 2013) for the fourth-most field goals of 50 or more yards in a single season in franchise history.
RB Bobby Rainey
• Rainey tallied 87 rushing yards and 34 receiving yards at Cleveland. With at least 80 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards against Atlanta, he will be the first Buccaneer to post consecutive games with those numbers since Doug Martin in 2012 (10/21/12 at Minnesota-10/25/12 at Oakland).
LAST GAME NOTES:
– On Cleveland’s opening possession, DT Gerald McCoy recorded his fourth sack of the season, dropping Browns QB Brian Hoyer for a six-yard loss. With the Browns driving in the final two minutes of the first half, McCoy recorded his second sack of the game, bringing Hoyer down for a loss of seven. This marked McCoy’s fifth career multi-sack game, tied for the sixth-most in franchise history (Chidi Aanatou).
– McCoy now has 5.0 sacks on the season, the third-most by a defensive
tackle in the NFL
– In the first quarter, RB Bobby Rainey caught a screen pass on third- and-10, taking it 34 yards. The reception is the longest of his career and the longest by a Tampa Bay running back since 2012 (RB Doug Martin, 42 yards, 11/11/12 vs. San Diego). Rainey finished the game with 19 rushes for 87 yards and the 34-yard reception.
– With the Browns at the Buccaneers four-yard line in the second quarter, DE Jacquies Smith recorded his first career sack, bringing down Hoyer for a seven-yard loss and ending Cleveland’s drive.
– In the second quarter, the Buccaneers drove 80 yards for a touchdown, culminating with a 24-yard touchdown pass from QB Mike Glennon to WR Mike Evans.
– Evans finished the game with seven catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. This marked his first career 100-reciving yard game and his first career multi-touchdown game.
– Evans is the first Buccaneer rookie to record 100+ receiving yards in a game since Arrelious Benn in 2010 (122 yards at Washington, 12/12/10). He is the first Buccaneer to record multiple receiving touchdowns since Tiquan Underwood last season (11/24/13 vs. Detroit). He is the first Buccaneers rookie with multiple receiving touchdowns since Mike Williams in 2010 (two touchdowns, 12/26/10 vs. Seattle). Underwood was also the last Buccaneers receiver to post 100+ yards and two touchdowns in the same game, while Evans is only the second Buccaneers rookie to accomplish the feat (Horace Copeland,10/31/1993 at Atlanta).
– Evans is the first Buccaneers player to record at least 50 yards in five consecutive games since Vincent Jackson last season (six consecutive games: 11/17/13 vs. Atlanta-12/22/13 at St. Louis) and the first Buccaneers rookie to do so since Mike Williams in 2010 (five consecutive games: 10/24/10 vs. St. Louis-11-21-10 at San Francisco). Evans is the first rookie in the NFL to do so since Keenan Allen in 2013 (five consecutive games).
– With seven catches in the game, Evans has caught at least four passes in all seven games he has played, making him the first Buccaneers player and the first Buccaneers rookie to record at least four receptions in seven straight games since Mike Williams (seven consecutive: 9/26/10 vs. Pittsburgh-11/14/10 vs. Carolina) and the first NFL player to do so in their first seven games since RB Reggie Bush (first 10 games: 9/10/06 at Cleveland-11/19/06 vs. Cincinnati).
– On the Browns’ possession following Evans’ first touchdown, Hoyer threw an interception to CB Johnthan Banks, who returned it 18 yards to the Cleveland 10-yard line. The interception is the second of the season for Banks and the fifth of his career.
– With the Browns driving in the fourth quarter, Hoyer had a pass tipped by S Bradley McDougald and intercepted by DT Clinton McDonald. It is McDonald’s first interception of the season and the second of his career. McDonald is the first Buccaneers defensive lineman to record an interception since DE Gaines Adams in 2008 (9/28/08 vs. Green Bay).
– S Major Wright finished the game with 13 tackles, setting a career high. – T Oniel Cousins made his first start for the Buccaneers in today’s game,
starting at left tackle for the first time in his career.
– DT Matthew Masifilo and T Kevin Pamphile made their NFL debuts in today’s game.
– WR Marcus Thigpen made his Buccaneers debut in today’s game.
LAST MEETING
Atlanta 56, Tampa Bay 14, (September 18, 2014)
ATLANTA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traveled to Atlanta in Week 3, where they faced a tough day on all sides of the ball, falling 56-14. Deferring to the second half after winning the coin toss, Tampa Bay faced the Atlanta offense first. Quarterback Matt Ryan made quick work
of the opening drive, moving down the field and scoring on a three-yard pass to wide receiver Harry Douglas. The Buccaneers punted their own opening possession. On the following drive, an Atlanta fumble was recovered by safety Mark Barron, but Barron fumbled the ball himself, and the Falcons managed to regain possession and continue their drive, which ended with an eight-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Julio Jones, giving Atlanta a 14-0 lead. Quarterback Josh McCown was intercepted deep in Tampa Bay territory on the next drive, and safety Kemal Ishmael was able to return the pick 23 yards to make the score 21-0. Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, the Falcons regained the ball quickly following a forced fumble and were able to parlay the error into another touchdown, this time on a 20-yard rush by wide receiver Devin Hester. Following a Buccaneers punt, the Falcons drove to the Tampa Bay 11 where cornerback Leonard Johnson forced a fumble, which was recovered by defensive end Scott Solomon. However, Tampa Bay was forced to punt, and Hester was able to return the ball 62 yards for a touchdown. McCown injured his hand on the next possession, and, following traded punts, Mike Glennon came in at quarterback for the Buccaneers. The Falcons attempted and missed a 59-yard field goal late in the second quarter, and the teams went into halftime at 35-0. Opening the third quarter, the Buccaneers drove to near midfield, but a forced fumble turned the ball over to the Falcons. Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David forced a fumble of his own during the ensuing Atlanta possession, and safety Dashon Goldson managed to keep the ball inbounds, giving David a chance to recover the ball and return it to the Buccaneers. After a deep third-down attempt went incomplete, Tampa Bay punted, and Atlanta put together another scoring drive as Ryan hit wide receiver Julio Jones on a 40-yard touchdown pass. On the first play of the following Buccaneers drive, a bad snap was recovered by the Falcons and returned to the Tampa Bay 2, where running back Steven Jackson scored on the next play. Atlanta brought the score to 56-0 on its next possession with a 38-yard rush by running back Antone Smith. The Buccaneers were able to put up their first points next, scoring on an eight-minute drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from Glennon to wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Tampa Bay linebacker Danny Lansanah then intercepted Falcons quarterback T.J. Yates, returning the pick 27 yards for a touchdown and the 56-14 score late in the fourth quarter, the score upon which the game would end.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS FOR BUCS….
Below are highlights of how select Buccaneers have performed during their careers against the Atlanta Falcons:
LB Lavonte David: In five career games against Atlanta, has totaled 42 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one sack… Dropped Falcons QB Matt Ryan for a 14-yard loss in a Buccaneers win (12/30/12)… Forced and recovered a fumble (9/18/14).
LB Mason Foster: Recorded one interception, returned 37 yards for a touchdown in a 48-21 victory (11/17/13)… Totaled 12 tackles in a Buccaneers win (12/30/12).
QB Mike Glennon: Completed 63-of-91 passes (69.2 percent) for 608 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions for a 105.9 passer rating in three career games against Atlanta… Completed 20-of-23 passes (87.0 percent) against Atlanta (11/17/13), the second-highest single-game completion percentage in franchise history.
S Dashon Goldson: Recorded interception and forced one fumble in a 41-28 victory last season (11/17/13).
WR Vincent Jackson: combined for 20 receptions and 303 receiving yards in two games against Atlanta in 2013, coming away with 10 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a loss (10/20/13) and 10 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown in a win (11/17/13)… His 10 receptions in both games tied his career high…. Has caught at least one touchdown in his last three contests against Atlanta.
LB Danny Lansanah: Recorded first career interception, returning it 27 yards for a touchdown (9/18/14).
RB Doug Martin: Ran for a total 192 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in two matchups against Atlanta (11/25/12, 12/30/12).
DT Gerald McCoy: Recorded first career three sack game in a 41-28 victory (11/17/13)
RB Bobby Rainey became the first player in team history to record two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in the same game and was named Offensive Player of the Week as he rushed for 163 yards on30 attempts with two rushing touchdowns, and added two catches for four yards and a touchdown in a win (11/17/13)… Tallied a career high in receptions (7) and receiving yards (64) (9/18/14
SERIES HIGHLIGHTS! Great Moments in Atlanta/Bucs Past!
RB Haskel Stanback ran for two TDs, leading the Falcons to 17-0 win at Tampa Stadium (11/27/77)… QB Doug Williams hit TE Jim Obradovich on a 15-yard TD toss, lifting Tampa Bay to a 14-9 win (9/24/78)… Williams connected with WR Kevin House on a 71-yard scoring strike, rallying the Bucs to a 24-23 win (12/6/81)… The win vaulted them into first place in the NFC Central race… RB James Wilder ran for 125 yards and one score, leading Tampa Bay to 23-6 win in John McKay’s second-to-last game as Bucs head coach (12/9/84)… QB Steve DeBerg set a club record with five TD passes, igniting a season-opening 48-10 win (9/13/87)… Falcons racked up 33 points in the second quarter en route to a 43-7 win (11/17/91), the Bucs’ last game at Fulton County Stadium… Tampa Bay jumped out to 31-3 lead and holds on for 31-24 win in its initial appearance at Georgia Dome (10/31/93)… RB Mike Alstott’s career-long 47-yard touchdown run sparked a 199-yard rushing effort as Tampa Bay put a 31-10 drubbing on Atlanta in the Georgia Dome (11/9/97), with DT Brad Culpepper adding three sacks… Tampa Bay scored the last 19 points in a 19-10 victory in Raymond James Stadium (11/21/99), including 10 points in the final 58 seconds… K Martin Gramatica’s 53- yard field goal with 58 seconds left gave the Bucs a 12-10 lead, and CB Donnie Abraham cemented the victory moments later with a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown… Tampa Bay’s defense forced four turnovers and WR Keyshawn Johnson caught two touchdown passes from QB Shaun King (11/5/00) as the Bucs won in the Georgia Dome for the second consecutive time… The third of three consecutive sacks in the second quarter knocked Atlanta QB Chris Chandler out of the game… Tampa Bay’s defense did not allow a touchdown for the third straight road contest and posted an interception return for a score for a club-record fourth straight game en route to a 20-6 win (10/6/02) at the Georgia Dome… The Buccaneers were led by LB Derrick Brooks, who became the first linebacker in NFL history with three interception returns for touchdowns in a single season… QB Brad Johnson threw four touchdown passes and Tampa Bay’s defense limited Atlanta QB Michael Vick to 134 total yards (125 passing and 9 rushing) as the Bucs rolled to a 34-10 victory at home (12/8/02)… Tampa Bay won the first meeting in 2003, a 31-10 win at Atlanta (9/21/03)… FB Mike Alstott had two touchdown runs and DT Warren Sapp caught a TD pass from QB Brad Johnson… Tampa Bay’s defense totaled five sacks and forced five turnovers vs. Atlanta (12/5/04) in a 27-0 home win… RB Cadillac Williams carried the offensive load amassing 129 yards, including 116 on the ground to lead Tampa Bay past Atlanta 30-27 (11/20/05)… Tampa blocked overtime field goal and K Matt Bryant made game-winning 41-yard attempt with 41 seconds left in overtime to give the Bucs a 27-24 victory
(12/24/05)… The Tampa Bay defense forced four turnovers, including a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown by CB Ronde Barber in its 31-7 victory at Atlanta (11/18/07)…
Micheal Spurlock returns the Buccaneers first-ever kickoff for a touchdown in the 37-3, NFC South clinching victory (12/16/07)… RB Earnest Graham recorded a career long 68-yard touchdown run helping the Bucs to a 24-9 win vs. Atlanta (9/14/08)… The Bucs defense held the Falcons without a pass completion until 6:27 left in the second quarter and QB Matt Ryan to only 3-of-15 passing for 29 yards in the first half… QB Josh Freeman completed 20-of-29 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns and TE Kellen Winslow caught seven passes for 81 yards, but the Falcons held on for a 20-17 victory at the Georgia Dome (11/29/09)… The Buccaneers special teams led the way, as WR Micheal Spurlock returned four kickoffs for 209 yards, including an 89 yard touchdown, but the Falcons were able to hang on and prevent Bucs QB Josh Freeman from putting together another fourth-quarter comeback on the season when RB LeGarrette Blount was stopped short of the goal line on 4th-and-one, allowing the Falcons to win 27-21 at the Georgia Dome (11/7/10)… Although the Buccaneers held a 10-point fourth quarter lead, the Bucs were stopped just short as QB Josh Freeman’s interception late in the fourth quarter stopped a potential game-winning drive (12/5/10)… K Connor Barth connected on three field goals and QB Josh Freeman recorded his first career rushing touchdown as the Bucs pulled out a 16-13 win (9/25/11)… RB Doug Martin ran for two touchdowns as the Buccaneers narrowly fell to the Falcons, 24-23, in Tampa (11/25/12)… RB Doug Martin accrued 142 rushing yards on 28 carries and one touchdown in a Buccaneers victory, 22-17, in Atlanta (12/30/12)… WR Vincent Jackson caught 10 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a loss at Atlanta (10/20/13)… LB Lavonte David finished the game with 10 tackles, including a career-high three tackles for loss… The Buccaneers topped the Falcons 41-28 at Raymond James Stadium… The 41 points scored were tied for the fifth-most in a game in franchise history… RB Bobby Rainey became the first player in franchise history to record two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the same game, helping him earn NFC Offensive Player of the Week… Rainey finished the game with 163 rushing yards, the ninth-most in franchise history… DT Gerald McCoy recorded his first career game with 3.0 sacks, tying Warren Sapp and Brad Culpepper for the most ever in a single game by a Buccaneers defensive tackle… LB Mason Foster recorded his second interception returned for a touchdown, joining Derrick Brooks (2002) and Hugh Green (1983) as the only linebackers in team history to accomplish the feat (11/17/13), in the same season… In a Thursday Night Football matchup at the Georgia Dome, the Buccaneers lost 56-14, with QB Josh McCown leaving in the first half with an injury (9/18/14)… LB Danny Lansanah recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter, returning it 27 yards for a touchdown…
GETTING TO KNOW FALCONS COACH MIKE SMITH
Mike Smith was named the 14th head coach in Falcons history on January 23, 2008.
Smith is in his seventh season as Falcons head coach. In his first six seasons with the team, he compiled a 60-36 record – the sixth-best mark in the NFL dur- ing that time – two NFC South Division titles, four playoff appearances and five consecutive winning seasons (2008-12).
Under the direction of Head Coach Mike Smith, the club posted the NFC’s top record at 13-3 in both 2010 and 2012, the number one seed in the conference both years and the second-most wins in a season in team annals. Smith’s team also captured the NFC South title in 2012 for only the fifth Division crown in franchise history, while also advancing to the team’s second appearance in the NFC Championship game in franchise history, and the first hosted in Atlanta. The eight consecutive victories in 2012 were tied for the second longest streak in team history, with the team’s other eight-win streak also coming under Smith, in 2010.
The Atlanta Falcons finished the 2009 campaign strong with three con- secutive victories, including two wins on the road, to close out their season with a winning record at 9-7. The three-game winning streak at the end of the year secured the first consecutive winning seasons in team history.
With Smith’s determined leadership in 2008, the Falcons enjoyed one of the biggest turnarounds that the NFL has ever witnessed. The seven-win swing going from 4-12 to 11-5 is tied for the fourth-best mark (at +7 wins) in the league for a rookie head coach since 1978. Smith’s 11 vic- tories are tied for the top mark with five other head coaches for the best record for a rookie head coach taking over a team that finished below .500 the previous season. And only three rookie head coaches in NFL his- tory had more wins in their first campaign on the sidelines than Smith.
For his coaching efforts, Smith earned the prestigious Associated Press and Sporting News 2008 NFL Coach of the Year honors, as well as NFC Coach of the Year by the respected KC 101 Club. Smith boasts a strong coaching background that includes 11 NFL seasons and 28 total years in football. His defensive track record shows a remarkable amount of success, as he helped guide the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl XXXV Championship in 2000 as a defensive assistant coach and led the Jacksonville Jaguars defense to top 10 rankings in several categories (overall defense, points allowed and rushing defense) during his time as the club’s defensive coordinator. With Smith’s help, the Jaguars had the sixth-most wins in the NFL (from 2004-07) with 40 victories.
From 2003–2007, Smith led Jacksonville’s defensive unit, which ranked fourth in overall defense (296.6), third in offensive points allowed (16.1) and fifth in rushing defense (99.3) from 2003–2006. In his last season in Jack- sonville in 2007, the Jaguars rushing defense continued that trend as the unit ranked sixth in the AFC, holding opponents to 100.3 yards per game. The Jaguars defense under Smith’s direction also finished 12th in the NFL in total defense in ‘07.Prior to joining the Jaguars, Smith spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and was the defensive assistant/defensive line coach from 1999–2001, which included the team’s 2000 Super Bowl winning season. In 2002, Smith served as Baltimore’s linebackers coach.
Before joining the NFL ranks, Smith spent 12 seasons at Tennessee Tech from 1987–1998. He was the Golden Eagles’ defensive coordinator for the last three seasons as the team finished in the top 10 in the nation in total defense (1997 and 1998). He joined the Tennessee Tech staff… as the defensive line coach and then served as the special team coordinator from 1988 to 1995. Prior to his last season with the Golden Eagles, Smith was promoted to as- sistant head coach on top of his defensive coordinator duties.
Smith played college football at East Tennessee (1977–1981) and was named defensive MVP twice at his position. He led the team with a school record 186 tackles as a senior. A native of Daytona Beach, Florida, Smith was born on June 13, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois. He and his wife, Julie, have one daughter, Logan, and reside in Suwanee, Georgia.
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