NOTE: Local viewers who do not have NFL Network you can watch the game on Ch. 10 CBS affiliate.
NIKO SAYS…
So far each week Bucs fans have seen a recurring picture: Josh McCown making mistakes, the Bucs defense getting beat on 3rd downs, no pressure on the QB, and Special Teams blunders. But each 
game the Bucs have also improved in these areas. Sacks were better in week 2, McCown made less mistakes, and the Bucs offense has a few things to hang their hat on: The Bucs are 6th in the NFL in 3rd Down Conversions, getting 50%, a great number. And they are NO.1 in avg yards required to GET a first down when they are in 3rd down, only 3.2 yards needed, another fantastic number. Yet the level of competition just jumped up a notch.
Or maybe a few Notches!!Matt Ryan has stepped up into role as one of the elite QBs in the NFL, THE Elite in fact, as he is top passing QB in the league right now. No one has tossed more yards than Matty Ice (inappropriately named as he has not done well in big games) with 679 yards passing in just two games. It doesn’t get much better for the Bucs defense, as The No.4 and 5 QBs are right around the corner in Roethlisberger and Brees.
But before you wish the Bucs had passing attacks as such, keep one thing in mind. Those three QBs have a combined W/L record of 2-4, in fact over 8 of the top passers this past week LOST their games. So maybe there is something to this Lovie Ball thing, he tells you straight out, were not worried about being the top ranked passing attack.
The Bucs want to just win, and as cliche as that sounds, what it takes to do so is not: Bucs need to get more pressure on the opposing QB, and they are going to have to do it without a healthy Gerald McCoy who may or may not play tonight with a broken hand; he is questionable. The Falcons are hurt but not as bad as the Bucs, this game could go either way as Atlanta cannot rush the passer, and McCown has shown given time, he can pick apart a team.
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, three more to pass Winston Moss (10.5 from 1987-90) for seventh and five more to pass Kevin Murphy (12.0 from 1986-91) and Hugh Green (12.4 from 1981-85) for the fourth-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, three more to pass Scot Brantley (eight from 1980-87), four more to pass Cecil Johnson (nine from 1977- 85) and Richard Wood (nine from 1976-84) for third and five more to pass Dave Lewis (10 from 1977-81) for the second-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.
WR Vincent Jackson
• Jackson has nine 100-yard receiving games as a Buccaneer, the fifth- most in franchise history. He needs three more to tie Joey Galloway (11 from 2004-08) for fourth-most, four more to tie Keyshawn Johnson (12 from 2000-03 – one in postseason) for third-most 100-yard receiving games in franchise history.
• Jackson has 15 receiving touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to tie Reidel Anthony (16 from 1997-2001) for 10th-most, two more to tie Gerald Carter (17 from 1981-87) and Keyshawn Johnson (17 from 2000-03) for eighth-most in franchise history.
RB Doug Martin
• Martin has 1,919 rushing yards as a Buccaneer and needs 21 more to pass LeGarrette Blount (1,939 from 2010-12) for the 10th-most and 137 more to pass Earnest Graham (2,047 from 2004-11) for ninth-most rushing yards in team history.
• 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 12 rushing touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to tie Doug Williams (13 from 1978-1982) and LeGarrette Blount (13 from 2010-12) for 10th-most, three more to tie Earnest Graham (15 from 2004- 11) and Lars Tate (15 from 1988-89) for eighth-most in franchise history.
QB Josh McCown
• If McCown records one of more rushing touchdowns against Atlanta,
he will become the first Buccaneers quarterback to register back-to-back games with at least one rushing touchdown since 2011 (9/25 vs. ATL, 10/3 vs. IND).
DT Gerald McCoy
• McCoy has four career multi-sack games and needs one more to tie Chidi Ahanatou (five from 1993-2004) for the sixth-most, two more to tie David Logan (six from 1979-86) for fifth-most and three more to tie Broderick Thomas (seven from 1989-93) for fourth-most multi-sack games in franchise history.
• McCoy has 19.5 career sacks and needs one more to pass Anthony McFarland (20.0 from 1999-2006) for the fourth-most sacks by a defensive tackle in team history.
RB Bobby Rainey
• Rainey rushed for 144 yards against St. Louis (9/14). With 100 or more yards against Atlanta, Rainey can become the first Buccaneers running back to record 100-plus rushing yards in consecutive games since 2012 (RB Doug Martin, 10/25 at MIN, 11/4 at OAK).
LAST GAME RECAP…
St. Louis 19, Tampa Bay 17 (Sunday, September 14, 2014)
TAMPA – In Week 2, Tampa Bay hosted the St. Louis Rams, losing a tight battle, 19-17. The Buccaneers offense began the game and got off to a quick start, sparked by a 24-yard rush by running back Bobby Rainey. Quarterback Josh McCown then proceeded to lead the team down the field and, on third-and-5 from the St. Louis 5, kept the ball and ran it in for the touchdown and the early 7-0 Tampa Bay lead. The Rams responded with a scoring drive of their own, marching 80 yards in 10 plays and scoring with a two-yard touchdown rush by running back Zac Stacy. The next Tampa Bay drive extended into the second quarter, with the Buccaneers driving deep into St. Louis territory. However, McCown was intercepted as he threw on the run, ending Tampa Bay’s chance to score and setting the Rams up at their own two-yard-line. Tampa Bay was able to force a Rams punt, but then punted on its own following possession. After a 51-minute lightning delay, play resumed with a St. Louis punt. The next Tampa Bay punt was blocked and the Rams took possession at the Tampa Bay 28. St. Louis was able to tack on a 36-yard field goal before halftime, giving the visiting team a 10-7 lead. The Rams opened play in the third quarter, and a Stacy fumble was recovered by safety Dashon Goldson near midfield. McCown then hit wide receiver Vincent Jackson on two big passes for 18 and 20 yards on the following drive, helping set up a 10-yard run by Rainey to put the Buccaneers at the St. Louis 1.
McCown proceeded to dive into the end zone for the one-yard touchdown, putting Tampa Bay up, 14-10. The Rams answered with a drive to the Tampa Bay 17, where they settled for a 35-yard field goal by kicker Greg Zuerlein to make the score 14-13, Buccaneers. On the resulting kickoff, Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Owusu managed to cross midfield, and an additional facemask penalty against the Rams set up the Buccaneers offense at the St. Louis 30, where Rainey rushed for 18 yards – giving him his third career 100-yard rushing game – and set up a Buccaneers field goal attempt. St. Louis safety T.J. McDonald blocked the attempt, however, and the Rams recovered the ball to begin the final quarter of play. St. Louis was then able to re-take the lead on a 46-yard field goal by Zuerlein. The Buccaneers answered with a field goal of their own, as a big 31-yard rush by Rainey set up the 36-yard field goal by Patrick Murray to give Tampa Bay a 17-16 lead with just over five minutes left in the game. However, the Rams took a late 19-17 lead with a 38-yard field goal, leaving the Buccaneers with only 38 seconds to try to score. Tampa Bay managed to drive into St. Louis territory, but wide receiver Mike Evans took a hard hit following a 29-yard completion and, with no timeouts left, the Buccaneers were assessed a 10-second runoff penalty for a down player under the two-minute warning. With only eight seconds remaining at the time of the penalty, the game was declared over.
NOTES FROM LAST GAME…
– The Buccaneers scored on the game’s opening possession, going 77 yards in 10 plays, capped off by QB Josh McCown running the ball in from five yards out to give Tampa Bay the game’s first points. The rushing score was McCown’s first as a Buccaneer and the first rushing touchdown by a Buccaneers quarterback since Josh Freeman in 2011 (12/24 at Carolina).
– On the game’s opening drive, WR Robert Herron caught his first career pass, a screen that he took for eight yards.
– The last time the Buccaneers scored on the opening possession of the game was against Buffalo on December 8, 2013.
– McCown finished the first half completing 10-of-12 passes, for a completion rate of 83.3, the highest by a Buccaneers quarterback since November 3, 2013 (Mike Glennon at Seattle, 10-for-11, 86.7 percent).
– McCown finished the day completing 16-of-21 passes, a 76.2 percent completion rate, which ranks as the third-best single game mark of his career.
– On the opening drive of the second half, DE Scott Solomon forced a fumble by Rams RB Zac Stacy, recovered by S Dashon Goldson. That is Goldson’s sixth career fumble recovery and his second as a Buccaneer. The forced fumble is the first of Solomon’s career.
– On the ensuing possession, McCown scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, getting into the endzone on a one-yard quarterback keeper. McCown is only the second quarterback in Bucs history to record multiple rushing touchdowns in the same game, joining Steve Young (2 vs. Buffalo, 11/2/86)
– Sunday marked the second game of McCown’s career with multiple rushing touchdowns. The only other time he has done so was as a member of the Arizona Cardinals in 2004, against St. Louis (12/19/04). McCown now has four career rushing touchdowns against St. Louis, tied for the third-most of any opposing quarterback against the Rams.
– DT Clinton McDonald recorded his first sack as a Buccaneer in the third quarter, dropping Rams QB Austin Davis for a 10-yard loss. Later in the game, DE William Gholston recorded his first sack of the season, bringing Davis down for a five-yard loss.
– Following a Rams field goal, Chris Owusu returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards, the longest kick return for the Buccaneers since Arrelious Benn returned a kick 55 yards in 2012 at the New York Giants (9/16/12).
– K Patrick Murray made his first career field goal in the fourth quarter of today’s game, connecting on a 36-yard attempt.
– S Dashon Goldson led the team in tackles with 11, his first game with double-digit tackles as a Buccaneer.
– During the second quarter, the game was delayed 51 minutes due to lightning in the area.
LAST MEETING…
Note: See yesterdays post for Video clip from last years VJax TD at Atlanta.
Tampa Bay 48, Atlanta 28, (November 17, 2013)
TAMPA – In Week 11, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked to avenge the
season’s earlier loss to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons and did so in convincing fashion, winning the game 41-28. The Buccaneers ended their first drive of the game with a punt, but on the Falcons’ opening drive, Tampa Bay defensive tackle Gerald McCoy recorded sacks of quarterback Matt Ryan on two consecutive plays, forcing a third-and-24 situation that led to an Atlanta punt. Tampa Bay ate up the clock on its next drive, moving downfield with a grinding running game led by running backs Bobby Rainey and Brian Leonard. An untimely penalty stalled the drive in Atlanta territory, and the Buccaneers settled for a 30-yard field goal by kicker Rian Lindell. The Falcons answered with a field goal of their own on the following drive, settling for the 46-yard attempt after, on third-and-8, McCoy recorded his third sack of Ryan. On the first play from scrimmage of the next drive, Tampa Bay quarterback Mike Glennon connected with wide receiver Vincent Jackson on a 47- yard pass and the Buccaneers proceeded to take the 10-3 lead as Rainey sprinted 43 yards – the longest Tampa Bay run from scrimmage on the season – for a touchdown. The Buccaneers then attempted an onside kick, successfully surprising the Falcons and recovering the ball. When the drive stalled, Tampa Bay went back into the bag of tricks and attempted a fake field goal, with punter Michael Koenen throwing deep for the end zone, but the pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs at the Atlanta 34. Ryan was picked off on the first play of the ensuing drive by linebacker Mason Foster, who ran the ball back 37 yards for a touchdown and the 17-3 Tampa Bay lead. Atlanta’s mistakes continued, with a fumble by wide receiver Roddy White that was recovered by safety Mark Barron. The change in possession led to another Rainey touchdown on a three-yard carry five plays later. The Falcons then made the score 24-6 following a second Matt Bryant field goal before halftime. Atlanta opened the second half turning the ball over on downs at the Tampa Bay 33, which the Buccaneers turned into a 30-6 lead as Glennon hit Jackson with a 53-yard pass to set up a four- yard receiving touchdown by Rainey. The Falcons’ next drive ended with a blocked punt, giving the Buccaneers the ball deep in Atlanta territory. Tampa used the opportunity to score on a three-yard thouchdown pass from Glennon to Jackson. The touchdown pass marked the 11th of Glennon’s career, the most for a rookie in a team history. Atlanta responded with its first touchdown of the day, an 80-yard score on a pass from Ryan to wide receiver Harry Douglas. The Buccaneers then punted, but a Ryan interception by safety Dashon Goldson quickly returned the ball to Glennon and the Tampa Bay offense, which capitalized with a 46- yard Lindell field goal. The Falcons managed to cut into the Tampa Bay lead, scoring on two consecutive possessions late in the fourth quarter – first a 50-yard rush by running back Antone Smith with a successful two-point conversion, and then a six-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to White – but ultimately the Buccaneers prevailed with the 41-28 victory.
HISTORY! SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
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…
Below are highlights of how select Buccaneers have performed during RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
their careers against the Atlanta Falcons:
DT Gerald McCoy: Recorded first career three sack game in a 41-28 victory (11/17/13).
S Dashon Goldson: Recorded interception and forced one fumble in a 41-28 victory last season (11/17/13).
LB Lavonte David: Tallied a total of 19 tackles last season in two games against the Falcons. In the first, he recorded 10 tackles (10/20/13) and in the second game he recorded nine tackles (11/17/13).
Recorded eight tackles and one sack, dropping Falcons QB Matt Ryan for a 14-yard loss (12/30/12).
LB Mason Foster: Recorded one interception and returned 37 yards for a touchdown in a 48-21 victory (11/17/13). Totaled 12 tackles in a Buccaneers win (12/30/12).
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).
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 on 30 attempts with two rushing touchdowns, and added two catches for four yards and a touchdown in a win (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.
QB Mike Glennon combined to go 46-of-67 passing for 487 yards, four 165 V. Jackson touchdowns and zero interceptions against Atlanta in 2013, going 26- 161 J. Galloway of-44 and 256 yards and two touchdowns in a loss (10/20/13) and 20- 138 V. Jackson 23 (87.0%) and 231 yards with two touchdowns in a win (11/17/13)… 131 K. Johnson His 87.0% completion percentage in the win (11/17/13) is the second 126 K. House highest in team history (Vinny Testeverde-88.0%)
MIKE SMITH- FALCONS HEAD COACH
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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