Frank Smith – August 22, 2023
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Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith
(Just a couple of completions by QB Tua Tagovailoa with the first-team offense outside the numbers. Wanted to just kind of get your gauge on how important that can be for this offense to stress the perimeter of the field this year?) – “I think this time of year, we’re obviously working on our execution in all phases of the offense, so whether it’s inside or outside the numbers, it’s vital for us to understand what we’re trying to accomplish through the concepts. It’s all about what the defense presents or what we’re trying to attack inside of it, so the opportunity to work that part of the offense has been great. Like this next week, each day we’re having emphasis points, so continuing to grow with an emphasis in that area has been great for us.”
(Something I’ve noticed in the two preseason games is a lot of screens whether at wide receiver, running back, tight end. How do you think that can kind of complement what you guys are …?) – “I think just in general, a good screen game is an opportunity to get the ball in space to our playmakers. Half back screens, obviously they get lead blockers. It’s really kind of, in a way, outside zone on level two after you displace them. Perimeter screens, again, our ability to make the defense defend all 53 yards of the field for width. So we’ve always viewed it as a complement to what we do and then going through the offseason and stuff like that, areas of improvement; we’re excited with the growth we’ve had in that and just it’s an overall area that we knew we could improve on and we look to continue to just getting better in all areas over the next week or two.”
(How do you see the left guard battle? It’s close now to the time you have to make a decision.) – “Decisions, we’re not at that time yet. We’ve got a week of work. A lot of stuff we’re trying to emphasize this week can get done. Guys have three more days plus the game. We have time as far as that, as far as making decisions because obviously with guys coming in and executing what the emphases are, we really look forward to this next week to see what a lot of guys are going to do in these situations and look at how they respond.”
(Have there been one or two guys that have really helped themselves this past month?) – “Yeah, I think with just everything, all guys are going through, fighting to make the 53 (man roster). There’s good days, there’s other days, but we’re looking for consistency. So the next three days, I think, plus the game, will really allow us to get a good feel for the way all competitions are going at all positions.”
(A lot of attention this offseason obviously on QB Tua Tagovailoa’s health. I know it’s a limited body work from the other day in Houston, but did you see any signs of Tua being able to protect himself?) – “I think overall, his offseason plan of things he wanted to improve on, I think that he’s had emphasis on areas that he’s been working on and we’ve seen him challenging himself in many of those areas. So I think overall, the way he’s progressed and the way he’s developed through working on all these things has been very impressive for us. I’m really excited for him to continue his growth going through the rest of the preseason and the regular season.”
(How relieved were you when you heard T Terron Armstead’s injury is not serious?) – “Well, Terron (Armstead) and I go way back, so with him, I’m very happy that it wasn’t anything that was going to be major, but he knows when it’s go time. I’m sure he’ll be ready when the lights get bright, but yeah, I’m very happy that it wasn’t anything that was going to be substantial.”
(I know the plan wasn’t for QB Skylar Thompson to play the entirety of the game after QB Tua Tagovailoa went out, but obviously QB Mike White had a situation come up. It seemed like Skylar took advantage of it. What did you like most about his performance?) – “The grit and the tenacity that Skylar (Thompson) plays with just – he’s a competitor and obviously he’s reveling in those more opportunities to play. He’s done a great job for us. His command in the huddle, his execution of what we’re trying to accomplish. Just overall, he’s had a very good camp and really this next week will be a great opportunity for him to continue with that because we really like where he’s progressed and what he’s been able to do so far.”
(On the addition of Offensive Line Coach Butch Barry and how the transition has gone the last six months) – “Everything is about having our coaching staff have a sense of urgency and passion and enthusiasm for what you do, ability to communicate and problem-solve. He’s been a great addition and the communication we’re able to have amongst the staff with all things has been awesome. I think a lot of that comes into our second year of a system. And then him being in it before with Mike (McDaniel), there really is an understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish. So far it’s been great, but however we’ve got to focus on today just because for us right now, the most important thing for us is not look to the future, not what we’ve done. We have to get better today, tomorrow, the next day, for us to get to where we want to go, for us to maximize our goals for the season.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel has talked a lot about game operations, getting to the line, getting the play off. How have you helped and what has been your role in making sure it gets better this year?) – “I’m just facilitating information, helping communicate the standard of performance that we’re looking to have, communicating with guys why we’re doing what we’re doing, why this creates problems. So I think ultimately it’s just our communication of expectations one, as a staff and then two, to the players. That’s been our goal all along, so this year we’ve seen improvement in it, but yet, we have to keep pushing our standard of how we want to operate if we want to make sure the defense is playing on our terms, not on their terms.”
(One specific that’s gotten better about it would be what?) – “I just think our communication about a lot of things, and that comes into Year 2 with us being here, knowing exactly what we’re trying to do, being able to communicate it clearer, the staff understands better. All these things come with more time spent together and the same thing for the players. More time spent together, they understand intent better. They understand how they all work together to accomplish things.”
(Can you describe your level of satisfaction with what you’ve seen with the running back group and do you think there’s enough there to get this offense to where you want it to go this year?) – “We’ve had some good outings and some plays that obviously we can improve our execution. Just overall, they’ve done a very good job. Overall, we’re starting to really understand conceptually what we’re trying to do in the running game and the connection between the runner’s intent, the line’s blocking, perimeter’s blocking, how it all fits. I think just in general you can’t put your finger on one thing. The backs have done a good job, but just overall the connection from everyone and then the level of the sense of urgency to get it done I think has improved, and that’s an area that we want to continue upon, not just say, ‘hey, this has been good.’ We want to keep pushing the bar on our execution in all phases.”
(Do you think the personnel is capable though, overall? Just the guys here already?) – “Yeah, because ultimately the guys here have had the opportunities to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing, understand the communication that goes through each other. So the guys who have been here have done a really good job in understanding the execution of this offense in this system that we’re trying to do.”
(Can you give us a story about working against Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio? We see you in practice talking to him a lot.) – “Vic (Fangio) and I go back to Chicago so I spent three years with him there. He’s been a good friend of mine. He’s been in many ways – late at night, we had conversations back in Chicago and now the same thing where his experience or his wealth of seeing things, wealth of problem-solving, his one-liners are always funny to me. I just enjoy having him here just because if there’s one thing he is, he’s very clear in his expectations, communicating a system and also in his way, once you know him, he has fun every day. So there’s not one specific thing because I enjoy all of it with him because you just never know what day you’re going to get a comment about something that makes me laugh. Normally it’s a one-liner that I wasn’t ready for and I’m like, ‘what?’”
(What’s a one-liner that pops to mind?) – “I can’t even think right now because – I mean, they’re never-ending. He’ll just always have something off the cuff. He’s got kind of a dry, witty sense of humor that I do, so it’ll just be something random. I can’t think of anything right now just because they’re an endless rotation coming from him, which I enjoy and I know a lot of the staff enjoys because he’s being himself. And that’s all you want in this industry is guys who are comfortable with themselves, have fun doing what they’re doing and are really good at what they do.”
(You’re pretty stoic with us. You’ve got some jokes, too?) – “I’m more of like – my years of now going into Year 2 as a coordinator, it’s like, okay, my humor is more not on questions, it’s more situational. So I’m kind of like a giant ‘Arrested Development’ episode. (laughter) So if anyone knows that one, they’ll get it. So for me, right now, this setting is kind of…”
(Which character are you?) – “So many choices. Definitely not Gob. (laughter) As I get used to it more, maybe it’ll come out, but I’m more funny walking around over there as I observe random things going on. It’s probably a blend of ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Arrested Development.’”
(How does Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s sense of humor compare to Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s?) – “It’s a great balance. Both have great timing toward their humor. It’s just the difference in their personalities. But as a coach, I can’t be thankful enough that I get to go every day and you have an environment where it brings out your best, but then you get to also laugh with the people you’re working with. They’re a good balance to each other because they both kind of have timing comedy. So I’m laughing all day. Some other people may be like, ‘what was that?’ But I’m dying. So it’s great for me at least.”
(What have you noticed about your tight ends so far? They were playing the fullback role last game. It seems like you guys have thrown to them in a lot of situations – red zone, first down. I thought I saw maybe a tight end screen attempted once. What have you learned about these guys so far?) – “Like we talked about all along, guys who are able to do the complete skill set of things, because it’s hard playing tight end. Coaching them for six years, I have the most empathy for ‘Embo’ (Jon Embree) because it’s like you’re going to do a little of everything all the time and sometimes you’re learning something inside of a concept as opposed to ‘we expressly tell you so.’ They work hard. Their love of football. All of them possess mental and physical toughness, so I’ve been very pleased with what they’re doing. They accept their role. They thrive when they get their opportunities. So far they’re committed to the cause of each day getting better and it was really cool for Durham (Smythe) to see in a situation like he was, to execute something he’s now done in practice several times. So again, the way you practice, the way you play – that’s why today for us is the most important, making sure that we maximize this opportunity as our growth through the season.”
(Do you have a role that the tight ends must play or are the tight ends showing you guys what they can do?) – “I think everything – as we challenge them with new criteria for each play, concept, what we’re trying to accomplish; their execution in it allows us to go, ‘okay, there’s another thing they can do.’ I think ultimately this time of year is we’re attacking a defense. We’re seeing where are their stress points, where are they vulnerable, and tight ends that are versatile allow us to do that because you can move them around the offense to be either primary pieces or complementary pieces. And when you have guys that can play in-line, fullback, out wide, run primary spots and execute; it allows us to be versatile in what we want to do.”
(What’s that collaborative process with Head Coach Mike McDaniel now that you’re in Year 2? Is there a way that he approaches an offseason after a season’s worth of experiences that you maybe didn’t notice last year?) – “I think it comes with the familiarity with Mike (McDaniel) now. Prior to getting here, not knowing him as well as maybe he knew Wes (Welker) and ‘Embo’ (Jon Embree) who he worked with. But when you go through the season and you have the fire of it all, you work through it and you learn how does he communicate, how can I help. I have always believed in my coaching career that my job is to assist my boss and make sure that I can take things off of his plate. Sometimes you take things off of his plate and he doesn’t know, so it’s anticipation. So I think in Year 2, I can anticipate what he wants better so I can help him where all of a sudden, that’s done, ‘oh yeah, thanks for doing that.’ So I can anticipate him better to help him and then more of it’s just communication. When you can anticipate and you give good communication, the machine just keeps moving faster and faster.”
(Are there any examples of that you can share with us?) – “Just like in training camp, all right, we’re trying to get these couple things done the next couple days. I can lay it out or I can anticipate knowing what he’s probably wanting to do. I can give him an outline of it and he can go yes/no as opposed to maybe he was going to do it. I can give him an outline of it and then he can choose off of that or he can go, ‘hey, why’d you do this?’ And then we can think about it. So it’s just anticipating, communication and anticipating maybe wants or needs that he can do that I can remove from his plate.”
