WEBVTT - Terell Smith on Vikings matchup, seizing opportunities | Bears Weekly 0:00:00.920 --> 0:00:05.120 Welcome in to Bears Weekly, powered by IGS Energy by 0:00:05.240 --> 0:00:09.039 Chicago Bears Network Production. Bears Weekly is brought to you 0:00:09.080 --> 0:00:16.760 by Advocate Healthcare, Athletico Physical Therapy, CD Jellaghy, Connie's Pizza, IGS. 0:00:16.120 --> 0:00:17.800 Energy, and Mener Liked. 0:00:18.360 --> 0:00:21.880 Here are your hosts, Jeff Chiliact aka the Mayor of 0:00:21.960 --> 0:00:25.759 Bearsville and his sidekick, Tom the Surfmaster Thayers. 0:00:26.360 --> 0:00:30.040 While we roar into week twelve, the Bears hosted Surprising 0:00:30.080 --> 0:00:32.560 eight and two vikings at Soldier Field Sunday at noon. 0:00:33.000 --> 0:00:35.080 Good to have you alongside with Bears Super Bowl winning 0:00:35.159 --> 0:00:35.960 guard Tom Thayer. 0:00:36.000 --> 0:00:36.879 I'm Jeff Joniac. 0:00:36.920 --> 0:00:37.239 Coming up. 0:00:37.240 --> 0:00:39.839 We visit with second year cornerback Tarrell Smith in the 0:00:40.040 --> 0:00:41.640 ESPN studio spind of the Dows Tonight. 0:00:41.680 --> 0:00:42.720 We thank Hendra Smith. 0:00:42.760 --> 0:00:45.320 Thanks to our producers Dan Brilliant, Jordan Treidap from the Bears, 0:00:45.479 --> 0:00:47.800 and the executive producer of the Bears Radio Network is 0:00:47.880 --> 0:00:48.600 Eric Ostrowski. 0:00:48.880 --> 0:00:49.560 Tom Good Evening. 0:00:49.600 --> 0:00:51.879 I'm trying to get a feel for exactly who these 0:00:51.960 --> 0:00:55.320 Vikings are and I can't quite figure them out. I 0:00:55.360 --> 0:00:59.600 know they're very talented. Defensively, Sam Darnold's having a big 0:00:59.640 --> 0:01:02.680 comeback Player of the Year type of moment at quarterback, 0:01:03.000 --> 0:01:05.760 or maybe it's put it in the category of comeback 0:01:05.800 --> 0:01:09.640 career moment for Sam Darnald has bounced around a lot, 0:01:10.160 --> 0:01:12.880 and they've got Aaron Jones and they've got Justin Jefferson, 0:01:12.959 --> 0:01:15.040 and boy, they've ripped off some nice wins. 0:01:15.800 --> 0:01:17.600 But you know what's great about that, jeff and I'm 0:01:17.600 --> 0:01:19.080 glad that you bring all that up. 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:20.920 But look at the reverse side of it. 0:01:21.040 --> 0:01:23.319 Minnesota Vikings are trying to do the same thing with 0:01:23.440 --> 0:01:28.200 the new lead on offense Chicago Bears. There's not the analytics, 0:01:28.280 --> 0:01:31.160 there's not the tendencies. You don't understand how the offensive 0:01:31.160 --> 0:01:34.199 coordinator thinks you see the offense being able to play 0:01:34.240 --> 0:01:36.440 a better brand of football. What we know about the 0:01:36.480 --> 0:01:39.280 Minnesota Vikings is they're willing to take chances at the 0:01:39.319 --> 0:01:42.319 defensive line of scrimmage. They're gonna show you more bodies 0:01:42.360 --> 0:01:44.479 than you think you're capable of blocking, but they're only 0:01:44.560 --> 0:01:47.000 going to bring a certain number of those because they 0:01:47.040 --> 0:01:50.520 still have to have coverage responsibilities. And then on offense, 0:01:50.880 --> 0:01:55.480 Stam Darnald started his career really failing to live up 0:01:55.480 --> 0:01:58.000 to where he was drafted in the hype surrounding him 0:01:58.000 --> 0:02:00.800 coming out of college. He's had a rehisas surgeons at 0:02:00.880 --> 0:02:03.320 the beginning of this season. But you don't know how 0:02:03.360 --> 0:02:05.840 long it'll last. That's what's the great thing about this 0:02:05.960 --> 0:02:09.760 upcoming game. There's so much of the unknown that's gonna 0:02:09.919 --> 0:02:13.280 that's gonna go into this game that it's gonna be 0:02:13.320 --> 0:02:16.400 a great game on the Lake front to watch on 0:02:16.480 --> 0:02:17.280 Sunday afternoon. 0:02:17.360 --> 0:02:19.360 Here's my theme this week, Tom, have some fun and 0:02:19.400 --> 0:02:22.320 make a run. Yes, what do you got to lose? 0:02:22.440 --> 0:02:23.400 You got seven games? 0:02:23.440 --> 0:02:26.600 Man? I love it. I do you know? 0:02:26.800 --> 0:02:29.840 Let it run? Is that Caleb running for first downs? 0:02:29.919 --> 0:02:31.920 Is that the running game? Running for first downs? Is 0:02:31.919 --> 0:02:34.360 that the Bears as a team making a run down 0:02:34.400 --> 0:02:37.480 the home stretch here. There's so many different ways that 0:02:37.560 --> 0:02:41.919 you can look at it. And after, you know, after 0:02:42.000 --> 0:02:44.200 thinking about this game for a week and what the 0:02:44.240 --> 0:02:47.600 Bears did on offense last week, I think I think 0:02:47.680 --> 0:02:50.960 there's you know, some concern up there in Minnesota just 0:02:51.000 --> 0:02:54.359 because they don't have analytical proof on what the Bears 0:02:54.360 --> 0:02:56.040 are gonna come out and try. 0:02:55.840 --> 0:02:57.560 To do, attempt to do and can do. 0:02:57.919 --> 0:03:01.360 Tom, in your opinion, what did cale legs getting seventy 0:03:01.440 --> 0:03:03.520 yards last week? And pick them up all those first 0:03:03.560 --> 0:03:07.600 downs on third down maybe due to what Brian Floores 0:03:07.680 --> 0:03:10.360 wants to do against him in terms of pressure. 0:03:11.240 --> 0:03:13.239 Well, the thing about it is, now I'm thinking of 0:03:13.280 --> 0:03:13.960 Brian Flores. 0:03:14.000 --> 0:03:15.560 Do I have to keep a spy at. 0:03:15.400 --> 0:03:18.280 Home instead of being able to have an exotic line 0:03:18.280 --> 0:03:20.720 of scrimmage with multiple bodies on the line of scrimmage? 0:03:20.760 --> 0:03:22.760 Do I have to keep one at the second level 0:03:23.120 --> 0:03:26.480 at all times in case Caleb decides to run with 0:03:26.520 --> 0:03:29.120 the ball, And then that kind of helps the offense 0:03:29.160 --> 0:03:30.399 because there's a limited. 0:03:30.120 --> 0:03:32.200 Amount of blockable bodies up with the line of. 0:03:32.120 --> 0:03:34.960 Scrimmage, so you know, and then you have to be 0:03:35.040 --> 0:03:38.400 concerned about the assets that they can Jeff Joni X 0:03:38.480 --> 0:03:42.800 word deploy at the offensive line of scrimmage because when 0:03:42.840 --> 0:03:46.080 you're talking about the amount of quality receivers they have 0:03:46.560 --> 0:03:50.640 receivers out of the backfield, listen, you better fulfill those 0:03:50.680 --> 0:03:53.240 concerns as well. And if you get a guy that 0:03:53.560 --> 0:03:56.400 is thirty six years old and Harrison Smith and you 0:03:56.480 --> 0:03:58.400 think that he can match up on one of these 0:03:58.440 --> 0:04:02.640 receivers all game or have individual responsibilities against a tight 0:04:02.760 --> 0:04:07.160 end like Cole Comet or Jerald Everett, you're kind of 0:04:07.200 --> 0:04:08.080 fooling yourself. 0:04:08.800 --> 0:04:10.680 So in the two games that they gave up the 0:04:10.720 --> 0:04:13.800 most rushing yards this season, that happened to be Week 0:04:13.880 --> 0:04:17.200 seven against Detroit they got beat thirty. 0:04:16.920 --> 0:04:17.760 One to twenty nine. 0:04:18.160 --> 0:04:20.200 They gave up one hundred and forty four yards. That's 0:04:20.480 --> 0:04:23.760 a pocket throwing quarterback, obviously in Jared Goff. Then against 0:04:23.760 --> 0:04:25.880 the Rams the following week, they lost that game as well. 0:04:25.920 --> 0:04:29.239 I lost by ten, And that's Matthew Stafford, a pocket 0:04:29.279 --> 0:04:31.559 throwing quarterback. They ran for one oh seven and thirty 0:04:31.560 --> 0:04:34.599 two carries, didn't get a lot of yards per carry, 0:04:34.640 --> 0:04:36.840 but they managed to hit that one hundred mark. They 0:04:36.839 --> 0:04:39.679 did again against San Francisco, but San Francisco won that game. 0:04:39.880 --> 0:04:40.359 I'm looking. 0:04:40.400 --> 0:04:46.560 They played the Giants, Frisco, Houston Packers, Jets, Lions, Rams, Colts, 0:04:47.000 --> 0:04:49.640 but Anthony Richardson didn't play in that game. If I'm 0:04:49.680 --> 0:04:52.760 not mistaken, then Jack, So they haven't played a quarterback 0:04:52.839 --> 0:04:54.799 like Caleb correct. 0:04:55.200 --> 0:04:57.080 You know when you go back and you watch the 0:04:57.160 --> 0:04:59.960 Jets game and you look at Aaron Rodgers uses instant 0:05:00.279 --> 0:05:05.279 against this Minnesota Vikings, it's not necessarily he was. He 0:05:05.360 --> 0:05:08.320 had greatness thrust upon him in that game. But he 0:05:08.400 --> 0:05:11.760 knew the avoidable, he knew how to extend protection, he 0:05:11.839 --> 0:05:13.799 knew how to step up in front of the rush, 0:05:13.839 --> 0:05:16.560 and so there's kind of interesting aspects that you have 0:05:16.640 --> 0:05:20.240 to look at depending upon the quality and the athleticism 0:05:20.279 --> 0:05:23.680 of the quarterback that they're playing against. But as you mentioned, 0:05:24.040 --> 0:05:27.240 Caleb is super creative with his feet. If he understands 0:05:27.279 --> 0:05:29.600 the same instincts that he did last week against Green 0:05:29.640 --> 0:05:32.520 Bay and he knows exactly when to eject the pocket 0:05:32.960 --> 0:05:35.440 all of a sudden, that makes me suspicious as a 0:05:35.480 --> 0:05:37.919 defensive coordinator if I have to start laying off the 0:05:37.960 --> 0:05:38.760 line of scrimmage. 0:05:38.839 --> 0:05:42.520 Yeah, it's an interesting chess match and it's Thursday, so 0:05:42.600 --> 0:05:45.240 that means it's coordinator Thursday time. Thomas Brown at the 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:49.400 podium today. Didn't want a lot of flowers about what 0:05:49.520 --> 0:05:53.599 was accomplished in that game offensively in light of the loss. 0:05:53.640 --> 0:05:56.400 Here he is Thomas Brown, second time of the podium 0:05:56.400 --> 0:05:58.359 this year as Bears offensive coordinator. 0:05:59.360 --> 0:06:02.839 Boys, in this game, we played the game to win 0:06:03.040 --> 0:06:05.360 and we came up short. But I want to start 0:06:05.400 --> 0:06:08.800 first by saying how much I appreciate the response from 0:06:08.839 --> 0:06:12.640 our coaches and our players, because last week on Wednesday 0:06:13.279 --> 0:06:17.360 really challenged the entire group, all the coaches included myself, 0:06:18.120 --> 0:06:21.560 all the players, to do more, to give more, to 0:06:21.640 --> 0:06:24.599 be accountable, to practice harder, so we have an opportunity 0:06:24.640 --> 0:06:26.960 to go play well. And those guys did everything we 0:06:27.000 --> 0:06:30.080 asked them to do, and so it's obviously frustrated when 0:06:30.080 --> 0:06:31.920 it comes to, you know, not being able to get 0:06:31.920 --> 0:06:35.560 the result we wanted. But I'm excited and encourage and 0:06:35.560 --> 0:06:37.200 continue to do really good jobs and to lead the 0:06:37.240 --> 0:06:40.800 group and build upon that. And we have a great 0:06:40.880 --> 0:06:44.200 challenge this week that I'm excited about as a top 0:06:44.240 --> 0:06:46.359 tier defense that plays aggressive. 0:06:46.680 --> 0:06:47.320 So we continue to. 0:06:47.320 --> 0:06:50.479 Keep talking about the principles that lead towards us playing well, 0:06:50.839 --> 0:06:54.440 starting first with how we prepare, the mentality behind it. 0:06:55.040 --> 0:06:58.039 And you know, football is a violent game and the 0:06:58.120 --> 0:07:01.479 rewards those to play the game viol only, so taking 0:07:01.520 --> 0:07:04.640 it from a preparation standpoint throughout the week so hopefully 0:07:04.640 --> 0:07:05.760 show them the right way on game there. 0:07:06.080 --> 0:07:08.520 It's hard to find weaknesses in this defense to. 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:11.600 Do a really good job they I don't know Brian 0:07:11.640 --> 0:07:14.120 Floyes all that well, but I've met him a couple 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:15.760 of times. I think one of the biggest compliments you 0:07:15.800 --> 0:07:19.000 can get as the coaches, your unit takes on your personality, 0:07:19.320 --> 0:07:23.560 and so they are aggressive, they are attacking, they are opportunistic, 0:07:24.120 --> 0:07:25.880 and so it's gonna be important for us to go 0:07:25.920 --> 0:07:29.280 into the game. To me, always first and foremost like 0:07:29.320 --> 0:07:31.880 play with no fear, Like we're not gonna coach scared, 0:07:31.880 --> 0:07:34.280 They're gonna play scared. And so to me, that starts 0:07:34.280 --> 0:07:37.400 first with preparation, because fear and the faith on leagues 0:07:37.400 --> 0:07:38.080 just in the future. 0:07:38.480 --> 0:07:40.280 So why fear what hasn't even happened yet. 0:07:40.920 --> 0:07:42.880 So I think about our guys being able to have 0:07:42.960 --> 0:07:46.000 confidence in the game plan to build that based on 0:07:46.320 --> 0:07:49.120 preparation throughout the week. Then on game they later up 0:07:49.160 --> 0:07:52.560 man like, we don't fear failure or fear mistakes. You 0:07:52.640 --> 0:07:55.280 learn from those opportunities and they continue to keep swinging. 0:07:55.680 --> 0:07:59.240 Thomas Caleb said the other day with what felt different 0:07:59.640 --> 0:08:00.000 with you? 0:08:00.600 --> 0:08:03.600 And he said, we felt like we were more in control. 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:06.400 You've been on the headset now the entire season, but 0:08:06.440 --> 0:08:08.680 to be in that spot where you're calling plays. 0:08:09.040 --> 0:08:10.240 Can did you feel that same? 0:08:10.280 --> 0:08:12.200 And like what would control look like for you? 0:08:13.000 --> 0:08:15.840 Yeah? Man, I feel good. I think it all starts 0:08:15.840 --> 0:08:16.480 with how you prepare. 0:08:16.840 --> 0:08:19.120 To me, when you get the game day, either done 0:08:19.200 --> 0:08:20.800 enough to give yourself a chance to play well all 0:08:20.840 --> 0:08:22.800 you didn't, so I kind of had good piece of 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:24.840 mind just based on what we did throughout the week, 0:08:25.120 --> 0:08:27.880 the game plan put together, and again my goal is 0:08:27.880 --> 0:08:29.440 always to put us in the best spots for our 0:08:29.480 --> 0:08:32.079 guys to make plays based on tennessees, based on how 0:08:32.120 --> 0:08:35.520 we set the game up, based on formation, motion variations. 0:08:35.920 --> 0:08:37.760 So definitely believe in you know. 0:08:37.760 --> 0:08:41.520 Marying and running the past, marrying formations and motions. From 0:08:41.559 --> 0:08:44.520 a defensive standpoint, they're basing a lot of their calls 0:08:44.559 --> 0:08:47.960 off of obviously your previous tendencies, which I had none 0:08:48.000 --> 0:08:50.840 before this game here obviously, but also off of just 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:54.560 your alignments like two by two, three point one formation 0:08:54.600 --> 0:08:56.800 into the boundary, similar motions. So trying to do a 0:08:56.840 --> 0:08:59.199 really good job of you know, put a seat of 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:01.200 down in the in the minds of the defenders before 0:09:01.240 --> 0:09:02.959 the ball stamps to give us an advantage of able 0:09:02.960 --> 0:09:05.520 to go play more aggressive. But the sequence was about 0:09:06.440 --> 0:09:08.880 obviously attacking the defense, getting our guys involved early in 0:09:08.920 --> 0:09:10.720 the game, so we got to spread the wealth around, 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:13.000 but obviously make this's got to defend every blade of 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:17.160 grass when it comes to the vertical passing game, to keepers, 0:09:17.200 --> 0:09:19.520 to screens, to the run game as well, and also 0:09:20.040 --> 0:09:20.840 ball out plays. 0:09:20.920 --> 0:09:23.520 Really you didn't simplify the offense, but how did you 0:09:23.559 --> 0:09:26.560 want to make sure you clearly communicated on Sunday first 0:09:26.600 --> 0:09:28.440 time he's hearing your voice and you guys are making 0:09:28.480 --> 0:09:29.400 that transition together. 0:09:29.800 --> 0:09:31.480 I think it's a working in progress throughout the week. 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:33.880 I think just making sure that I'm communicating clear and 0:09:33.920 --> 0:09:37.760 concise to him and also asking the voice feedback. Just 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:40.280 as far as do you want some reminders in the 0:09:40.320 --> 0:09:42.880 headset about this particular play. Do you want to reminder 0:09:42.920 --> 0:09:45.600 by the motion standpoint, that's my job again to take 0:09:45.600 --> 0:09:46.679 alleviate stress. 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:46.880 Off of him. 0:09:46.920 --> 0:09:49.480 I think, as you did design of offense and call 0:09:49.520 --> 0:09:50.960 the game, I want to try to find ways to 0:09:51.000 --> 0:09:54.160 alleviate stress off the two more secual positions, which is 0:09:54.240 --> 0:09:56.720 the line and the quarterback. So we can do that 0:09:56.760 --> 0:09:58.640 through the use of shifting motions. We can do it 0:09:58.640 --> 0:10:00.760 obviously to the run game, we can do it through 0:10:00.800 --> 0:10:03.600 the use of screens, but also how many ways can 0:10:03.640 --> 0:10:06.720 we design unsackable place that's you know, always to go 0:10:06.840 --> 0:10:09.280 ball a lot of mentality, but a guy's playing space 0:10:09.280 --> 0:10:12.720 he can be decisive, because decisive is effective well. 0:10:12.600 --> 0:10:15.040 With regard to With regard to Adam's question, are there 0:10:15.080 --> 0:10:18.160 wrinkles that you can add incrementally each week? That are 0:10:18.600 --> 0:10:22.280 you know what you want to do uh each week 0:10:22.800 --> 0:10:26.040 or can you only basically run Shane's offense? 0:10:26.600 --> 0:10:30.199 Yeah, I definitely understand the question. The wrinkles I want 0:10:30.200 --> 0:10:31.480 to add is what it is best for our team. 0:10:31.760 --> 0:10:33.920 So it's regardless of what I may want to do 0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:37.760 because it's not about me. And I think about again 0:10:37.920 --> 0:10:39.840 where we are right now, what our guys have time 0:10:39.880 --> 0:10:42.240 on task with, and we will continue to kind of 0:10:42.240 --> 0:10:44.000 put in place as far as what we've done throughout 0:10:44.000 --> 0:10:46.360 the entire season with being able to kind of merit 0:10:46.400 --> 0:10:48.800 some stuff up, dress it up differently, give a defense 0:10:48.800 --> 0:10:51.000 the different presentation they get the stuff we've been doing 0:10:51.000 --> 0:10:51.760 time on task with. 0:10:52.240 --> 0:10:56.000 So do you know things that like next year you 0:10:56.040 --> 0:10:58.360 would do totally differently than what you know that you 0:10:58.400 --> 0:11:00.280 can't do now that you want to do in the 0:11:00.280 --> 0:11:01.800 back of your mind or the things like that. 0:11:01.800 --> 0:11:03.199 That's that's much different. 0:11:03.120 --> 0:11:04.880 And not which I had the luxury of thinking about 0:11:04.920 --> 0:11:08.320 next year, you know, But I definite understand you know 0:11:08.360 --> 0:11:10.640 what you're what you're asking me, But honestly, I know 0:11:10.679 --> 0:11:13.640 it sounded like coach speak, but I am where my 0:11:13.679 --> 0:11:16.760 feet are, and today we have a great opportunity to 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:19.600 go have some situational working third down. He's got done 0:11:19.600 --> 0:11:22.199 with workings in two minutes. And in the all season, 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:24.080 what I kind of do my brainstorm and thinking about 0:11:24.120 --> 0:11:26.240 what I want to do. I think about what I 0:11:26.280 --> 0:11:28.200 have to do. Now, that's what's the most important thing. 0:11:28.520 --> 0:11:30.800 All right, So love everything he has to say. He 0:11:30.800 --> 0:11:33.560 says every He says all the right stuff. Tom does 0:11:33.559 --> 0:11:34.000 he not. 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:37.040 He does, but he's not prepared. He doesn't know these 0:11:37.120 --> 0:11:40.800 questions beforehand. He's answering off the top of his head, 0:11:40.960 --> 0:11:44.600 and he sounds super intelligent and really sustinct to the 0:11:44.640 --> 0:11:47.360 point of what they're asking him. The only question I 0:11:47.400 --> 0:11:51.640 didn't like is about next year. Listen, man, keep that 0:11:51.640 --> 0:11:54.240 that's not even your in your windshield. And then the 0:11:54.280 --> 0:11:58.559 thing about he said about tendencies. They don't know his tendencies, 0:11:58.840 --> 0:12:03.720 so analytically, they can't prepare in that portion of you know, 0:12:03.920 --> 0:12:07.520 investigative football right now because they're just getting to know 0:12:07.920 --> 0:12:11.560 Thomas Brown and how he calls football game, and you 0:12:11.600 --> 0:12:14.320 know he's not gonna change and make wholesale changes in 0:12:14.360 --> 0:12:17.079 this offense. He's gonna do exactly what they've been practicing. 0:12:17.440 --> 0:12:19.280 He's got a lot of weapons to choose from, a 0:12:19.280 --> 0:12:21.920 lot of things to implement, and he speaks his mind 0:12:22.080 --> 0:12:22.959 right to the point. 0:12:23.040 --> 0:12:23.360 Love it. 0:12:23.400 --> 0:12:26.120 That's Thomas Brown, That's Tom Thayer. I'm Jeff Joniac and 0:12:26.120 --> 0:12:28.400 this is Bears Weekly. Coming up next our interview with 0:12:28.480 --> 0:12:31.160 Terrell Smith, the Bears second year cornerback. It's all here 0:12:31.200 --> 0:12:33.600 on ESPN one thousand of the Bears Radio Network. 0:12:33.960 --> 0:12:37.960 Well, welcome back to Bears Weekly on the Bears Radio Network. 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:41.920 Here's your host, the Voice of the Bears, Jeff Jack. 0:12:45.800 --> 0:12:48.200 This segment of Bears Weekly is brought to you by 0:12:48.360 --> 0:12:53.160 IGS Energy. Welcome back to Bears Weekly on ESPN one 0:12:53.160 --> 0:12:55.440 thousand of the Bears Radio Network with Super Bowl winning 0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:56.280 Bears guard towm theairre. 0:12:56.280 --> 0:12:57.120 I'm Jeff Joniack. 0:12:57.120 --> 0:12:59.200 We're brought to you by IGS Energy, and our special 0:12:59.240 --> 0:13:01.320 guest this week is the man they call Smitty or 0:13:01.360 --> 0:13:03.559 tea time. As I found out from the University of 0:13:03.559 --> 0:13:06.079 Minnesuotarel Smith. How you doing man, Thanks for taking the time. 0:13:06.480 --> 0:13:08.520 Good, how are you appreciation Let's go through. 0:13:08.360 --> 0:13:09.120 Those right away. 0:13:09.280 --> 0:13:09.720 Tea time? 0:13:09.800 --> 0:13:10.480 How'd that start? 0:13:10.600 --> 0:13:13.520 So that started back in high school with my track 0:13:13.559 --> 0:13:15.960 coach started calling me that probably like my sophomore year 0:13:15.960 --> 0:13:17.760 in high school, and then it just stuck. 0:13:18.000 --> 0:13:21.200 Yeah, tea time because when it's time to go, you're flying. 0:13:21.200 --> 0:13:23.320 You won the hundred meter right in the state. What'd 0:13:23.320 --> 0:13:23.920 you run it in? 0:13:24.360 --> 0:13:25.080 Ten thirty two? 0:13:25.400 --> 0:13:27.840 Not shabby, min man? What's your forty time? 0:13:28.320 --> 0:13:29.000 Four for one? 0:13:29.160 --> 0:13:30.440 All right? That works for me. 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:33.560 And then Smitty is from head coach Matt Eberflus. Is 0:13:33.600 --> 0:13:35.240 that taking rooty in this building? 0:13:35.440 --> 0:13:35.560 Oh? 0:13:35.640 --> 0:13:38.480 Yeah, that caught him real quick. Yeah, like first first 0:13:38.600 --> 0:13:39.120 day or two. 0:13:39.520 --> 0:13:40.959 Yeah, that was it. 0:13:40.960 --> 0:13:42.839 It's a no brainer. Really, you like it? 0:13:42.920 --> 0:13:43.079 Right? 0:13:43.200 --> 0:13:43.360 Yeah? 0:13:43.360 --> 0:13:43.800 It's cool. 0:13:43.880 --> 0:13:46.080 Every single person that I've ever grown up with in 0:13:46.120 --> 0:13:49.280 my life that their last name is Smith, they immediately 0:13:49.320 --> 0:13:51.839 became Smitty, So something. 0:13:51.679 --> 0:13:53.080 Kind of you're born with Hey Trell. 0:13:53.200 --> 0:13:55.520 So my brother in law played eleven years for the 0:13:55.520 --> 0:13:58.720 Atlanta Falcons and he lived in Gwyette County. Oh and 0:13:58.760 --> 0:14:01.240 I remember this big water tower above the city and 0:14:01.280 --> 0:14:02.720 it says Gwinnett is great? 0:14:03.600 --> 0:14:07.760 Why how did you make it from Gwinnett to Minnesota? 0:14:08.080 --> 0:14:10.520 You know, Coach Fleck, I just had a really good 0:14:10.559 --> 0:14:13.440 relationship with coach Fleck, and like just the whole recruiting 0:14:13.440 --> 0:14:16.520 process with him was just really good. And that really 0:14:16.559 --> 0:14:19.400 that was like the main question that like during the 0:14:19.440 --> 0:14:21.920 whole draft process too, everyone was asking me, like why 0:14:21.920 --> 0:14:23.440 did I go all the way to Minnesota? 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:25.360 But I enjoyed my time there. 0:14:25.360 --> 0:14:28.160 I really liked coach Fleck, and so that's why I 0:14:28.160 --> 0:14:28.760 went out there. 0:14:29.280 --> 0:14:30.440 It's a great program, you know. 0:14:30.560 --> 0:14:32.600 So Jeff and I have been broadcasting for the Bears 0:14:32.640 --> 0:14:35.320 for a long time, and we've actually broadcasted games within 0:14:35.400 --> 0:14:38.280 your college stadium and some of the coldest weather that 0:14:38.320 --> 0:14:41.400 we ever been There was an outdoor game there in Minnesota. 0:14:41.520 --> 0:14:44.240 Do you think that the time you spent in the 0:14:44.240 --> 0:14:48.360 cold weather in Minnesota has benefited you playing in Chicago 0:14:48.440 --> 0:14:51.160 and some of the conditions you have to play in Oh. 0:14:51.040 --> 0:14:54.080 Most definitely, yeah, because I think it's coded erit in 0:14:54.160 --> 0:14:57.240 here and then playing outdoors, like I think the coldest 0:14:57.240 --> 0:14:59.800 game I played there was like negative two, like my 0:15:00.040 --> 0:15:00.600 senior night. 0:15:00.720 --> 0:15:02.240 So yeah, most definitely. 0:15:03.040 --> 0:15:05.360 How did Fleck treat the cold weather? 0:15:05.400 --> 0:15:05.960 Did he make you. 0:15:06.000 --> 0:15:09.440 Guys practice outdoors all year round or did you have 0:15:09.480 --> 0:15:12.720 an indoor facility that if conditions were cold enough, you 0:15:12.720 --> 0:15:13.800 guys would go inside. 0:15:14.400 --> 0:15:17.040 So we had an indoor, but like we will practice outside, 0:15:17.120 --> 0:15:19.560 probably like twice out the week, so like two of 0:15:19.600 --> 0:15:22.440 the like three practices would be outside and then like 0:15:22.560 --> 0:15:25.800 the probably like the Wednesday practice or something would be 0:15:25.800 --> 0:15:26.400 like an indoor. 0:15:26.440 --> 0:15:27.800 But other than that we were outside. 0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:30.520 Hey, Tom, we know what game that was. It was 0:15:30.560 --> 0:15:34.680 the coldest I've ever been, so metrodome roof collapse because 0:15:34.680 --> 0:15:35.200 of the snow. 0:15:35.520 --> 0:15:36.480 Yeah, I heard about that. 0:15:36.680 --> 0:15:38.560 So we had to go. It was a night game. 0:15:38.720 --> 0:15:42.160 We had to do our TV show outside the stadium, 0:15:42.560 --> 0:15:45.320 and I've never been colder. I shivered so much I 0:15:45.320 --> 0:15:47.360 could barely speak for the live show was at ten 0:15:47.440 --> 0:15:48.080 thirty at night. 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:48.800 Yeah. 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:50.280 So we get to the game. 0:15:50.120 --> 0:15:51.720 And I'm like, Tom, I don't know, this is gonna 0:15:51.720 --> 0:15:54.400 be hard game to call. And the game almost got 0:15:54.440 --> 0:15:57.880 canceled because the field was so iced over. It was 0:15:57.880 --> 0:15:59.680 so hard the players thought it was going to be 0:15:59.720 --> 0:16:02.400 danger But that was the game. Two things happened. Corey 0:16:02.440 --> 0:16:05.600 Wooten Bears defensive ends sacked Brett Farb that was the 0:16:05.680 --> 0:16:08.560 last play he played in the National Football League. And 0:16:08.840 --> 0:16:12.480 Devin Hester broke the punt return record in that game. 0:16:12.640 --> 0:16:14.200 I don't know if you remember any of that or 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:16.480 here it heard about it from the from the University 0:16:16.480 --> 0:16:19.880 of Minnesota, But I mean lots of respect for playing outside. 0:16:19.920 --> 0:16:22.560 And I've often put on old YouTube videos of the 0:16:22.640 --> 0:16:24.960 Vikings playing in the old met I don't know, did 0:16:25.000 --> 0:16:26.040 you ever play in the met time? 0:16:26.360 --> 0:16:26.560 Oh? 0:16:26.680 --> 0:16:28.520 No, no, no, no, the super old one? 0:16:28.560 --> 0:16:31.480 Yeah, the Bloomington Yeah? How did how do you guys 0:16:31.480 --> 0:16:32.800 play in that cold one? 0:16:32.880 --> 0:16:35.520 I feel like for me, once it gets like ten degrees, 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:39.120 everything else under that it kind of feels the same 0:16:39.240 --> 0:16:40.360 in my opinions, just. 0:16:40.760 --> 0:16:41.680 Cold to me. 0:16:41.800 --> 0:16:45.360 I think cornerback is the most is the second most 0:16:45.360 --> 0:16:49.200 difficult position in professional sports to play outside of quarterback. 0:16:49.760 --> 0:16:52.040 And when you think of that, the trial and airrors 0:16:52.040 --> 0:16:55.280 that you went through in college. When your college career 0:16:55.320 --> 0:16:58.400 came to to an end, did you know that you 0:16:58.520 --> 0:17:01.920 had the qualifications to make it as a cornerback in 0:17:01.960 --> 0:17:02.600 the NFL. 0:17:03.120 --> 0:17:05.720 I feel like I did, especially like my senior year. 0:17:05.760 --> 0:17:09.080 I would say my confidence I was like everything was 0:17:09.119 --> 0:17:10.160 just through the roof and I. 0:17:10.119 --> 0:17:12.960 Was just playing really well. So I always knew that 0:17:12.960 --> 0:17:13.920 I could play in the league. 0:17:13.960 --> 0:17:17.720 But my senior year at Minnesota was whenning, like everything 0:17:17.800 --> 0:17:18.720 like really clicked for me. 0:17:18.920 --> 0:17:21.520