State linebacker Isaac Smith seeking more defensive improvements

Throughout his gridiron career, Mississippi State junior Isaac Smith has experienced a lot of success and reeled in several SEC honors. But last weekend against Northern Illinois, the safety/linebacker accomplished a new ‘first’ in his college tenure.

That centered around Smith’s first interception as a Bulldog and it happened in the second half of State’s 38-10 win over the visiting Huskies. Earlier this week Smith talked of that moment along with entering SEC action this weekend against Tennessee:

Q: How did that moment feel last Saturday with your first career interception?
Smith: It’s crazy because earlier that week in practice, we had practiced a play like that, just that slot fade and quarterback going to his No. 1 guy. It was just me back there reading his eyes and going to make a play on the ball. It just felt good. I’ve been here for three years and that moment in the stadium in front of my family and friends, it was so fun.

Q: Your tackles and reps have decreased this year. How much fresher do you feel playing compared to last year?
Smith: It’s so fun, just the urgency that everybody has now. I don’t have to worry about straining my body and having to take care of my body as much when you got guys that can come in and play and do their job. I feel like that’s what has helped us and prepared us to be better this year. Just everybody doing their one job and flying around to the ball and executing.

Q: In these first four games, what gives you confidence this team can be competitive in the SEC?
Smith: Just the urge to compete. Trying to go 1-0 each week, not looking ahead. Everyone comes with that urgency and that mindset every day that they want to win. When you commit to win you will.

Q: How is the defense performing up to your expectations?
Smith: It’s so much stuff that we’re leaving out there on the field. It’s just the little things. We still have MEs and MAs that we need to clean up. Tackling isn’t where it is supposed to be, really. The teams we’ve played so far are good but you think about the rest of our season. We’re going to need those one plays and those missed tackles to stop because quite frankly, a game can be lost on any given play. So just executing and being able to go compete with these schools. Winning these games is going to be big for us to do our job, defensively, and getting the ball back to the offense and let them go score points.

Q: This defense has had some bent and no break. How different is that from last year?
Smith: It’s fun. Last year we didn’t back that. We just lacked the confidence and the belief. This year we have the belief. We know we can go out there and do it. I’ve said this before but I think Coach Shaud (Alexander) and our coaches are pushing us so much harder this summer and putting us through those hard days and hard workouts and a harder fall camp. It’s paid off and it’s going to continue to pay off and pay off more once we start getting to these teams that like to run the ball a lot.

Q: Overall how different does this year’s team feel?
Smith: Just the brotherhood, the culture. We can build and the coaches have instilled being tough in us. Not just that guy that says he is physically tough but tough in every form and fashion. Making the play when the play needs to be made. When it’s those long drives and they are driving the field and get down there in the red zone, you need a goal-line stop. How tough will you be mentally and physically? Just building that means a lot and it’s going to keep showing.

Q: What’s it mean to you starting SEC play?
Smith: It means a lot. To me there’s no other league I would rather play in. It’s the best league. You know you are going to compete against guys every day that has the potential and can play in the NFL. It’s fun. Even every day in practice, we have guys here that has the potential and will play in the NFL. Day-in and day-out you have to bring your A game or your job will get taken. It’s part of it and I love that aspect. It’s like a job so it’s fun.

Q: Do see in any similarities in Tennessee’s offense and State’s offense?
Smith: I do and it’s similar in a lot of ways. It’s going to be a fun game. I know Tennessee, like last year, uses tempo so we got to pick up our urgency this week and be able to spot the ball and play. We know they are going to go fast and they are going to take their shots. It’s going to be a fun game.