Thread: Smoot: A Method to His Mouth

Vikings Scout

Smoot: A Method to His Mouth
By: Tim Yotter

Date: Jun 28, 2006

Fred Smoot doesn't seem to be quite as boisterous this spring as he
was at the start of last year, but he says head coach Brad Childress
doesn't mind the cornerback talking and keeping things loose on the
field. There is a reason for his talking in practice and in games,
Smoot said.

Cornerback Fred Smoot is a talker, and everybody in the Vikings
organization knows it. How could they miss it?

Smoot will trash talk on the field, become more thoughtful off the
field, and always look to flash his big smile. But, while some may
like his style and others may be turned off by it, Smoot says there is
a method to his mouth.

"The persona is, `He's a talker.' But people don't know why I talk.
I've got a purpose to what I'm saying," Smoot said. "I don't just go
out here to talk to each and every player just to be talking to him.
My purpose is to talk to this guy and get his mind off his job, let me
get another edge on him.

"In this league, there is not too much that separates us in talent, so
now you've got to find another way to get an edge. This is the way you
get edges: Either you are better coached or I've got your mind off of
what you're supposed to be able to do or I've got you totally
wondering. This is what it is. It's more of an edge for me."

Many Vikings fans didn't feel like Smoot had much of an edge on his
competition when Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith torched
the Vikings defense (much of the time beating Smoot in single
coverage) for 11 receptions, 201 yards and a touchdown in a 38-13 win
for the home team in Carolina.

In fact, 2005 as a whole was a down year for Smoot statistically. It
was the first time since his rookie season in 2001 that he had fewer
than 50 tackles (he had 44) and the first time in his career that he
missed more than two games (he missed five with a collarbone injury).
His two interceptions were also the fewest of his career. Finally,
Smoot's link to the Vikings' boat scandal and all the negative
connotations it brought to the organization last fall helped shut down
Smoot from talking to the media for the rest of the season.

But with the rebirth of green grass this spring, Smoot was back
talking to the media, even if his mouth on the field didn't seem to be
quite as prevalent during practices.

Asked about the perceived quieter approach this spring, Smoot said
he's still a talker and that new Vikings head coach Brad Childress –
with his more reserved style – isn't putting a muzzle on Smoot's comments.

"He likes me to (talk), get everybody loose," Smoot about Childress.
"When you practice hard and you're having fun doing it, it doesn't
matter how hard you're practicing. He's getting our work out of us and
we're still doing our job."

Smoot called Childress, a first-year head coach in the NFL, a winner
and said he likes playing for him despite their personalities
seemingly on different planets. The cornerback applauds the new
approach Childress is instilling and likes what he sees out of the
ownership – bold moves in an effort to return the Vikings to their
playoff ways.

"Coming in as a new guy, you're trying to fit in with everybody, see
what's going on," said Smoot, who is entering his second year with the
Vikings and hoping a renewed commitment to his profession will help
him rebound from a trying year on and off the field. "I see what the
owners are doing to get us to a first-class organization and get us to
a higher level. I'm actually loving it right now."

And if Childress is the winner that Smoot thinks he is, don't expect
the mouth from the south to keep quiet on the subject.

That is a good thing for Smoot.. If he has another year like last, and with the new players eager to get starting time at CB, if he repeats last season stats, then he will be off to another team.. He better get his act together very soon if he wants to continue playing for the Vikes..

I really hope Smoot does well this year. We're paying him a hell of a lot of money for him to not be a contributor on this team. The bad thing is that we don't have a lot of CB's that can come in if he does have a bad performance. Let's hope Tomlin's scheme does him justice.

I'd love to see Smoooooooot step up & play to the caliber he was signed to play. We could end up with a smash-mouth backfield this year & I'm really looking forward to it.

I personally think he will have a very good year. Based off last year teams are going to throw his way more often and that will give him more chance to get those interceptions and convert them into points.

I'm not sure Fred Smoot really is a good corner.

In other news,

We all know Smoot is the man. He will post great numbers this season.

"IpartyWithSmoot" wrote:

We all know Smoot is the man. He will post great numbers this season.

So will cajun! haha

"coreychavous21" wrote:

"IpartyWithSmoot" wrote:

We all know Smoot is the man. He will post great numbers this season.

So will cajun! haha

LMAO, you can say that again. :lol:

"PurplePride80" wrote:

"coreychavous21" wrote:

"IpartyWithSmoot" wrote:

We all know Smoot is the man. He will post great numbers this season.

So will cajun! haha

LMAO, you can say that again. :lol:

(Yawn) If you say an average of 30.4 posts a day is a lot when compared to 33.5, then I suppose so. :wink:

At that rate;

Cajun: 11,096 posts/year

Singersp: 12,228 posts/year

:wink: