FAB 3. Smith More Confident And Aggressive At Cornerback

When Tampa Bay’s top cornerback Brent Grimes is unavailable, all the other corners move up the depth chart and third-year defensive back Ryan Smith gets on the field. When Grimes and the team’s other starting cornerback, Vernon Hargreaves, are out that means Ryan Smith likely gets the start.

Cue the groans from Bucs fans.

This Tampa Bay team has a lot of star players on it, but there are a few players – namely in the secondary – that draw the ire of Bucs fans.

Chris Conte.

Vernon Hargreaves.

Ryan Smith.

Bucs CB Vernon Hargreaves and S Chris Conte – Photo by: Getty Images

Conte came from Chicago with a bad rap and has had his share of blown coverages and missed tackles during his previous three years with the Bucs. But he’s not as bad as some fans think, and he has the trust of the coaching staff.

Hargreaves was the 11th overall pick in the 2016 draft and has not lived up to expectations. He surrendered more yards than any cornerback during his rookie season and has just one interception in 25 games. Bucs fans expected more takeaways from him and not to give 10-yard cushions to opposing receivers.

When it comes to Smith, Bucs fans mostly remember him not making a single play on defense – outside of pass breakups in 10 starts last year – and being mostly in the trail position behind Atlanta’s Julio Jones on November 26 when he torched Smith and the Tampa Bay defense for 12 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns.

In the eyes of Bucs fans it didn’t help that Smith continued to get picked on in the preseason. And some of his detractors won’t like the fact that Smith will be starting again on Sunday opposite rookie Carlton Davis.

“My confidence definitely has grown because I learned a lot from last year,” Smith said. “And playing a good amount of snaps in preseason, you know seeing a lot of things that I saw last year, and this year it just helped me with what I learned last year. Just to trust myself more this year. I don’t have to second-guess myself. I can just be at the right place at the right time.”

Bucs LB Lavonte David and CB Ryan Smith – Photo by: Getty Images

Despite getting targeted often, Smith had an interception in the preseason to go along with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. He’s far more confident than he was a year ago when he was thrown into action as a first-time starter on defense in Minnesota in Week 2 after playing exclusively on special teams as a rookie in 2016.

“I think just confidence,” Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said when asked in what area Smith has improved. “Ryan’s always been a good tackler, he’s always had good speed, but there’s a confidence factor to playing any position. When you go against the quarterbacks that you go against in our division and against this league – I think the young rookies went through a little bit of that on Sunday [at New Orleans] when they saw that guy are going to put the ball on the money almost every time. It’s just something that you’ve got to get used to in this league and those guys will all tell you you’ve got to have a short memory.”

Realistically, Smith was the fourth or fifth cornerback on the depth chart behind Grimes, Hargreaves, Davis and possibly rookie M.J. Stewart. But due to injuries, Smith is starting once again in Week 2.

“Every year, I mean last year the same exact thing happened,” Smith said. “Brent got hurt, I got moved up. This year Vern got hurt, which I’m not happy about – that’s my boy. I’ve got to step up now. I’m just kind of used to it. It’s all good. I’m excited.”

Hargreaves had his trial-by-fire moments as a rookie in 2016. Davis had the beginning of his, courtesy of New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees.

Despite being a second-year player, Smith was essentially a rookie when he stepped out on the field to withstand the onslaught of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.

Bucs CB Ryan Smith – Photo by: Getty Images

“For sure, last year I felt like I was a rookie again,” Smith said. “Last year that was my first time playing with the defense, and playing corner in the NFL. So I was just learning. Last year I feel like I got drafted, and now I’m in my second year playing defense, still learning. There’s a long way to go.”

It’s important to note that Hargreaves and Davis played in the talent-rich SEC. They have seen and had to cover NFL-caliber receivers before – sometimes on a weekly basis.

Remember that Smith hails from tiny North Carolina Central University. His learning curve has been far steeper than it has for Hargreaves and possibly Davis, too.

“It really is a big jump,” Smith said. “This is the NFL. Everybody’s good, and there are dudes from NCCU and my division in the league at the same time. But we’re talking only like three guys from the whole conference. I knew that it was going to be a little tough for me with the learning curve, but you’ve got to shake it off. It’s easier said than done, but you’ve just got to learn. The more experience you get, the better you get, and the more confidence you get. For me, this year, my confidence is way higher than last year.

The biggest thing that Smith needed to hear was that he had to be more aggressive heading into 2018. Make more plays. Don’t be afraid of giving up plays.

Bucs CB Ryan Smith – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

“That was my biggest problem,” Smith said. “Coach Koetter asked me to be more aggressive this year. Exactly, he said, ‘I’m quick, I’m fast, and I can play the ball very well. I just have to do it.’ As long as I just trust myself and play more aggressive I’ll be fine.”

Smith knows that he’ll continue to be targeted until he can make opposing quarterbacks pay.

“You want to pick on me? Cool,” Smith said. “This year you’re going to pick on me? Please pick on me. Give me more opportunities to make plays. I’m not out there just to be out there. I need all that experience I can get. So if you pick on me, I see a lot more and you’re just helping me out – for real.”

With last year’s lessons learned and another trial-by-fire preseason under his belt, Smith has emerged more confident. That’s what the Bucs coaches, scouts and players love about him.

“Ryan is much more physical and much more patient,” said Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans. “He understands route combinations a lot more this year. He’s improved in those aspects. He’s become a good player in a short amount of time. He’s still getting better. He’s already super fast and athletic. He has the tools.”

Smith just needed to trust himself.

Bucs CB Ryan Smith – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

On Sunday in New Orleans, Smith played okay. He played better. Smith had four tackles, a pass breakup and a key fumble recovery that thwarted a Saints scoring opportunity.

“Last year I second guessed myself a lot, and I wasn’t trusting myself,” Smith said. “I was nervous out there. I’ve got to go out there and just ball. I’m here for a reason. They drafted me for a reason. I’ve got to react to what I see. Last year I didn’t do that, so me telling [Davis and Stewart] that, hopefully I can help them and their learning curve, too.”