December 11, 2025 • 7 mins
Tracy Smith spoke to the media before practice Thursday.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
When you've gone from a special team standpoints. Since there's
so many different variables, is there any benefit or advantage
to playing a team twice in a you know, six
week or so span.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Knowledge of that team helps, It helps for the You're
generally playing the same team with the same players, so
there's some familiarity there, good and bad. They had the
same tips on your team. But yeah, there's a there's
a comfort level for sure playing them so so frequently
Tampa's twice in a short span as well. That happens
(00:45):
on division games, you know, if you get them almost
back to back or within the case of a month
and a half. Yeah, the Saints are essentially the same team.
Now there are some differences. They're playing with a new
kicker as you saw then we played last time, so
there's that. The returner cycles a little bit, so there's
some differences. But yeah, it's nice to say, you know,
(01:06):
I have the meetings today and be like, oh yeah, yeah, Sante,
you remember this, this, this, this, this, and there's more
nods than you know.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Lookaways, I knew you were in Seattle when dlu was there.
Do you have any good Damian Lewis stories? I know
he was probably not playing on special teams, but just
maybe even on field goal blocking.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Dalu is fantastic field goal protector, has been the left
guard for US for many, many years, many teams. A
fantastic family guy. Uh just got married over this break,
so big upside Delu his his family's playing football, high
school football, and Charlotte too in one of the local
high schools. Right, yeah, yeah, that's been out there. So yeah,
Delu cares about the people in his house like nobody
(01:49):
ever that he's He's about taking care of his people
and helping them be in the best situation possible. Always
proud of him, happy when things go his way. Really
solid guy who helps the team. However, he cans m hm, Joe.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Recording in progress.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Hey Joe, Yeah, you doing great.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Great.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Curious what you thought of Isaiah Simmons role for you
two weeks ago and how he looked.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I thought he did a nice job. Uh. That's about
as hard as situation as you can be. At least
he has some experience to lean back on because he
came here on a no practice week, you know for
the Rams game, where we were walking through all this
stuff and then just the first place you saw were
his first place since training camp, and uh that was
that was his first full speed He ran a little
bit in practice to make sure that you know, his
(02:41):
leg still works, but then it was it was pretty
much put on a helmet and go So happy to
have a guy who had at least done many of
the things before, excited to work with him and have
him continue on. I'm surprised to find out he wasn't
a South Carolina guy, just a Clemson person. But he's
from the Midwest. So but uh yeah, really interested in
growing our relationship and hoping that he can help the team.
(03:04):
He looked good so far. We are aware specifically where
do you think he might be most helpful? Oh, well,
this is a player obviously with tremendous physical talents, so
he for us, he's immediately because the role that he
would play on the team, a four core player beyond everything,
a coverage asset for sure, with some blocking ability. You know,
(03:25):
just try to as he grows and the knowledge of
the stuff that we do use him in more and
more places. You'd like him to be anywhere anywhere?
Speaker 1 (03:33):
We could thanks.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Anywhere questions for Coach Smith.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yes, actually I do. Hey, Tracy, how's it going I
ask him on him. You mentioned the Saints new kicker.
This is a guy too that that kind of came
through ipp hasn't really kicked before, So how do you
kind of evaluate a guy when you've got so little
tape on him.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I did not watch his Gaelic football highlights this year.
I did see him when they first started, but I
talked to Charlie several times because that program kind of
puts us in contact with those guys quite a bit.
And he's been practicing for a year and a half,
so he doesn't have game kicks. He just has the
two games plus the six preseason opportunities, so there's a
little bit. But got to see him, have got to
(04:18):
know him through some of the scouting stuff that the
NFL lets us do with the international guys, and he's
done a nice job so far. So all we can
go on is this most recent opportunities, which is the
same as you would for even a kicker who's been
around for a long time, and see how he does.
Indoors hadn't seen him in the dome yet, so that'll
be kind of exciting, but pretty cool. The program's kind
(04:39):
of working out. Some guys are popping through and this
is the first first true like Irish kicker to make
it all the way through without doing NFL college or anything.
So pretty amazing accomplishment for him at his age and
all the things he's going through now.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'm curious, are there things that you can take from
Gaelic football that are applicable to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
We had Rory here for a couple of days, you know,
and then when they first started doing that, that was
the position that led best Gaelic football goalie specifically led
best to NFL kicker. That's the guys that had the
most success. And Charlie is one of the younger guys
that has been in the program to actually make it through.
So he was kind of highly recruited at the time
that he was coming out because of his age and
(05:24):
his prior status. But Rory on the guy that was here,
Rory McGregor, I believe was his legend. That was the
guy that Charlie looked up to as a Gaelic football player.
I talked to him about that when they were here
a couple of weeks ago, a few weeks ago, kind
of thing to see how he was doing. He still
keeps up with his Gaelic football team. Scott a strong leg,
(05:45):
he's a good athlete, runs well, that kind of stuff. Well,
I don't know, we'll see how it goes. Sweet, Thank you, Yeah, Tracy.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I was just gonna ask you, following up on the
Simons stuff, do you have any background or remember a
guy who is a top ten pick like him who
really became kind of a core special teams player.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Yes, Barkivius Mingo was top ten for the Browns. They
picked him ninth and you have to check the number
on that, but he ended up having a long career
doing that. Darius Haywood Bay, I don't know if that's
top ten, but that's maybe that's eight somewhere in there.
He ended up kind of those guys have their first
shot on offense or defense and then for whatever reason
(06:32):
the situation or otherwise doesn't work out, and then it
shows a real level football or real commitment to the
game to try to turn on kind of a second
career in a way to be an impact player. And
because of their status, the reason why they were top
ten picks is generally from athletic prowess. They have an
advantage if they can commit themselves to doing it and
learning the ins and outs of the special teams game.
(06:53):
But yeah, there's a handful of them, and then there's
returners like Ted Ginn if you want to count him,
not a coverage player, you know, like that kind of stuff.
Patrick Peterson was fantastic in the other way, special teams
first and then that way. But there have been some
high profile guys that have done it.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Do you work with them differently or do you have
to talk to them differently than you know some undrafted
guy who rolls in.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I'd say each player, no matter what their status is,
just kind of what attitude they're bringing to the table
and try to meet them where they are and whatever
it is the most eager guy to the least push
them forward a little bit wherever we can go. So
it's been promising results. Isaiah has been all in for
everything so far. I haven't met any speed bumps along
the way.
When you've gone from a special team standpoints. Since there's
so many different variables, is there any benefit or advantage
to playing a team twice in a you know, six
week or so span.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Knowledge of that team helps, It helps for the You're
generally playing the same team with the same players, so
there's some familiarity there, good and bad. They had the
same tips on your team. But yeah, there's a there's
a comfort level for sure playing them so so frequently
Tampa's twice in a short span as well. That happens
(00:45):
on division games, you know, if you get them almost
back to back or within the case of a month
and a half. Yeah, the Saints are essentially the same team.
Now there are some differences. They're playing with a new
kicker as you saw then we played last time, so
there's that. The returner cycles a little bit, so there's
some differences. But yeah, it's nice to say, you know,
(01:06):
I have the meetings today and be like, oh yeah, yeah, Sante,
you remember this, this, this, this, this, and there's more
nods than you know.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Lookaways, I knew you were in Seattle when dlu was there.
Do you have any good Damian Lewis stories? I know
he was probably not playing on special teams, but just
maybe even on field goal blocking.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Dalu is fantastic field goal protector, has been the left
guard for US for many, many years, many teams. A
fantastic family guy. Uh just got married over this break,
so big upside Delu his his family's playing football, high
school football, and Charlotte too in one of the local
high schools. Right, yeah, yeah, that's been out there. So yeah,
Delu cares about the people in his house like nobody
(01:49):
ever that he's He's about taking care of his people
and helping them be in the best situation possible. Always
proud of him, happy when things go his way. Really
solid guy who helps the team. However, he cans m hm, Joe.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Recording in progress.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Hey Joe, Yeah, you doing great.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Great.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Curious what you thought of Isaiah Simmons role for you
two weeks ago and how he looked.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I thought he did a nice job. Uh. That's about
as hard as situation as you can be. At least
he has some experience to lean back on because he
came here on a no practice week, you know for
the Rams game, where we were walking through all this
stuff and then just the first place you saw were
his first place since training camp, and uh that was
that was his first full speed He ran a little
bit in practice to make sure that you know, his
(02:41):
leg still works, but then it was it was pretty
much put on a helmet and go So happy to
have a guy who had at least done many of
the things before, excited to work with him and have
him continue on. I'm surprised to find out he wasn't
a South Carolina guy, just a Clemson person. But he's
from the Midwest. So but uh yeah, really interested in
growing our relationship and hoping that he can help the team.
(03:04):
He looked good so far. We are aware specifically where
do you think he might be most helpful? Oh, well,
this is a player obviously with tremendous physical talents, so
he for us, he's immediately because the role that he
would play on the team, a four core player beyond everything,
a coverage asset for sure, with some blocking ability. You know,
(03:25):
just try to as he grows and the knowledge of
the stuff that we do use him in more and
more places. You'd like him to be anywhere anywhere?
Speaker 1 (03:33):
We could thanks.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Anywhere questions for Coach Smith.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Yes, actually I do. Hey, Tracy, how's it going I
ask him on him. You mentioned the Saints new kicker.
This is a guy too that that kind of came
through ipp hasn't really kicked before, So how do you
kind of evaluate a guy when you've got so little
tape on him.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I did not watch his Gaelic football highlights this year.
I did see him when they first started, but I
talked to Charlie several times because that program kind of
puts us in contact with those guys quite a bit.
And he's been practicing for a year and a half,
so he doesn't have game kicks. He just has the
two games plus the six preseason opportunities, so there's a
little bit. But got to see him, have got to
(04:18):
know him through some of the scouting stuff that the
NFL lets us do with the international guys, and he's
done a nice job so far. So all we can
go on is this most recent opportunities, which is the
same as you would for even a kicker who's been
around for a long time, and see how he does.
Indoors hadn't seen him in the dome yet, so that'll
be kind of exciting, but pretty cool. The program's kind
(04:39):
of working out. Some guys are popping through and this
is the first first true like Irish kicker to make
it all the way through without doing NFL college or anything.
So pretty amazing accomplishment for him at his age and
all the things he's going through now.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'm curious, are there things that you can take from
Gaelic football that are applicable to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
We had Rory here for a couple of days, you know,
and then when they first started doing that, that was
the position that led best Gaelic football goalie specifically led
best to NFL kicker. That's the guys that had the
most success. And Charlie is one of the younger guys
that has been in the program to actually make it through.
So he was kind of highly recruited at the time
that he was coming out because of his age and
(05:24):
his prior status. But Rory on the guy that was here,
Rory McGregor, I believe was his legend. That was the
guy that Charlie looked up to as a Gaelic football player.
I talked to him about that when they were here
a couple of weeks ago, a few weeks ago, kind
of thing to see how he was doing. He still
keeps up with his Gaelic football team. Scott a strong leg,
(05:45):
he's a good athlete, runs well, that kind of stuff. Well,
I don't know, we'll see how it goes. Sweet, Thank you, Yeah, Tracy.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I was just gonna ask you, following up on the
Simons stuff, do you have any background or remember a
guy who is a top ten pick like him who
really became kind of a core special teams player.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Yes, Barkivius Mingo was top ten for the Browns. They
picked him ninth and you have to check the number
on that, but he ended up having a long career
doing that. Darius Haywood Bay, I don't know if that's
top ten, but that's maybe that's eight somewhere in there.
He ended up kind of those guys have their first
shot on offense or defense and then for whatever reason
(06:32):
the situation or otherwise doesn't work out, and then it
shows a real level football or real commitment to the
game to try to turn on kind of a second
career in a way to be an impact player. And
because of their status, the reason why they were top
ten picks is generally from athletic prowess. They have an
advantage if they can commit themselves to doing it and
learning the ins and outs of the special teams game.
(06:53):
But yeah, there's a handful of them, and then there's
returners like Ted Ginn if you want to count him,
not a coverage player, you know, like that kind of stuff.
Patrick Peterson was fantastic in the other way, special teams
first and then that way. But there have been some
high profile guys that have done it.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Do you work with them differently or do you have
to talk to them differently than you know some undrafted
guy who rolls in.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I'd say each player, no matter what their status is,
just kind of what attitude they're bringing to the table
and try to meet them where they are and whatever
it is the most eager guy to the least push
them forward a little bit wherever we can go. So
it's been promising results. Isaiah has been all in for
everything so far. I haven't met any speed bumps along
the way.
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