Former A&M and NFL CB Kevin Smith previews upcoming Auburn game

Key quotes from Kevin Smith interview

“The defense looks great.  When you play Prairie View and you get a shutout, people take it for granted.  Anytime you get a shutout, no matter who you are playing, it means a lot.  It means that those second and third team guys came in and did their jobs.  What it shows is the depth that this team has.  That secondary is the strongest that it has been in a very long time.  You have Donovan Wilson, Armani Watts, and Justin Evans who will all probably play on Sundays.  I think Nick Harvey has come along nicely.  I have an interesting story about Alex Sezer Jr. from West Orange Stark.  A lot of the West Orange Stark coaches don’t have anything good to say about Cypress guys, but I was asking one of them who Sezer reminds him of.  I asked him if he reminded him of Earl Thomas and he said no.  I asked about Deon Beasley and he said no.  He answered that he thought Sezer was only there for his grades and I didn’t see a lot out of him in his first two years.  When you see a guy like Sezer in the UCLA game, it is clear that Chavis has found a position for him.  He has found a spot and is utilizing the kids to the best of their abilities.  I think that is why the defense is looking that much better because he has figured out these kids and has put them in the right position to make plays.”

“A&M should have a bitter taste in their mouth from last year.  It is tough losing at home.  I remember that game and it should have been embarrassing for the team, the fans, and all of Aggieland.  That should be in the back of their mind.  Also, they have been looking at the film and have seen that Auburn came out strong this season.  All of that is on film.  What I like about Chavis and his defense, something that LSU always had, was run support which means that you have to have good players to tackle.  I remember watching the UCLA game and Nick Harvey made a big tackle on a third and one on Soso Jamabo.  He made a form tackle that you have seen over the years from the great LSU players that are now in the league like Patrick Peterson.  Justin Evans and Armani Watts will make the plays and the tackles. You aren’t going to give up the 50 or 60 yarder, but you may give up the eight or nine yarder.  I think the linebacking crew is not quite where you want it to be.  That front four has been good and rotating those guys because of their depth has been beneficial.  I think that is what will prevail throughout the season.”

“I love watching the safeties.  I don’t know where Justin Evans fits in the NFL as far as a free safety, strong safety, or even a corner.  I haven’t seen him personally.  He is reckless and I think that if he can learn to control that a bit he will definitely play on Sundays.  I’m not quite sure that Donovan Wilson is a corner.  I know A&M wants to put him out there but that is where Nick Harvey has to step up so we can keep Donovan Wilson inside on that nickel.  He is better playing closer to the line of scrimmage but they have tried him at corner.  Armani Watts is a top three or four safety to me.  I have loved watching him since he was a freshman. He has gotten better.  I hear we also have a few good young guys coming up behind them.  These three safeties we have I would bet will be playing on Sunday afternoons in the next couple of years.”

“Myles Garrett reminds me of a bigger Derrick Thomas.  I remember Derrick Thomas coming in and playing us in what we called the ‘Hurricane Bowl’ back in ’88 I believe.  Alabama came in on the last game of the year and we heard so much about him.  He came out and ended up having six sacks and he went from a mid first rounder to the top pick that day because he gave us all kinds of hell that game.  He let you know how good he was at defensive end and linebacker.  I think that Myles has those same traits.  You have to double him, and he can beat the double team and he is probably stronger than Derrick.  I think he could actually be moved around more, similar to Von Miller.  They are two different players but they still have the same impact.  He will undoubtedly be one of the top five picks in this or next year’s draft.”

“You always want to play well on the road.  It is the first SEC game for A&M and every game in the SEC is a big game.  Not to knock the SWC, but playing Rice compared to playing Auburn on the road is two different ballgames.  These SEC stadiums are packed with 85,000 or more fans.  Just to think about how that game went last year and how these guys walked off of the field.  A&M should be blowing smoke out of their ears ready to fly to Auburn and make a statement and get the SEC schedule started.  We are undefeated and are right in the thick of things.  I think this game could be a statement maker and also can be motivation to get a strong start to the SEC portion of the schedule.”

“Coach Sumlin prepares this team well and road games haven’t been too tough on the Aggies over the years.  He does a great job getting the guys to the hotel.  That can be a distraction sometimes.  It is difficult when you have 70-80 kids and an entire staff.  The mental side of it is a process.  I think the physical side of things will challenge A&M because Auburn is going to let them know that they aren’t going to let them come in and run over them.  They aren’t going to let them run down their throat.  I read some articles after the UCLA game that said the game was physical and tough.  That is what you want to hear about your football team, especially in the SEC.  So now, I think the challenge is taking the veterans across the board and making sure that they play tough and show Auburn they are a physical team.  A&M just needs to go in there and physically get it done.”