How have the Patriots turned what looked like weakness on paper into a strength?
They have a secret weapon.
Outside linebacker coach Mike Smith.
The veteran assistant is in his second season with the Patriots, part of Mike Vrabel's overhaul in Foxborough. Smith had been out of the NFL for 18 months dealing with personal demons (PTSD after the death of his father, alcohol to cope), which, along with an untenable work situation, led him to leave his previous post in Minnesota during training camp.
However, Vrabel didn't let that stop him from bringing Smith aboard, citing Smith’s history with excellent pass rushers and his ability to teach. That decision has paid huge dividends as the growth of second-year Elijah Ponder and rookie Gabe Jacas, alongside veteran Dre’Mont Jones, has transformed the edge room into undoubtedly the most surprising unit on the 3-2 Pats.
“Having such a relaxing and peaceful mentality when it comes to coaching, he invites creativity and positivity in the room, so that's what we kind of just spew out because of how he presents to the room,’ Jones told me earlier this week.
Those words, “relaxing,” “peaceful,” and “positivity,” aren't commonly associated with NFL coaches. I knew Smith had a different approach, but describing it like that had me combing my mental Rolodex for a comp and coming up with nothing.
“I talk about them how I want them to be,” Smith said of his approach. “I don't overreact to things. I always try to tell them (to) find joy in their life. You'll never see me freak out on the sidelines. You'll never see me yell any of that stuff. Let's get it fixed. Let's move on to the next thing.
“I just love to get to know them and come in and enjoy coming to work, enjoy learning, enjoying just being a part of something. That's just kind of how I've always been. I don't like to freak out. I think if I start freaking out, everybody freaks out, and before you know it, everybody's running around screaming and yelling…”
“He's done a great job of coaching us up, giving us