(SportsRadio 610) Having never strayed too far away from the game, since leading an NFL team as a head coach, as he last did with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. Smith led the football program at Illinois for 5 seasons before joining the Texans as the defensive coordinator last season.
While his time at Illinois ended in his firing after a 2-5 start to the 2020 season, Smith has not lost his edge nor his will to get others to reach their full potential and succeed, and is once again back in the drivers seat to try and do just that.
One of the newest Texans this season, Steven Nelson, a veteran NFL corner, whom the Texans signed to a $10 million deal over the next two season's tweeted after a June mini-camp, "By far one of the hardest OTAs/mini camps I've ever been apart of can't wait to see it all pay off."
Nelson, entering his 8th year in the league and first with the Texans, should in combination with the 3rd overall pick in this years draft, rookie Derek Stingley Jr. and Desmond King II anchor as strong of a secondary as the Texans have had in recent season.
Smith, who has said the success of this team must begin with a strong, physical turnover hungry secondary, is certainly trying to stir the pot a bit and get his team ready for an important season for the franchise.
A guy that's been around as long as he has, surely knew contact drills weren't permitted during certain time frames of OTA's and the like, but likely did so to create a sense of urgency for his team.
That decision, cost Smith a mere $50,000. A price well worth it, if it translates into the type of football Houston fans have been waiting for.
General manager Nick Caserio spoke to the media prior to the teams first practice Friday. When asked about what Smith's message has been to the rookies thus far, Caserio said simply, "Lovie's philosophy is you're a grown ass man, we're going to treat you like a grown ass man."
That means, it's not college anymore fellas!
You don't have anyone waking you up in the morning, or from a nap in the afternoon so you don't miss a team meeting, or a team lunch.
It's the NFL.
And for the first time in a couple of seasons, it feels, looks and sounds like fans are going to see much more of just THAT with the Texans.
Fans were on hand at the team first day of camp today, the first of eight total open practices can watch during training camp.
Smith wants to see more fans come out to watch the team prepare and have it translate into NRG stadium and beyond during the regular season.
"For the fans that come in, we haven't had a good product, there's nothing to show up for. It starts with that. But in order for us to make this turnaround, NRG stadium, when we travel. The traveling Texans, they have to be apart of this. And the way we get them excited, again, what we're putting on the field," said Smith.
Fandom is not something that should ever be taken for granted by franchises, and so often it is. The Texans are in a position now, where they must reciprocate on the field, the level of support the organization has gathered for more than two decades now.
While Lovie Smith hasn't won or lost a football game as a head coach in the NFL since 2015, he's got guys fired up, believing in the process and sure seems like he could be much more part of the solution than the problem going forward.
