Tykee Smith Addresses Media Beofre Matchup vs Vanderbilt
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00:00 >> We'll bring the mic to you.
00:01 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:11 >> When we look at the secondary going into this week,
00:13 where do you feel like you guys have improved the most from week one to where
00:17 you guys are?
00:18 >> The biggest thing I think was Oz, just being able to put together and
00:22 hold each other accountable.
00:23 And then bringing energy, just trying to keep each other going.
00:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:34 >> Yeah, when you talk about playing together, holding each other accountable,
00:37 how much of a process has that been early in the season?
00:40 Just replacing new guys, Javon, moving from Stars, safety, all that kind of stuff.
00:44 >> So I think we prepared well, being that we had the whole spring and
00:47 fall camp to kind of get on the same page.
00:50 And then with the coaches putting us in certain situations during practice,
00:54 I think come game time it's kind of easier.
00:57 >> Back to your left, when you're playing in home and it's night and
01:03 prime time against a top 20 opponent, one can understand it's easy to get up for
01:06 that and be ready to go.
01:08 What do you do to tell the guys when you're playing out on the road and
01:11 it's a new game against an opponent that you're heavily favoring over?
01:15 >> So like you said, at night time, we try not to drain ourselves off.
01:19 We're in such a late game, so we kind of meet in the morning,
01:23 get some downtime, so on that downtime, try to take a little power nap if you can,
01:27 look over your notes, but you don't wanna drain yourself out.
01:30 And then for a noon game, we kind of get started early,
01:33 go on a team walk early in the morning, kind of get some blood going and
01:37 kind of try to lock in for that noon game.
01:38 So I think we definitely approach it a little different than the noon and
01:41 night game, but I'll be looking forward to both.
01:44 >> As opposed to, how about avoiding the letdown against an opponent you guys are
01:47 heavily favoring again?
01:49 >> Just not trying to listen to the outside noise,
01:51 trying to be where our feet are, and basically taking a moment at a time.
01:55 >> Yeah, Takee, Coach Schwarz mentioned multiple times about how this offense has
02:00 exposed you guys during camp.
02:03 I'm curious when you recognized that Carson and
02:05 this offense was gonna be potentially elite through the year.
02:10 >> So yeah, I got to see them the whole spring and whole fall camp.
02:14 So just being able to go out there, and what we had, two scrimmages, well,
02:17 three scrimmages in the spring game, and the spring, and then the two in the fall
02:20 camp, so just being able to see them go out there and do that, and
02:23 them type game-like moments, so I kind of knew it was gonna be special then.
02:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:33 >> Yeah, when you first transferred in here, obviously you arrived here in the
02:35 summer, but that process of in-season of still trying to get your feet under you,
02:39 and then you play elsewhere, but at Georgia, it's a little bit different.
02:43 What's that process like on a week-in, week-out basis of getting more acclimated,
02:48 getting a better understanding of the system, and
02:50 what's needed to play at the University of Georgia?
02:52 >> Yeah, so when I definitely got here that 2021 summer,
02:54 it definitely was a big change.
02:55 Like I said, at first, I had to get used to the heat down here, and
02:58 then how physical we practice, and how, like we said, how the Tuesdays go.
03:03 So I think the work that we put in on Tuesdays and
03:05 Wednesdays definitely put up for Saturday.
03:07 So that was a big adjustment for me getting down here.
03:10 And just how everything ran, and then the scheme, just like a real
03:15 dialed in on the scheme being though as a neck-level type scheme.
03:19 So I think you gotta be able to think fast,
03:23 like anticipate stuff in this type scheme in order for you to be successful.
03:26 >> Tykee, Kirby said there were times the defense was off balance against
03:31 Kentucky, and he said it wasn't as completed with performances, the number.
03:35 You watched the film.
03:36 I mean, how much more improvement, how much more upside is there for this defense?
03:40 >> I think there's a real upside.
03:41 We look at improvement every week.
03:42 So like today, we go to the meetings, go to the doctor,
03:45 kind of fix the corrections, and go from there where we could improve it.
03:48 >> Kirby mentioned that after the Auburn game,
03:52 he pointed out positives in run defense, positives on third down.
03:55 Just do you feel like after that Auburn game, y'all needed that positive
03:59 reinforcement to be told, hey, we've had some struggles, but
04:02 we're still a really good unit?
04:04 >> No, yeah, and then just not trying to hold our head down off one performance,
04:08 just trying to take it week by week.
04:09 So I think the game plan that the coaches put together for this past game was real
04:13 good, well, all the game plan was real good, but I think we've done extremely on
04:17 the game plan this week and we're able to go out there and execute.
04:19 >> Tykee, we talked about outside,
04:22 like how close to the standard on defense do you think y'all are playing right now?
04:28 >> I think last week, so we gotta go back and kind of watch the film as a whole,
04:33 see how we did on all three levels, and then kind of grade it out there.
04:39 >> Tykee, what was the skill set that you think you've learned the most as you
04:42 transferred to Georgia?
04:43 As a better man, better zone, what have you learned since you got here?
04:47 >> Just what the offense is trying to do,
04:49 what they're trying to do to attack you in certain situations.
04:51 So I think the biggest thing was situational football when I got here,
04:54 just knowing the down distance and with respect to certain formations when it
04:58 comes to the down distance, so I think the biggest thing was situational.
05:01 >> Have you started to study Vanderbilt's quarterbacks?
05:05 I'm curious what your early impressions are of them.
05:08 >> So I didn't get a chance to look at them yet.
05:10 Won't get a chance to look at them until afternoon and
05:12 kind of move forward on from there.
05:13 >> We saw Kamari make some plays in that game on Saturday.
05:24 Just what does he mean to the secondary and the skillset he brings to you guys?
05:28 >> He means a lot to the secondary with him being one of the veterans,
05:30 having a lot of experience and being in the moments.
05:33 Truly got faith and belief in Kamari about that every weekend.
05:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:46 >> Anything else for Tucky?
05:47 All right, Tucky.
05:50 >> Thanks, Tucky.
05:51 >> Appreciate it.
05:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]