Tykee Smith Talks Matchup vs Missouri and Previews Ole Miss
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00:00 >> We'll bring a microphone around to you.
00:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:09 >> Thoughts on senior day, what's it be like for these guys,
00:12 yourself playing for the final time, between the edges and
00:15 what this class has meant to this program?
00:17 >> I think this class has meant a lot to the program.
00:20 I know senior day definitely means a lot to me going through senior day with these
00:23 boys, just appreciate them guys for being there for me when I went through injuries.
00:28 I went through a new bit by my side.
00:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:32 >> Yeah, Taki, obviously Kamari bumps into the slot a little bit this week to help
00:37 out.
00:37 I'm curious what your thought process was when coach comes to you and says, hey,
00:42 Kamari's gonna bump into the slot,
00:43 we might need you to play a slightly different role this week.
00:46 >> I might be a little mixed up.
00:49 >> [LAUGH] >> No, yeah, so
00:52 we talked about that on Monday.
00:54 So my biggest thing was just making sure I help him know the call,
00:57 which they was gonna call in the slot.
00:59 And he played extremely well with the X on the do play a new position and
01:04 I'm being able to step in only a week prep cuz I think learning a star in a week is.
01:09 You can do that and then you special cuz there's a lot of thinking and
01:12 knowing where to line up and where to go.
01:14 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:20 >> Yeah, from your point of view, that's obviously gonna be tough.
01:23 Knowing how the guys are gonna come in and play the position you used to route,
01:25 lead the team in tackles, have a big sack there.
01:27 After being told Kamari's gonna play some stall that past week,
01:31 what was a conversation with you and just sort of your mindset going into that game?
01:36 >> Yeah, me and coach Barnard really had a conversation.
01:37 We all, so me, Javon, Malachi, Kamari, we all met for
01:42 like an early meeting on like a Monday or something like that.
01:45 And they just talked about pinning a new package,
01:47 which he was moving in, started that package.
01:50 So we talked about mission team, me, so I wasn't really worried about my role.
01:55 This game probably wasn't necessary for me or how I was expected to be used.
02:00 But I think Kamari played extremely well.
02:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:05 >> Hey, Tucky, I know you've got four receptions in the year, but
02:08 you also had a massive sack for the team.
02:10 What does it mean for you to be able to contribute, of course, in coverage, but
02:14 also have a play like that where you're screaming and bringing down the quarterback?
02:18 >> I think Coach Shook did a real good job of dialing up the right pressure at
02:21 the right time.
02:21 And the line slid a different way and I came in free.
02:24 So just trying to be able to make a play and change momentum of the game when
02:29 Missouri was doing a good job of working down the field, that drive.
02:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:34 >> Yeah, with Ole Miss, just what do you know about their offense?
02:36 What have you seen from them so far?
02:38 And are they similar at all to what Missouri did as far as the passing game?
02:42 >> Well, I've seen a little more filming on them.
02:44 I know they go extremely fast, real good in the run game.
02:48 I think the quarterback did a real good job of getting them into the right cause.
02:51 And whether it's a run or a pass, and I think he did a real job of standing place.
02:54 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:56 >> How's Pop holding up?
02:58 Have you been able to lift his spirits as he's hanging in there?
03:00 Do you expect him maybe to do kind of what Brock doing, but
03:02 while he's sideline, be an active voice and help these guys out?
03:06 >> I think Pop doing a good job holding up.
03:08 Definitely think he's gonna do what Brock done as far as like,
03:12 right now we just need him to coach up the next guy, kind of Sean,
03:15 telling him what he see out there.
03:17 So I think he's gonna be still helping this team big from the sideline.
03:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:22 >> Yeah, Takehi, you mentioned the sack.
03:23 I guess talking through it, it looked like you hit on the defensive end of
03:26 right tackle pretty well before you bumped over.
03:29 Just walk me through.
03:30 >> Yeah, so I think Jaylen Walker was in that play.
03:33 So we both came out of the field, so just reading off him.
03:36 Every way Jaywalk was gonna go, I was gonna go opposite.
03:39 Like I just read off Jaylen Walker.
03:42 So he stayed outside, so I wound up going up and under.
03:44 >> Takehi, I got a two part question for you.
03:48 One, when you know you've got a clean shot on the quarterback like that,
03:51 we know how much these rules have changed.
03:54 You still wanna disrupt the play,
03:55 I mean what is the ideal way to hit a quarterback without drawing a flag and
04:00 doing maximum disruption, I guess I'll use that word.
04:03 And then the second part of my question is, when you play these hurry up teams,
04:07 how much of a difference can the crowd noise make as far as disrupting a hurry up
04:11 team like an Ole Miss?
04:12 >> Yeah, so the first question was as far as the hitting the quarterback,
04:15 does not count leaving the crown behind or get any targets in the strike area.
04:18 So I think we do a real good job before every game.
04:21 I've shown illegal hits and
04:23 hits that you don't wanna have against a quarterback, of course they're trying to
04:27 protect them, so just not trying to leave the crown in my helmet.
04:30 And then for the second one, I think the crowd do a real, if they allow,
04:33 the biggest thing was tempo, just us being able to get lined up and
04:36 get our cleats in the ground, you feel me?
04:37 So not allowing them to get any explosive off tempo.
04:40 So I think the crowd do a real good job of being loud and having to make them check
04:44 or getting them to jump off sides and not being able to air their cadence.
04:48 >> Okay, I don't know how much you've been able to say,
04:52 I've watched a lot of film yet as far as Quenshawn Jones goes for Ole Miss.
04:57 You've played a lot of good running backs this year, but
04:59 from a yards after contact perspective,
05:02 I don't know what it is he ranked as far as you've seen this year.
05:05 >> Definitely gonna be one of the top batsmen to face this year.
05:07 I think he coming off a real good season that he had as a freshman,
05:09 carrying over to this year.
05:11 So the biggest thing is just gonna be to swarm and
05:13 make sure everybody run for one another.
05:15 No one expects just one person to make a tackle, so
05:17 don't even think about it once you see the play just running to the ball.
05:20 >> Thank you, I wanted to ask about Julian Humphrey.
05:27 That's a guy that got out there and made a lot of plays.
05:29 What did you see out there and just how proud and excited were you for
05:33 him to be able to make as many pass breakups and big opportunities that he did?
05:37 >> I think he made the most of the opportunity with that package that they
05:40 just put in that week.
05:41 I think he stepped up big.
05:43 But Ben knowing he could do that, just need him to keep coming along,
05:46 then he gonna be a big part of the team and
05:49 that's where he gonna take us where we wanna go.
05:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:56 >> Any other questions?
05:57 Okay, Rob.
05:58 [BLANK_AUDIO]
06:03 >> You guys have already faced three of the top five wide receivers in the SEC.
06:06 Now Trey's coming in, he's still in that top five.
06:09 How do you guys handle it?
06:11 Is it when you put in a package for a guy like that, is it just scheme or
06:15 do you say, hey, look, this guy's really good at it, let's take that away from him?
06:20 >> Based on our offense, trying to use him.
06:22 I think we did a good job of knowing what Missouri was trying to do as far as
06:24 with Luther, basically trying to force a few on the ball.
06:27 So like I said, we're gonna watch a little bit more film this week.
06:30 And the coaches did a real good job as far as game planning.
06:33 So looking forward to seeing what the game plan is this afternoon and
06:36 then try to execute the game plan as best as possible.
06:37 [BLANK_AUDIO]
06:41 >> With an opponent like Ole Miss that you haven't had the opportunity to face at
06:44 all, whether three years here, is there a different level of processing or
06:48 is there a different level of preparing for a team like that when you yourself
06:52 don't have experience facing what they do or who they are as a team?
06:55 >> No, I think our preparation will be the same every week no matter who we play.
06:58 And like I said, I think the coaches did a real good job of getting us prepared.
07:02 So looking forward to seeing what the game plan is this week.
07:05 Then try to make the most of senior day for the seniors.
07:09 I'm just trying to do it for the other senior guys and for
07:11 this team to kind of take us where we wanna go.
07:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]
07:17 >> Any more for Taki?
07:17 All right, Taki, thank you, sir.
07:20 >> Thanks, Taki.
07:21 >> Appreciate you, Tom.
07:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]