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The Washington Redskins
With Fred Smoot
Redskins Cornerback
Friday, Oct. 11, 2002; 3:15 p.m. EDT
What is the team mood like after last Sunday's win against the Titans? What is life like under Coach Spurrier? Where does the team need to improve?
Washington Redskins Cornerback Fred Smoot was online to talk about the team, Sunday's game against New Orleans and the season.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Fred Smoot: I am live from the dentist! Even I can't talk my way out of that one.
Harrisonburg, Va.:
First off, awesome game last week!
Having gone up agains Ramsey in practice, how do you feel about his abilities going into this weeks game against the Saints? Also, do you feel like the defense made a big step last week?
Fred Smoot: Yes, we are confident in Ramsey. I just hope he keeps improving week by week. And yes, it was a giant step for the defense.
Buena Vista, Va.:
Is all the hype about the Sniper going to change the way you arrive and depart the stadium on Sunday? Hope you guys can pull out a win it will be my first game at FedEx!
Fred Smoot: I hope not. I hope that the things that are going on these days won't effect the games. I hope people can relax and we give people a good show.
Maryland:
Do you think the Saints' recievers pose a greater threat than the Titans recievers?
Fred Smoot: Yes I think they Saints has more depth and greater receivers. They have a lot of speed too. They have so many good recievers you may forget about one.
Your Momma ain't the only one happy:
Smoot -- Major props on your whole game. At one point they
showed a stat on TV that said "Thrown at: 1, Interceptions: 1". You pitched a shutout yesterday AND you got
the recognition you deserved on ESPN. Tom Jackson named you his Defensive Player of the Week. Congrats!
Did You get a game ball?
Fred Smoot: Thank you. I didn't know about the stats.
Yeah, I did get the game ball. I am going to mail it to my mom.
Deale, Md.:
What is your reaction to the sniper shottings and has it affected your work week.
Fred Smoot: No it is not. It is on our minds and we feel sorry for the people and families who have to go though it.
Atlanta, Ga.:
Fred,
Superb play last week against the Titans.
Do you have a nickname amongst the veterans on the team?
Fred Smoot: Yeah they call me Billy the Kid.
Suitland, Md.:
Watching last week's game on TV, it seems the team rallied around the rookie quarterback. Do players play even harder than usual when a rookie is playing that position?
Fred Smoot: We are going to rally around him and show his support just like people rallied around me when I was a rookie. He got the chance and he delivered.
Trouble:
One of the concerns many of us had when you were drafted in the second round, is the trouble with the law you had. I wanted to know if you've kept your nose clean and have quit those habits which were quite a concern for many of us?
Fred Smoot: Did you see my face on ESPN? You can't believe everything you hear.
Washington, D.C.:
Although the Titans were held in check for most of the game, how would you rate the
defense's performance? Scale of 1 to 10. Ten being the highest.
Fred Smoot: I give us an eight or maybe a seven. We didn't pitch a shutout and we have room to improve.
Maryland:
What's up Fred?! How much of a leader has Bruce Smith been for the defense or the team knowing that his career is winding down and not winning a Super Bowl and being to so many of them? I also have a magazine for you that I wrote about with you in it. I'll give it to you before or after the Saint game if I see ya. Thanks and keep up the intensity!
Fred Smoot: Bruce has been a big leader. Nothing would make me happier than seeing Bruce and Darrel with rings on their fingers. I will be looking for you after the Saints game.
Arlington, Va.:
In light of all the modern players wheeling around in their Escalades and Navigators and such, I have to ask: Do you still have the Smoot-mobile?
Fred Smoot: Yes, I still have the Chevy. I still ride in it too. Some people keep cars and don't use them but I keep care of my baby.
Fredericksbug, Va.:
Great job Sunday! Now with four games in, and sitting an respectable 500, what's the morale like with this team
compared to last year at this same time? Can we expect to see you guys to keep getting better? And, unlike last
year, are you guys having fun?
Fred Smoot: We are having a lot of fun. That was a must win for us last week so yeah, morale is up. We are really excited now and ready to play some football.
Jeremy, La.:
You had great success as a rookie last year. Based on your experience, what do you think rookie QB Patrick Ramsey is going through today, after his very successful debut against the Titans?
Fred Smoot: The expectations are there. People are going to expect him to play that way all the time. I just hope he can relax and keep his composure so he can play like that week in and week out.
Ashburn, Va.:
Smoot, you're killing me here. I had you on my football fantasy team for the first 3 weeks of the
season, and you did nothing for me. I bench you for the Titans game, and you get two interceptions. Don't tell
Jeremiah Trotter, but I'm going to bench him and put you back in. Can I count on you to get another two
interceptions for the next game?
Fred Smoot: You were wrong for benching me but I will help you out this week.
Washington, DC:
Who's your favorite rapper and would you consider making a record of your own like A.I. or Shaq?
Fred Smoot: I Love Nelly and I am interested in doing one with him.
Washington, D.C.:
Freddie, I keep hearing that either you or Champ is the fastest on the team. What happened to Darrell?
Fred Smoot: He is 42 years old and me and Champ are 23 and 24 years old.
Starkville, Ms:
Mr. Smoot, I am attending "The MSU" right now and I will be in the N.F.L. real soon. My question to you is, while we were at Hinds CC.I don't recall your student skills being used in Mrs. Craven's Pre algebra class so how are you going to become a great student of the game of football?
Fred Smoot: Cause football comes natural to me. What about you?
Maryland:
Freddie: What was your best "SmootSmack" line from the game Sunday? With two interceptions you should of had some good ones!
Fred Smoot: I told Dyson to put his hands in his pocket because he won't be using them today.
Fort lauderdale, Florida:
Hey Fred:
I know you must be feeling alot more confident after last week's performance by the defense...My question is what are your impressions of Aaron Brooks, Joe Horn and Dante Stallworth & what kind of matchup problems will they give you on Sunday?
Hope you guys keep it up and smash the Saints!
Fred Smoot: We have a lot of respect for Brooks and the receivers they have but they don't scare champ or I. We are going to go straight at them so tell them to put their 3-D glasses on.
Chase City, Va.:
With the team playing its best half of football yesterday in the second half, does this weeks
game aganist the Saints become a must win so you can build off the second half performance and show that the
team is really beginning to turn it around?
Fred Smoot: Yes it is. We have to show everyone that we can be consistent. That is the key - consistency. We are going to try.
Richmond, Va.:
Congratulations on a great game yesterday, the whole defense seemed much improved over the previous 2
games. What do you think led to the turnaround? And do you think Marvin Lewis showing you guys a video
about Apollo Anton Ohno made any difference?
Fred Smoot: No. People are just learning their responsibilities and what Marvin wants.
Yeah, that video was a trip and it did kinda help us out.
Gettysburg, Pa.:
We moved from D.C. to Pennsylvania a year ago and got a satellite dish so we can see the
Redskins play each week. Congratulations on Sunday's fantastic game!
Not to take anything away from the victory, but the Titans seem to be a team on the skids. How will the
Redskin pass protection perform against stronger teams like the Saints and Green Bay?
Fred Smoot: I don't know… I hope we just continue to get better and better. We are just going to keep rolling.
Alexandria, Va.:
Do you read the newspaper articles about the Redskins? Do your teammates? If so how do
you think you, personally, and your team have been treated by The Post? Fairly?
Fred Smoot: I am not a newspaper clipping guy myself so I don't just read what they say and what they don't. It is life - people love you when you are up and hate you when you are down.
Seattle, Wash.:
Hi Fred. Nice game Sunday. Looks like you took your mom's advice and played your
game. Did you get a game ball? Also, how excited was Dan Snyder after the game? Many people questioned
taking Patrick Ramsey instead of a offensive guard, but Dan's sure looking smart now.
Fred Smoot: You know Dan loves it any time we win.
I did take my moms advice and I doubt I will get away from it again.
Sterling, Va.:
Darrel Green is a pillar of the D.C. community and is a role model to children that have grown up in this area. He has played with courage, been loyal to the d.c. area for 20 years, given back to the community in many many ways, remained humble, and always provides a moral center for the Washington Redskins. You've often compared yourself to Deion Sanders, and have said in many remarks that you model yourself after him. Would you rather model your career after Darrel Green, or Deion Sanders? What qualities in the player that you choose, would you most like to possess?
Fred Smoot: The work Darrel has done with community is great. You gotta love Darrel as a player and a person. But when it all comes down to it I am more like Deion. I am not Dion, but I am more like him.
Call me Darrel Sanders or Deion Green or something.
Washington, D.C.:
Fred -- How many pickles you gonna get this week? Watch out for the Go route. This Saints team has serious speed. Love your game.
Fred Smoot: Yeah they got speed and we got speed too. Thanks for the advice because we will be watching out for the go route.
I am going to try to beat the number of pickoffs from last week.
Mclean, Va.:
What are two of the things that you feel you are the worst at in terms of the cornerback position, and what two things are you the best at? What types of receivers give you the most problems in coverage (short burners, tall possession, route running monsters)?
Fred Smoot: What am I worst at? Accepting someone getting a catch off me, In reality is going to happen but I don't want it to. I am best at ball awareness and the intensity I play the game with.
St. Louis, Mo.:
Since you came into the league I heard you are one of the best trash talkers on the field. Is that true? What was the funniest thing you said to get under a receivers skin or visa versa?
Fred Smoot: Yes, it is true. I have said a million things to get under the receivers skin. I tell them anything that comes to my mind - like that they can't catch a cold butt naked in Antarctica. It is a spur of the moment thing.
College Park, Md.:
Hi Fred,
Congratulations on your well played game last Sunday. I was wondering if you could help explain what makes playing cornerback difficult given that I would think you essentially just have to follow the receiver wherever he goes and look for the ball when he looks for it.
Fred Smoot: It is 100 yards a field, thousands of screeming fans, you don't know where he is going, he probably has Bret Farve throwing the ball and he can probably make it 40 yards faster than your car can - should I say anything else?
Bethesda, Md. (in Toronto):
Wish I could catch a home game and see the new shirts and ballcoach but alas.
Sir Smoot, I have to ask cuz we like our cornerbacks here in D.C., how do you like the team, the city, and the redskin experience so far because I for one would like you to stay in DC for a long term.
Fred Smoot: I love Washington, D.C. It aint Mississippi but I love it. Washington gave me a chance so you know I love 'em.
Potomac, Md.:
Smootie! Great game Sunday!
We all know there were high expectations for Lavar this year -- and he I'm sure puts the highest on himself.
How is his attitude with dealing with a new system (again) and do you think he will soon be dominating games
like we are all used to?
Thanks and smash them Saints on Sunday!
Fred Smoot: I think he is dealing with it. He is still learning just like everyone else. As soon as he learns everything he will be back to the old Llavar.
I'd rather call you Fred Smoot:
Fred - I know people always want to compare the next generation with the previous one, but I don't want to do that. I'd rather just enjoy watching you as another one of the great DBs that plays for my team.
Loved that line about the hands in the pockets. Any good responses?
Fred Smoot: I appreciate that because Fred Smoot is the only person I can be.
They haven't found a good comeback to that.
Ashburn, Va.:
Fred-
Which of your former college teammates eats more, Pork Chop Womack or Pig Prather?
Fred Smoot: Pork Chop got 'em.
Norfolk, Va.:
Fred, congratulations on an outstanding game against the Titans. Fred, have you ever matched up with Donte' Stallworth and if so how did you fare against him? Good Luck against the Saints!
Fred Smoot: I never got to meet him in college. Turn on the game this weekend -- I will show you.
San Francisco, Calif.:
Fred -- I love your style because you generally back it up with your play. But one area you and Champ have been drawing some criticism is in your tackling. Do you see it as a problem and if so what are you doing to make sure defenders don't slip past you if they make the catch?
Go Skins!
Fred Smoot: I am working hard on my tackling. I know that tackling is the weakest point in my game but I am working on it. Tackling is all about attitude.
Washington, D.C.:
Jon Janson and Stephen Davis have contract decisions to make this year. Do you think they would rather re-up with the Skins or test the open market? Both seem like really great and loyal guys. Does loyalty mean anything anymore in the "business" type atmosphere of NFL contract negotiations?
Keep up the good work!
Fred Smoot: Yes and I hope both stay. I don't truly speak for other people. Only the future can predict those types of things.
Somewhere, USA:
Do you fear Brooks more than McNair?
Fred Smoot: I don't fear no man. I have respect for people, but not fear.
I respect both of them. Both are great passers who can run the ball.
Washington, D.C.:
What kind of dental work are we talking about? In D.C., we want to know everything about our Skins!
Fred Smoot: I cracked a tooth playing on Sunday. I just got it smoothed out and fixed.
San Antonio, Tex.:
Smooty! Awesome game last week! I listen to the Spurrier report on DC 101 and he sounds like the most motivating, trusting, supportive and encouraging coach I've ever heard. Are these accurate descriptions of your coach and what do you admire most about Spurrier? Thanks and good luck Sunday!
Fred Smoot: He is all that. He carries a lot of stuff that he had in college now. I love his little type of arrogance. Not arrogant to the point of annoyance - but it makes you put a lot of pressure on yourself.
Washington, D.C.:
Did Ramsey get a game ball, too? I mean, it was his first NFL touchdown.
Fred Smoot: Yeah he got a game ball. I wanted to give him mine too. He deserved it.
Fred Smoot: Thank you for chatting with me this week.
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