Jags coordinator has common name, uncommonly good defenses

His current unit is ranked second in points-per game (11.6) behind the Steelers (9.4). The Jaguars allowed last-minute touchdowns the past two games that kept them from the top spot, one ruining a shutout at Kansas City on the final play.

Now comes the real test: the Indianapolis Colts and their high-flying offense. It's the type of game, on a Monday night in front of a national television audience, that could end up making Mike Smith a hot coaching commodity.

"We talk about losing him sometimes, and we don't want that to happen," Peterson said. "But we know it could happen someday."

Del Rio brought Smith with him when he became the coach in 2003. The two worked together on Billick's staff in Baltimore, Smith as defensive assistant line coach for the Super Bowl-winning Ravens in 2001 and Del Rio as linebackers coach. Del Rio left to become coordinator in Carolina in 2002, and Smith took over coaching the linebackers. When Del Rio became coach of the Jaguars, Smith followed.

Heading into this season, the Jaguars ranked fourth in overall defense, third in offensive points allowed and fifth in rushing defense during Smith's tenure.

The 2006 season might have been one of the best coaching jobs by any assistant in the league. Smith lost his top pass rusher (Reggie Hayward) for the year in the first game, lost starting safety Donovin Darius in the seventh and Peterson in the eighth. Stroud played on an ankle that required micro-fracture surgery after the season, and projected starting linebacker Pat Thomas missed every game.

Smith and his patchwork group somehow finished ranked second in total defense, giving up 283.6 yards. They allowed only 11 points per game at home, pitching two shutouts.

Ask Smith about those numbers coming with all the injuries, and he just shrugs it off.

"You just have to play with what you have," Smith said. "The guys went out and did the job. You have to have contingency plans for when they go down. That's why we cross-train our guys so they're ready to play other positions and have comfort level when they do."

You didn't expect self-promotion, did you?

A former college linebacker at East Tennessee State, Smith isn't one of those in-your-face coaches that some who played the position can be. Watching him work the field is like watching a teacher coddling his students.

Don't let that fool you. He can get on a player when it's needed.

"Oh yeah," Peterson said. "He can jump you when it's needed. You guys just don't see it."

"I don't yell and scream, but I am passionate about what we do and how we do things," Smith said.

The Jaguars don't play an exotic style of defense, which is why it and especially Smith don't get the attention they deserve. Their base 4-3 is predicated on the two big tackles and Peterson and his linebacker mates shutting down the run and putting teams in passing situations.

They do blitz, but it isn't the fancy schemes like say the Ravens use in Baltimore under Rex Ryan. It's just good, fundamental defense with a few wrinkles mixed in.

"I think there are certain principles of defense that all defenses have," Smith said. "I think it's about getting guys in the right position to make plays. It doesn't matter if you're a big blitzing team or whatever. All that matters is the final result."

Peterson frowned when told the Jaguars defense wasn't considered exotic.

"We do some exotic stuff," he said. "But when you play good defense, you don't need to do a lot of that."

After a horrible opening game against the Tennessee Titans, in which the Jaguars gave up a stunning 282 yards rushing, they've tightened it up and given up just 200 combined in the four games since. Included was a 10-yard effort against the Chiefs.

So what happened on opening day?

"Gap control," Peterson said.

That's fixable, especially with a coach like Smith.

The Colts offer a different problem. Yes, they can run it, but they are a pass-first offense with Peyton Manning. That's where Smith becomes even more important. The Jaguars don't have a premier edge rusher -- Hayward is still coming off that injury -- and Smith has to compensate by creating ways to get to the passer. It has been that way for almost all of his tenure in Jacksonville, which makes the defenses' success even more eye-opening.

"He just goes about his business with that laid-back attitude and gets it done," Stroud said. "That's Smitty. Look at him. He's a businessman."

He might be a businessman readying for the biggest interview of his life. NFL owners take note: Mike Smith is a name you all should be familiar with even if he isn't one that many would fans would know.