Aug. 7--When former Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mike Smith took over the Atlanta Falcons, he took over a team in disarray whose former quarterback was in jail and whose former coach had told his players in a memo that he was leaving.
Smith went right to work trying to change the "culture" around the team.
"I think it's something you have to do when coming in new is to establish how we're going to do things, and I think we've done that," Smith said. "And to change the culture, the first thing you have to do is change people's behaviors.
"And when you change their behavior, then you change their habits. And we're all creatures of habit."
Smith served as the Jags' defensive coordinator from 2003-07.
He will return to Jacksonville on Saturday when the Jags play the Falcons in their first exhibition game.
Most of the players remember a somewhat easygoing guy -- something Smith says is a bit of a misconception.
"He's a very cerebral type of guy when it comes to football," DE Paul Spicer said. "He understands what it is about being a coach and being a leader, and every year he just got better and better and better.
"I was one of the first guys telling Smitty, 'When are you going to get hired? All of these guys getting hired, when are you going to get hired?' Because I could see it in him."
Success in Atlanta won't come easily or quickly.
The Falcons went 4-12 last season and were outscored 414-259.
Injury update
