SAFETY HARRISON SMITH
Fourth down efficiency? Was that crucial for the defense today?
I guess so, it's hard to know what exactly happens out there until you watch it all. Getting off after fourth down is like a turnover. It's always a big play.
Could you feel you guys getting to Will (Levis)?
I mean it's hard to know. I know our guys up front did a great job. First, stopping the run, second, getting after the quarterback. That makes it hard no matter what you know at that point. You got guys trying to put pressure on you all day.
Feel good to get the pick?
Yeah, back in my home state. I thought I should have had one or two early, so I was kind of mad at myself. It was good to close the game out with one.
That deep one, you had a pretty good shot at him earlier (in the game)?
Yeah. I probably should have even been in better position, but I wasn't sure he was going to throw that one. Still could have caught it though.
He (Will Levis) seems to like those deep throws.
Yeah, they had success on a couple of them. We didn't give them too much outside of that.
10 games in, a little bit bigger picture, where do you think you guys have put yourself in position in the division?
We saw what Detroit's score was today. They are doing their thing over there. We have to focus on us and whoever we are playing, focus on that. See where we are at at the end of it.
Harrison (Smith), what is your mindset on winning early in the NFL in terms of how tough it is to get wins in general and how you thought about that over your career?
I think at this point in my career, there's no homecoming games out here. It doesn't matter what people's records are. Everybody has Pro Bowlers, everybody can score on one play like what happened today. There's no easy buckets. You have to be locked in, and they all count as one. That is my mindset. It's not thinking about too much of it, just being present. It's kind of cliche but that's just the reality of it.
Finishing this thing off with an interception in your home state. Ton of people from Knoxville are here watching?
I was mad at myself for not getting one earlier. I really should have had about two. It was good to close the game out with one, but still mad at myself for not getting another.
