FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — During training camp, Falcons center Todd McClure would be in the trainer's room getting treatment on his injured back.
Like clockwork, coach Mike Smith would stop by daily to check on him and the rest of the rehabbing players.
 CURTIS COMPTON/Cox News Service Mike Smith has applied philosophies from NFL coaches he has worked with -- Brian Billick, Jack Del Rio and Marvin Lewis. For a larger, high resolution image, click HERE |
McClure was rehabbing for about three weeks.
"I've never had a coach do that before," said McClure, who's in his 10th season with the Falcons. "He truly cares about each player. When you see that from your head coach, you gain a lot of respect for him."
With moves like that and a no-nonsense style, Smith, a first-year NFL head coach, has quickly galvanized a fractured locker room and has the Falcons off to an improbable 2-1 start.
From the veterans such as McClure all the way down to the practice squad players, the team appears to have brought into Smith and his veteran coaching staff's message.
"It beats the alternative, and that's for sure," said Smith, who was the defensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech just 10 years ago.
After joining Baltimore's staff in 1999, he rose quickly and was Jacksonville's defensive coordinator from 2003-07.
He had a clear vision and plan for how he wanted the Falcons to play.
"I think our guys, from the very beginning, have really listened to what we are trying to get done," Smith said. "We are trying to hold each other accountable, not only players to coaches but coaches to coaches.
"When you have that accountability, you're going to be a disciplined football team. You know, we've been very physical in the first three games, and that's a trait that we want to have. That's the style of football that we would like to play."
A victory against Detroit in the opener Sept. 7 provided the players something tangible to show that Smith's methods work.
"Guys are buying into it," running back Michael Turner said. "We got the first win, and guys really started believing then."
After playing last season for the abrasive Bobby Petrino, Smith's passionate style is a refreshing change.
"He creates a very good work environment," safety Lawyer Milloy said. "He makes it a joy to come to work. He respects you as an individual, as a man."
The Falcons know not to mistake Smith's kindness for a weakness.
"He laid out his expectations on how he wanted us to work," Milloy said.
"There are no gray areas. You can just tell that he has a passion about coaching."
Linebacker Keith Brooking knew that Smith was bringing the defensive scheme that helped Baltimore win Super Bowl XXXV without a superstar quarterback and had Jacksonville in the AFC playoffs last season.
"The scheme has a history of being successful, going back to Baltimore and all of the success they had in Jacksonville with his defenses," Smith said. "If guys are doing what they are supposed to be doing schematically, you have a very good chance of being successful in this defense."
For his coaching transition, Smith has applied traits and skills from other coaches he's worked with. In the NFL, Smith has worked under Brian Billick, his brother-in-law, and Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio. He also was on the defensive staff in Baltimore with Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis.
Smith found that Del Rio was intriguing because he was a former NFL player and could relate to their emotional roller coaster.
"I think Jack is a guy who has a very good understanding of players, being a former player," Smith said. "He knows how to handle the players, and he knows how they are feeling."
Billick was a good organizer in terms of structuring his practices.
"He takes care of his players," Smith said. "They are going to work hard, but he wants to have them rested."
Lewis was a coalition builder who welcomed the opinions of his defensive staff in Baltimore.
"Marvin was probably the best that I've been around in making his coaching staff, his defensive staff feel like they were apart of the game plan," Smith said. "Marvin called the defenses on Sunday, but during the week we all felt like we played an integral part."
D. Orlando Ledbetter writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail: dledbetter AT ajc.com
