By Ed Piper
Max Smith
Position: Linebacker
Year in school: Freshman
Fast facts: Max's father's mother speaks Japanese...Max had games of 12 tackles versus Santa Fe Christian in the playoffs, 11 versus University City, and 10 against Serra.
EP: How do you do it (anticipate and make tackles)? You're in your position. The other team is going to snap the ball. What's running through your mind? What are some things you're doing?
MS: Before the game, there's a lot of scouting... (interrupted by a phone call to reporter)
EP: What's your middle name?
MS: Gregory.
EP: Go back. You're in your position. The other team is about to snap the ball.
MS: There's film. You watch to see what they're (opponents) going to do on downs. Like, they pass on first down, they run on second down. Or you look at players and what they do. In high school, obviously, a lot of them are nervous and you have to key off that. Maybe a running back will look towards the hole he is going to run through.
EP: Oh, so he'll give it away.
MS: Yeah, sometimes. The quarterback will put his foot back. You have to read off those keys and you play off that. You're guessing, but you're not guessing. When you don't get what you think you're gonna get (laughing, but holding it together as two friends make faces at him over the interviewer's shoulder), you change it up. Ride whatever you see.
EP: But what I was thinking of, too, is they're nervous. You have to slow it down for you, too.
Friend: I love you, Max.
MS: So, I try to slow it down, make sure I'm not nervous. Obviously, in the beginning of the game, it's worse. But as the game goes on, you get in the flow, you start making plays without having to think about it too much.
EP: You slow down?
MS: Once the game is going on, you relax. You always have to make sure you focus in on the game, but not too much so that you're not surprised by what's coming and you're not over-anticipating something. Because you always want to keep it calm and do what you know you can do.
No comments:
Post a Comment