Bruce Smith was a sack specialist but the Buffalo Bills legend was more impressed with another of his on-field feats.
Bruce Smith was a sack specialist but the Buffalo Bills legend was more impressed with another of his on-field feats.
Bruce Smith lived up to the expectations of being the first overall selection in the 1985 NFL Draft. Smith, regarded as one of the greatest defensive ends in NFL history, helped the Buffalo Bills win four Super Bowls in a row. He’s also the all-time leader in quarterback sacks in the league.
Smith recently acknowledged that although getting to the quarterback was always a goal, it was never his only aim on the field.
On the list of all-time NFL sacks, Bruce Smith ranks first.
On January 31, 1993, at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys throws a ball under pressure from Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVII. | Getty Images/Focus on Sport
Smith played in the NFL for 19 years, the first 15 with the Buffalo Bills. The 6-foot-4, 262-pound defensive end from Virginia Tech holds the record for most sacks. He has 200 sacks in his professional career, two more than Reggie White.
According to ESPN, Smith has taken down 76 different quarterbacks in his career. Former New York Jets quarterback Ken O’Brien was floored 17.5 times by Smith, the most of any player.
“I suppose I helped him get to where he is now,” O’Brien remarked. “He was simply a weirdo.” He was fast off the ball and explosive. “Strong and dexterous with his hands.”
Former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe stated, “Bruce was one of just a handful of players you had to know where he was on the field at all times.” “He was simply such a physical presence, played with such tremendous passion, and had such amazing speed that if you didn’t pay careful attention to him, he could single-handedly destroy a game.”
“He had a fairly decent motor,” says the narrator. Bruce was not one of those players that sat out a lot of games. At least as far as I recall, he played hard nearly all of the time.”
Other than the sacks, Bruce Smith is pleased with something else.
Smith has 13 seasons in which he recorded at least ten sacks. In 1990, he had his finest statistical season, finishing with a career-high 19 points. He made the Pro Bowl 11 times and was selected to the All-Pro team eight times.
In 1990 and 1996, Smith was awarded the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. In 2009, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Smith wasn’t only good at sacking quarterbacks; it wasn’t his sole duty on the field. He recently acknowledged that sacks were important to him, but he was as proud of setting another record that few people seem to mention.
On the most recent edition of the Flutie Flakescast podcast, Smith told former teammate Doug Flutie, “Sacks were very crucial, but to earn a sack, you had to halt the run.” “That was something I was really proud of, and it’s something that a lot of reviewers and commentators don’t even mention.” I’ve racked up more tackles than any other defensive lineman in NFL history.”
Smith had two seasons in which he totaled more than 100 tackles. He completed his career with a total of 1,224 points.
Smith spilled the beans on his sacking success.
Smith highlighted his success in getting to quarterbacks when speaking with Flutie. He said there was more to it than simply sheer athleticism and imposing offensive linemen.
“It was decided based on a week of video study of that specific opponent,” Smith said. “I was well aware of his flaws. I was well aware of his assets. I knew he couldn’t hear the snap count while we were in Buffalo. I could tell whether he was sluggish with his hands or if he lacked quickness.”
He credits his instructors, particularly Ted Cottrell, for teaching him to concentrate on the finer points of the position. He also said that he took better physical care of himself.
“I began to bring it all together when I started keeping in shape all year rather than just six months out of the year.” My eating habits have improved significantly. I was able to shed several pounds.
“I felt confidence when I went out on the field because I was prepared.”
The fact that Smith was well-prepared and a physical specimen proved fatal to most of his opponents.
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