Smith More Than Just A Short-Yardage Back
October 18, 2016 | Football
Jeremy Smith raced 80 yards for a touchdown last week versus Duke.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville running back Jeremy Smith had pretty much accepted his role on the team this season as the short-yardage back.
Carrying the ball just 21 times this season, Smith has rushed for 217 yards for a team-high five touchdowns from the running back spot,but mosit of those yards came on one play.
Most of Smith's carries this season were on the goal-line or in short-yardage situations, but the junior showed his power and speed last Friday night when he raced 80 yards for the lengthiest rush of the season – plus it was the longest since Bilal Powell ran 85 yards for a touchdown in 2010.
"It felt great to actually be able to do something that I've always been doing," Smith said after practice on Tuesday. "I do that in practice almost every day finishing through. So it felt great to be able to in a game."
Because of the way Duke was playing last week, and the with the intensity the offensive line was using to opening holes, Smith knew he had the opportunity to make the biggest play of the season when he took the handoff.
"Really as soon as I seen it I was like alright, this can go because once I seen the guard kick out, everything just opened up and then it's just on me to run," Smith said. "Have people blocking downfield -- had a great block at the end by James Quick, so that lead me in to the end zone."
Petrino, who loves to use a number of backs in his offensive, thinks Smith is one of the most versatile backs with his ability to run and be a pass catcher out of the backfield.
"He is really starting to play well," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "He has been in there a lot because of his pass protection and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, but we do have a lot of confidence in him running the football."
Totaling a career-high 97 yards on just four carries, Smith has shown an ability to find the end zone in his first two seasons – totaling eight touchdowns on 81 carries since transferring from Fresno City Community College.
"He's got great vision," Petrino said. "He does a nice job of pressing the blocks and can really come to balance and get out of it. I think he has really improved and has gotten better as the year goes on."
While Smith excels in a variety of areas on the field, the native of Hammond, La., has emerged as a threat catching the ball out of the backfield. Smith, who caught two passes last season, has nine receptions for 119 yards this year after just six games, and credits running backs coach Kolby Smith for his development as a receiver.
"Just staying focused," Smith said of his ability to catch the ball. "Coach Kolby Smith always tells us to stay focused to what we are doing. He tells us to read the ball, meaning catch and see if there's stripes or no stripes, other than that, that's basically all it is. Just got to look the ball into the tuck, so we try to do that as running backs."
Petrino always talks about pass protection takes all 11 guys on the field to do their part, but also is adamant that if a running back isn't solid in that area – that he will not see the field. Smith understood that, and has accepted his role in protecting the passer.
"As a backfield, we take a lot of pride in that," Smith said. "Coach Smith since the season has gone on, as a running backs, we've gave up one sack, close to one sack, so we take a lot of pride in that as a running back group. We don't like to give up sacks or anything."
Smith and the rest of the offense will be challenged as NC State brings one of the best defenses in the country into Saturday's game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
"NC State has a lot of great tacklers," Smith said. "They come up field. A lot of secondary players who want to hit, so that's a big thing. Most teams you don't see a lot of secondary players who come up and hit."
Carrying the ball just 21 times this season, Smith has rushed for 217 yards for a team-high five touchdowns from the running back spot,but mosit of those yards came on one play.
Most of Smith's carries this season were on the goal-line or in short-yardage situations, but the junior showed his power and speed last Friday night when he raced 80 yards for the lengthiest rush of the season – plus it was the longest since Bilal Powell ran 85 yards for a touchdown in 2010.
"It felt great to actually be able to do something that I've always been doing," Smith said after practice on Tuesday. "I do that in practice almost every day finishing through. So it felt great to be able to in a game."
Because of the way Duke was playing last week, and the with the intensity the offensive line was using to opening holes, Smith knew he had the opportunity to make the biggest play of the season when he took the handoff.
"Really as soon as I seen it I was like alright, this can go because once I seen the guard kick out, everything just opened up and then it's just on me to run," Smith said. "Have people blocking downfield -- had a great block at the end by James Quick, so that lead me in to the end zone."
Petrino, who loves to use a number of backs in his offensive, thinks Smith is one of the most versatile backs with his ability to run and be a pass catcher out of the backfield.
"He is really starting to play well," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "He has been in there a lot because of his pass protection and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, but we do have a lot of confidence in him running the football."
Totaling a career-high 97 yards on just four carries, Smith has shown an ability to find the end zone in his first two seasons – totaling eight touchdowns on 81 carries since transferring from Fresno City Community College.
"He's got great vision," Petrino said. "He does a nice job of pressing the blocks and can really come to balance and get out of it. I think he has really improved and has gotten better as the year goes on."
While Smith excels in a variety of areas on the field, the native of Hammond, La., has emerged as a threat catching the ball out of the backfield. Smith, who caught two passes last season, has nine receptions for 119 yards this year after just six games, and credits running backs coach Kolby Smith for his development as a receiver.
"Just staying focused," Smith said of his ability to catch the ball. "Coach Kolby Smith always tells us to stay focused to what we are doing. He tells us to read the ball, meaning catch and see if there's stripes or no stripes, other than that, that's basically all it is. Just got to look the ball into the tuck, so we try to do that as running backs."
Petrino always talks about pass protection takes all 11 guys on the field to do their part, but also is adamant that if a running back isn't solid in that area – that he will not see the field. Smith understood that, and has accepted his role in protecting the passer.
"As a backfield, we take a lot of pride in that," Smith said. "Coach Smith since the season has gone on, as a running backs, we've gave up one sack, close to one sack, so we take a lot of pride in that as a running back group. We don't like to give up sacks or anything."
Smith and the rest of the offense will be challenged as NC State brings one of the best defenses in the country into Saturday's game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
"NC State has a lot of great tacklers," Smith said. "They come up field. A lot of secondary players who want to hit, so that's a big thing. Most teams you don't see a lot of secondary players who come up and hit."
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
RB
/ FootballThe Card Tape: Boca Raton Bowl
Friday, December 26
FB: Bush's Boca Raton Bowl Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, December 24
The Card Tape: Kentucky (2025)
Monday, December 01
FB: Highlights vs. Kentucky
Sunday, November 30
