Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993 TAG: 9310260040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
His performance in Sunday's 19-10 victory by the Buffalo Bills over the New York Jets was the kind that should get him a lot of votes: five tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one quarterback pressure that led to an interception.
That doesn't include the first-ever interception of Smith's football career: a lunging, one-handed snare of a tipped ball that should make several of NFL Films' highlights videos.
"I expect that out of him all the time now," coach Marv Levy said with a laugh.
Smith laughed himself when asked about the spectacular play.
"I'm still in awe over that," he said Monday. "I've watched it about 10 times, and I still can't figure out how I was able to even get over in that vicinity."
It was just another of the spectacular plays the former Virginia Tech All-American makes routinely, Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason said.
"Bruce Smith is abnormal," Esiason said. "I say abnormal because he's so much better than anyone else in the league who plays that position. He makes things happen."
Smith is a dedicated student of the game who probably spends more time watching game videos than any other Bill.
"I will watch our opponent before anyone else on this team will," he said, adding he spends half his day off on Tuesday at Rich Stadium.
"I watch maybe a reel or two of film," Smith said. "I work out for about 1 1/2 hours and then I'll come up and watch film for maybe 30 minutes, just to get an idea."
Smith seems to have lost little of his quickness despite the two operations on his left knee in 1991 and 1992.
Smith also has found a discipline that was lacking when he came into the NFL in 1985 as the first overall draft choice. The result? He feels he's having an even better season that when he was chosen the league's best defensive player in 1990.
"One of my goals was to . . . be defensive player of the year again," he said. "That's only natural for someone with high goals and high expectations. That's something that's on my mind, but it's in the back of my mind."
Does he think he's on track?
"Yeah, I think so," he said. "So far."
by CNB