Mike Smith, who was named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive coordinator last week, says he would have only considered taking that position in Tampa, under new Head Coach Dirk Koetter. Smith finished a largely-successful seven-year run as the Atlanta Falcons' head coach in 2014, and for the last three of those seasons he had Koetter as his offensive coordinator.
READ: SMITH'S THREE KEYS FOR SUCCESSFUL DEFENSES
If Koetter's presence makes Smith feel comfortable, there is another factor in this move down I-95 that might have the opposite effect. Smith may have left Atlanta, but he didn't escape the NFC South, and that means he and his defense will be facing a familiar challenge.