Nov. 01--The assignment: Accounting for Vikings safety Harrison Smith
Smith's measurables: 6-foot-2, 214 pounds.
Assigned: Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
Notable numbers: Smith finished third in the NFL in interceptions last season with five. He has 11 career interceptions and five career sacks. ... Cutler needs one TD pass to tie Sid Luckman's franchise record for TD passes (137).
Scouting report: In a defense loaded with talent, Smith brings an invaluable combination of toughness and swagger. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer instantly fell in love with the safety's mental makeup and found Smith could be used effectively as a back-end coverage weapon, an in-the-box run stopper and an off-the-edge blitzer. Zimmer labels Smith "a smart player and a great kid," praising his vision and intelligence in processing the nuances of the defense. Smith's flexibility frees up Zimmer and coordinator George Edwards to showcase the creativity of their scheme.
Word from within: "He does a lot. He's versatile. He can play two high, he can get off the hash. He can cover sideline to sideline. He mans up on tight ends. And then he's one of their key blitzers. ... He's a guy you kind of have to keep an eye on and know where he's at because they line him up in a lot different spots." -- Cutler
