Every gambler needs an insurance plan in case of disaster. Senior cornerback Roderick Maples, who is known for taking risks on the field, is no exception.
Only, Maples' insurance plan comes in the form of junior strong safety Eric Smith.
"We kind of got attached," Maples said. "He knew what plays I might gamble or what plays I might break on. He'd have to cheat over to my side a little bit just in case. We kind of got a little thing; we got a little chemistry together."
On the field before the snap, Maples usually is lined up with an opposing wide receiver with nothing behind him but Smith and the end zone. So, if one of Maples' defensive gambles backfires, it's up to Smith to cover his back.
As last season progressed, Maples' confidence in Smith grew, and he felt more comfortable taking risks on defense.
"I like to gamble, and I like when Smitty's behind me so I can," Maples said.
The on-field chemistry between Smith and Maples dissolved, however, when injuries ended Smith's season early. Smith injured his left shoulder and right knee in separate incidents last season. As a result, he missed the Spartans' last two regular-season games and the Alamo Bowl.
His absence had an effect on Maples and the rest of the Spartans' secondary. The inexperience of the players who replaced Smith showed, Maples said.
"I'm not blaming them, because that was something new to them," he said.
Both of Smith's injuries required surgery, but he said he will be ready for the season this fall. Right now, while he recovers from his surgeries, Smith is not participating in contact drills with the team.
Smith said the recovery has made this off-season especially hard.
"I spend the majority of my time trying to get back to what I had, instead of building on the strength of what I had," he said.
Once Smith returns to the field, last season's starting defensive backfield of Smith, Maples, senior free safety Jason Harmon and junior cornerback Darren Barnett will be completely intact for the upcoming season, though Maples said junior cornerback Ashton Watson is giving Barnett strong competition at the position. That's a big change from the beginning of last season, when the secondary was one of the team's most inexperienced units.
Early last season, that inexperience was evident when the defensive backfield showed a tendency to give up big plays.
"We were mixed up back there, making a lot of mistakes," Harmon said. "We were getting a lot of criticism and everything at the beginning of last year ? so we want to make a big change and just learn from our mistakes and prove that this is the secondary that we're going to try to take it all the way with."
Head coach John L. Smith said he will expect more from the defensive backfield this season.
"If you have everybody coming back, you better be better," he said.
An example of John L. Smith's faith in the secondary came when he named Harmon a captain for the spring. Last season, Harmon led the team in tackles with a total of 108. He also was tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. Harmon said his new leadership role is "an honor."
"I feel good that the coaches and the players look up to me, and I'm willing to take that role," he said.
