Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith is in a groove, having fun on the field

Sean Smith spotted Tom Brady in the aftermath of the Chiefs’ 41-14 win over the Patriots on Monday, and on a whim, decided to approach the future Hall of Famer and wish him good luck going forward.

Smith was in a good mood, obviously. The Chiefs’ No. 1 cornerback was coming off a strong effort in which he’d picked off Brady once, deflected three passes and allowed only a 6-yard completion, but even a confident guy like Smith couldn’t have expected what happened next.

“I got some praise from Tom Brady, so I guess I’m doing all right,” Smith said. “He said I’m doing a good job, man.”

It was a nice compliment from a quarterback Smith respects, an indication the 6-foot-3, 218-pounder — who, at age 27, should be entering his prime — is making people take notice with his energetic play of late.

According to Pro Football Focus, Smith has been targeted 23 times and allowed only 12 completions. That 52 percent completion rate is tied for the 19th-best mark in the league out of 100 qualifying cornerbacks and is the best among the Chiefs’ corners. Teammates Chris Owens (66 percent) and Marcus Cooper (70.4 percent) rank 58th and 66th, respectively.

And over the last two games — which includes a 34-15 win over Smith’s former team, the Miami Dolphins — the sixth-year corner has been visibly animated and enthusiastic on the field — and not just when he makes plays. Defensive teammates who make a big stop or a big deflection have repeatedly been greeted by a giddy Smith.

“I think (the Miami game) gave the coaches a chance to see that when I’m able to go out there and just be myself and let my personality hang out there, not only do I play well, but people feed off my energy,” Smith said.

Smith, like his other more animated teammates, appreciates coach Andy Reid’s philosophy. He encourages his players to play with passion and let their personalities shine through on the field, and Smith has embraced that approach this season.

“Coach emphasizes to let your personality show, go out there and cut loose, and be yourself and have fun,” Smith said. “That’s something I definitely took personal. I’ve been a very enthusiastic guy. I like going out there and having fun and putting a smile on people’s faces.”

Smith, who signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal with the Chiefs as a free agent last season, said he feels a little more comfortable letting that side of himself shine through now that he’s in his second year with the team.

“When you come to a new place, you’re not sure how people are going to take your personality,” Smith said. “You’ve got to kind of get used to people and see how they react to certain things. It’s all love now. They understand how I go about my business and it’s all fun.”

Perhaps it’s no coincidence Smith’s play has been solid this season, too. In his last two games, Smith — who allowed 50 percent of the passes thrown his way to be completed in 2013, which tied for eighth-best mark in the league — has been targeted 12 times and has allowed only three completions.

“I think he has a better understanding of the defense,” Reid said. “I think he’s probably just more comfortable. He’s always been a pretty good player, I think it was just a matter of getting his feet wet in this defense and getting comfortable.”

Reid has also noticed the enthusiasm Smith is playing with, which Smith said he’s dialed up since star safety Eric Berry was lost in week two with a high-ankle sprain.

“The one thing I don’t want to happen is, with Eric Berry not being on the field, I don’t ever want there to be a drop in energy,” Smith said. “He brings so much to the table. With his absence — not saying we don’t have guys that can do that — but I want to make sure we can keep that level of energy up.”

So far, he’s succeeding at that, in addition to his other stated goal of putting a good performance on tape every week. Sometimes the two goals intersect too, as they did on his third-quarter interception of Brady in which he dropped into zone coverage, snatched the ball out of the air and darted 34 yards upfield in hopes of scoring — all the while carrying it like a loaf of bread, Deion Sanders-style.

“I wanted to get that one so bad,” Smith said. “But my gas tank ran out on me.”

The Chiefs have to hope, however, that it won’t when it comes to his overall play over the last three quarters of the season.

For his part, Smith, who has 14 tackles, an interception and five pass breakups this season, is content to just take it one week at a time from here on out.

“I mean, my confidence is already, it’s always up here,” Smith said, holding his hand high. “I think I’m the best thing since sliced bread.

“But having that mentality, (with) coach Reid (telling us) to go out there and let it all hang out, I just feel like it’s my time to really just go out there and show everybody what I’ve got.”

This story was originally published September 30, 2014 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith is in a groove, having fun on the field."