Smith:Oh yeah. I didn't get a chance to talk with Brandon during the process of signing him because I was on the road at pro days. When I got back, we got a chance to sit down and talk. One of the things I told him is I didn't need him to sit back and feel his way through it. Where we are at on the defensive line, we have to have a bell cow. He has a Super Bowl ring and has been a top performer, and I told him I need him to be the guy. And that's what he's done. He's been first in every drill and been exactly what I think we needed to add to this unit up front.

Chargers.com:Darius Philon showed flashes last year. He is only 22. What have you seen from him, and what do you expect out of him heading into his second season?

Smith:His skillset is pretty good. He has really good hips, explosive power, long arms and a big butt. He can do a lot of good things for us. He is someone who is intriguing. Hopefully we can develop him, and I think he can be a really good player in this league. I'm excited to see him develop. He's a good guy to keep an eye on as we move forward.

Chargers.com:Where do you see Sean Lissemore playing this year? He is someone who provides a lot of versatility up front.

Smith:Lissemore has position flexibility for us like you said, and that is valuable. He is a tough, smart guy. He is someone who can give us a lot from different spots. If we are only five linemen in a game, he can help us a lot in that way. He is more athletic than people give him credit for, and he's done well so far this offseason. He's really pushed himself.

Chargers.com:Tenny Palepoi missed all of last year, but he had a nice role as a rookie in 2014. What are your thoughts on Tenny?

Smith:I remember when Tenny came out. He is more athletic than I thought he was. Tenny is going to compete to get snaps, and I think he is going to push some people. He is another guy with Darius and Lissemore like you mentioned, so it is going to be a great competition to watch.

Chargers.com:What do you want to see out of Ryan Carrethers?

Smith:If he can play like he's done these past few weeks, with the explosive takeoff and using his core strength, I think he will surprise some people. He can't revert back, but has to keep building. This is going to be a big offseason for him to see if he can take the leap.

Chargers.com:Damion Square has been here since 2014, but he finally saw the field last year. How do you see him fitting in?

Smith:There is a lot of competition, and he is definitely in the mix. Square has done a good job. He is smart, and has a really good punch to lock out. The beauty of it is there is competition, and only a few spots. Like I tell them all, if you want to be here in the fall, you have to stand out. It all comes back to tape. What you put on tape is what you are.

Chargers.com:Finally, what was it you liked about Carlos Wray to sign him as an undrafted free agent?