Antonio Smith is back in his comfort zone. Sure, he’s in a new city, playing alongside a new group of players. But he’s back with a coaching staff that knows him perhaps better than any other.

Two days after the Raiders released the veteran defensive lineman in late May, the Broncos snatched him up, reuniting him with defensive line coach Bill Kollar, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and head coach Gary Kubiak, all of whom he played under in Houston.

“It was a breath of fresh air, getting back to these coaches that I’m familiar with,” Smith said Monday. “I know what they want to build. Bill, no matter who you are, he wants a lot, and that really helped me out in Houston.”

In Denver, Smith returns to the 3-4, after playing defensive tackle in Oakland’s 4-3 defense last year, when he took 791 snaps and graded out as the third-best pass rusher at his position, according to Pro Football Focus.

Before Oakland, Smith played five seasons in Houston (2009-13), all with Kollar and Kubiak, and three with Phillips. As he learned the playbook, he learned his coaches — their personalities, their expectations. It was an experience that prepared him for his latest job in Denver, but one that didn’t start out so easy.

“Most relationships you build in life, the ones that mean something to you are going to start off with a period where you’re feeling each other out,” he said. “You might not like each other, you don’t understand each other, but then, all of a sudden, he knows truly who I am in the heart and I know who he is truly in the heart. And I think that me and Bill, we had one little altercation, and since then it’s been smooth-sailing.”

The lessons that come with 11 NFL seasons playing in different defenses in different cities with different teams — have formed perhaps Smith’s biggest asset to the Broncos. After losing one of their biggest vocal leaders on defense, Terrance Knighton, to free agency, the Broncos might have found themselves a strong leader at the line of scrimmage and in the locker room.

Even if Smith still is learning everyone’s nicknames.

“If they need me to stay after, I’ll do it,” he said of teaching younger players. “It excites me to see someone who wants to get better at their craft. If I can do that with them, it actually helps me keep my skills sharp.

“I’m starting to watch some of the younger players like coaches do, and I see a lot of attributes in all of them.”

The one who has impressed him the most?

Kenny Anunike, a third-year defensive end who was undrafted from Duke.

“I think the coaches, right off the bat, noticed that Kenny was just out running everybody,” Smith said, adding that Anunike also has been the most inquisitive about technique and the defense. “I see a lot of talent in him, but I see a lot of talent in other guys, too.

“I think we’re going to have a real solid defensive line.”

Footnote. The Broncos opened Phase 2 of their offseason program Monday with two roster moves, waiving offensive lineman Jon Halapio and wide receiver Matt Miller.

Halapio, a 6-foot-3, 320-pound guard from Florida was a sixth-round pick by New England (No. 179) in the 2014 draft, but was released last August. He was signed to the Broncos’ practice squad in December.

Halapio played alongside Max Garcia, the Broncos’ 2015 fourth-round pick, while at Florida, in 2013.

Miller was an undrafted free agent from Boise State, where he set a program record for career receptions with 244 for 3,049 yards and 29 touchdowns in his four collegiate seasons.

However, the 6-3, 220-pound wide receiver was hampered by injuries his senior season and made only 28 receptions for 461 yards and three touchdowns in 2014.

The Broncos’ roster is now down to 86 players, leaving four spots open. They have yet to sign any of the seven undrafted free agents who participated in last weekend’s rookie camp.

Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickijhabvala