Schmidt was known and respected throughout the league as a clean but fearsome tackler. He's one of the top linebackers. A great diagnostician, a great tackler and strong defensive leader. He knows enemy plays, calling habits, the time, field position and personnel. Regarded as Mr. Linebacker around the league, Schmidt personified the new era of pro football where defense has become dominant.
Fans watch tackling as much as running and passing.
The responsibilities of a middle linebacker are awesome. He must have total recall of five basic defensive formations with possibly 50 variations, and he must keep track of dozens of related items for each snap of the ball. Then-Lions assistant coach Don Schula kept charts that prove Schmidt was guilty of only seven mistakes in judgment or execution out of a possible 890 plays by the opposition during the 1961 season. In 1960 after he dislocated his right shoulder he was denied another three-year contract because the Lions felt he wouldn't be around that long. Shoulder injuries in 1962 and 1964 hastened the end of his playing career.