A total of 23 Warriors featured in Gregor Townsend's Six Nations squad, with several playing major roles across the five matches.
Rory Darge played every minute, while Sione Tuipulotu captained in every game. Injuries to key players like Jamie Dobie, Gregor Brown aND Scott Cummings have also hit at a crucial stage.
Glasgow were in top form before the tournament - winning their Champions Cup pool and leading the URC - but have since dipped, exiting Europe and losing both South Africa matches without a point, surrendering top spot.
Smith accepts the toll but won't use it as an excuse. He said: "That's massive. To lead the log for so long and manage these internationals so they're fresh for Scotland and they perform well. We are super proud of the way that Scotland played during the November Test matches and in the Six Nations.
"We allowed them to be there fit, fast, powerful, well-drilled and well-organised. We saw that during the European Cup campaign that those boys were on top of the game. It was fantastic.
"Disappointment and results that don't go your way sometimes deplete that mentality. You can think how disappointed Scotland would have been after the Ireland Test match when they had a chance to win it. Our great European Cup campaign was stopped against Toulon.
"At the same time, me as the club coach of Glasgow, I keep knocking on the same doors the whole time. We have proved we are trying. You would know that we've blooded 10 or 11 new Warriors this season from the academy.
"We are trying to grow and evolve the Glasgow Warriors to make up for circumstances going forward. I think the URC is also doing a thing on player management and how much work you can go through them.
"We're in Week 22 and if you add the nine international games that they've played and if you link the Lions tour and the summer tour with that, it is a massive ask of the players. In this part of the season, that shouldn't be an excuse. That is just part of why this reset weekend we have is so important.
"This year, only one rest weekend for the Six Nations. They've taken away the rest weekend at the start of January. That's two down weekends that were taken away.
"Again, me as a coach must take that into consideration. Travel, injuries, referee decisions. They shouldn't influence player development.
"These four things shouldn't influence the outcome of the games. But it is challenges that we deal with every day."