Evan Smith Returns For A Fifth Season
March 23rd, 2018
The Bucs have addressed offensive line depth with a very familiar face.
A member of the forgettable Tampa Bay free agency class of 2014 has earned a second contract.
Center/guard Evan Smith, who turns 32 this summer, returns for his fifth Bucs season, says Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Smith shared snaps at left guard with Kevin Pamphile last season. Might the Bucs be targeting Smith to start there in 2018?
Media often is told there is value in continuity on the offensive line, though Joe really doesn’t believe the Bucs believe deeply in that considering they platooned at the position in 2017.
Smith is a battler and is well respected, and he’s another Buccaneer with experience and a Super Bowl ring (Green Bay).
In a league starving for offensive linemen, Smith is a good depth signing, especially since he can handle the calls at center.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:02 pm
He is better than JR Sweezy
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:09 pm
I like the debth.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:09 pm
I don’t know the terms or Smith’s contract as compared to Pamphile’s, but I would have rather kept the younger player in Pamphile.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Good depth signing, here’s hoping he cuts down on the stupid penalties.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Let him and sweezy have equal chance to start at left guard. Training camp no holds barred competition
Better player wins spot.
Don’t think they need to draft oline Unless Nelson available.
Strong safety , db, another db and running back.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Solid depth
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:12 pm
Wish they would’ve dumped eazy sweezy and kept pamphile but it is what it is.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Lt – D. smith
Lg – E. smith
C – R. Jensen
Rg – A. Marpet
Rt – D. dotaon
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:19 pm
So you now have 3 good options to play G or C. Said it before but interesting to see what they do with Sweezy.
I would be fine with keeping him or Smith at LG but guessing we pick up a rookie G and will cut or reach an injury settlement with Sweezy which clears cap space opening room for a CB or Safety.
As it stands now, biggest needs are defensive & offensive backfields which is better than needing help in the trenches. I like where this is headed.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:23 pm
I just…. don’t understand what they see in this guy…. nothing but a sloppy loud mouthed fat guy, tbh.
-Unconcerned Bucs fan
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Why? That’s just gonna cause Suh to sign with the saints and then what?!
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:28 pm
The Bucs must be looking for bread because Smith is a loaf.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:28 pm
nothing but a sloppy loud mouthed fat guy
best description of cancer93 posted in a while.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:44 pm
We definitely have center covered.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:45 pm
he’s terrible but as long as he isn’t starting it’s all good
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:45 pm
Tmaxcon is cut out of the photo above, but Evan Smith doesn’t seem to mind.
March 23rd, 2018 at 5:50 pm
This guy E Smith costed is like 3 games. Single handed. Walking holding call. Keep him on the bench
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:15 pm
Great teams have starter quality backups. That’s all Smith should be.
If Nelson is there at #7 – the Bucs damn well better take him and build a truly dominant line for their ground game and franchise QB to take off.
Good depth, but keep fixing those trenches.
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:18 pm
Oh yeah, the classic “I just farted and I absolutely love the smell” pic of EDS.
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:23 pm
Now we’re making moves people. Once again I’d be jumping in cheer spilling my beer if we got Nelson, but this is good depth to add to the Oline at both G and C, and this gives us more flexibility to think of other options if Nelson is still available at seven.
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:25 pm
I would love to get Fitzpatrick in the first, Will Hernandez in the second, and then trade back into the third for a RB.
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Good depth signing – likely for a pretty good price I imagine.
Welcome Back Evan Smith.
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:38 pm
I like the depth, I think we all know by the 8th game injuries, suspensions, and endurance issues are going to start creeping into the line-up and (let’s see, how did Tmax put it) the “sloppy loud mouthed fat guy,” is going to step in and cover us for a few games. I would also for purposes of depth like to see the Buc’s bring back McClain. Of course that two is contingent upon the expert opinion of Mr.Max.
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:52 pm
So…its definite that Jenson is playing center. Licht said so.
He said he talked to Marpet and gave him the option of staying at center or moving back to guard, and Marpet pretty much said whatever helps the team win.
So where does this leave Sweezy? Are they waiting until after the draft to decide? Or does his money become locked before that?
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Yes…I realize it’s a depth signing, and a good one at that. BUT…..it’s looking MORE, AND MORE, AND MORE, AND MORE…… 🙂 🙂 like Jason WON’T be going OL or DL with the #7 pick.
So what-the-hell do you all think that means?!???
SA-QUON, SA-QUON, SA-QUON…say-gone to Hillsborough County.
C’mon Jason…make it happen, and we’ll all parade down your street applauding you! It makes the most sense too!
Go Bucs! Go Barkley!
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Bird Says
“Let him and sweezy have equal chance to start at left guard. Training camp no holds barred competition”
The only problem with that is that the lines don’t really test well in practice. No hitting is allowed…shoot, most of the time, they don’t ever wear pads.
March 23rd, 2018 at 6:58 pm
SOEBuc
You SURE you want to gamble the season on being able to trade up in the third round? Need to let the man crush die and accept the fact that we. Wes to address RB with the first two picks.
-Unconcerned Bucs fan
March 23rd, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Feel a lot better with our offensive line with Evan Smith on the bench. When we needed him to play full time for us last year he played really good. He was making a lot of hits and was probably our most physical lineman in those last few games.
I defientaly fell confident if we have to use Evan Smith coming off the bench. Only question now is. whose his competition at the guard position? Guessing gam3 for the next month.
March 23rd, 2018 at 7:04 pm
@Bonzai…..Sweezy can be cut before June 1st with no cap hit. Or is it July 1st? Either way, the Bucs can hold Sweezy’s rights up to and through the draft. They can decide if they want to keep J.R. after the draft is done.
March 23rd, 2018 at 7:26 pm
@Bird … “Let him and sweezy have equal chance to start at left guard.” Good depth signing Bird, but I doubt that either Evan Smith OR Sweezy will be our starters at LG. Bucs still lack OLine depth, and can’t help but feel that we’ll pick up at least 2 new faces via the draft & FA. Still convinced JR will be released … 14 games in 2 years & ending the season on IR has to give Bucs cause for concern.
March 23rd, 2018 at 7:37 pm
Just please dont rotate him with anyone, i hope he is a depth guy
March 23rd, 2018 at 7:38 pm
Shoulda kept Pamphil, I’ve never liked this guy for some reason. Seems like a loafer. Not crazy about that decision. Pretty sure he would still be unemployed like Kevin P
March 23rd, 2018 at 8:21 pm
I think we need to move d. Smith guard he would play it better looking at games
March 23rd, 2018 at 8:34 pm
Marc
It would be nice to get Michel or Guice. Those two are the only two I might take in the second. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t realize this draft is stacked with good RBs. First round RBs are dangerous to take and so are second rounders unless you’re Michel/Guice types. We’ve started to fix the trenches and Smith/Hernandez/Jensen/Marpet could be dominant for a while. I think there will be plenty of good RB that fall to the third that’s why I would like to trade back into it. Even though we lost the third, we still have 7 picks with the extra sixth.
March 23rd, 2018 at 8:55 pm
SOLID DEPTH!
March 23rd, 2018 at 10:56 pm
Why all the hate for E Smith? This is a good depth signing for us.
March 24th, 2018 at 12:38 am
SOEBucs
The Snoop Dogg McPlaybook fiasco should still be fresh on Licht’s mind…. recall last year’s draft was deep at RB as well. Hard to depend on anybody outside of the 3rd/4th round. Again, are you SURE you want to gamble the season on a guy still being there when it’s our turn at the podium?
There is no guarantee another team would be willing to trade down with us. Best strategy is to address RB in the first/second round, even if you have to reach a little.
-Unconcerned Bucs fan
March 24th, 2018 at 2:33 am
Pamphile signing elsewhere means the bucs weren’t willing to commit to him as a starter, IMO. good for the bucs. I assume Evan Smith signed back here with the express understanding that the bucs are looking for enough additional talent to make him a solid backup and is okay with it.
March 24th, 2018 at 5:31 am
I would’ve rather had Kevin Pamphile back at least he could play tackle and that would’ve allowed D.Smith to make a move to RG where I think he will be better at honestly. Marpet could then been allowed to move to LG and finally fill that void. I think that’s what’s going to happen still anyway though because Licht and Koetter both have stated in the past that D. Smith would be better at guard. D. Smith will not thrive at LT he gets the offense in trouble often and is the reason Jameis is always scrambling into fumbles and interceptions. The Tackle position on the offensive line is a huger need for this offense in the draft rather than a guard like Nelson. I’m liking Brown or Mcglinchey if we can trade back into the first round.