EDS’s Heart Not In Green Bay
December 18th, 2014
One linchpin of the Bucs’ offensive overhaul this offseason was the signing of former Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith.
While EDS isn’t an awful center, one could argue he wasn’t an upgrade from Jeremy Zuttah, and the Packers haven’t exactly fallen apart having replaced him with a rookie from Ohio State, Corey Linsley.
While EDS had some good seasons playing for one of the NFL’s hallmark franchises, he isn’t exactly pining for home like one of his teammates, either.
“Nah, I had more than enough games there to prove what I can do,” Dietrich-Smith said by way of Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press Gazette.
“It’s been an up-and-down year for our team. We’ve been kind of going in a couple different directions, but I don’t really care. I see it as another game, a game that we want to go out and win. I don’t think they’re going to sit there and say, ‘Hey, we need to get after this guy or that guy,’ or, ‘We’ve got to make sure we don’t let Evan do X, Y and Z.’
“I’m one player on our team on an offense of 11 guys. I’m part of the cog. My play’s going to have to speak for itself. I can do what I can do and, at the end of the game, we hope to come out on top.”
Here is the thing about EDS: his signing broke one of Joe’s cardinal NFL rules. Ted Thompson, the yoda of the Packers and arguably the most astute personnel mind in the game, doesn’t let decent players walk away for peanuts.
Joe listened to the EDS conference call with Packers media, and EDS would not acknowledge whether Thompson offered him a contract to stay on the Wisconsin shore of Lake Michigan.
Despite Lovie Smith’s pronouncement that EDS is an anchor of the Bucs offense, the offensive line was a trainwreck this season. Joe speculates there are only two guys with job security on the offensive line: Demar Dotson and Patrick Omameh, partly because of the latter’s upside and smallish salary.
If Jason Licht thinks he can find a better bargain at center when the free agency dinner bell rings in March, or if they draft a center early, Joe isn’t willing to lay cash EDS starts for the Bucs next season.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Hopefully he can find clean spots to snap the ball from
December 18th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
This guy is all talk.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
EDS needs to go. We need to draft a good Center in the second round, solve the problem for the next 8-10 years.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Agreed – his talk doesn’t match his walk and film.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
unless they raise the kid rails on the bowling lane this guy needs to go….
December 18th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Oh yeah Blake, he talks smack and moves his chops all the time. The guy can’t shut up. Blake is a classic example of a troll out here. Saying something about a player h know nothing about.
BTW, Smith isn’t going anywhere.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
More evidence that Lovie is in evaluation mode and playing for the draft. In his presser just now, he said that we can expect to see a bunch of players that are up and comers that the fans haven’t seen much of that they want to get out on the field. He’s not trying very hard to win these games. They want that pick and they need to figure out what players they have and what positions to use that high pick on.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
And Mike Glennon sits.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Based on what Lovie said he knew what he was bringing in and how to eval players already – now after 2-14 you need to eval the players again????
Penn is arguably a Pro Bowler and Zuttah is a Pro Bowler on a physical team!!!
You bring in Collins and Johnson and EDS and they bust big????
Yeah you’re right they’re in draft mode – only because they have nothing to play for after failing and no reason to expect different.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:47 pm
The facts are the facts and until proven otherwise 2-14 is a bad team and a bad HC and bad organization that’s finished last 4 years in a row.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Honestly, I’m not sure that I am all that upset about them chucking the line we had and starting over this year. Schiano was a huge advocate of a bell cow back and using the run to set up big plays down field. They had a line that was built for that purpose. When Tedford came in, he had a concept that was all about speed in space and they retooled the team with pass blocking linemen. Clearly we’re not using them the way Tedford intended so now we’ve got a bunch of linemen that are playing in a system that they weren’t even brought in for. Granted, Collins and Cousins have proven themselves to just not be talented enough for the positions they play but I don’t begrudge them for pitching the previous line to accommodate the program they were trying to put in to place
December 18th, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Don’t blame us for Lovie self claim to fame and success-
Mr 4-12.
Poetic Justice for the cocky HC that swear his defense would win 8, STs 10 wins, and offense more.
Hahahahaha I don’t quite think Pete Carrol or Aries or other quality successful HCs need to defend their production.
Suspect to me and Justice is served to arrogant over rated coach that lived off of the success of his staff in Chicago (Rivera, Bradley, and seasoned vets that were there before him &more).
Let’s hear the excuses now…
December 18th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Mike Glennon sits. He may as well be sitting in the twilight zone.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
I’m just glad everyone has caught up to this scam artist of a so called elite coach who’s essentially a very good DC.
Lovie is better off coordinating not making personnel or game management decisions.
And your surely not gonna win with him in the media either. He says a lot of nothing.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Speakiing for Pablo
“Pablo doesn’t like anyone to speak bad about EDS…..Pablo thinks EDS has hot tatoos and loves to see EDS bend over before rolling his snaps” ” Pablo’s favorite linemen are Manny Ramirez, Louis Vasquez and Anthony Munoz”
December 18th, 2014 at 4:57 pm
glennon sits because he might go all manning on them and win the game.
OH THE HORROR!
i agree though, we need to lose
December 18th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
that actually made sense patrick in VA
now explain why they abandoned the system Tedford put in place even after they had acquired the players to implement it?
the retooled for philly ball and then play lovie ball. WTF
December 18th, 2014 at 5:03 pm
So martin breaks a 63 yard run against Carolina. On that play you can see EDS grab Lukley by the back of the jersey and tackled him to the ground. Shocked and Amazed that the refs didn’t see it but another great example of how piss poor all these guys play. Another huge play called back by penalties (if the refs cared at all about that game)
December 18th, 2014 at 5:05 pm
ddneast Says:
December 18th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Oh yeah Blake, he talks smack and moves his chops all the time. The guy can’t shut up. Blake is a classic example of a troll out here. Saying something about a player h know nothing about.
BTW, Smith isn’t going anywhere.
—————————————————–
Actually I feel like I know a good amount about EDS. I’ve been watching his interviews ever since we picked him up, at first glance I thought he was a great sign, because he was articulate and carried himself with confidence… And then I saw him play, and realized that he’s a bum. This dude’s snaps are never consistent. Some days they’re as low as the Qb’s feet, other times flying over their heads. And on the worst of days, he forgets the Qb is in shotgun and he snaps the ball into his own anus. And I haven’t even mentioned how weak he is as a run blocker. If L&L were smart they’d would cut this guy fast.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:08 pm
@patrick
“they retooled the team with pass blocking linemen.”
By far the funniest chit I’ve read all week. Thanks for that bro needed a good laugh.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:11 pm
They abandoned it because they didn’t understand the nuance of it to implement it after tedford was gone. Arroyo and all the offensive staff was learning it along with the players. If you don’t have the mastermind then you have to go with what you know
December 18th, 2014 at 5:12 pm
DB55-
What’s even more laughable about Patrick statement of being a pass pro OL
Remember Tedford was suppose to deploy a run first offense…/
Hmm LOL
December 18th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
@db55 – check the archives bro. Joe wrote about it numerous times when he was trying to decipher the new offense
December 18th, 2014 at 5:16 pm
Agree with what you just said Patrick.
Here’s a problem I had with Schiano and continue to have with Lovie. They’re both freaking dinosaurs although I believe either’s system might work in college where the rules are different and you have more flexibility recruiting talent.
In case anybody has failed to notice…obviously Lovie and Schiano have failed…the NFL has changed the rules dramatically in the past five years. They have turned a run first to set up the pass league into a situation where you have to be able to pass to set up the run.
It’s no longer possible to win games consistently with a strong running game and great defense. This league is now set up to be a passing league.
EVERY team has difficulty running against virtually any other NFL team unless they have a passing threat. The athletes on defense are just too good to lineup and play smash mouth football and ram it down teams throats.
Again the rules have changed. It’s like the NHL. The “Broad Steet Bullies” of Flyer fame would suck in today’s NHL. They’ve taken out the fighting, and almost eliminated checking, no knocking guys down in front of the net.
Teams have had to adapt or lose.
This is why the Lightning are so much fun. Vinik is the best owner, Yzerman the best GM and Cooper the best coach in the league. They’ve assembled an incredibly talented squad of young guys who can all fly and shoot. No more goons because the league has taken it out of the game.
Same is true of the NFL. Rules change and you either adapt or perish or in Lovie’s case finish 2-14 and in Schiano’s case get fired. Caveman football is history!
December 18th, 2014 at 5:22 pm
Nope, yep, I get it. The line was built for a specific task in mind. Righto, still funny though. Actually can’t stop laughing so thanks again.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
“They abandoned it because they didn’t understand the nuance of it to implement it after tedford was gone. Arroyo and all the offensive staff was learning it along with the players. If you don’t have the mastermind then you have to go with what you know”
tedford went out just as the season started. they had the playbook, and unless they are complete morons, the QB coach should have known it fairly well. it was the start of the season, if the players and the offensive staff did not understand it what the hell is the offseason and preseason for?
December 18th, 2014 at 5:42 pm
I’ll refer you to the defense
December 18th, 2014 at 5:42 pm
Lovie Smith’s pronouncement that EDS is an anchor of the Bucs offense…… this guy snaps the ball when in the shot gun at mccowns ankles. he can’t block. holding penalty. false start.
lovie always says positive stuff. lovie reminds me of the kid looking in a closet filled with horse manure that says I know there is a pony in here somewhere. the bucs o-line is the horse manure and lovie is that kid.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
refer me to the defense patrick when the pack puts up a 40 burger.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:56 pm
his heart is not in green bay, and his head is surely not in tampa bay
December 18th, 2014 at 6:02 pm
Every memorable line has a nickname e.g. the fearsome foursome. The Bucs OL should be known as something like the:
Turnstile Troop
Foul Five
Dastardly dumb asses
Ghastly Ghosts
Any more suggestions?
December 18th, 2014 at 6:05 pm
Robert 9 – They need to put up more than 40 I put a 100 down in vegas that the pack goes over 42… I need the cash to purchase new carpet after throwing up watching this pathetic team and coach play this year.
December 18th, 2014 at 6:06 pm
anchor of the OL…anchor as in the thing that helps the ship hold position in rough seas, or anchor as in the absurdly heavy thing that stops you from moving in your intended direction?
December 18th, 2014 at 6:29 pm
@tmaxcon
The magic 8 ball says you will have new carpet soon. LOL
December 18th, 2014 at 6:29 pm
Pick 6
Obviously the latter
December 18th, 2014 at 8:49 pm
I don’t know where he left his heart then, because he sure as hell didn’t bring it with him to Tampa!
December 18th, 2014 at 9:23 pm
“part of a cog” There’s your problem, you’re supposed to be a *whole* cog, *part* of a wheel. I’ll agree you’re part of a cog all right.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:58 pm
“My play’s going to have to speak for itself.”
It has Evan. For 14 games. Survey Says….. Not good. Not good at all.