Donovan Smith And Grades

November 27th, 2018

The PFF tribe has spoken.

Certain societies on isolated islands in the south Indian Ocean shun contact by civilization.

And then there is the PFF tribe, which figured out how to use a modem dropped from a probing helicopter while dodging arrows fired from the tribe’s militia.

Nothing — and Joe means nothing — drives NFL general managers up a tree quite like the grades the PFF Tribe slaps on offensive linemen. Joe once was sitting at a table with an NFL general manager at the combine one wintry night in downtown Indianapolis and Joe thought for a second the GM was going to fall backward, he was so animated in his rage for the PFF Tribe’s offensive line grades.

(As Joe often asks, who is doing the grading?)

So Joe is just going to leave the following without comment about maligned Bucs starting left tackle Donovan Smith.

Your thoughts?

37 Responses to “Donovan Smith And Grades”

  1. Jean Lafitte Says:

    I thought his pass blocking was decent but his run blocking was nothing to be admired.

  2. Lord Cornelius Says:

    I’m OK with Smith. He’s an average LT. Better at pass pro than run blocking. Better than a lot of other teams LT situation. But he isn’t a top 5-8 type guy at all.

  3. AKickInTheBucNuts Says:

    Donovan has no problem blocking….when he wants to.

  4. Bonald Brump Says:

    one of the least problems on the team but fans are fixated on getting him out of town like we have better options behind him. Lets fill the other holes on this team. Smart fans know D Smith can definitely be a building block for our future

  5. tnew Says:

    I’m more than OK with D Smith, as long as he isn’t paid like a top 3 LT

  6. stpetebucsfan Says:

    I do not disagree with Lord C’s assessment of Donovan as average.

    But I still believe he has the potential for more improvement. His game is only lacking in one area but it’s critical…he’s far too inconsistent and sometimes he doesn’t play to the whistle. And that’s what makes him “average”. If he develops consistency he’ll be a really good LT IMHO.

  7. LakeLand Says:

    I agree with PFF on all of their grades

  8. jjbucfan Says:

    Don’t want to get him out of town- just want him out of the LT spot. Coming out every prognosticator was saying he is going to be a guard in the NFL- not us, like every other player we pick, we know better than every other team and expert and put him as our cornerstone of protecting the blindside of our QB’s. I was at the game this weekend, there was almost constant pressure on Jameis from all sides. The right was worse than the left but still the pocket was collapsing on multiple occasions by the time Jameis took the last step of his drop. If Jameis wasn’t so sneaky elusive, he would have been sacked 10 times. D Smith should be LG, Marpet at RG and either draft a LT AND RT or get in FA. Everyone wants to rip Jensen for not playing well but he has essentially been blocking for 2 this year.

  9. Bobby M. Says:

    We need a new LT if the team wants to move forward with Winston. You simply cant have an inconsistent LT with a QB that struggles with consistency….Smith is average in the run game. Maybe he can slide over to RT to replace Dotson and we can draft a stud LT who can pass/run block. If we had Mahomes or Brees as QB, then maybe we get away with lesser talent on the line but Winston tends to hold the ball too long and has a slow wind up…He needs a stud at LT and the line needs an upgrade anyways.

  10. Geno Says:

    Lord Cornelius Says:
    November 27th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
    I’m OK with Smith. He’s an average LT. Better at pass pro than run blocking. Better than a lot of other teams LT situation. But he isn’t a top 5-8 type guy at all.

    Right on.

  11. 813bucboi Says:

    LC & Akick

    i agree….

    we should keep him but dont make him the highest paid LT in the league….he has the ability to dominate at LT but for whatever reason takes plays off….

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  12. Geno Says:

    Bucs fans want no QB pressures from all our O-lineman when we go back to pass over 50 times a game.

    I think as a whole we are a better pass blocking offensive line than run blocking OL. If I had to have either in this current league, it would be have a good pass blocking OL.

    If we can upgrade that right guard spot first on OL that might help us.
    Webster looks capable of replacing Dotson next year at right tackle.

    Id rather invest capital in corners and corners and corners and then another RB than a left tackle.

    But 1st before getting those corners – get a coach for the corners. Maybe Todd Bowles as defensive coordinator next year?

  13. Joe Says:

    one of the least problems on the team but fans are fixated on getting him out of town like we have better options behind him.

    Ding!

  14. Anonymous Says:

    ^^^^ Yea, you guys are probably right about that. I was really hard on Donovan after a recent game, and called for him to be gone. That was probably over the top, as he is definitely a serviceable LT in this league, and is the least of our problems.

  15. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    ^^^^ Yea, you guys are probably right about that. I was really hard on Donovan after a recent game, and called for him to be gone. That was probably over the top, as he is definitely a serviceable LT in this league, and is the least of our problems.

  16. Cobraboy Says:

    Good Lord, casual fans.

    You do NOT have to have an All Pro at every position, or even LT.

    Above average can get the job done well, and Smith is not an All Pro but definitely above average.

    Like there is another option at LT.

    Sheesh…

  17. Darin Says:

    This year he is one of the least problems on the team if he is paid big money he will rocket up toward the top of the problem list if he doesn’t improve. Most OLinemen can pass block. You need attitude to be a good run blocker. We will see. New staff and maybe GM could value hin much lower than Klueless and Co.

  18. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    Smith has done well this year, the best year so far. He is still young and has shown to be very durable. I am not suggesting he deserves top 5 pay as a LT but surely he deserves better an average, especially just now coming into his prime. If he was older and injured prone, I would be okay letting him walk, but being young and with upside potential we need to lock him up.

  19. Cobraboy Says:

    LT is NOT a problem position for the Bucs. Stop trying to turn it into one.

  20. jjbucfan Says:

    Does nobody remember him getting Jameis killed last year? Not saying he is terrible but when he does take plays off there is a consequence. If we keep him at LT, fine with me, as long as he doesn’t expect Top LT money. In this era of crazy salaries, he is going to command a huge guaranteed paycheck why do you think he refused to play guard. The salary difference is enormous. Having said all that, his durability his without question and that DOES have to be put into the formula. We will see what happens. It’s just funny because he and Marpet and Jensen are supposed to be our “Road Graders” and we can’t run the ball very well right, middle or left.

  21. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Cobra

    Exactly!

  22. go for the face30 Says:

    “one of the least problems on the team.” – Sure. I guess. I don’t disagree, but it doesn’t mean that he can’t be better. We sure as F can do A LOT better at the RG and RT spot though..

  23. Howard Cosell Says:

    Just don’t send a missionary to try and convert the PFF tribe!
    That’s way too dangerous for the missionary.

    Send Flo from Progressive…she’s good with these uncivilized tribes

  24. zzbuc Says:

    less than average…keep him at the right prize…….Do not overpay, as we usually do

  25. Eric Says:

    I hope he is in a blocking mood Sunday. Panthers blitzed the heck out of Wilson.

  26. SchwiftyBuc Says:

    @Lakeland

    Did you agree with PFF when they graded out OJ Howard to have been the worst rookie of 2017? Because I think that couldn’t have been more inaccurate.

  27. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    If anyone is thinking of getting rid of D Smith…..they may as well dump the entire team…..for the exception of ME13 & JPP…..unless, of course, there is some problem with them.

  28. LakeLand Says:

    SchwiftyBuc

    Yeah I agreed with PFF grade on OJ Howard last season

    The problem with OJ last season

    He played more than 600 snaps. He ran a route on about 40 percent of those snaps. What happened on the other 60 percent? He was asked to block a lot. And blocking is part of PFF grading system.

    His run-blocking grade rated 47th out of 54 qualifying tight ends. His pass-blocking grade rated 69th out of 74 qualifying tight ends.

  29. Dapostman Says:

    Move him to RT and either draft or sign a better player to play LT.

  30. Don Perry Says:

    Move him to Left Guard. Draft or sign top left tackle and move marpet back to RG. Develop right tackle with onevic our other guys.

  31. Joe Says:

    Just don’t send a missionary to try and convert the PFF tribe!
    That’s way too dangerous for the missionary.

    Send Flo from Progressive…she’s good with these uncivilized tribes

    🙂

  32. John Says:

    He’s soft and doesn’t have the right mentality. Kind of like the 93 of the o line. Same with Marpet. If you keep building around these happy guys in the trenches you’ll never be a good team

  33. DayOnePaul Says:

    All Buc offensive linemen? Or league wide?

  34. DayOnePaul Says:

    All Buc offensive linemen? Or league wide?

  35. firethecannons Says:

    Proposed Changes for 2019:
    D.Smith moved to L guard
    Draft a Left Offensive Tackle in 1st or 2nd rd (immediate starter)
    Marpet back to R guard
    Liedtke develop for Right tackle
    Jensen remains at center
    Cappa swing and Wester swing and Evans backup center/guard

  36. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    @firethecannons BINGO!!!

  37. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    ^^^ @firethecannons

    Nicely done, man. Love it!