Donovan Smith: “We Were Screwed On The Schedule”
May 6th, 2019
Joe understands the angst many feel surrounding the Buccaneers’ 2019 schedule, but Joe finds it to be blown way out of proportion.
First, what does every head coach in the National Football League say he desires? The answer is easy: a fast start to the season.
Well, the Bucs are set up beautifully for just that. Opening at home against the 49ers is about as sweet as it gets from the football gods, especially with Jimmy Garoppolo rather questionable after November knee (ACL) surgery, same for Kwon Alexander.
The Week 2 Thursday night game at Carolina? Joe thinks early-season and pre-bye is ideal for the Thursday affair. Donovan Smith agrees, so he told WDAE-AM 620 this morning. “I’d much rather get the Thursday night out of the way.” Plus, the Bucs only have one appearance on Thursday Night Football.
Week 3 in Tampa against the Giants? Joe loves that setup. The Bucs have the extra rest, and a questionable Giants roster has to deal with the extreme heat for the 4 o’clock game after playing a very physical Buffalo team.
And then the Bucs won’t return to their home field for seven weeks, bye and a “home game” in England included.
“We were screwed on the schedule,” Smith said.
Again, Joe gets the negative mindset, but it’s really not that bad. And hopefully players get all negative schedule thoughts out of their heads before training camp. Joe suspects Bucco Bruce Arians will make sure of that.
The Bucs don’t have one true cold weather game all season long. They also don’t have any Monday night games and close with three of four games at home, where they’ll be for the Christmas holiday season.
If the Bucs can claw their way to a 3-3 record at the bye, Joe is confident there will be a lot of good feelings about the remainder of the schedule and nobody will feel screwed.
Derrick Brooks Explains He Was “Surprised” By Bucs Draft; That & More On A New TAMPA TWO!
Sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman joins Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks on this new TAMPA TWO presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning and Heating.
In a classic exchange, Brooks says, “I’m just going to keep my mouth shut about that pick.” Great stuff from The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan. Enjoy!!
May 6th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
I’m not bothered at all. If we had a home field advantage or were an established team we’d have an argument but we’ve been a joke team for too long now.
This organization owes its fans wins not excuses.
May 6th, 2019 at 12:50 pm
i doubt organizations with self belief and a winner’s mentality are already looking for excuses in April. As Joe notes, the schedule gives us some good and some bad. in this case, a lousy middle offers the team a chance at a strong start and a home-heavy schedule down the stretch.
if they can’t shake the mental weakness that has seen them blown out multiple times a year and circling the drain by thanksgiving most years this decade, it will be more of the same. if they make it through that stretch playing well and winning their share of games, they will have a fired up home crowd helping will them to the postseason
May 6th, 2019 at 12:50 pm
Nothing irritates me more than a video that scares the hell out of me when it starts automatically and it is way down the page, so I don’t even know it is there.
I mean, I love Derrick Brooks, but I still think he should get a solo post and not get added to another one.
May 6th, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Just win and stop crying….
May 6th, 2019 at 12:55 pm
Quit complaining (I’d like to use another word, but my comments will get filtered out) and win some games!!! And stop acting like a tough guy just bc you flipped a darn trash can over….. just cut that shtick out!!!
May 6th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
Good teams find ways to win. Too bad we’re not a good team.
May 6th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
The loser mentality will always make excuses
May 6th, 2019 at 1:01 pm
Joe is right!!!!!! Schedule is very soft in the beginning!!!!!!!!!! And coach ba will just have to give his tough speech for all the away games!!!!! I am sure it will be about stale biscuits and winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!!!!!! And it for those sheep that are complaining about all the away games, don’t forget that the lost home game was from the qb reduced sentence and to not release the suspension letter from last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 6th, 2019 at 1:04 pm
To be fair, Donovan had a 20 minute interview that was positive and very good natured. He basically merely agreed with Ronnie & TKras, when THEY said the Bucs were screwed on the schedule. He most definitely was not making it a point of emphasis, or using it as an excuse.
May 6th, 2019 at 1:21 pm
The Bucs can either whine and bitch about the schedule and use it for an excuse for losing, or they can go about proving that they are they better team, no matter who, when or where they play, and the schedule doesn’t affect them. The schedule is what it is. It is not going to change. Deal with it!!!
May 6th, 2019 at 1:23 pm
I agree, as bad as the no games at RJ for a long time sounds horrible, all in all, it’s not an excruciating schedule. First 3 games all winnable, and our last 5 games, 3 at home, 1 in Jax where a lot of Bucs fans (myself included) will be traveling to and 1 in Detroit (not too worried about that.) Great chance to both start and end strong!
May 6th, 2019 at 1:28 pm
The Bucs have played many road games at the Den of Depression during the lost decade. Home has not been an advantage in a very long time.
May 6th, 2019 at 1:33 pm
Stfu and play hard for 60 minutes. You get paid millions give me a break
May 6th, 2019 at 1:37 pm
heck
and Donovan Smith is screwed talent wise, an way overpaid average LT..
and the whole Roster is lacking talent and there is no good depth because of the mismanagement of the Suckaneers front office
problem for the Suckaneers:
O-line: rotten
>> will lead to bad rushing game (especially short yardage)
>> will lead to Jameis being in much more pressure
>> will hurt the Passing Game
—————–
WR/TE
only realy good ones that are not so easy to replace:
Godwin, OJ Howard, Mike Evans
rest is (easy) replaceable
only one injury away from being less than average = WR/TE corps..
no good depth..
so Offense isn’t in very good shape (=SuperBowl Contender Talent)
don’t get me started with the Defense..
just let me tell you, that besides the QB – the two Lines define a teams backbone..
the O line is rotten (Dotson is lacking and old, even if some dump people are still talking him up, as if he is an good RT – don’t give me sh.. it about some gradings by some sites – he’s simply just not good – lacks strengh, gets overmauled way too often in run and pass game..)
RG: is it possible to get worse?
Marpet: i’m good with him
Center: pffff, meeeh @ 10 Mio per year ?!
LT D.Smith = Dotson , maybe average, easy replaceable, could have had drafted many many better players instead of Smith back then, and time and time again
but Suckaneers suck @ drafting.. and @ evaluating talent..
so they even decided to throw alot of money @ Donovan Smith
and thats one of the reasons why Buccaneers are in Cap Hell, even though they got sh.. itty Talented Roster..
MLB’s have lower value, which means you can easily get an capable MLB per Draft or FreeAgency, while pass rushers come at premium cost (FreeAgency or generall high draft pick)
this year – many great D-liner were available (Clemson guys, and EdOliver the DT the Suckaneers weren’t drafting, will be one heck of a player barring injurys..)
and a good DT makes whole defense better (against the run and pass), thats why they have more value then MLB’s and this guy was a freaking sure shot of top talent, while our new MLB may have great Potential, and looks to be a okay or good player, the DT had more value >>> better prospect (pretty much best player available) and we only have/had VitaVea and McCoy as good DT’s..
as all teams tend rotate a lot, you can be very happy to have 3 very good ones.. especially since injurys happen all the time and MCoy is nearing the End of his career…
why is it that i can see it, but the guy getting lots of money to do it for are living is too stupid to realize all that?!
year after year i complain about things like:
getting rid of good players (Michael Bennett as Steve White always said he should have played more)
Matt Bryant (one of the best Kickers in the NFL)
and now some fans even want to cut McCoy
(when he should easily still be worth at least a 2nd round pick)
he is old but good – maybe not very good, thats debatetable, but he is way better than anything the Bucs have at DT besides VitaVea.. but Vea is a different type of player/DT..
and they spend too much money on too weak players like Dotson, Donovan Smith, Jensen
and in terms of drafting:
very often, there is still good talents on the board, but the Suckaneers just seem to like lesser talent..
year after year i say: draft this one if available, and the Suckaneers even get the oppertunity, but they decide to get another future Suckaneer and the player i wanted goes on to have good career…
realy year after year the same BS..
i am better than the whole “professional” Suckaneers Organisation @ evaluating talent..
it’s laughable
because i am an arm chair GM..
fans should start to boykott this Clown-Show until the Glazers decide to sign an actual intelligent football mind that is able to evaluate talent and to build a good Roster/Team..
this Suckaneer team is full of holes, is lacking talented players and it’s even in SallaryCapHell…
what the hfreaking heck..
Bucsfans, join the Fire-Licht-Tonight movement!
May 6th, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Haha…
I love all you critics mouthing off from your word out barcaloungers. The schedule is bad. It’s a fact. The head schedule maker has never admitted a mistake – he did this season against the Bucs. How many of you have gone on 7-week business trips where you flew from the UK to Seattle?
I have.
I survived but would never say I was at my best.
Every year there are surprise teams – more often than not they achieved that by getting a huge scheduling advantage.
The Bucs clearly do not have that this season.
Having said all of that. It’s over and done with. The best teams and players practice a week to week/play to play mindset.
I’ve never been a fan of D. Smith and to have him focusing on the season as a whole is a bad look. He should be focused on learning the new system and OTA’s. Nothing more.
It reminds me of when GMC used to say the Bucs just needed to go 4-4 on the road. That’s a loser mentality to just concede 4 road games. Week to week/play to play.
It’s the only way.
May 6th, 2019 at 1:56 pm
I do believe one of the Joes was crying about our schedule when it came out.
May 6th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Love the excuses from a professional that is getting paid a ton to play football, win or lose D Smith gets paid, he learned that from GMC…so it doesnt really matter as long as he gets paid….3-13
May 6th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
BS Joe
May 6th, 2019 at 2:38 pm
mentally weak organization starting with excuses before training camp lol and you delusional fools think this franchise has a chance at anything other basement titles and to be the brunt of league jokes for another two decades… soft franchise = soft team… pansy arses top to bottom
May 6th, 2019 at 3:01 pm
exuses that is all the bucfan and buc players are good at… giving up, accepting failure and giving up the booty at home… that’s a buccaneer man!!!!!
May 6th, 2019 at 3:03 pm
1. Good teams win games home or away.
2. Weeks 4-9 out of billion degree heat and humidity might actually be better. Maybe the league did this to help player health and ticket sales to get out of the extreme heat
May 6th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
“Joe finds it to be blown way out of proportion…. it’s really not that bad.”
That’s easy to say when you personally are not physically traveling about 25,000 miles within a 6 week period….
The Bucs are literally traveling the circumference of this earth in just 6 weeks time this season.
No Biggie….. LOL
May 6th, 2019 at 3:32 pm
Even the schedule makers admitted they screwed us. These last 3 months have brought us some extremely odd takes from the Joes.
May 6th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Already makin excuses aye Donavan? Everybody is screwed in some way or another during the long NFL season. To be the best, you gotta beat the best..on the road or at home.
May 6th, 2019 at 4:21 pm
It seems that the player would rather bitch than play
May 6th, 2019 at 5:53 pm
It’s actually 6 weeks away from home with the bye. Not sure why it seems everyone is saying 7 weeks.
May 6th, 2019 at 7:43 pm
Sounds familiar. “If the Bucs can somehow claw their way to a 2-1 record until Jameis gets back…” they did, the went 3-10 the rest of the way to finish with. 5-11 wreckered/record.
May 6th, 2019 at 7:52 pm
Solid take by @Lord Corn at the beginning…but D Smith is also correct, overall. Both are factually accurate. Objectively. Just ask that stooge, Mike North (?), that made our schedule, and profusely publicly apologized.
Can we stop yapping as a team bout the schedule?…sure. Doesn’t factually mean we weren’t screwed. It is NOT a binary conclusion, review.
May 6th, 2019 at 11:06 pm
Louden why did u copy a page long comment u made about a week ago n keep copying n pasting it to every d@mn article The Joes post🤦♂️🤷♂️
May 7th, 2019 at 7:57 am
This kills me. That’s a loser mentality to say that, Bruce and his staff are going to have their luck cut out for them trying to change the culture at one buc. What would brooks lynch sapp or barber of said 17 years ago? Probably more on the lines of f#%^ it bring it on! Smith sounds like he’s already conceded defeat.