“He’s Just A Hard-Working Dude”
May 20th, 2019
Big-money Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith
Yes, too many of the remaining Bucs fans are beaten down by so many years of losing, which leads to them targeting players and lashing out at them.
Donovan Smith has taken his share of darts — some deserved, most not.
Yeah, yeah, you know the Smith stats — real or perceived — the contract, the ironman streak and the couple of lowlight effort plays that show up on film seemingly every other game.
But what’s going on behind the scenes?
During a recent visit to PressBox Radio in Baltimore, Bucs center Ryan Jensen was asked about Smith. Jensen played for the Ravens and Smith played his high school ball near the Ravens practice facility. So there was interest from the local host.
Jensen went directly to Smith’s work ethic, something that might surprise a few Bucs fans.
“He’s just a hard-working dude,” Jensen replied, when asked what stands out about Smith.
“You know, he has all these goals in mind and he just works his butt off to accomplish those goals. Obviously, you know every NFL player, you want to be a top paid guy and secure the bag for your family, as they say, and stuff like that. But he’s not working just for that. He’s working to, you know, obviously bring a championship to Tampa, as am I, and to become the best football player he can be. His work ethic is just awesome.”
Noteworthy, Joe believes, that Jensen, in a very relaxed setting after talking for several minutes about his pet dogs, praised Smith’s work rate right away. That answer could have gone in many directions.
Yes, Smith works hard behind the scenes. It’s one reason the Bucs felt comfortable dropping the fat contract him.
If Bucco Bruce Arians can get Smith working just a little harder on game days, Joe suspects a very big year will follow. Smith really is that talented.
May 20th, 2019 at 2:20 pm
“Just”….what a ringing endorsement
May 20th, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Getting cancer93 off the roster will go a long way to improving game day intensity
May 20th, 2019 at 2:27 pm
He still has slow feet….just sayin…..
May 20th, 2019 at 2:28 pm
Better run blocking would be a wonderful start.
May 20th, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Right on Jean. Run blocking is about effort and attitude. Also about the coaching staff holding them accountable. Theres 100 percent chance the run blocking improves this season. If it doesnt improve enough come game day therell be different guys in here.
May 20th, 2019 at 2:43 pm
his run blocking was pretty good as a rookie in 2015…..wonder what happened?…lol….
same question can apply to a number of players….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
May 20th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
If he would “just” play with intensity until the whistle…on ever play…even if it is on the other side of the field…but it ain’t going to happen…simply not in his make up…just another big athletic lug that is good enough to get paid to play football….”just” not my kind of teammate
May 20th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
Succaneers suck more then the loser fans who post on here on a Monday Afternoon work day.. Perhaps you few loser’s could put this much effort into getting a job and off welfare as you do posting about a loser football team
May 20th, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Succaneers
Yet here you are doing the same thing as the other people you chastise?
May 20th, 2019 at 3:24 pm
^^^^^^^Thats Getting old dude please change it up so you don’t look foolish.
May 20th, 2019 at 3:25 pm
Just starve the trolls…. they will go away.
May 20th, 2019 at 3:25 pm
@Suck
When you’re old enough to work, then you can criticize those who don’t.
May 20th, 2019 at 3:26 pm
TPax why make this about McCoy? You said you are semi retired, what happened the Subway you work at cut your hours? BTW Succaneers, you are posting on a Monday afternoon… doesn’t that make you, by your own definition, a loser?
May 20th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
Bucnjim,
Nailed it on the head. He’s too stupid to realize he just insulted himself. Probably sitting in a basement on his computer living with his Grandma.
May 20th, 2019 at 3:30 pm
I’m going to give Smith the benefit of the doubt ONLY because of the recent losing culture of the team and their propensity to constantly give up the minute they do something wrong or get behind. Change the culture most players will respond. Kick the rest to the curb! You listening VHIII?
May 20th, 2019 at 3:31 pm
I believe he works his but off and I am looking forward to watching his play under better coaching, but the guy is a LG playing LT and getting big money at a spot he shouldn’t be.
Leidtke-Smith-Jensen-Marpet-Dot
Instantly this oline is better.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
state of 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 20th, 2019 at 4:38 pm
SOEbuc,
Where the hell are you getting the idea he’s a guard? He’s literally never played it and was a highly recruited LT out of college, but you’re right. Move him to guard.
smh
May 20th, 2019 at 4:41 pm
More worried about Jensen tbo.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
SCBucsFan
Because cancer93 is the root of all problems and a selfish pos….
May 20th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
LOL I mean what else is he gonna say?
Hopefully both him and Jensen (and the rest of the o-line) are working hard at improving their run blocking, cuz that ish has been pathetic the last few years!
I believe D. Smith has all the ability, he just needs to give it 100% instead of taking plays off.
May 20th, 2019 at 5:50 pm
we have enough chill, mellow types on this team…we need more “twitched up” dudes
#facts
May 20th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Donovan Smith will win the pewtie for most improved Buc. Calling it now.
May 21st, 2019 at 12:29 am
fighting schianos
Not $40 million footwork. He gets swung around a lot. But good at going straight up against dudes.
May 21st, 2019 at 8:34 am
Test