Harsh Fingerpointing
July 11th, 2019
Called out.
Season previews are starting to bubble up to the surface and one site known more for its draft coverage isn’t a believer in the 2019 Bucs.
More importantly, it has no belief or faith in the team’s left tackle.
Someone typing for WalterFootball.com apparently either isn’t confident enough in his projection for the Bucs in 2019 (6-10) or isn’t brave enough to slap a name to it.
And the Unknown Author believes two things will drag the Bucs down to remain anchored in Buccaneers Cove (last place in the NFC South). That would be no running game and how the offensive line is anchored by Donovan Smith.
The Unknown Author, without naming names, also took a major swipe at Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht for keeping Smith, claiming Demar Dotson is a better tackle.
Left tackle was one of the main positions of need entering this offseason, yet the front office gave incumbent blind-side protector Donovan Smith a massive contract worth $27 million in guarantees. This was an inexplicable decision that Tampa Bay will surely regret. Right tackle Demar Dotson is a much better player, but the problem with him is that he turns 34 in October. He has already begun regressing, so his play could slip even further.
There is a lot to digest here from just one paragraph.
First, Dotson is not a better tackle. Such a statement that he is “much better” than Smith proves the Unknown Author doesn’t watch much Bucs football. If folks remember the notorious Anthony Collins (now this guy truly was an awful left tackle), he was essentially thrown off the team, told to go home and not return weeks before Christmas and the Bucs test drove Dotson at left tackle. The experiment failed miserably.
Dotson struggled so much, the Bucs specifically drafted Smith because they knew Dotson couldn’t play left tackle.
Is Smith the second coming of Anthony Munoz? No. Does he play to the whistle? Not enough for many fans’ liking.
Smith has some plays and some games where he is absolutely dominant, just rag dolls people. If the Bucs can get more of that, he will be a fine left tackle.
Perhaps the most important element to Smith’s game is he doesn’t miss games. He sat the second half of a debacle in New Orleans two years ago and that’s it. He has answered the bell for every game. That’s huge for a left tackle, and for the team that employs him.
Always remember and never forget Bill Parcells’ famous quote, “Your best ability is your availability.”
The rest of the preview from WalterFootball.com Joe can’t quibble with much. But the Unknown Author’s assessment of Smith either means the dude is totally off base or he reads too much nonsense manufactured by the PFF Tribe.
July 11th, 2019 at 5:30 am
How can anybody miss the problems on the right side oft he line. We are in dire need of an immediate fix on that side of the line. We need to be able to both run block and pass block from that side also. Smith is not our biggest problem on the
O line ,but an improvement against speed rushers would be a good way to earn that guaranteed money.
July 11th, 2019 at 5:31 am
The author loses all credibility when he claims that Dotson is a better tackle than Smith. Furthermore, he makes no suggestion as to who we should have acquired to fill our LT slot…..a FA, draft pick?….
I just love those who complain…..but make no attempt to solve a problem….
happens everyday with our politics.
Smith has shown promise….let’s hope like everyone else that he responds well to better coaching.
July 11th, 2019 at 5:48 am
Hard to take a ‘source’ seriously if they insist on anonymity. I’m actually surprised at WalterFootball.com for publishing something like that (I’ve always liked their assessments)
July 11th, 2019 at 6:24 am
Tbbf- I love that statement about complaining and offering no solutions!
I have to agree with Bob on this. It was the right side that was a bigger issue. Smith needs work, but we need to address the elephant in the room…RG and RT.
AND, I guess I agree with everyone here! Why publish garbage?! That’s what that is, pure trash.
July 11th, 2019 at 6:37 am
14 days….
July 11th, 2019 at 6:50 am
When there are no left tackles available then I guess you got to overpay for a overrated left tackle …. this move was about as dumb as resigning McCoy a couple years back
July 11th, 2019 at 7:02 am
The biggest problem with the entire media game is they is no accountability. So if we go out this year and go 10-6 does anyone of these folks get called to the carpet, lose their jobs or simply lose all credibility? People don’t do research or heck even watch the games in our case. For instance if we had such a horrible player at such a important position then how was our passing game one of the best in the league? All I know is every article like this is being kept if I’m this coaching staff and these players will be reminded of this at a minimum of twice a week ALL YEAR LONG. I can’t wait for the season to start as this is the first time in a long time where everyone, I mean EVERYONE is predicting us to suck which makes kicking a** even more fun.
July 11th, 2019 at 7:02 am
What was our BATNA?
July 11th, 2019 at 7:19 am
“Perhaps the most important element to Smith’s game is he doesn’t miss games.”
Hahahahaha!!!! If only this website looked at all players the same… Hate Barber but LOVES Winston and Smith.
“Don’t mistake activity for achievement.”. This quote is the definition of Winston and Smith.
July 11th, 2019 at 7:25 am
Ndog, dilly dilly! You sound more passionate than our LT!
July 11th, 2019 at 7:46 am
“After this bust gets paid by the Bucs he will be released after 2 years and will be cut and out of the league in 3 years”
Cam Jordan
July 11th, 2019 at 8:05 am
Next JL will give Alex Cappa a multimillion dollar deal.HAHAHAHA
July 11th, 2019 at 8:15 am
Allbuccedup, if Alex Cappa earns it, I’ll be happy with that.
As to the reports that Cappa is not doing well? OL guys can’t really be judged at this point, so that report was total bull.
July 11th, 2019 at 8:46 am
Michael Liedtke looked good when Dotson went down. No penalties and solid at the point of attack from what I remember of his play.
Definitely somebody that I will watch when preseason starts.
Maybe possible run at La’el Collins next off-season?
A decision will need to be made because we all know that Dotson may be playing his last season in the NFL.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:18 am
They both suck, at least Smith has tread left on the tires. Licht will regret not drafting Risner, a plug in play RT, that would’ve been an instant up grade, and long term fix. Mark it down, Dotson will be replaced before the season ends, either injured, or because a statue can block better.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:30 am
When well Dotson is the best pass blocker on the team. He had to have surgery because he was hurt last year. He is well now and why BA is keeping him. D. Smith does well against big DEs but speed rushers are his kryptonite because he can’t get in position to stop them quick enough but BA knows he can stop speed rushers with a blocking TE chip blocking against speed rushers on the outside of D. Smith. Eventually when he gets a great LT, look for BA to move D. Smith to a Guard position and watch him go to the Pro Bowl.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:51 am
I’m not convinced Donovan Smith is as bad as people claim he is. In a season where the team is trying to win he was, without question, the best available LT.
July 11th, 2019 at 9:54 am
Not only was he playing at well under 100%, Dotson was also often compensating for the poor guard playing next to him. Dotson will be fine this season.
July 11th, 2019 at 10:26 am
joe the only person i have ever seem donovan smith rag doll is todd monken…and it was kinda funny…
any lineman that doesn’t play with a mean streak isn’t gonna be much of a force in the nfl…it’s all about mean streaks…look at marpet…he WAS mean…now he’s sweet and smily and carries a mini banjo…
linemen need to froth at the mouth, smell bad, pee on themselves during games, and smack the sheet out of everyone but their mom
July 11th, 2019 at 10:28 am
I used to love Walter Football. They were my go to site during the draft run up.
Then they got greedy and made their side so loaded down with popups and navigation issues that I rarely go there anymore.
NDOG
Accountability for the media comes from ratings and as you suggest credibility although if you package your lies properly…and tell a large segment of our nation what they WANT to hear rather than truth…you are rewarded with billions and high ratings.
July 11th, 2019 at 10:33 am
5-11 GM
July 11th, 2019 at 10:49 am
Duthsty is right…
The biggest issue with this team is the GM..until he is GONE…we will be stuck in Buccaneer Cove
July 11th, 2019 at 11:01 am
I guess it’s easy to answer the bell and be an injury free iron man if you only play half ass and avoid contact on run blocking. If you ever truly watch Smith in run blocking, he’s phenomenal at blocking air.
July 11th, 2019 at 11:21 am
Just more excuses for an under-performing, mediocre-at-best offensive line.
July 11th, 2019 at 11:56 am
i stopped reading after he said dot was better….
GO BUCS!!!
July 11th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
Pretty clear you are not on Twitter.
July 11th, 2019 at 1:02 pm
Signing these deals would’ve gave us about $40-$45 million in the bank. Smith is a somewhat good LT (can get ran around from time to time) that has never missed a game. But he’s not worth $40 million. How can you not go year after year and see Dot is deflating and yet you resign him to a $4.5 million contract.
With an extra $45 million plus pre TC cuts we could’ve got at least above average/good players at LT/RG/RT. We have sh!tty depth full of bad players (cept Liedtke. He’s my LT)
July 11th, 2019 at 1:03 pm
*Signing these deals
July 11th, 2019 at 1:04 pm
*NOT signing these deals
July 11th, 2019 at 1:10 pm
When u have the worst gm in football this is your world
July 11th, 2019 at 6:57 pm
Ndog May be the biggest dumb as s on here.
Yea people are gonna lose a job because they bad mouthed one of the worst franchises in sports if the Bucs pull a miracle and go 10-6.
Just when I think the bar cannot be raised any more here comes Mr “I know everything and am the only person right and if you don’t agree you’re an idiot” and raises it a little more.
Mr useless stats ball sucking Winston jock sniffer.