Vote Of Confidence
September 23rd, 2020
Back on track.
Two weeks ago, Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith woke up his haters (there are many) from their slumber with a subpar game.
Even Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians said Smith had to play better. Arians’ critique may have been the softest spoken publicly.
Smith may have hit rock bottom with that game against the slimy Saints, getting worked over too often by a backup.
In the win over the Stinking Panthers, Joe isn’t sure you heard Smith’s name during the television broadcast, aside from maybe a reference to his rough start at New Orleans. (Thankfully officials missed his second-half false start.)
And whenever an offensive lineman is not mentioned in a game broadcast, that’s a good thing. Earlier this week, Arians made sure to give Smith props for his quick turnaround.
“He hurt his knee [in the first half against Carolina] and he kept on going,” Arians said. “I thought he had a heck of a ballgame [and] was really solid. [His] run game was outstanding [and] I don’t think he gave up any [quarterback] hits.”
Arians had noted previously that Smith gets into trouble when he doesn’t use proper technique, especially when he tries to be overaggressive.
“Continue to get consistently good because he has all that talent,” Arians said. “Donovan works really, really hard.”
Joe understands that for some, the only time they will be content with Smith is when he’s gone from the roster. Joe isn’t ready to shovel dirt in Smith’s face just yet.
Coaches always talk about Smith’s talent, and he is very durable, as is well documented. For him to leave the Carolina game for one snap in the first half told Joe that Smith was very hurt. The guy is a rock at left tackle.
Combine durability with talent, most teams aren’t quick to run off those types of players. As Raheem Morris once said, “I will tolerate you until I can replace you.”
Oh, and while Joe is thinking about it, Bucs coaches: the next time Smith has to leave a game with an injury, please Bucs do not call for a draw play off left tackle on the very first play, as happened on Sunday.
That was downright dumb.
Cigar-toting Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks has plenty to say about the Bucs beating down the Panthers in today’s TAMPA TWO. Sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman joins Brooks for all the fun, presented by The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan.com.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:35 am
He still sucks
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:39 am
Lets wait until we play the Chargers and Bears before we start crowning him! The Panthers D was short handed last week, so of course he was supposed to hold it down.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:41 am
Bosa, Mack, Ingram. If he can hold off those dudes in the coming weeks, then I will give him his props!
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:43 am
Consistency is the important issue here….he needs to continue playing well.
The problem for Smith & the Bucs going forward is that they will have to find some money for LVD, Godwin & now Fournette going forward.
Smith, Gronk, Brate & maybe even Shaq (amount) if he doesn’t have double digit sacks…..that’s where the money is.
My suggestion would be to save the $14.2 mil on Smith….move Wirfs to LT & draft a RT in round 1 or 2.
Trade Brate….let Gronk re-retire & negotiate a long term deal with Shaq somewhere in the $10 mil per year range.
Yes,I know….let’s not worry about next year…..but I can guarantee you that Licht is.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:47 am
^^^Agreed TBBF. CONSISTENCY is a big issue. Lets try and string together some solid games now.
September 23rd, 2020 at 9:52 am
as long as he gets better every week, o-line will continue to get better….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:06 am
Smith is the Jameis of our offensive line.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:20 am
If they can block like they did last Sunday, and open up a few more holes for our RBs, we will really have something special.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:24 am
Looks like Tarzan, walks like Jane and smells like Cheetos
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:31 am
He is good enough to look ok against bad teams, and he gets manhandled by the good teams!!!!!!!!! Carolina is not a good team!!!!!!!! And with the injury to short, that would put the Panthers D-line as the worst D-line in the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once the “real” teams line up against the Bucs, they will be exposed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go Broncos!!!!!!!! errrrrrrr I mean, go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:43 am
Draft
-1st Creed Humphries G/C
-2nd Walker Little LT/RT
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:43 am
He played extremely well and was getting after it! He got penalized but I thought that block was awesome! He dominated his opponent. That’s what we need.
September 23rd, 2020 at 10:58 am
Can we upgrade at that position? Sure we could… But we could do worse. He will be here until his replacement is on the roster. Thankfully some positions are deep and we are getting closer to being able to have a bit more depth at other positions on the roster. As early as next year we can add extra pieces to both lines and have some healthy competition I think. This is assuming the salary cap doesn’t cause us to lose guys and create holes elsewhere….fingers crossed
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:02 am
This was against the a team that will probably not win more than maybe 5 to 6 games. He will be tested Sunday vs a Vic Fangio coached defense. Even with Von Miller out Chubbs and that remaining front 7 is still solid so don’t be surprise Brady takes a few shots and 3 sacks are given up.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:21 am
Joe bashes RoJo constantly for being mediocre at best yet defends D Smith constantly. Seems like you have an ax to grind or something.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:21 am
For what its worth, Smith historically has bad performances against the Saints.
Ironically, he isn’t alone in that factor, as Mike Evan’s struggles against them too.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:22 am
Glad you brought that play up Joe. The only play that Smith is out, BL calls that draw on the left side. I wish that BA would start calling his own plays, and would try to design more plays that Brady is used to too.
September 23rd, 2020 at 11:38 am
Maybe he is just the type of guy that has to get yelled at in order to get motivated.
September 23rd, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Dude, he’s the ONLY lineman that have up any pressures against the Panthers!! He got beat a lot and lucky it didn’t get Brady killed but it rushed a few of his passes… He was the only one on the line that graded out badly!! … He sucks but he is all we got until next year so just have to hope he gets better and realizes who he’s blocking for and what it means to the fans who really are the ones who sign his checks!!!
September 23rd, 2020 at 1:34 pm
DS is an average OT. Some games he plays above average, some games below average and most games average.
Just like McCoy was not Sapp this guy is not Paul Gruber.
September 23rd, 2020 at 2:52 pm
I don’t want him gone- I just want him to play consistently.
He has the talent, he just doesn’t play hard for a full game. It’s frustrating to watch.