Bucs Coach Gives Candid Assessment Of Donovan Smith
December 16th, 2020
Perhaps the most polarizing Buccaneer among fans — from the rostered players who have never hurled furniture out of buildings or tossed a bicycle during a tantrum — is left tackle Donovan Smith.
He’s got haters and defenders, and his position coach gave both of them some ammunition this week.
Offensive line coach Joe Gilbert paid a visit to Buccaneers Radio and gave a candid assessment of Smith. He painted Smith as an improving super-talent whose mind gets off track at times.
“I think Donovan’s play has been definitely better this year than it was last year,” Gilbert said. “I think he’s played better; he’s played more consistent. I do think that there are times where, you know, Donny’s a very talented guy, very athletic, I think he’s got a spot where he’ll drift off once in a while.
“And when he does that, you know, he gets himself into trouble and he doesn’t perform as well as he does. And you know, it’s amazing, once snap it’ll be, and then all of a sudden four snaps later it’ll be the same look and it won’t be the same outcome. And it’s not from a lack of ability, he’s just gotta make sure he stays locked in every single play. We talk about that all the time with him.”
Gilbert went on to reinforce how talented Smith is and how he’s a physical force when he’s mentally focused and playing consistently. “Eliminating those handful of plays” each week is the key to Smith becoming great, Gilbert added.
Interestingly, Gilbert noted that Smith was hurt by spring practices getting wiped out by The Sickness.
Gilbert and the Bucs staff identified a necessary stance change for Smith after an offseason review of his film. Gilbert said teaching that during the COVID lockdown over the Internet wasn’t working well.
“’I don’t see it being fixed unless you adjust this,’ and then you try to do it over Zoom and it’s just not the same,” Gilbert said.
Joe loves the candid talk from coaches. So refreshing.
Assuming the Bucs do get to the playoffs, Joe will predict that Smith has a whale of a game.
December 16th, 2020 at 9:38 pm
Somethings never change…. it won’t be FA that undoes his spot on the roster, but depending how the draft plays out that could be his ticket out.
December 16th, 2020 at 9:44 pm
Get the man some adderal. There’s gotta be PED exceptions for dudes suffering from ADD. I’ve been saying this for literally years about him.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Yet another issue blamed on the sickness
I tell ya, that dog’s gonna get sick eating all that paper!
(dog ate my homework?)
never mind
December 16th, 2020 at 10:14 pm
During the zoom call, everything goes right through him.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:19 pm
This BA Bucs staff love to make excuses at every turn.
“It takes time”
“We were hurt by no spring practices”
It’s week 15 already find a way to fix it.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:31 pm
Donovan Smith has looked like he got it for the last few weeks. That is good because as he goes, so go the Bucs. His worst games were against the Saints, where he looked like a matador.
I though having a kid would have focused him, he almost sat out the season for her. That would have been bad news for the Bucs, because when he plays good, it is very good.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:40 pm
Marcus Peters knows.
December 16th, 2020 at 10:40 pm
Kalind
Maybe he just needs a Snickers?
December 16th, 2020 at 10:49 pm
There is absolutely no good reason to retain Smith after 2020.
Bucs can get same level of inconsistent play from a rookie contract player at a fraction of the price.
December 16th, 2020 at 11:03 pm
This BA staff has really improved the OL to one of the better in the league.
Only 16 sacks through 13 games and Rojo averaging over 5 yards per carry.
Great coaching by the OL coaches!
December 16th, 2020 at 11:38 pm
Drift off?!?! He isn’t sitting in a cubicle in the Office (best show ever). He’s got fire-breathing Defensive Ends coming at him like a hoard of Dothraki and he’s daydreaming?! WTF he does need medication
December 16th, 2020 at 11:45 pm
Haven’t we heard this for 5 years now???
December 16th, 2020 at 11:59 pm
And they’re not allowed to take adhd medications. Sounds like he loses focus.
December 17th, 2020 at 6:28 am
geno711 … 100% agree. Results speak for themselves.
December 17th, 2020 at 7:41 am
Donovan’s best asset is that he is always available and rarely misses a play due to injury. He is a decent LT but not consistent enough to warrant a top 10 LT pay grade.
December 17th, 2020 at 8:00 am
If he still lapses this far into his career, it has to be that he doesn’t want to become great. All the talent in the world is wasted if you don’t have that want to. The fact that he almost opted out shows how much he loves the game. He seems to be fine with average, over great. That type talent should have a pro bowl or two by now.
December 17th, 2020 at 8:55 am
Joe, what did you say “whale of a game”….singular?
December 17th, 2020 at 9:46 am
It’s hard to focus when your TIRED. I think he gets fatigiued and has mental lapses. When he effs up royally and lets brady get sacked or rush his throw, (which if we are losing seems to be a pick vs a throwaway), after that he feels bad and responds well. We need to find a way to stay on his ass and keep his every and focus uo and work on stamina, mental and physical. He definetly has the talent.
December 17th, 2020 at 11:21 am
Y’all are stupid. ADHD meds are fine WITH a prescription.
December 17th, 2020 at 11:33 am
Everybody (11 on offense, 11 on defense + special teams) isn’t going to be great. They don’t need to be. They just need to be good enough to get help the team (team game) get wins. I’d say he’s doing pretty well when you look at #sacks, #penalties, #rushing yards, #wins on this team. Perhaps we can celebrate (instead of tearing apart) the guys on our team who have played better than we have seen in a long time and helped get those results (team game) this year. Go Bucs!