Analyst Lauds Play Of Donovan Smith
August 30th, 2021
Bucs LT Donovan Smith.
Initially, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians had planned to play his first-team offense for a full half on Saturday night.
And if Arians didn’t like how they played, he warned he was going to play them in the second half of the final tuneup before the Bucs host the Cowboys a week from Thursday night.
The first-team offense only got three series. Arians called off the dogs because the offense showed him enough.
It showed everyone enough.
Aside from the first series, the offense was as sharp as it ever played last season, razor-sharp. In Joe’s eyes, the offense is more than ready for the regular season.
A big part of why the offense looked in midseason form was the blocking of the offensive line, according to the postgame remarks of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, helmet-tossing, football-punting, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
And NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger, in a Twitter film study of the Bucs, gave credit to left tackle Donovan Smith.
In fact, Baldinger claims Smith was working on new moves. In the video below, Baldinger documents one such move. And Smith already has the move down.
Joe thinks all Bucs fans can agree that last year was Smith’s best season since the Bucs drafted him in 2015. A coincidence that it also happened to be Brady’s first year with the Bucs?
One thing Joe found outrageous from Sam Acho’s lazy analysis last week of the Bucs was that he claimed the WTF proved last year in the playoffs that they had the defense to stop the Bucs.
Yet the Bucs still put 31 points on them.
And WTF defensive end Chase Young vanished in that game. You never heard his name mentioned by FOX announcers once the ball was kicked off.
That’s because Smith took him out.
.@Buccaneers @DSmith_76 working on some new techniques. It’s part of what preseason is all about! That time when you try out new techniques @BigDuke50 @LaneJohnson65 #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/KWoAVzUfg0
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 29, 2021
August 30th, 2021 at 1:23 am
They would have scored more against wft if a great drive wasnt killed by keyshawn vaugn the human fumbling machine.
August 30th, 2021 at 5:08 am
Gotta love Baldy’s film analyses. Interesting that a hard-nosed ex-OLineman like Baldy seems to find value in preseason that some other media just blow off as being unnecessary (i.e., a chance to develop & hone new techniques).
August 30th, 2021 at 6:43 am
Preseason is also a time for coaches to try new plays/schemes (offense and defense). Also a time for players to get comfortable with their new teammates (FAs and draftees).
August 30th, 2021 at 6:43 am
But 4 games is too many.
August 30th, 2021 at 6:52 am
Baldy is one of my favorites with his video breakdown
Donovan just owned the guy. 1-2-3 pin
Probably farted on the dudes head to really demoralize him
😂
August 30th, 2021 at 7:57 am
D. Smith was never a bad LT……became a good LT…..may be a great LT…..Seems every Olineman wants to protect Brady….
August 30th, 2021 at 8:02 am
The first series started with the most predictable run ever, a Texan shot the gap, then Brady made a poor first throw which he often does, then a horribly executed screen pass. Next outing Leftwich remembered the second half of the Falcons game and the rest was history.
They still need to start faster and some of that is on Leftwich. Arians can help.
Go Bucs.
August 30th, 2021 at 8:03 am
*Brady’s first throw is often poor is what I meant. Then lights out.
August 30th, 2021 at 9:18 am
Start faster phewy. Play sixty minutes. Starting fast guarantees nothing. Playing sixty minutes is what counts.
August 30th, 2021 at 9:27 am
Tbbf
1 penalties and T-7 in sacks allowed 2020. I wouldn’t say great just yet but it’s not like I’m not hoping for greatness in 2021. Even if he does have a great year, he needs/should have to take restructure. Have to look at my checking account but I think the guy has butt loads more money than me.
August 30th, 2021 at 9:57 am
I will admit that Smith has improved into a solid LT. It’s all we ever wanted.
August 30th, 2021 at 10:08 am
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Remember how many D. Smith and Licht haters there were? Hahaha
August 30th, 2021 at 10:40 am
Hawk, I have a feeling new schemes are developed in practice, but not used in pre-season games. Coaches generally keep things pretty vanilla in pre-season. Don’t want to give opponents any film of new plays they may run during the regular season.
August 30th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Donovan Smith not only has learned some new techniques but he made changes in his fundamentals last year. Making changes during mid career is phenomenal. Now he has reached his potential to a large degree.
This shows what high quality coaching is all about. This is something the Buccaneers lacked in the years previous to the arrival of BA.
August 30th, 2021 at 12:10 pm
@PSL Bob
That is what I have been saying all preseason.
Why on earth would you want to run a NEW play you have been working on in preseason with a bunch of backups?
What makes Brady and the 1st teams play so GREAT is that they basically ran plays where the PLAYERS could win 1 vs 1. There was literally no offense outside a WR screen and come back routes. The rest were basically seem passes that Godwin just schooled guys on!!
I noticed some activity on pre-snap motion, but it looked ugly and resulted in a false start. Run looked telegraphed even worse than last year on that play.
It almost looked like a formation they could do several things out of later in the season, to make plays look identical like the Rams do!!
Also, the reason why Arians is much higher on Darden than what we have seen, is because they don’t show the GOOD plays in preseason!!!!
August 30th, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Let’s not forget how much QB play effects the offensive line. Brady gets rid of the ball faster than most QBs. He also stays in the pocket and even if he has to move he moves within the pocket to avoid pressure. Brady also steps up into the pocket which allows the tackles to slide the defender around the pocket rather than having to stop the defender in his tracks. It’s so much easier for a line to work together if the QB stays where he is supposed to. The offensive line looked great last year. What a difference. Donavan Smith is a good left tackle. But there were a couple of years where I didn’t see consistent play. When Winston played he was difficult to block for. Held onto the ball. Often wouldn’t step forward in the pocket. When Fitzpatrick had to step in the offensive line came together and played very well.
August 30th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
Baldy knows O-Line.
And In the Playoffs last year- Donovan Smith was the best Left Tackle in the League. He was Pancaking DEs.
It would be easy to argue that Donovan and Tristan are the best set of Tackles in the NFL.
And that Allie and Alex are the best set of Guards.
I think everyone believes Jensen is the best Center.
August 30th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Damn. That video is awesome
August 30th, 2021 at 10:11 pm
Suffering 76…agree 100%. Good LT’s are hard to come by. Great ones like “hens teeth”. He has become very solid. And I’m happy with that.