Donovan Smith And His Personal Issue
December 11th, 2022
Bucs LT Donovan Smith
Joe has been a long-time defender of Donovan Smith. But Joe cannot defend his play today.
Many fans were incredibly harsh on Smith from the moment he was drafted. Joe has a hunch it is because some geek with no clue about blocking typed from his Irish dorm room that Smith might be a guard or a right tackle, or maybe it was because he was ripped by respected Penn State analysts.
And many Bucs fans had absurd standards for Smith.
Joe has long defended Smith because Joe knows what a bad left tackle looks like. Joe is guessing no one remembers Anthony Collins in 2014, or what happened when Demar Dotson got a spin at left tackle later that year when they holler that Smith is the worst tackle to ever lace up cleats. Also, Joe had a former offensive lineman for an SEC school tell Joe how wrong so many Bucs fans were about Smith, and je explained why Smith was not a guy to give up on. This was when Smith was a rookie.
At any rate, Smith’s play has slipped the past three games and he’s making a terrible amount of penalties, often at the worst of times. Last week, Smith stated he was going through personal issues and would not elaborate.
Well, if the personal issues are affecting your on-field play, maybe it’s time to seek help or maybe, find someone to temporarily play left tackle?
Should the Bucs — still in the running for a playoff berth — have their offense dragged down because its left tackle is distracted off the field?
Joe is not being harsh here or cruel. Joe wants Smith to succeed. But dang, he got lucky last week when a touchdown taken off the board was corrected on the next play. Today, that wasn’t the case when Mike Evans’ 68-yard touchdown pass was wiped out with Smith holding.
If Smith cannot lock in mentally, then he shouldn’t drag the team down with him. Find someone that can focus consistently and stay away from holding at critical moments.
If a player cannot perform adequately with an injury, coaches pull him. So how would that be different for a player struggling with something personal and letting it affect his play?
December 11th, 2022 at 8:28 pm
Get the guy help and shut him down for the season if necessary. This team isn’t really going anywhere. And his long term well being is a million times more important than a one and out.
December 11th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Maybe his personal issue is related to being out of shape?
December 11th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Sorry but that was not a holding on Smith. If that was a holding then why wasnt it called when Carl Nassib got dragged to the ground on CMs TD catch?
EXACTLY, NFL is RIGGED!!!
They want Brady to win the superbowl with a losing record.
Just like they wanted him to win the superbowl “at home”. SO OBVIOUSLY is it NOT?
December 11th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
Lots of players play through personal issues. Brady just went through a highly public divorce. Devin White suddenly lost his dad. I’ve been a supporter of Donovan until now. He is playing horribly and is coming up with excuses.
December 11th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
That call was rubish!!!
Those plays happening ALL the time!!!
But agree Big Donnie plays has drop dramatically
December 11th, 2022 at 8:34 pm
Stop defending Donovan, he’s no Paul Gruber!!! He’s always stunk. Cut loose and draft a solid left tackle. After today Brady is out of here! Welcome Kyle and let’s see what we can do. Can Byron and Todd leave as well?
December 11th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
I’m not going to pile on but believe me I want to. Thank god for this new return man… he was the highlight of the game… that young man ran his butt off… not sure why Darden got two years… another slap on the staff
December 11th, 2022 at 8:39 pm
Fair criticism. He voiced what he did at last week’s press conference because it’s either excuse-making or a cry for help. Neither case is good. Time to sit him and let him recalibrate. Certainly somebody in that locker room is hungry for a chance to play. A lesser talented guy beats one who is making excuses for himself or who is way not right in the head.
December 11th, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Lol defending a left tackle that has the most penalties since 2015 would be insane to anyone. He peaked, time to move on
December 11th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
Sorry, but no excuses.
Football should be an escape from your personal issues, bro!
And you make MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, SO MAN THE F UP.
December 11th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
He’s NEVER been good.
He’s lazy and has poor technique.
He was lucky to have Marpet on his side, that covered up some of his weaknesses.
I guess you are all just now, seeing what I’ve been pointing out for years.
He sucks.
Period
December 11th, 2022 at 8:48 pm
Nah not an excuse and no fans were listening to geeks, we see him play with our own eyes. Brady has personal issues and he is getting killed for playing average. Why should anyone take it easy on D smith he has always been an average tackle but playing below average
Comparing him to the worst of the worst doesn’t make him look better joes I don’t know if you realize that or not
December 11th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
After Smiths penalty my kid hit me up and said he’s been horrible lately. I told him what you said Joe about personal issues and my sons response was 100% correct….. he said “ I don’t give a spit about personal issues, he’s making millions to do a job!”
Everyone goes through personal issues, and yes, it can affect people’s performance. But the kids correct, he’s making millions to play a game! If he can’t, either give him help with a chip blocker or bench him for someone until he’s ready
December 11th, 2022 at 8:52 pm
What a lame excuse from DSmith / maybe stop being slow to set up and mirror POS and quit getting penalized
Holding call completely changed the complexion of the game
December 11th, 2022 at 8:56 pm
I’ve always defended Smith but it’s evident this season he’s not the same player without Marpet next to him. I believe it’s time the Bucs look for their next LT in the draft.
December 11th, 2022 at 9:10 pm
Say what you will, but we had our offense dragged down by the QB in the beginning of the season due to personal issues, but we all stood by him. Now it’s the LT and we are roasting him.
I’m not a big fan of his, but blame has to be consistent all around. This entire year has been failure on all fronts, by all position groups.
December 11th, 2022 at 9:10 pm
I’m not buying personal problems at all. When you’re out there on the field, personal problems aren’t on your mind. That’s a cop out.
His pass pro technique has always been lacking, but it really looks like trash recently. They really have no choice but let him play through it, there’s too many injuries everywhere else across that line to play around with the lineup now.
Playoffs or not, this season is over. The smart move this offseason would be to move Wirfs over to the premium side and find another right tackle.
December 11th, 2022 at 9:28 pm
Be quiet Timbo. Most (not all),Buc fans will blame the teams’ difficulties on everybody from the coaching staff to the water boy. Not brady, An aging superstar who has to have an Outstanding O line now just to make completions. He can’t run 5 yards. There were lotsa opening out there against SF. But he does occasionally show flashes. May be time for a team overall. We And by team I mean, GM, and all of the coaches too. But I want to see if its possible we can run the table these last games. Anything is possible. Brady does have some good games left in him. I do wonder…..
December 11th, 2022 at 9:29 pm
Bench him.
December 11th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Maybe his personal issue is he forgot how to block and only knows how to grab and hold or just shouts, “look out” to Brady. How many people out there have personal issues and still goes to work and performs well at their jobs? This guy is playing a game and he can’t concentrate for 60 minutes a week and play at least adequately. I have a personal issue is just an excuse and we all know about excuses. He just needs to man up and play like we have seen him play the last two years.
December 11th, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Two losers, Smith &White..
December 11th, 2022 at 10:22 pm
A playoff berth ?
ROFLMFAOUIGSC
December 11th, 2022 at 10:57 pm
stop the playoff talk we are an immediate loss in the playoffs
December 11th, 2022 at 10:59 pm
Donovan Smith is done He is bad, poor effort, the worse is not even here yet, he is progressively getting worse. This entire team is imploding, brady sucks, Smith sucks, the coaches suck. STOP TALKING PLAYOFFS JOE!
December 11th, 2022 at 11:08 pm
I can’t imagine a coach who would not bench a player who had so many holding calls in one game. Oh, wait! I don’t have to try.
December 11th, 2022 at 11:28 pm
We have the worst line in the NFL. The good news is we do have the best right tackle in the league.
If you cant run and your QB cant get settled in the pocket….. Good luck winning
Hey who is in charge of drafting?
December 11th, 2022 at 11:52 pm
Cut his sorry ass
December 13th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Lets hope he get the help he deserves, and don’t turn into another AB. Unlike AB, Smith will stay out the league because he doesn’t have the talent to make up for bad behavior😂