Versatile Lineman Has Bucs’ Interest
February 22nd, 2015
The Bucs have spoken with Penn State OT Donovan Smith “many times.”
Joe has been pushing for the Bucs to at least draft two offensive linemen this spring. Third and fourth rounds would be fine. Lord knows the Bucs need offensive linemen.
This draft is believed to be deep on offensive linemen, not so much top-heavy, but a lot of valuable talent to be had in the middle rounds.
Yes, Joe knows the Bucs drafted a pair of linemen in the fifth round last year. Joe saw more of those guys on milk cartons at Publix than on the football field at the Den of Depression.
Offensive tackle Donovan Smith of Penn State looks like sleeper in this year’s draft and Joe had a chance to chat with him at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. He graduated in 3 1/2 years and he told Joe the Bucs have spoken to him “many times.”
Generally, if a team isn’t interested in a player, they don’t waste time talking to a prospect “many” times. So Joe had a sitdown with Smith at the Combine.
Smith said he was a versatile lineman. At 6-5, 335 pounds, he’s projected to be a guard in the NFL. He calls himself a lineman first, and a tackle second. He played under three different coaches, Joe Paterno, Bill O’Brien and James Franklin, each with their own schemes. Being able to master all three, Smith said, gives him a leg up on playing on the NFL level.
“It helps a lot,” Smith said. “Each coaching staff had their own differences, but majority pro style. Transitioning from college to NFL, it will be a big help. I’ve seen different things all over. It just helps me adjust quicker.
“Having three different head coaches, three different offensive coordinators. You see a little bit of everything. It won’t be the first time I see a play of that nature.”
Smith believes he forced himself onto teams’ radars because he was named the Most Outstanding Player for offensive linemen in the Senior Bowl.
A smart guy who is versatile and used to a pro style offense? Count Joe in at, say, the fourth round.
February 22nd, 2015 at 9:06 am
We need 2 starters. We can (maybe) find one in the third, but I doubt a 4th rounder will have immediate impact. We need depth too, so it would be a fine pick. However, depending on 3rd and 4th rounders to fix this line would be a huge mistake.
We need either a starting tackle or a starting guard in free agency. Then we can address the other early in the draft (rounds 2 or 3). We can add the badly needed depth with our later picks.
We just cannot address this line by only throwing a couple mid round picks at it.
February 22nd, 2015 at 9:08 am
That’s a big and smart dude.
4th rd? Sign me up!
Nice find, Joeys.
February 22nd, 2015 at 9:35 am
You really have to like Donovan’s but I’m leery of these later round “value” picks. We don’t need any more projects.
Edwards and Pamphile come to mind.
February 22nd, 2015 at 9:44 am
Nice find. I missed the Senior bowl and cant find a replay of it anywhere.
February 22nd, 2015 at 9:44 am
Wow, little slow with feet (so yeah, maybe better Guard) but looking very natural as a wall, especially with the body type^^
Speaking of natural: Winston is acting like a leader (not totally a mock; but you also know about his over acting: like a dumbaff so.. how will grown man react to such an actor – also doesn´t mean he won´t change overtime and earn that respectt)
also:
if winston is realy digging that much into tapes and has such an good IQ, how comes, that he throws so many “dumb” throws?
Realy not sold on him . clearly overhyped
while all you hear from Mariotta is, how he is a NATURAL LEADER.
this and combined with his also meditation classes etc – MAYBE he could even get some knuckleheads straigth.
Like a Legearette Blount was etc.. thats a realy big maybe, but he certainly seems to have the that kind of attitiude..
Just saying
February 22nd, 2015 at 9:48 am
@meh
You are exactly…positively correct…..
February 22nd, 2015 at 9:59 am
A late round sleeper pick with the 4th we got for Barron would go a long way… and I’m talking country miles.
No way the Bucs can miss in this draft…. none. Forget free agency. The Bucs need to have the mentality that the first 3 or 4 round picks can contribute right away.
February 22nd, 2015 at 10:11 am
The Bucs need another good draft. Last years was rated a B by NFL.com that reversed a trend of over 10 years of bad drafting. Schiano did a little better than the two previous regimes, but not by much.
Biggest bone head move was the Bucs passing on Aaron Rogers because they had Chris Sims at QB. Even Gruden derides himself of that decision.
That is the reason you don’t draft because of need but due to the talet level. If you can significantly upgrade a position you have a average performing player at, do it.
February 22nd, 2015 at 10:11 am
The Patriots found their starting rookie center in the 4th round.
That’s what good teams do.
February 22nd, 2015 at 10:32 am
Gregory is fastttttt, Can’t wait to see Leonard run.
February 22nd, 2015 at 10:59 am
So were the Kadeen Edwards and Kevin Pamphile picks absolute wastes last year? Are they not even able to develop into starters eventually? At the end of last year when we benched Collins why did we play Oneil Cousins instead of trying our Pamphile?
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:00 am
@Joe, I think it’s time for another Winston vs. Mariota poll.
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:03 am
I would hardly rate last years draft a “B” at this point. He has to do much, much better this time. It was if Lovie Dovie couldn’t even recognize the teams needs. Draft a running back last year? Pffft!
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:04 am
*as if
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:13 am
Lovie Smith finished last in the NFL last season.
Greg Schiano won more games in his two seasons with Tampa… never finished last.
Raheem Morris finished better than Lovie in each of his 3 seasons.
Jon Gruden or Tony Dungy never did as awful. Sam Wyche even did better.
So how is it that Lovie keeps being referenced as a good coach?
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:14 am
Bucs need to draft Oline in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. We don’t have any depth. Or if possible trade down in the 2nd round for extra pick.
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:15 am
On that note… the best way to get rid of Lovie is for him to draft Jameis the Bust.
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:33 am
ddneast Says:
February 22nd, 2015 at 10:11 am
The Bucs need another good draft. Last years was rated a B by NFL.com that reversed a trend of over 10 years of bad drafting. Schiano did a little better than the two previous regimes, but not by much.
____________________________________________________________
1. Who cares what NFL.com thinks?
2. One year is literally the worst evaluation window there is for a draft. Because in 2013 the Redskins 2012 draft would be a B+ or an A….now it’s unquestionably an D- or F. Wait a little longer
3. As best can be told, Evans is the only sure starter from last years draft, and Sims was a gigantic waste. A grade of B is not realistic when you burn a premium pick on the least important position in football, when you have a terrible offensive line you don’t address till several rounds later.
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:37 am
It is comical to read comments that either of these QB prospects will be busts when all of their film, intangibles and college success points to both being successful NFL QB,s. I guess to people who are such geniuses and say it’s a foregone conclusion that either or both will be busts also do not buy cars because they are going to be lemons!!! SMH!!! Hey, since some of you can predict the future, how about sharing some of the cash that you won from all of the lotteries you have all won since you can predict the future so well, I assume you used that skill to become billionaires!!!
February 22nd, 2015 at 11:54 am
I like him but I am leary of 4th round OL talent especially if we are drafting one of the QBs. I want the 2nd and 3rd round talent for our OL
February 22nd, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Joe,
You know I’ve been speaking about this kid for awhile. He would be a the perfect LG/ swing tackle. Can you speak to RG pr
February 22nd, 2015 at 1:15 pm
*Can you speak w/ RG-John Miller (Louisville) as well
February 22nd, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Like I posted the other day.
February 20th, 2015 at 7:32 am
Examples:
Projections
LG/LT (Swing Tackle Options) ←Value Picks
• Donovan Smith 6’5″ 335 Penn St. (Top 3rd)
• Jamon Brown 6’6″ 326 Louisville (Bottom 4th)
Center
• B.J. Finney 6’4″ 303 Kansas St. (Top 4th)
• Max Garcia 6’4″ 307 Florida
Right Guard
• Tre’ Jackson 6’4″ 330 Florida St.(Mid 2nd )
• Laken Tomlinson 6’3″ 330 Duke (Mid 2nd )
• John Miller 6’2″ 312 Louisville (3rd)
• Shaq Mason 6’1″ 300 Georgia Tech (4th )
Right Tackles
• Rob Havenstein 6’8″ 333 Wisconsin (top 3rd )
March 3rd, 2015 at 4:32 am
[…] Gee, Joe wonders where they got that idea? […]