“There’s No Pressure”
July 29th, 2015
Bucs rookie left tackle Donovan Smith
The No. 34 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft is one confident dude. Sometimes, he reminds Joe of the No. 1 overall pick, America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Of course, Joe is referring to Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith, the pride of Penn State and the likely rookie starter at left tackle.
At a community bowling event yesterday with Tampa firefighters, beat writer Woody Cummings of The Tampa Tribune started asking Smith a question about the pressure on this year’s rookie class to perform.
Smith boldly cut off Cummings and told him, “There’s no pressure.”
“No pressure?” Cummings replied.
“There’s no pressure. I mean, we pretty much, that’s what we’ve been doing all our life is playing football,” Smith responded. “You know, it’s just [now] at the pro level. We’re just going to go out there and continue to do what we’ve been doing to get here. So it’s no pressure in my mind.”
Smith said he’s eager for training camp, in large part because he can’t remember going such a long time without hitting anyone. Smith said he focused a lot on resting his body on vacation while maintaining his weight, which is down since college.
Joe asked Smith about whose film he’s been studying, and Smith said he’s a huge fan of Browns left tackle Joe Thomas. He said his all-time favorite is Jonathan Ogden, and he added three-time Redskins Pro Bowler Trent Williams to the short list.
Like Smith, Williams is a hulking, 6-5, 330-pounder, and Thomas and Odgen are true gigantic manbeasts, as well.
All Bucs fans have right now, when it comes to Smith, is hope. Joe is hoping Smith can at least play respectable football and not cause the Bucs to adjust their entire offense because Smith is overmatched in 1-on-1 situations. If he is, then look for plenty of two-tight-end sets with Luke Stocker and/or a running back in the backfield on passing downs.
“You’re going to take some lumps early,” Jason Licht said of starting rookie offensive linemen this year, during a Tuesday appearance on WDAE-AM 620.
Joe’s fine with taking lumps, just not too many.
July 29th, 2015 at 10:29 am
D@$! man I’m lovin it,these young Thundercats have officially brought that swag to the Bay. Confidence is infectious man. Got me feeling so stoked on a hump day Wednesday.
July 29th, 2015 at 10:30 am
With time Smith should be able to dish out some lumps too.
July 29th, 2015 at 10:31 am
“Dancing Panda”on deck!!!
July 29th, 2015 at 10:39 am
I hate lumpy oatmeal.
July 29th, 2015 at 10:40 am
We need Smith to be at least competent holding down that left side.
Hope these rookie OLinemen work out. That’s asking a lot to expect both rookies to play well enough to protect your franchise QB right out of the gate. I hope Licht knows what he is doing – not bringing in some veteran help up front as a safeguard at least.
July 29th, 2015 at 10:40 am
Everyone has Swag until they get flattened…..
I would hope there’s pressure on this entire team to win a home game!!!!
July 29th, 2015 at 10:54 am
Everyone that’s worried about what these rookies are going to do. Must be expecting a GREAT season this year. Glad I’m not one of those fans.
After last season I have to see the product first, before I buy the product.
July 29th, 2015 at 11:17 am
’87 – I don’t have unrealistic expectations about this season. Would be reasonably happy with 6-8 wins as long as the team is competitive and improves as the season progresses.
My concern is for Winston’s health. Do NOT want to see Jameis take the kind of beating that McCown had to endure last year.
July 29th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
tom I’ll be waiting to see this mountain a$$ man get flattened.
July 29th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Smith shouldn’t feel pressure….he’s a high 2nd round pick….has the size & talent….now Gilkey….on the bubble….that’s pressure that should be felt.
July 29th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Don’t worry Nole on Sat: Left tackles see the BEST athletes in the NFL every Sunday…..big don’t make ’em good, you’re obviously too impressed by size….
July 29th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
All I can say is Joe Thomas is a damn good choice of tape to study. This dude has gone to the Pro Bowl in all 8 seasons he has been in the league and was ranked as the 18th best player in the league by his peers. Now, that is legit. If Smith becomes half the man JT is then we are golden.
July 29th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Nole on Sat Buc on Sunday.
Preach it brotha I’m with you man. Again the little train didn’t reach the top of the hill saying I think I CAN’T..I THINK I CAN’T.
I love the class, character and attitude in this year’s locker room.
@Pickgrin My concern is for Winston’s health. Do NOT want to see Jameis take the kind of beating that McCown had to endure last year.
Very valid point. I take comfort in several thoughts…oh hell I’ll be Ian Beckles and call them facts and indeed one of my three is a fact so I’ll start with that.
1.)Koetter is an experienced NFL OC not a beginner. He has a lot of weapons in TE’s and WR’s and Sims out of the backfield. I hope Sims can block or we have at least one RB who can pass protect. Koetter will design the offense around our OL’s capabilities just like he had to do in Atlanta.
2.) Fameis is no McClown. Josh is a nice guy but I swear that collar just grew too tight. He obviously felt pressure trying not to embarrass Lovie who placed so much faith in him. I do not recall a pro athlete CHOKING any worse than McCown. McCown is a better QB than he showed last year. He played far worse than any rookie.
3.) We have a revamped OL. Whether it’s better remains to be seen since we’re counting on two rookies. I do not believe however it could possibly be any worse.
July 29th, 2015 at 10:39 pm
A competent oc could have gotten us to 6 wins last year. A competent ab and Winston can get us over 500 in their rookie year. I have no problem predicting this. The offense was a mess last year, and we still were 1 score away from winning a bunch of those games. An experienced OC will be the biggest difference. Could you imagine Winston playing for last years offense? I really wonder how much Winston could have pulled out of his rear, to win us games last year. Or if the OC handicap would have been too much to overcome.
July 30th, 2015 at 11:27 pm
Donovan Smith is a beast. He probably feels no pressure because he has seen the tape of the player he is replacing. It has been a long time since the Buccaneers drafted a offensive lineman this high. Smith totally dominated the run game in college and played very well in pass protection vs Bosa and Gregory. In watching tape of him at times his opponents seemed to simply give up, because they could not get past him. When I think of how Collins played and how Smith is going to play, Jameis, your in good hands.