“It Doesn’t Mean That I’m Super Anal”
June 11th, 2014
New Bucs center Evan Dietrich-Smith responded to the “control freak” label
Get your mind out of the gutter. Joe’s not being filthy with that headline.
After minicamp practice yesterday, Joe asked Bucs starting center Evan Dietrich-Smith what his offensive line coach was talking about when he called him a “control freak” last week.
The Bucs’ intense man in the middle was quick offer a definition.
“I know a lot of media people always say center is a real pivotal position because they got to make calls and stuff. But when you say a center is a control freak, it means that he’s real tuned into what everybody needs to be doing. You know, he has control of the line at the line. The guys trust what he’s saying and in that sense, when he makes a call, everybody knows what we’re doing. That’s what a control freak is,” Dietrich-Smith told Joe.
“It doesn’t mean that I’m super anal or this or that. It just means that when I put my hand on the ball and I say something, everybody knows what I’m saying is right.”
It’s hard to imagine there’s going to be a stronger leader on the offensive line than Dietrich-Smith, who was a Packers free agent this offseason. Like most centers, he’s cerebral and intense, but Dietrich-Smith also takes leadership to a level rarely seen.
Like big money left tackle Anthony Collins, Dietrich-Smith was a late bloomer in the NFL. He comes off as very hungry, just like Collins and Josh McCown.
June 11th, 2014 at 7:28 am
Sean Wetherspoon out for season with torn achilles. That’s a step in the right direction for our offense.
June 11th, 2014 at 7:30 am
I love hungry….youngry not so much. Agree though Joe that players like McCown and D-Smith have a chip on their shoulder because of their early struggles.
Hell Marty St. Louis parlayed a HOF career with a chip on his shoulder. Alas that chip became his downfall went he went into a whiny snit about not orginally being selected to the Olympic team.
June 11th, 2014 at 7:46 am
@StPeteBucsFan
Meanwhile, Marty is in the Stanley Cup Finals (albeit about to get swept by my Kings, and the Lightening are on the golf course.)
June 11th, 2014 at 7:58 am
flmike
If you are suggesting that Marty made a good move for him personally I agree 100%. All of the entire drama was about HIM personally,.
Read Tom Jones in this mornings Times though if you want Marty’s side of it and everybody deserves their side.
After hearing his defense….he still a whiny little self centered jerk. He claims he gave so much to Tampa in his 14 years and Jones backs him up a bit by pointing out that Marty took less money after his MVP to help the team.
Waaaaa. And so what? He’s only worth 50 million instead of 75 million?
He was incredibly well paid here and treated like royalty. If he liked his home better just say it.
But even he admitted the real reason was what he felt was a snub by Yzerman. What a jerk!!!! Did he realize that he took Steve Stamkos spot due to Stammer’s injury. What if Stammer had been ready to play. Is it Marty’s contention that he was better than Stammer. Exactly who did HE think he was better than on that team? Did he no realize that Yzerman was only one voice in a group selection.
When I was in the 7th grade I tried out for an amateur youth league team.
40 of us trying out for 25 spots. I was right at the cut line. The kid who got the spot…#25 I was 26th…father coached the team. When I complained to my father about this obvious injustice he said, “Stop your whining!!! You shouldn’t have been 24th or 25th and have it come down to that. Work harder and make yourself in the top ten and then the coach can’t cut you.”
Sadly Marty followed my father’s advice to the tee until this year. As angry as I am with him I do feel sorry for what is the dumbest choice by an athlete I can remember for a long, long, long time. And I’m and old dude.
June 11th, 2014 at 8:04 am
Joe, I don’t know if we had leadership before on the line, but it sure looks like we do now and it will be interesting to see how this changes things with the addition of the new coaching attitude.
Keep these insights on all the players coming.
June 11th, 2014 at 9:09 am
It is okay to be super anal now. [Now, now. — Joe]
June 11th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman. Then be Batman!
June 11th, 2014 at 10:33 am
How bout that Mike Glennon!!!!!!!!! GO Bucs!!!!!
June 11th, 2014 at 11:06 am
Sounds like a Jenna Haze approved headline.
June 11th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
What does super anal imply?