Evan Dietrich-Smith Talks Future
December 29th, 2014
Bucs C Evan Dietrich-Smith discussed his future
Today, Bucs coach Lovie Smith acknowledged that the final meeting of the year with the team is always a sad one, partly because players will be on their way to wherever their homes are until OTAs begin, partly because players leaving the meeting will be gone for good.
Even the best of teams make personnel changes. Rotten teams like the Bucs, the worst team in the NFL in 2014, often have massive changes.
There is little doubt changes are afoot to the Bucs’ offensive line. How could there not be? It was a galling sieve that Joe is convinced has given quarterback Josh McCown PTSD.
Though Lovie, past and present, has proclaimed center Evan Dietrich-Smith to be a foundation of the offensive line, Joe has learned to take Lovie’s words with a grain of salt. Saying and doing sometimes are two different things for Lovie.
Lovie admitted today his Bucs whiffed badly in free agency. Interestingly, one of those free agents was center Evan Dietrich-Smith. Given how it is all but assured changes are coming to the offensive line, Joe asked EDS what he thought of his job security with the Bucs.
“I am really not thinking about my job security,” EDS said. “I played hard. I did what I needed to do. If they need to move in a new direction, good for them. I don’t think that is going to be the case. When you have a bad year as a group you would assume that everybody should be fired but that just is not going to happen.
“Like I said, it is a process. You have to build. You have to move in a certain direction but you have to find the players you want. I feel I am one of those. We have a lot of good players in this locker room. We just need to find a few more.”
Joe will repeat what he has typed previously: The yoda of Green Bay, Ted Thompson, does not let productive players walk for peanuts, which is exactly what happened with EDS.
The Packers have replaced EDS with a rookie center from Ohio State and have not missed a beat, securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.
If, with a new offensive coordinator, the Bucs are going to revamp the offensive line — and why wouldn’t they the way they blocked like matadors? — Joe isn’t so sure EDS is as safe as he may believe.
EDS is not the worst problem on the offensive line, but Joe doesn’t think he played like the answer, either. To hear more from EDS, click on the arrow below. Audio player courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
He was horrible…….simple as that….
December 29th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
I’ve said it before, this guy is nothing but talk.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Surrounded by 2 good players and 2 average players, EDS would be fine. Even the best Olines in football have a few average guys that play better because their unit is a cohesive one and because they have exceptional players around them. I preferred Zuttah, and I still do because he has position versatility….but EDS is on the team and until he is no longer on the team I hope he does well.
December 29th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
He can leave Tampa along with the other pillows on the offensive line!
December 29th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
“I did what I needed to do”
I didn’t know his job was hitting the QB’s knees in shotgun, snapping worm burners when the QB was under center and looking like a boob that don’t care. In that case, job well done you turd!!
December 29th, 2014 at 4:18 pm
Joe, you don’t think he wanted him back how do you know? It’s called a salary cap and he has a QB making $22 million a year, a big offseason deal to Nelson and one probably coming to Cobb this year. You can’t pay everyone and he didn’t walk away for peanuts as you continue to state. So Bucs got him for a 1 year veteran minimum?
December 29th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Name a decent player Ted Thompson let go for next to nothing who has yet to turn 30. There is no better talent evaluator than Ted Thompson. If he doesn’t want you, tells Joe all he needs to know.
December 29th, 2014 at 4:31 pm
“If they need to move in a new direction, good for them”
that tells me all i need to know. he plays like crap, then get’s cocky.
best of luck, next man up and don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya. adios.
December 29th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
He cannot tag everyone or sign them to a comparable deal with the salary cap is my opinion. GB’s defense has been a lot better this year is a reason why they are doing better and that strong oline that ran the ball well with Rodgers out last year. Rodgers is the game changer as seen yesterday, but you can say they didn’t miss a beat when he missed so many games. Anyway he’s a great GM and I see your point.
December 29th, 2014 at 4:42 pm
EDS needs to take a major pay cut. he is not worth the money the bucs are paying him.
December 29th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Can’t remember the exact stat, but over a five-year period players that Ted Thompson drafted, if they didn’t stick on the Packers roster, only two of them were still in the league. Joe asked Thompson about that last year and it was the first he heard of it. The dude is uncanny breaking down talent.
December 29th, 2014 at 5:09 pm
I’d take a rookie center over EDS too, At least the rookie would have potential.
December 29th, 2014 at 5:26 pm
EDS would be OK on a line where he was the average player
surrounded by above average players.
i.e. We need linemen worse than QB……McCown would be
a hot-shot 6-10 QB behind a great line.
December 29th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
If we draft Max Garcia or Cameron Erving EDS will NOT make the roster opening day. I think even Kadeem Edward is better than EDS. EDS played next to 2 verrryyyy good guards last year making him look better. He was arguably the worst center in the nfc.
I wish SUh would have ruptured his achilles last year and saved us from signing him.
Joe, you’re absolutely right about Thompson, he is the best evaluator of talent in the league. He never lets anyone get away. He let go of Ahman Green, Antonio Freeman, Mike McKenzie, etc etc etc all at the perfect time. It’s uncanny really.
December 29th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Oh I see, it was the group that was the problem. Not his drive-killing goofs.
I say throw him and his silly tattoos to the wind.
December 29th, 2014 at 5:56 pm
I know of a great career swap for EDS and Bowers. Hit the All-You-Can-Eat Contest Circuit. These guys would be world champs.
December 29th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
He did what he need to do? This smug jerk doesn’t belong in the CFL. Such a big deal is made of the LT position and that’s understandable but I think center is more important. How often did we have pressure right up the middle this year? Can’t run. Can’t pass. That’s squarely on EDS and our ever revolving guards. Talk about Ted Thompson. How about Bellicheat tricking us into taking Mankins off his hands?
December 29th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
I miss Zuttah
December 29th, 2014 at 6:56 pm
even Jeff Faine wasnt THAT bad, and he sucked
December 29th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
The biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves EDS.
December 29th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
@Robert,
I had the same exact thought when I read that! To Mr. EDS:
You “did what you needed to do”?!? Actually NO, you didn’t.
unless you call your inability to lead your line, rolling the ball on the ground through countless games, complete lack of blocking ability, and tons of unnecessary penalties doing your job.
STFU until we can even call your performance “mediocre “.
December 29th, 2014 at 7:07 pm
The Bucs basically got played in free agency this year.
The Packers and Patriots unload they’re trash on us.
In Hoodies case he got Tim Wright too.
What a freakin burn.
I hope L&L learned from the whole humiliating experience.
December 29th, 2014 at 7:17 pm
*their*
December 29th, 2014 at 7:52 pm
Sorry attitude…GOODBYE!!! Lovie should have kept Zuttah…..well, it is what it is.
December 29th, 2014 at 8:59 pm
@Brandon
You”re spot on. An offensive UNIT can cover up a couple of average players if they are bracketed by good players. We had average players bracketed by horrible players, at least two of whom do not even belong in the NFL.
And so we get out Q.B. Put together a package to go with our 33rd pick in the 2nd round and move it up to the middle of the first and get a franchise left tackle to go with our franchise QB.
We use the 3rd and 4th round picks to find a guard/center type. And so we should be able to find one NFL quality player from those two picks.
We head into 2015 with a franchise QB…a franchise LT…a rookie guard…Demar Dotson…and I think EDS and Mankins are fine in that group and in fact Mankins can help mentor the two rookies.
December 29th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
StPete – Instead of giving away a 3rd or 4th round pick to move back into the 1st round – After drafting Winston 1st (hopefully) – why not stay put and in the 2nd round draft Jameis Winston’s LT Cameron Erving who has also done a hell of a job filling in at Center for FL state the last few games. He can play any line position you need him to and is a hell of an OL prospect IMO.
Then spend the high 3rd round pick on a DE and the high 4th round pick on another OLineman. (or vice versa).
If we came out of the 1st 4 rounds with a #1 QB, 2 OL players and a DE – there’s no way this team would not be improved by those 4 players.
December 29th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
Pickgrin
If Erving is a franchise tackle I’m on board with that. Mostly I’ve seen Peat, Scherff and Stanley listed as the top tackles. But perhaps you have discovered a nugget.
December 29th, 2014 at 10:08 pm
EDS – “getting some stuff squared away in the off season” absolutely includes upgrading the Center position… Your play this year on a horribly crappy line was worse than last year’s center who also played on a very crappy line. And Zuttah was never considered better than average at the position by anyone. Soooo………
December 29th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
St Pete – LOL – he’s not really a “nugget” – at this point he’s already slated as a 2nd round pick – and may climb higher if the Seminoles win out and he continues to play well. The switch to center 1/2 way through this year may have hurt him a bit draft position wise – because he doesn’t get to showcase himself at LT – but after FL State lost their 2nd center – he was just doing what was best for the team and the fact that he is excelling at Center just shows his versatility.
Keep an eye on him in the Big Game Thursday. – #75 – Dude is a stud Lineman.
December 30th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
EDS is talking like a man in a win-win situation, which he is. either he collects a big check from the bucs next year, or the bucs eat some guaranteed money and he doesn’t have to play for lovie smith next year. He’s not at the last chance saloon like guys like Gilkey & Cousins
December 30th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
He did not play hard. I have a great vine on my twitter of him moping around as McCown is getting pile-driven into the turf.