“Just Gotta Figure Out Which One’s Coming”
December 9th, 2015
Rookie left tackle Donovan Smith
Joe got a little 1-on-1 time today with Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith.
The chatter was about a 3-4 defense, which the Bucs will see Sunday against New Orleans, versus facing a 4-3 defense like the Falcons played Sunday.
Smith said he’s really settled in to his role and is unfazed now defenses in front of him, which wasn’t the case early this season. “At the end of the day, they’re all rushing four,” Smith said. “You just gotta figure out which one’s coming and which one’s not.”
Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night, Smith said he’s learned how to recognize defenses, and he talked about how pre-snap reads of safeties and general reading of a front-7 has become routine.
Smith struggled against stout Saints DE Cameron Jordan (eight sacks) in Week 2. Joe suspects that won’t happen again.
December 9th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Brees may get hot but we shouldn’t struggle on offense.
The Saints are dead last in the entire league in NFL defense.
We may get to see a 35-31 win for the Bucs as #3 goes off and spreads the ball to ME..ASJ..VJAX…Sims…Humphries…have we had a game with all the targets in place. Last week I guess but ASJ was just coming back and ME was working his way through the yips. I’m hoping that incredible game winning catch bolsters his confidence.
I am JACKED to watch our offense this week. I think they may be ready to explode and who better to torment that Ryan and the Saints!!!
December 9th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Jameis the Great surveyed the field of battle and saw that the Persian-Saints defense was weak. Presently he advised his general Parmenio-Koetter to run the head-long attack with the phalanx-offensive line. The Dougernaut was released and havoc did ensue in the Persian-Saints ranks. When they had expended their energies in the harshness of the run-attack then did Jameis survey their secondary and unleash a torrent of aerial attacks. Each in turn found their mark and the Persian-Saints were dispatched thusly.
– Herodotus 2015 BC
December 9th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
I’ve been really impressed overall with Smith. He’s had his share of tough moments, but what rookie hasn’t? He’s rarely given any help, and he’s more than held his own. At minimum, he’s a very capable left tackle, which is obviously essential to Jameis’s health.
December 9th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
“I think they may be ready to explode and who better to torment that Ryan and the Saints!!!”
———–
FYI, they fired Rob Ryan a few weeks ago.
December 9th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
@Howard Cosell
Thank you for that piece of literary art.
December 9th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Some people on here like to bash D. Smith. He may not have perfect technique yet, but for a rookie on island by himself, I think he’s done a hell of a job. For the most part he has kept Jameis pretty clean, Next year he should be even better.
December 9th, 2015 at 4:11 pm
@john…I agree…GO BUCS!!!
December 9th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
@ Howard Cosell
That was thoroughly entertaining. Good stuff.
December 9th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
@Hawaiian
Thanks for that info I had missed the firing! Not like he didn’t deserve it with the last defense in the league.
December 9th, 2015 at 5:46 pm
Lol, thanks guys.
What can I say? The new Bucs are epic.
Howards posts used to be about how the Glazers don’t care.
Now he’s the biggest homer the Bucs have ever seen. Good job Team Glazer, Licht, Lovie and Koetter.
Lol…..”Homer”….the was the epic author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
December 9th, 2015 at 9:52 pm
Howard Cosell
You have lived up to your namesake 😀
December 10th, 2015 at 7:52 am
The first positive comment PFF has made about Smith. “Second-round draft pick Donovan Smith has had a rough introduction to life at the NFL level, but this marked a career day for him. Sure, he allowed three hurries, but he looked more comfortable out there and really worked well off his blocks. Rookies can tend to hit a wall, but with improved performances the past couple of weeks, it’s possible that Smith is hitting his stride”. I agree Donovan Smith had one of his best days as a rookie against Atlanta although it was against the likes of Tyler Starr, Vic Beasley and Adrian Slowborn. The main problem for D Smith has been consistency.This Sunday he is going to go up against a team he had one of his worst games earlier in the year. The Saints and Cameron Jordan. I hope D Smith can sustain this performance, especially with Gosder Cherilus sitting on the bench.