Donovan Smith Talks Dirk Koetter’s Messaging
January 19th, 2016
Donovan Smith
Don’t call Donovan Smith a rookie left tackle. The guy played every Bucs offensive snap last season, and he played pretty darn well.
Smith was at East-West Shrine practice this morning in St. Petersburg, and talked to Joe about the current state of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Smith is not planning for a fresh start.
“I don’t think anything’s really going to change in the offense, I mean, just in terms of the offense or the way the program may be run,” Smith said.
“We’ll be able to come in and start fast and continue where we left off.”
Notably, Smith contrasted the new-mentality-needed words of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. He said he believes Koetter will have no problem getting through to the entire Bucs roster because all phases of the team bought in to Lovie Smith.
“We pretty much, we bought in, you know, from Day 1, between the whole system, offense, defense, special teams and what needed to get done,” Smith said. “I don’t think it will be that hard or anything to get his message across.”
Smith was at practice today supporting his “best friend,” Penn State tight end Kyle Carter, as well as defensive tackle Anthony Zettel, famous for his forest workouts.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:19 am
i can’t lie when we picked him last year i was like WTF?! who the hell is this guy! but as time goes on he has gotten better and better. Lets hope the progression keeps up
January 19th, 2016 at 11:32 am
If all phases of the team bought into Lovie ‘s message, why was he fired?
January 19th, 2016 at 11:33 am
I agree AC:
If I am correct the knock on Smith was that he was lazy and not motivated. I did not see anything like that from his this last season.
You build thru the draft.
Jameis
Smith
Marpet
Kwon
Damn fine start.
January 19th, 2016 at 11:34 am
Smith did just fine….looking forward to his development with Marpet….and don’t forget Pamphile…..
January 19th, 2016 at 12:09 pm
@DCBucsfan
If all phases of the team bought into Lovie ‘s message, why was he fired?
Good question! The only answer I can come up with is that perhaps Lovie had the wrong message.
January 19th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Most great LTs didn’t dominate as rookies. Pretty much none do. His season is about as good as it typically gets. Which is why it’s a bit insane to me when people suggest moving him inside or to RT and drafting a new LT
January 19th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Yeah ok Donovan… the team brought into Lovies philosophy aye? I can’t tell!!
Seems like his defense would have played a lot harder. They did not. So I don’t want to hear the..same song and dance once the losing starts with Koetter either. Your new coach is on the hot seat. Win or else. He gets 2 yrs just like Lovie. But he’s the golden boy so he might get 3.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
You can tell an employee you supervise to do something, you can create a motto or philosophy, work ethic, creed etc. But when the employee is unable or incapable of performing a task, a task that you have shown them to do, trained them to do it, practiced it where does the responsibility for failure of the employee to perform lie?
January 19th, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Or what happens when the employee does exactly what the supervisor said, but it simply didn’t work? It was an ineffective strategy for the the task at hand. Who should be blamed for that?
January 19th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
It is amazing what Koetter did in 1 year with the offense chocked full of rookies.
It is pitiful what Lovie did with the defense chocked full of accomplished veterans.
January 19th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Trubucfan..Lets see what the amazing Koetter does as Head coach chocked full of talent. The clock is ticking…….Yessirreeee..its gonna be truly amazing..if the losing starts all over again huh?
January 19th, 2016 at 2:33 pm
No denying Koetter deserves props for his work.
Donny Smith has one week point in his game that he needs to work on extra hard…penalties. It’s common for players at his position to get them, but minimizing them is a must.
January 19th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
As I noted about Smith before the season, you won’the worry as much about him as a rookie being motivated because he had to train all off-season for the combine/draft and got thrown into a challenging environment. However, you would be concerned in year two, or three if he keeps that motivation as he started out great as a Freshman at Penn State but regressed a bit and loafed the following years.
January 19th, 2016 at 2:53 pm
@Mike Johnson
How is this roster “chocked full of talent”?? We have holes at WR, possibly OL if Mankins retires (I do admit though that Pamphile could be an option), DE, CB, SS, FS, and you could even make a case for TE. Haven’t had a winning season since 2010. The pop star didn’t exactly stock the cupboard.
January 19th, 2016 at 3:13 pm
I’ll forgive all his pentaltys as part of the learning process. No excuses next year Donavon….. Go get em big fella!!!!
January 19th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
not sure Donovan Smith is the authority on how well the defense bought in to lovie’s program, but if that’s what our defensive and special teams units look like when they were bought in to lovie, there was something seriously wrong with what lovie was selling
January 19th, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Mike
He gets 2 yrs just like Lovie. But he’s the golden boy so he might get 3.
Obviously you’re upset because of Lovie’s firing and we get that. But if you think Koetter is on the hot seat and only has two years that’s no big deal.
By two years #3 will have this team in contention year in and year out.
Mike Smith doesn’t have to be great with the defense…just competent…he was more than competent with Jax and there’s no reason to think he won’t be here.
The one common denominator with all great coaches is a very good if not great franchise QB. Koetter already has that and he’s had a year to work with him.
And not to totally rain on your parade but people are ALREADY giving him a pass whining about our hard schedule. I’m not one of those because I don’t think Koetter will need any passes…two years will be more than enough.
January 19th, 2016 at 5:23 pm
Yes let’s see, Mike. I can’t predict what Koetter will do. But my opinion is that Lovie was a terrible leader for this team. So I expect the Bucs to be improved next season.
Shouldn’t be hard. Lovie’s defense was complete trash for 2 years.
I’ll be here through the thick or thin, and will eat crow if I am wrong. I hope you will do the same.
January 19th, 2016 at 8:18 pm
Trubuc…don’t count on him eating any crow. We all now by now why he liked Lovie so much. I won’t go there though, because there’s enough of HIS kind on this site as it is.
January 19th, 2016 at 8:54 pm
dumb question up top, Lovie was fired because he sucks
and won 8 games in 2 seasons