Evan Smith Helps Teammates First
August 31st, 2016
Prefers helping teammates.
So Joe is still mesmerized by the fact Browns left tackle Joe Thomas, one of only three stud draft picks that team has had in a dozen years, took Bucs pass rushing specialist Noah Spence aside to coach him up on how not to telegraph his moves.
For one of the best left tackles in the game to pull aside a rookie — on an opposing team no less — to help him with his game during joint practices last week at One Buc Palace, Joe is just stunned. That is some cool stuff there.
But don’t expect the same from Evan Smith.
Currently the Bucs’ backup right guard and maybe starting center (he and Joe Hawley are battling for that gig), Smith is always willing to chat.
Nice guy? Sure, but not that nice.
Joe asked him yesterday if in joint practices like the Bucs have had this year (also with the Jags two weeks ago) if he ever gave someone on the other side of the ball any tips. Smith admitted, no, because he is more concerned with his teammates.
“I try to help our guys out, you know what I mean?” Smith said. “But I usually don’t tell the guy I am going against, ‘Hey man, you are doing this’ or ‘you should switch it up on me.’ I try to help our guys out.”
Smith did confess he thought that was a class move by Thomas to help Spence. Then again, Smith joked, Thomas is so comfortable in his ability, Spence could have told Thomas verbally what he was going to do and Thomas still would have likely stopped him. Thomas is that good.
August 31st, 2016 at 8:14 am
I have done a complete 180 in my opinion of Even Smith the last couple years. He’s been a great teammate and player since he stopped calling Jameis the rookie, or whatever he called him at the beginning.
August 31st, 2016 at 8:43 am
Joe Thomas is a class act!
Could you imagine the outrage from these boards if he was a Buc and helped out an opposing player? I’m sure it wouldn’t stop at just calling him “soft”…
August 31st, 2016 at 8:59 am
BuccoDav
McCoy IS soft because he is ALWAYS hurt and disappears when his team needs him most during second half of games and on 3rd downs not because he helps players up.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:22 am
Joe,
Of course Thomas would have stopped Spence if Spence told Thomas what he was going to do previous to the snap. Having that information is an advantage, and Thomas stopped Spence without it, clearly not needing the added insight.
Thomas is a superb talent, I hope Spence can realize some of his potential.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:32 am
You hear stories of Tim Duncan doing the same thing. Class is class.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:39 am
Um.. Of course if Spence told Thomas verbally what he was going to do before the play Thomas would have been able to stop it without a problem. I think you need to re- write that sentence. Especially since he could stop it without being told.
August 31st, 2016 at 9:50 am
tmax- You’re on a roll this morning!
August 31st, 2016 at 10:19 am
It’s funny though, because when McCoy is out, the WHOLE LINE DISAPPEARS ALL GAME. 🤔
August 31st, 2016 at 10:30 am
Bucsfanman
I ran out of hot water during my shower. too many house guests. I am a grumpy old bastard this morning. nothing worse than running out of hot water.
Walter
that is not a very accurate statement. The bucs record is just as bad with mccoy or without mccoy. One preseason game he sits and the entire team looked sluggish and you are proclaiming it was because mccoy was out. sorry but that is BS…. Mccoy is good but not great and he certainly can’t carry a team. I am sure we will no for sure if you are right or I am guaranteed that 93 will miss games this year so we will find out.
August 31st, 2016 at 10:38 am
I feel like some of you have some axes to grind this morning and have taken some awfully impressive logic leaps in terms of finding a way to get to the topics that you want to be griping about.
August 31st, 2016 at 10:48 am
@tmax- Been there, done that! LOL!
You need some of that tea that my wife always tries to make me drink after Bucs games last year! Chamomile or Lavender or some kind of nonsense! Maybe she was trying to poison me?!
@Patrick- SOP my friend. You know how it goes!
August 31st, 2016 at 11:38 am
Will McCoy get injured this season? You’d have to be a dang fool to bet against it, it’s football. Is he elite? Nope, but he is a top 5 DT in the league today, don’t know of any D-Linenan that carries his team in today’s game. Can he carry a Defensive Unit? Not sure, but with the addition of Ayers and Spence, he sure can help elevate the play of our Defensive Unit!
August 31st, 2016 at 11:57 am
tmaxcon
I don’t see how the teams win loss record is a reflection on McCoy, he’s a DT not a QB. If you go back and look at some games that he was not playing in, there is a very noticeable difference in our pass rush when he’s not in the game. Frankly, that’s undeniable, to believe otherwise would be foolish. Using our record to argue against that seems like a red herring to me.
August 31st, 2016 at 11:59 am
BigHogHaynes Says:
“Is he elite? Nope, but he is a top 5 DT in the league today,”
Since when is a player considered to be top 5 at his position, not considered elite?
If it was a QB, they would be considered elite. RB, yes. CB, yes.
He’s not Sapp, but who is?
August 31st, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Walter
I am not holding gmc accountable for the bucs record. I think he is a good player but he does not make players around him better. a true elite players does not make the excuse he has no help he finds a way to get it done and makes those around him better. besides the fact gmc is ALWAYS hurt my only issue with him is he does not make the players around him better and he does not make enough criticle plays on 3rd or in the second halves of games. hopefully this is his year. no excuses.
August 31st, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Some of you are just really bad at staying on topic.
August 31st, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Pickgrin
i thought the bucs were the topic. discussions lead in many directions. I did not realize this was a snobby elitist tech forum with rigid rules and police patrols. It feels more like someone who disagrees and does not like it when that happens. i is the joe bucs fan free for all! You know that, you have been here a long time, it’s always been a open discussions or more accurately rants for all sides of the topic or at least that is what i thought. JBF one of the last open forum for those with differing opinions in America where haters (whatever the hell that is) and optimists can exist uncensored. Unless of course you take a head shot at the big dog.
August 31st, 2016 at 1:14 pm
Well said, tmaxcon!
Who wants to talk about Evan Smith, anyway!?!
August 31st, 2016 at 1:31 pm
^^^Funny but true!