Donovan Smith On The Rise
August 14th, 2017
Making his mark.
Far too many Bucs fans, especially those who think the well-trained orangutans over at the PFF tribe are gospel, love to rag on Donovan Smith.
For reasons unknown, the Bucs starting left tackle has been a pinãta for Bucs fans. Blame for all losses seem to somehow cross his path. Joe doesn’t get it.
Well, two things jumped out that may suggest Smith, entering his third season (he has yet to miss an NFL snap), could record his best season as a pro this year.
Joe remembers once asking Smith about Noah Spence after the Bucs drafted the defensive end. The two tangled when they were at Ohio State and Penn State, respectively. Apparently, Spence did a number on Smith in college so Joe’s question didn’t go over well. That is the first time Joe ever saw Smith frown.
Well, in training camp practice last week, Joe saw Smith work over Spence so well, he damned near pancaked Spence. And if you have seen Spence up close and personal with his new chiseled body, that’s no small feat.
And Friday night, Smith clowned Ghost Johnson of the Bengals, the former Bucs defensive end who fleeced Team Glazer Lovie Smith for eight figures of Team Glazer loot.
If Friday night is any indication, fans might have to find another reason to kvetch about the offensive line.
Michael Johnson spin move fail. Nice catch by Brate. This Tampa offense will be a problem pic.twitter.com/LhPmw7InIv
— Billy Marshall (@BillyM_91) August 11, 2017
August 14th, 2017 at 9:03 am
Lol, the ghost is terrible though Joe.
The real test will be against Jaksonville.
August 14th, 2017 at 9:04 am
I wouldn’t get too excited over DS just yet…….I want to see a full year of consistency outta him.
August 14th, 2017 at 9:08 am
Jacksonville (Young Edge Rushers)
• Dante Fowler Jr. | Dawuane Smoot
• Yannick Ngakoue | Carroll Phillips
Yannick Ngakoue > Roberto Aguayo…..smdfh
August 14th, 2017 at 9:30 am
Donovan Smith better clean up those penalties if he wants to be a good LT. Led the league in yellow flags last year and Dotson was right behind him in that category.
Anyone not concerned about our Tackle play on offense was not watching very closely last year…
August 14th, 2017 at 9:32 am
Donovan has the unenviable task of protecting The Franchise’s blind side against some top DEs. He’s had some ups-and-downs over these past 2 yrs, but he’s shown steady improvement IMO. He reminds me of Donald Penn in a number of ways. Fans & media used to criticize Penn because he was ‘overweight’ & ‘slow’ but guess what … Donald continued to improve & IMO turned out to be an outstanding LT. Donovan Smith is taking a similar path: steady improvement & consistent availability. Together with Pamphile & Marpet, the left side of the OLine should show considerable improvement over last year in both run blocking & pass protection.
August 14th, 2017 at 9:34 am
On the rise. When his penalties get lower. This is not hate this is reality
August 14th, 2017 at 9:50 am
@Joe
when are you going to ask how the penalties for both tackles will be fixed???? I don’t think I video of some scrub DE spinning and tripping over his own feet proves anything!!!!!!!!! Did DS76 even touch him???? It looks like he is just staring at him thinking “what are you doing????”
Seriously Joe, Ask about the tackles that were in the top 10 in most penalized players in the league!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 14th, 2017 at 10:03 am
I remember D. Smith stonewalling Panthers players in the last game in 2016…and I thought man, he’s is coming into his own.
August 14th, 2017 at 10:13 am
D Smith didnt play awfully but I guess the play where ghost drove him into jameis’s lap was missed?
August 14th, 2017 at 10:27 am
In that video, the Ghost made one of the weakest spin moves I’ve ever seen.
August 14th, 2017 at 10:30 am
He reminds me of Donald Penn in a number of ways. …
that’s an excellent comparison….I think d.smith will be fine….its the RT that im worried about….combined with the depth at the center position….josh allen looks stout in the middle…..if marpet goes down, we’ll have to deal with Hawley getting pushed into the lap of jameis…..GO BUCS!!!!
August 14th, 2017 at 11:07 am
As stated above, maybe wait until the regular season when things count and game 1 going against Cam Wake will be a good barometer of the season and how jameis will make the season
August 14th, 2017 at 11:38 am
The second half of the season last year he really came on. For those concerned about penalties he played the last 7 games of the season with 0 technique based penalties. 0 But yes Dusthy.. Cam Wake will be a good barometer.. for Demar Dotson. He comes off the left side of the D line.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/dolphins-blog/sfl-dolphins-plan-to-keep-de-cam-wake-on-left-side-20160322-story.html
August 14th, 2017 at 11:38 am
Joe joe joe
We all know the reason we lose every game and the reason smith gets worked over so easily is bc of the cancer gmc. Heck the only reason Roberto missed any kicks was bc of the ice cream man himself. If gmc wasn’t on this team then Roberto would make every kick and smith would be respected worldwide
August 14th, 2017 at 1:38 pm
We can’t afford to lose Smith.
August 14th, 2017 at 1:54 pm
I hope he improves this year, but if he doesn’t he will still be a heck of a Guard.
August 14th, 2017 at 2:50 pm
Regarding penalties…..
I’d prefer a penalty rather than our QB being on IR for more than a season.
Go Bucs……
August 14th, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Very funny clip Joe. Thanks for posting. Lets root for our left tackle for so many reasons. Hope he keeps it up. Go Bucs!