“We’re Right There”
November 23rd, 2017
Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith
While the show was upbeat, lively and energetic, the Donovan Smith-Ali Marpet gathering on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week had a somber undertone.
So what brought a recognizable downer to the chat? Talk of the rushing attack, the running game, the Bucs’ weakness.
Both Marpet and Smith agreed that the offensive line is playing below capabilities for a physical and talented group.
But Smith emphasized that the Bucs are close to putting together a strong run-blocking game from the O-line, and Marpet agreed.
“It’s not much. It’s so crazy. We’re right there,” Smith said.
Interestingly, Smith was asked about how he feels about the grades given to linemen by stat-nerd outfits like Pro Football Focus.
Smith said he’s only concerned with coaches grades and noted that O-line coach George Warhop has a plus minus-system for plays and focuses on how many pluses in a row guys can get before their first minus.
As for the internet graders, Smith just laughs them off.
“A lot of people, you just look and you see things and you don’t really know the scheme,” Smith said. “It’s like, ‘Why is this guy coming free? Why is this person here?’ (Laughs) It’s either Demar’s fault or Donovan’s fault.”
“Demar,” of course, is right tackle Demar Dotson. He was down on the run-game performance, too, but noted how strong the Bucs have been in pass blocking.
Dotson jokingly shared advice he was given years ago — that bad pass blocking will make you unemployed much, much faster in the NFL than shaky run blocking.
November 23rd, 2017 at 9:19 am
dotson should have been unemployed 5 years ago. what’s the career loser dotson say about the tackle duo’s knack for drive killing penalties the last two years.
November 23rd, 2017 at 9:37 am
Smith stinks at tackle.
November 23rd, 2017 at 9:59 am
Well looky here…tmax has surfaced. Just in time for a good laugh. Coward. You sure stayed invisible after GMC’s monster performance last Sunday!
November 23rd, 2017 at 9:59 am
Unless the scheme is to allow the defense to tackle the RB in the back field I can unequivically say that are hot garbage!
November 23rd, 2017 at 10:10 am
orlbucfan
i am never silent granny… he did his damn job for once. hardly a monster performance. if the POS was a monster he would not have spent his entire career in the basement. that’s the problem with the gmc nuthuggers they pound their chests when on the rare occasion the soft one actually has a decent game. doing his job for once does not offset all the flat performances and quitting on coaches but low standard buc fan cares more about nice guys than winning.
November 23rd, 2017 at 10:12 am
“We’re Right There”
No Donovan, “They” are right there…..seems like every time we call a running play either up the middle or pitch out the other team has two or three in our backfield….not only to they know for certain we are running but they are able to avoid our oline blocks.
This, Joe is why Buc fans question our offensive line….we don’t need any PFF service, coach, player or Joe to tell us a grade…..we can all see it every game with our own eyes….and it is alarming!!!
November 23rd, 2017 at 10:15 am
This must be a joke!!! Your right there? I guess that’s right up until you have to love up against someone who’s trying to destroy you. Your right there in practice, so where are you in games…. There’s a bunch of clowns in these locker room, that’s the most idiotic thing I’ve heard this week. How many games into the season to be seeing your almost there lol wow
November 23rd, 2017 at 10:18 am
The falcons are gona be right there all day. They’re starting to peak, could get ugly this week. Not the dolphins or jets comin up. Lets see how donovan does this week. Go bucs
November 23rd, 2017 at 10:29 am
the best thing that could happen is to cancel ALL player shows… the conversation is dull and boring… in some cases, a player cannot complete a sentence, either punch drunk or really unintelligent (complete with college degree) smh
November 23rd, 2017 at 10:41 am
Donovan Smith sucks. An underachiever who would be better suited as a backup. Unfortunately he’s pretty much all they got. Need to draft OT high in the draft along with DE.
November 23rd, 2017 at 11:08 am
You guys are mistaking wild inconsistency with no talent. Either they lose focus but some plays they pancake their opponent..other plays they look like swinging gates…QB get chased or RB gets tackled in the backfield.
If Warhop has checks and x’s on each play clearly they need to start stringing to together more checks and less x’s. I think what the guys believe..is that they are not that far from becoming more consistent. They’ve demonstrated on multiple plays they can get the job done…but they also demonstrated the ability to get totally embarrassed as well. Got to cut down on that embarrassent!!!
And so the OL is inconsistent…is there on unit on the Bucs that hasn’t been inconsistent…the DL…LB’s…Kwon was hurt at the start…CB’s…who knows what kind of game they’re going to turn in other than Brent Grimes got his half covered.
How about WR’s have they been consistent? ME13 consistent this year? Really?
QB play consistent….bwaaahaaahaaa. Coaching consistent?
Kicking consistent…YEAH…since the arrival of Murray to go with Anger we DO have a consistent kicking game.
And so DK has to figure it out. If you’re good enough to make a play in the NFL for a few plays then ya gotta string a few more good plays in there. We have some talent but it’s got to start performing less erratically.
November 23rd, 2017 at 11:15 am
You block from the inside out. RBs have inside blitzers. More rushers than blockers you will have outside pressure. Simple as that…
November 23rd, 2017 at 12:42 pm
We have the 29th best o line in the nfl.
Take away McCoy and we have the 30th best d line
With 93 – 24th
We aren’t going to the playoffs until these things are fixed
November 23rd, 2017 at 12:56 pm
“We have some talent but it’s got to start performing less erratically.”
Well said SPBF.
November 23rd, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Robert Ayers is the worst DE in the league !! Keeps getting his butt blown up by running backs. Time to retire old dude
November 23rd, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Smith hasn’t competed with anyone for a starting role….Hes completely comfortable being avg
November 23rd, 2017 at 3:33 pm
Tmax you are a moron who knows nothing about NFL football, leadership or being a decent human being. Happy Thanksgiving. Moron. Go Bucs!
November 23rd, 2017 at 4:29 pm
taxmanegativesays – Demar Dotson is ranked a top 5 RT by PFF this year and has been a top 5 RT the past 5 years with the exception of last year due to injury and you call him as a “loser”? Then you call McCoy a POS? Maybe you should find a new team? Marpet is a stud, Sweezy is a beast and Donovan has shown signs of dominating and just needs to be more consistent in playing with his killer instincts. We need a dominant guard and a power RB. The OL is the least of this teams problems. The defense is where this team needs help. Anyone watching the Lions game and seeing Akeem Spence dominating? The players this team lets go and the terrible drafting is why we are who we are. This team needs a new coach, new GM, then trade either LVD or ME13 and get some draft picks, sign the top rated FA and maybe then this team can be competitive.
November 24th, 2017 at 3:56 pm
So the Head coach and the o line players themselves have said they are underperforming, but J0e continues to put all running game woes solely on Martin.
YCMTSU