“Doesn’t Play To The Whistle”
March 27th, 2018
Greetings from the NFL Owners meetings in Orlando!
Man, Joe talked to all kinds of NFL movers and shakers Monday evening and night — before, during and after the renowned annual party hosted by the NFL that draws legions of billionaires, general managers, coaches and national media types … all the way down to local runts like Joe.
Joe’s not going to name drop here, but Joe talked to a wide assortment of attendees, especially the nice woman doling out endless high-end sushi.
During a chat one astute film guy currently working in the NFL, a guy who has put his time in on Bucs tape, the subject turned to Tampa Bay left tackle Donovan Smith. The scouting report delivered to Joe was rather simple: good talent, great potential, doesn’t play through the whistle.
Joe’s source here wasn’t bashing Smith, in fact, he’s pulling for him and said he gave this assessment to Smith personally. But the source said he hasn’t seen that corrected by Smith enough.
After that encounter, Joe targeted a working NFL general manager not named Jason Licht to talk to about Smith. The GM said Smith shows some of that lack of finishing on plays but it’s no surprise. Smith was the same kind of player at Penn State, per the GM, high ceiling and great talent without the consistent motor to match. The GM also said the majority of NFL teams would be happy to have Smith as their starter.
Entering his contract year in 2018, it appears Smith has an easy avenue to upgrade his game. Play a little harder.
Regardless, Smith, still just 24 years old, is awaiting a massive payday in 2019, one that could get even bigger if Smith brings it a little more consistently.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:03 am
I believe Licht should have extended Donovan BEFORE Solder broke the bank, and extended Marpet BEFORE he signed Ryan Jensen so that Marpet could have been extended on a center pay scale rather than a guard pay-scale.
Jason Licht has been great this offseason but those are two moves I wish he could have made.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:13 am
McCoy’s fault?
March 27th, 2018 at 12:17 am
Cancer93 doesnt play to the whistle either
March 27th, 2018 at 12:19 am
Why would he extend them before they proved themselves (especially Smith) and he’s still upgrading the holes on the roster he created.
I don’t see that as a logical argument…
With OL and other positions, why would he extend them early in case he decides to move on???
Help me understand that statement NFLNUT.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:21 am
The cap is commensurate with the revenue stream, teams will always have options to make room for players they want to keep. So in my opinion, it looks like Licht is waiting to see Smith prove his ceiling and Marley establish his reputation back at G.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:22 am
Nflnut
I believe Licht should have extended Donovan BEFORE Solder broke the bank, and extended Marpet BEFORE he signed Ryan Jensen so that Marpet could have been extended on a center pay scale rather than a guard pay-scale.
So u gonna burn Marpet? That’s sounds like ripping him off right there
March 27th, 2018 at 12:31 am
Yo joe
Tell Donald Penn we said wassup and that we miss him except for the Buc experts and “real fans” who said he was a lazy washed-up fatty.
Present company excluded, of course.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2014/03/donald-penn-reacts-with-a-picture/
March 27th, 2018 at 12:35 am
Draft another Dog like Quenton Nelson and Donovan will step his game up.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:39 am
I like DSmith I think he’s great in the run game but his pass protection lacks the same aggression. Hoping he gets stronger, faster and just matures. Most of theses guys that licht drafted came out early, they young af.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:43 am
If you question the need for Quentin Nelson above Barkley or others simply take a look at the Saints highlights on the previous article and that should answer all your questions. The last thing you need is an injured qb or rb.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:53 am
And DB lol I was checking out some older articles from that link you posted and stumbled upon this nugget…
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2014/03/king-i-wouldnt-go-johnny-at-no-7/
March 27th, 2018 at 12:56 am
Donald penn was my favorite player on the bucs during gis time here. At the same time, donavan smith and marpet are 2 of the 3 top olineman from their draft. How can anyone be mad at licht?
March 27th, 2018 at 1:28 am
Donavan Smith is upgradable. I’m worried he isn’t improving enough. “Locked on NFL Podcast” RIPPED Donavan Smith and said his position was the biggest need in this draft to protect JW. I can say I need a little more refined play from Smith.
March 27th, 2018 at 1:38 am
I have been calling for Nelson at #7 if available. Would be nice to have him red shirt a year. Which is exactly what would happen. Sure, he would see the field but they are gonna get their momey out of Sweezy. Ala The Moly Hamsters.
So, as much as it pains me to say this. IF no trade down is available. (#1 choice at this point) even if Nelson is available. I think Im gonna have to go with the safety from FSU… To me it makes the most sense for a team with its back against the wall and in a win now mode for the organization.
The process says take Nelson. The situation says you need a playmaker in your secondary :-/ Im sad now…
March 27th, 2018 at 1:40 am
Point was, Smith needs to step it up. We will be counting on him BIG TIME!!!!
March 27th, 2018 at 2:01 am
DB55,
If you haven’t watched “khalil Mack destroys Jameis Winston” (YouTube)
It’s worth the look. The name apparently has been changed to protect the victim
as kMack does Mr Smith dirty over and over again. I had to check that the play I was watching wasn’t looped.
If the Bucs plan is to extend him an offer, they have one massive wmd to play.
Shown that video, and it is not a question of the pay increase, but rather should any offer be on the table. I may be underestimating the tape because it was so bad I started to look away from the screen .
The only thing that is comparable is the romance scene from shawshank redemption. Timothy Robbins , by comparison, was treated much more gently.
March 27th, 2018 at 2:04 am
Like I’ve said before – just watch’em.
He’s more concerned with pulling down his jersey, then finishing off a block.
I’ve never in my life seen anyone fidget with their jersey – more than DSmith.
My wife always says “look at his prissy a$$”. lol
March 27th, 2018 at 3:07 am
DUKE,
Your last comment had me laughing like crazy; good stuff!
March 27th, 2018 at 4:09 am
How is it that this article is about Donovan Smith but our all pro defensive tackle gets bashed in the comments???
#noloveforgmc
March 27th, 2018 at 4:59 am
NFL,
Thank you Sir.
March 27th, 2018 at 5:12 am
Donovan Smith is a bust and he’s going to get 3 killed. That’s all that needs to be said.
March 27th, 2018 at 5:14 am
I have always questioned Donovan’s effort. He has the physical traits to be a good to above average left tackle, but doesn’t seem to want to go that extra mile. Every training camp coaches talk about Donovan’s potential but he never seems to get there.
March 27th, 2018 at 5:53 am
If he suddenly turns the corner in a contract year….is that good or is he working the system like Martin and Baker? You have to look at the body of work and he’s had the same knock on him dating back to his college days….He’s lacks the desire and big sums of cash tend to make fellas less hungry.
March 27th, 2018 at 6:03 am
The Bucs should be prepared to just draft a L.T. with their first pick next year if Smith doesn’t vastly improve.
March 27th, 2018 at 6:22 am
I am quite surprised that no one has brought up Winston’s influence/lack of influence on Smith…..surely Jameis notices if Smith is not playing to his potential and has done everything he can to assure that he does.
March 27th, 2018 at 6:58 am
Big Donnie will get paid, teams really attacked the left side of our line n rotating the gaurd did not help. Hope we dont hate him out of our team.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:14 am
The two things you can’t teach are toughness and work ethic. It’s been missing from our team until the last few years. It does seem the organization has tried to address that very need with the recent drafts and free agency.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:49 am
It seems like playing through the whistle is a finite point that can be corrected with proper coaching does it not?
March 27th, 2018 at 7:57 am
Yeah, I agree with that assessment. I have noticed at times that he gives up on plays too early but it probably happens more often than I notice.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:48 am
Wis we had drafted Tunsil in 2016 instead of Hargeaves and moved D. Smith to RT.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda Jason
March 27th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Great take Bobby M
March 27th, 2018 at 8:49 am
Wish (need an edit button Joe!)
March 27th, 2018 at 10:08 am
I hope we retain both Marpet and Smith with long contracts next year. I still don’t get why there is so much hate on GMC. He’s one of the top D linemen without ever having any real help. He’s not Sapp u don’t have to be a ruthless asshole to be great. With that said I would like us to get a ruthless asshole to line up next to GMC lol
March 27th, 2018 at 10:19 am
“extended Marpet BEFORE he signed Ryan Jensen so that Marpet could have been extended on a center pay scale rather than a guard pay-scale.”
NFL- you really think we should rip off our players like that? Ali is a good dude and deserves to get paid what he is worth.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:34 am
Lamarcus Says:
“So u gonna burn Marpet? That’s sounds like ripping him off right there”
No. That’s sound business sense.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:44 am
Neal Says
“NFL- you really think we should rip off our players like that? Ali is a good dude and deserves to get paid what he is worth.”
Let me ask you something…if you owned a business and could pay someone less per hour for doing the same job others would do for more per hour, would it be wrong to save money?
It is not up to Licht to make these players wealthier. It is his job to keep the cap low, and such a move would have helped accomplish that.
There is no ‘rip off’ involved.
Marpet’s agent is responsible for getting the biggest contract possible, not Licht.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Rodney Says
“I still don’t get why there is so much hate on GMC.”
There actually isn’t as much as you think. Some people create multiple usernames to make it seem like there are more against GMC than there actually is.
There may be, tops, five people that hate GMC. Count them among the ignorant trolls. At least two are fans of other teams.
The problem is that they are on the website almost constantly, and so they make a lot of comments.
It is one of those cases where the ability to ignore certain posters would be extremely useful.
March 27th, 2018 at 11:25 am
“the ability to ignore certain posters would be extremely useful.”
AMEN! Make it so Joe. The “vibe” of your comments would improve immensely when 95% of posters are not even able to see posts by the Debby Downer Department because most would chose to “ignore” any and all comments of a select but (unfortunately) prolific few “fans”.
March 27th, 2018 at 11:37 am
He needs a position change and I been saying this since the start of free agency. We really need a LT at #7 not a guard like what’s been publicized here, but Joe is good with me as always the guys is just throwing two cents at what everyone else says about this team nationally. Much appreciated too from this Buc fan.
I remember the low drive he had coming out of college and I also believe that factor was responsible for Licht pulling the trigger for Marpet later in that round. If there were a LT projected to go that high I would be in the trade up crowd for Tampa. I think they are going to trade back into the first round to address a Tackle too so get ready Buc fans because they are gonna give up on day two of the draft without addressing running back. The first two picks are going on secondary and offensive line trust me only way it can be with the current roster setup which is right as scheduled at this point for Winston. If they wait till the fourth I think there will still be a bunch of running backs left and maybe even that kid from Auburn is available but they will still have some flexibility in round 4 to draft a running back.
Who they is anyone’s guess depending on whose on the board at the time but my early favorite is the Brown from Oklahoma or maybe McGlinchey if he’s still on the board. There’s going to be a lot of QBs and defensive guys going in the first round this year. After the top15 there’s going to be a lot of defensive players being drafted such as Edmunds, Landry, Davenport, Hurst, Bryan, Ward and Fitzpatrick and so on. The chances of getting one of those Tackle either Brown or Mcglinchey late in the 1 look good to.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Lol Blake those Johnny football articles have really aged nicely, haven’t they?
Good thing the Glazers enacted such a travesty on us by drafting Mike Evans instead.
March 27th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Ok so Smith gave up on a few plays way to early. But Our Defense just..gave up entirely last season!!
March 27th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Thank you Duke for emphasizing how bad D. Smith is in pass blocking. I said when he was picked that he is a good run blocker and would make a great Guard but is not a good LT. Since then I have been calling him Turnstyle Smith and noting his holding penalties on those he could not block that resulted in stalling our drives. But Koetter kept a bad OL Coach, Warhop, because he knew him, and doesn’t want to correct the LT problem and keeps saying, erroneously, that D. Smith is an above average LT, so Licht won’t correct the problem either like an ostrich with his head in the sand. He needs to trade down and take one of the top LTs at 12 and then D. Smith would star at LG. Take Penny next, move Tandy to CB, use a second round pick for a Strongside Safety who is both a punishing tackler and a playmaker (which James is not with only two paltry interceptions this season and is a durability risk having played only two games in 2016). In the fourth take Miami’s DE! Then our trenches and RB problem plus our secondary are all solved!