A Left Tackle?
April 11th, 2018
Guest at One Buc Palace.
This is very odd to Joe and on face value it smells like an Al Davis move.
Per Jordan Schultz of Yahoo! Sports, the Bucs are bringing in one of the top left tackles in the draft, Notre Dame All-American Mike McGlinchey for one of the team’s 30 allotted team facility visits.
This just seems odd as hell. Joe knows how much the Bucs like Donovan Smith, despite the constant public outcries that he is a stiff or should be relocated on the offensive line from those who believe the feces of offensive line grades manufactured by the PFF tribe is somehow Gospel.
(If folks only knew how much NFL types howl — both in rage and in laughter — over the PFF tribe’s offensive line grades, they would start looking at this junk science with the proper jaundiced eye.)
As recently as the NFL owners meetings in Orlando last month, the Bucs talked about how Caleb Benenoch is being groomed to start some day. Joe is guessing that will be when right tackle Demar Dotson retires.
Obviously, left tackle is out of the question so this McGlinchey would be drafted at No. 7 as a right tackle? That’s incredibly high for a right tackle.
Joe senses the Bucs are bringing in McGlinchey to either collect more intel on his teammate, guard Quenton Nelson, or on North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb, who McGlinchey tangled with this past season.
Joe remembers at the combine when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said he gets some of his best intel about players while interviewing their opponents.
That’s an Al Davis move.
April 11th, 2018 at 12:17 am
They’re talking to him because…..value.
They’re talking to him because the only way for them to truly evaluate this QB before throwing $100+ million contract at him they have to give him a clean pocket.
I don’t care what any coach says about any player, they will replace you with somebody better if given the option.
Donovan Smith is most certainly not above being moved to either right tackle or left guard, no matter how hard he might want to cry about it.
April 11th, 2018 at 12:21 am
or they need to vet some players to assess how willing they would be to trade down out of the top 10. and isn’t it possible and even desirable to draft a tackle who is good enough to push donovan to the right side of the line? such a player would set the team up with bookend tackles for most of Jameis’ career. if the idea of marpet and quenton nelson flattening the interior for RBs is a fantasy worth getting hot over, wouldn’t it also be nice to dream about Jameis setting up frequent downfield “80/20” throws to mike evans down the field he loves without the dramatic dodging and ducking of pass rushers?
April 11th, 2018 at 12:23 am
On the contrary.
Joe’s written this too many times to count but people seem to want to ignore it.
Donovan Smith told Joe to his face he simply cannot physically play right anything. And he’s not a guard.
Another item folks want to ignore: Smith in three seasons has missed a grand total of one half of football. NFL teams are simply not looking to replace a competent starter who doesn’t miss games.
And, yes, the Bucs *always* bring this fact up when talking about Donovan Smith.
April 11th, 2018 at 12:24 am
*not at 7 with the talent available in this draft, just making the case for a tackle who is better than Smith at some point even if he is a good enough young LT
April 11th, 2018 at 12:52 am
Says Joe:
“NFL teams are simply not looking to replace a competent starter who doesn’t miss games.”
A fella named Donald Penn ring a bell? Oh, maybe he missed a ton of games, or wasn’t better than Donovan Smith? Wait… no. Hmmm, who was the GM who cut him, it couldn’t have been the current GM. Oh, wait, no. It was.
Between Ronde Barber suggesting that college game tape is irrelevant when evaluating prospects, and now you saying that teams (i.e. the Bucs) aren’t gonna replace a quality starter who hasn’t missed games, well that’s just a lot of questionable takes to be airing on this here site.
April 11th, 2018 at 12:57 am
We could trade down with Buffalo, sweeten the deal with Smith, and snatch up both their 1s and a 2, or at least try.
April 11th, 2018 at 1:13 am
D. Smith is average at best.
He’d be a beast at interior guard or RT, despite what he thinks.
Still – I’d prefer Nelson at G and D. Smith at LT.
Grab a Nelson in round 1
Then a young DE in round 2
Finish the trench warfare overhaul
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
April 11th, 2018 at 1:22 am
Donovan Smith, with all due respect, is not a stellar LT no matter how much the team or anyone wants to claim. He may be ironman, but not finishing your block and getting your franchise QB hit is not going to cut it. He doesn’t finish according to some analysts and I agree with that assessment. He needs to clean that up.
I don’t care about PFF, I just look at what happens to our QB. With the sensors now put in jerseys, I would love to see the movement of the DL on QB hits to see which side the most hits come from. It would be eye opening.
April 11th, 2018 at 1:32 am
I agree it’s an Al Davis intel move. Having said that it wouldnt shock me if they traded back and took him. If they thought he was an upgrade over smith, the 2nd most important position on the offense, he’d play left tackle. If not then right. Not at 7 tho, I hope. The draft is one unpredictable event tho. Nothing would shock me. That’s one reason we love it so much
April 11th, 2018 at 1:34 am
Does D. Smith have trade value? Can he be used in a trade, along with Sweezy, to move up to say, the 2nd round. Just a thought. If the Bucs did that we might be taking a few Offensive linemen. If not lets stick to the the plan Licht has.
April 11th, 2018 at 1:39 am
So the Bucs should duplicate a moronic move by Lovie?
Remember what Bill Parcells said, “Your best ability is availability.”
Let’s not confuse Lovie with Bill Parcells.
April 11th, 2018 at 2:07 am
Most every draft scout has this kid as a RT, where he played 2 years ago. RT don’t go super high usually. Endo of the first tf type of pick, maybe they would trade up? Can’t pay everyone on the Line huge $. Having 1 or 2 guys on rookie deals let’s them pay Marpet, And if the so choose, Smith.
April 11th, 2018 at 3:05 am
He played right tackle up till his senior year. Best OT in draft most say, but like every year, premium tackles are, well, at a premium. Bringing him in makes it look like the odds of a tradedown have gone up. I’ve seen him mocked in the mid-twenties, but in a Peter King article this week, someone King interviewed thought he would move up into the top ten. It makes sense to bring anyone who is that hard to judge in.
With Allen seemingly falling off a little from the other QBs, a tradedown is looking more likely. And a lot of tradedown scenarios put us in McGlinchy’s range. If he’s the best tackle in the draft, and we trade down with Miami, Washington, Buffalo, Arizona, San Diego, he can compete with Dotson and Smith, with the loser possibly moving inside. I’m with the build from the trenches crowd.
Bring either this guy or Nelson in and I predict Jameis starts his march toward the hall of fame with a Manningesque run over the next 10 years Of course, last year I predicted we’d go 12-4 right here on JBF.
April 11th, 2018 at 4:59 am
Competition is a key part of this game…if the Bucs bring in a left tackle and he becomes the day one starter after going thru camp, it’s his job. And if DS wants to play he’ll get in where he fit in or be used in a trade !!
April 11th, 2018 at 5:07 am
A lot of “experts” are projecting him as a RT. And I dont think they are bringing him in for intel on other players or because they are interested in him at #7.
He could be a target at #38 tho.
April 11th, 2018 at 5:13 am
Smith stinks and should not be a LT in the NFL
April 11th, 2018 at 5:26 am
Oh yeah buddy what about the kicker they brought in !
April 11th, 2018 at 6:05 am
I’m just glad they’re aware that they need an OT. Whether he’s a RT or LT, it’s still a need, IMO..
April 11th, 2018 at 6:38 am
Everything i’ve heard is he will a hell of a great RT. I love Dotson but Father Time always wins in the end. Drafting him is no threat to Smith unless he is better.
April 11th, 2018 at 6:56 am
This isn’t for #7….Licht is covering all of the “trade-down” scenarios. It could also be to do some intel…..but I think they may be thinking RT.
April 11th, 2018 at 6:58 am
The record proves the current regime never makes any moronic mistakes.
SMH
April 11th, 2018 at 7:09 am
More misplaced ire! Donovan is like the GMC of the o-line! No respect! (said in Rodney Dangerfield voice!)
I don’t know if anyone’s been paying attention but Demar Dotson is like a hundred years old! They need to be looking for his replacement…cough,cough…McGlinchey!
April 11th, 2018 at 7:33 am
Due dilligence anyone? What I would expect from the staff. Go Bucs!
April 11th, 2018 at 7:40 am
Lots of speculation obviously, but I seriously doubt they’re bringing him in as a #7 pick. Lower down if they trade down, sure, but not at #7 … that’s a prime spot right now & Bucs have too many higher needs that could be filled with better players at #7.
Having said that however, Licht DID use a 2nd Rnd pick on a kicker, so who knows what he might do this year. And right now Bucs have no viable backup to Donovan Smith IMO, so McGlinchey could fill that ‘backup’ square even as a RT. And Licht may be posturing for next year’s contracts … no guarantees Bucs can afford to retain Jameis, Ali, Donovan & Kwon (plus new contracts potentially for Hump, a backup QB & several others). Doesn’t hurt to have options.
April 11th, 2018 at 7:59 am
The Bucs obviously need OT help at some point soon because Dotson will be 33 years old this year. Capable Tackles are hard to find. Left Tackles in particular are very hard (and usually very expensive) to acquire. Its considered a “premium” position for a reason.
If a good tackle prospect falls into your lap on draft day – that prospect HAS to be considered.
Licht had the perfect opportunity 2 years ago and absolutely should have drafted Tunsil instead of Hargreaves. That’s water under the bridge at this point – but McGlinchey might represent an opportunity to continue getting better up front if we trade down and he happens to be sitting there available at a spot that Licht considers to be decent “value”.
And regarding – “Donovan Smith told Joe to his face he simply cannot physically play right anything” – of course he’s going to say that – especially when he hasn’t gotten paid yet. LTs make a good 30-40% more $ that RTs do. Big difference between “physically cannot” and ‘doesn’t want to’.
You trying to tell me that if Dotson went down and the back-up swing tackle happened to be much better playing LT than RT – that Smith would be physically incapable of moving over to RT on an emergency basis if the season was on the line and the team needed him to fill that spot?
Sorry – I’m not buying it…
April 11th, 2018 at 8:00 am
I seem to recall the Bucs saying they were very happy with Marpet at center as well.
April 11th, 2018 at 8:03 am
Pick…. I’ll take your post one further. If your left tackle isn’t physically able to play right tackle, he shouldn’t be your left tackle. Left tackles must be one of the most athletically gifted players on the field. If Smith is not athletic enough to make that kind of switch… Then he is a guard.
April 11th, 2018 at 8:14 am
I hope we dont draft another player that we plan to convert to a new position…especially on the o-line. The line needs chemistry…..Winston needs the line to have chemistry….We cant expect chemistry when we keep playing musical chairs on the line.
April 11th, 2018 at 8:42 am
Here is my 2 cents. The Bucs are looking at him in case they trade back in the 1st round. Then McGlinchy fits. It’s not my idea of a great pick even there, but the Bucs might have something else in mind. I’ve liked Smith since I saw him in the Senior Bowl, but I’m still not sold on him.
April 11th, 2018 at 8:47 am
I know Joe keeps saying NFL Coaches pay no attention to PFF, but that is not true.
I have heard Mike Smith reference PFF grades before in his press conferences and I am confident joebucsfan has had someone in attendance.
April 11th, 2018 at 9:01 am
Bucs/Licht sure love upgrading two positions with one move.
McGlinchey to LT, Donovan Smith to LG, Jensen at C, Marpet at RG, Dotson at RT.
That looks like a beastly OL to me
April 11th, 2018 at 11:02 am
@BRADINATOR
@JOLLY
I AGREE…..if we trade down, he might be BPA….and if we select him that would continue the theme this offseason….fix the trenches…..smart move by licht IMO….
@joe…of course he said he’e not a guard…everyone knows LT get paid the big bucks…..even tho he said he’s not a guard, nfl scout disagree…..they projected his best position in the NFL as a guard……
“For being a tall player, he excels with leverage and won’t let his pad height get too big or out of control. He’s a knee-bender in pass protection and has the length to become a very good puncher with a little coaching. Smith played tackle at Penn State, but he looks like a right guard in the NFL.”
“An early entrant into the 2015 draft class, Smith never seemed to live up to his early hype. He isn’t fluid or smooth in space and will likely need to move inside to guard in the NFL. His instincts and timing as a blocker are average at the college level. You won’t see Smith redirect well in pass protection due to limited agility, and he has to learn to use his length and hands better at initial contact.”
if we trade back and select him, whats wrong with that?…..he could begin his career at RT and if benenoch is ready, move him to the left side, kick d.smith inside….then we would have a lot of quality depth…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 11th, 2018 at 11:23 am
He’s a right tackle.
April 11th, 2018 at 11:26 am
McGlinchey plays both sides, and he has more experience on the right side.
April 11th, 2018 at 11:27 am
He’s also on my wishlist, so I have researched him thoroughly.
April 11th, 2018 at 11:56 am
In a trade down scenario, if this dude is the best player on the board, it’d be good to have some background. This is just doing their homework. Maybe they think he’d make a good OG as well. Or maybe they’re looking to replace Dotson. You can’t have too many good O linemen. This could also be a bluff to get somebody to jump up and take him and push someone else back. This shouldn’t seem “odd as hell” to Joe. There’s all kinds of reasons why this visit might make sense.
April 11th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Believe what you want to believe Joe.
Players play, coaches coach, and GMs build. In a competition with a top notch tackle prospect, Donovan will probably lose the competition.
That comment by him claiming that he can’t play anywhere on the O-line let’s me know exactly how self entitled his attitude is.
April 11th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
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I believe the Browns may trade #4 to the Bills and select McGlinchey at #12 and Derrius Guice at #22 … to me, that pairing, a LT to replace Joe Thomas and a RB like Guice would be better for the Browns than ONLY Saquon Barkley …
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April 11th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
NUT
that would be the browns best move….it would piss me off tho…..I really want giuce!!!!….lol…
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
April 11th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
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^ We’re not getting Guice unless we trade down … we won’t take him at #7 and he won’t be there at #38 imho.
As for MCGLINCHEY … if we trade down and get #12 and #22 I’d prefer Derwin James and Guice (or a CB) … but, it wouldn’t shock me at all if we used a pick on McGlinchey as he would be a GREAT replacement for Dotson either now or next year … and Bennenoch could replace Sweezy as I believe Bennenoch is a guard playing out of position at tackle.
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April 11th, 2018 at 4:45 pm
NUT
I agree….no way we take him at 7 and I heard a hand full of team in the late 20’s would love to take him so he wont last to the 2nd……
I hope we trade down and derwin and guice with will hernandez in round 2…..I haven’t been impressed with benenoch none what so ever…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!