Donovan Smith Example
February 18th, 2019
Chiefs LT Eric Fisher set pattern for Bucs LT Donovan Smith?
The way a veteran NFL scribe sees it, if you want to see what Bucs free agent and left tackle Donovan Smith could be, look west to Kansas City.
There at left tackle is Eric Fisher, who was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2018, his fifth year in the NFL. Fisher, by many accounts, was thought to be a bust he was so bad in his first few seasons. But gradually Fisher came around and now he protects the backside of NFL superstar Pat Mahomes.
When Joe was talking to “The Professor,” John Clayton of SiriusXM NFL Radio during Super Bowl Week in Atlanta, Fisher’s name came up in conversation when Joe asked about the Bucs and Smith.
JoeBucsFan.com: The Bucs might be in a pickle with Donovan Smith. He’s never missed a start. At times, inconsistent. The NFL is in an offensive line crisis. Bruce Arians is on record saying if you take a guy in the draft and need three years to develop him, you are developing him for the next coach. Clearly, Arians is not here for the long haul. Does that work in Smith’s favor?
John Clayton: Here is the comparable: The 2013 draft (for offensive linemen) was horrible. Remember, Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher were taken at the top of the draft. Fisher is now a Pro Bowl guy and it took him like four years (to develop). So maybe you can look at Donovan Smith at being somebody like that. Sometimes it takes a little bit longer. You know how it goes in practice, it takes three years of practice that you would otherwise have in one year of practice before 2011. That’s why Bill Belichick trades for guys in their third- and fourth-years of their rookie contracts. … It may be just one of those things on delay [for Smith]. I think the talent is there. It hasn’t necessarily blossomed. Fisher in Kansas City might be the comparable.
Joe had never thought of the two examples Clayton cited: three years of practices in the modern NFL equals one year of practice in the old days before the current collective bargaining agreement with reduced hitting and less practice time. That’s pretty significant.
And Joe didn’t think of the Belicheat angle. That adds up as well.
So it could be that Smith is a bit of a late bloomer, not that he is an awful player now. Either way, Joe doesn’t think Arians has the luxury of drafting a left tackle and hoping the guy is as good as Smith.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:15 am
Hmmmmmmm ….
February 18th, 2019 at 11:16 am
Can only hope Smith will develop.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:26 am
Eric Fisher’s effort was never a question mark, that’s the un-comparable part Joe.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:28 am
IMO….it is not development in DS’s case….he knows and can do everything required in every situation….it all comes down to him deciding to make the effort on every play until the play is over…regardless whether it is happening anywhere near him…
February 18th, 2019 at 11:33 am
MarkV
Agree. The lack of effort shouldnt be tolerated by anyone. I know Bruce wont. Too bad Dirk did. Hope he improves but not holding my breath
February 18th, 2019 at 11:36 am
If a rookie comes in and plays at or near the same level as Smith is now, what have we really lost, besides having to pay Smith some unwarranted amount of money to keep him. If he were playing at a pro bowl level it would be different, but he’s not.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:40 am
We have to at least franchise Smith this year. Build some continuity on the left side of the line. We can’t lose him and still have to fill our RG & RT.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:41 am
Last year was a contract year so I find it hard to believe his best football is yet to come. If money doesn’t motivate you then I’m not sure what will.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:45 am
Having coached offensive line (Granted at a lower level, but concepts are the same). Smith is a good one with the right coaching he will be fine. Effort will come sometimes if the player doesn’t feel the confidence in the coach he isn’t going to give his best efforts. I have seen it and experienced it as well. From what Joe is reporting the previous coaching staff didn’t fully have the players confidence. They say the right things but it just showed in effort. That is a problem I don’t think this new coaching staff will have. Culture seems to have already started to change.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:46 am
The only reason Marpet has excelled he was being coached by Chip Smith in the off-season. Or else we would be saying the same bust things about him.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:56 am
If Smith stays, which he probably, will you can bet there will be more accountability in the building with Arians and his crew around.
I’m willing to bet there will be some @ss chewing and descriptive call outs during practice, not just Smith either.
I’m looking forward to the open practices to witness this in person lol.
Oh and bring some ear muffs for the kids because I’m sure the first couple weeks aren’t gonna be pretty.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:04 pm
combine the new way teams practice in the offseason along with 2years of dirk’s soft training camps and i can see claytons point…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 18th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Factir that in with the worst coaching staff in the league and maybe, JUST MAYBE its irrisponsible to evaluate a player under the circumstances
February 18th, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Donovan and Jameis are in the same situation. Coming in to a broken franchise and no real system with no good coaches. Look At good players from the past Talib , Bennett ,etc. I would say sign them to 4 yr contract. And built this year on defense. The bucs have a lot of good offense. Find RG and meet Dotson for another year. Playoff this year. We are very close.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:06 pm
Excellent observation by Clayton. Bucs have little choice IMO but to franchise Donovan. IF he’d had a good contract year I’d feel differently, but ‘lack of consistent effort’ has been a criticism of his play since college.
Bucs will pay the equivalent of $13-$15 mil on a LT one way or another (either in FA or in terms of equivalent value if we have to use our #5 pick on a OT). Personally would rather franchise Donovan AND draft a OT in the top 2 rounds (we need a RT anyways). Pick up a seasoned vet who can play G & T in FA and we’d be good to go on our OLine. Grab a seasoned vet RB in FA AND draft a RB somewhere in rounds 3-7 and we SHOULD have a very capable offense in 2019 (new OC & new QB coach, under BA’s guidance, SHOULD be able to get Jameis back on-track). Fix the defense and eureka … Bucs can go from 5-11 to 10-6 like BA, Bowles & Goodwin did in Arizona in 2013.
February 18th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
QB makes or breaks the OL
case in point
February 18th, 2019 at 6:19 pm
I think there was a serious disconnect between Koetter and his staff and Jason Licht. I think the Glazers hired Koetter, thus the reason Licht got a chance to stick around and hire his guy this time.
Saying that, I have such a hard time evaluating the guys that were just brought in in the last 3 or 4 years. There are more pieces in place to multi-scheme than people realize, the last staff just didnt know how to do it right.
February 18th, 2019 at 8:26 pm
Draft Jonah Williams to play LT at #5 and move Smith to RT and get a RG in free agency! Oline fixed!
February 19th, 2019 at 1:49 am
Jonah Williams is no longer the consensus top tackle. He got clowned by Collin Ferrell. And we all know Clemson DEs ALWAYS bust.
February 19th, 2019 at 3:51 am
Bruce likes to display all the loafs and bad plays in front of the team every week. Do you think Donovan has had that type of accountability to this point in his career?
So if you are all saying his problem is effort then maybe there is hope that Bruce/Goodwin will get the most out of Donovan. Maybe after 4 years Warhop’s message became stale and he, along with the whole team will be reignited for this year.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:34 am
@MarkV nailed it! Well done sir.
Effort so often has been a definite question mark for Smith, never the issue with Fisher. Thus the comp…isn’t really a comp.