“I Love Him To Death. I’d Run Through A Wall For Him”
February 7th, 2019
Bucs ties
Let’s just say, for example, that new head coach Bucco Bruce Arians watches film of Donovan Smith loafing in various games last year and thinks that’s a serious problem.
Perhaps even a big enough problem to look for a cheaper, veteran alternative to Smith so he can let the Bucs’ left tackle walk in free agency.
If so, where might the Bucs turn to replace Smith?
Keep an eye on the New York Jets. New head coach Adam Gase will be cleaning house, and there’s chatter in the Big Apple that one guy possibly on the outs is Jets starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum.
The 29-year-old hasn’t missed a game through the last two years and he has one year remaining on his contract at $8 million per season. There are mixed reviews on Beachum, except for his service off the field. He was the Jets’ 2018 nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Noteworthy about Beachum is his connection to new Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, head coach of the Jets the past four seasons.
In October, Beachum dropped one of many quotes over the past two years professing his love of Bowles. He was comparing him on CBS Sports Radio to his first coach, Mike Tomlin.
“Just the obvious: the demeanor,” Beachum said. “Coach Tomlin is a very great orator. He could be a motivational speaker in the likes of Tony Robbins and Les Brown. Todd Bowles isn’t one of those. He’s very short and sweet. I just think from a differences standpoint, just their ability and how they communicate publicly to people. But both of them at the same time are tremendous defensive minds. Both of them are defensive-minded. Both of them can put together phenomenal schemes and really get after offenses.
“So I have much appreciation for both of them,” Beachum continued. “I’m honored to play for two African-American head coaches, so I’m blessed in that regard. But I have a lot of respect for my current head coach [Todd Bowles]. I love him to death. I’d run through a wall for him.”
It’s possible Bowles will share his knowledge of Beachum with Arians and Jason Licht and make a positive recommendation.
Maybe the Bucs would prefer to pounce on Beachum if he’s cut loose, or trade a seventh-round pick for him, rather than drop massive cash on Smith?
If the powers at One Buc Palace evaluate Smith and Beachum in the same ballpark, Joe wouldn’t be stunned if the Bucs opt for Beachum as the half-price option to Smith and then look for a tackle in the draft. Hopefully, the Bucs’ left tackle decision — however it plays out — will be about film and good business, not ego.
February 7th, 2019 at 9:04 am
This could be our best way to get players to come to Tampa , a losing franchise. Cause normally we have to overpay.
Players will go somewhere for a coach that has impacted their lives.
Let’s get the guys in here that want to ball. That want to play hard every single snap.
Bowles and BA a good start for players to follow. And fit in their scheme . Time to cut dead weight which could free up close to 20-30 mil
February 7th, 2019 at 9:05 am
good stuff….
we could use him on either side LT or RT….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 7th, 2019 at 9:09 am
Im sure the market for D Smith begins and ends in Tampa, this is not dudnerbox licht letting d penn walk out the door for some reason
February 7th, 2019 at 9:16 am
New left tackle Beachum. Sounds good to me. Bye bye Smith. Good riddence. Hate players who under perform for whatever reason.
February 7th, 2019 at 9:25 am
If we’re going older, why not drop smith and crabman-winston
February 7th, 2019 at 9:32 am
You forgot to mention the Beachum isn’t very good. Beachum isn’t as good as Smith. Are ya’ll still excited to sign him?
February 7th, 2019 at 9:33 am
Duthsty Rhothdes
Hopefully Licht has learned his lesson. Penn had fire in his eyes and Smith is a hot fudge sunday.
February 7th, 2019 at 9:37 am
Beachum is literally the smallest olineman in at 6’3″ 303 lbs. I’m looking for a tall monster resembling Donald Penn.
February 7th, 2019 at 9:42 am
Take that back. Penn is only 6’4″ 315 lbs. Always seemed like the cameras were pointed real high in his interviews.
February 7th, 2019 at 9:44 am
Smith will be better under Arians
February 7th, 2019 at 10:37 am
Oh no Tampa Bay, he mentioned how he enjoys playing for African Americans. Time to sharpen your pitchforks!
February 7th, 2019 at 10:37 am
Hi Joe,
This is a very interesting option and one that I’m now pulling for, thank you for sharing this idea. Let’s not forget the compensatory pick that would come along with letting Smith walk as well, so if we did trade a late round pick we would get back a lot more next year. Or here’s an idea… Djax for Beachum and a 7th. And then we won’t feel as much pressure to take a tackle at 5 and could afford to take the best available at the top of the draft.
Thank you,
Mike
February 7th, 2019 at 10:51 am
meh, he could say he loves working with african american coaches or that he hates working with caucasian coaches.
only whitey is racist.
February 7th, 2019 at 11:03 am
lol so lets let donovan smith walk who weve spent four years grooming and replace him with someone worse? buc fan logic to a T. i dont understand why ppl want to cut donovan no slack who has been coached by warhop his whole career who we all agree was trash but winston gets the benefit of the doubt. and im a windton fan. same weirdod that want donovan smith out are the same ppl that were celebrating when donald penn left because he wss so called “fat and lazy” how did that workout again?
February 7th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Knucknbuc — totally agree.. Why are we so confident BA will magically fix Winston with his great coaching but can’t possibly fix our still young LT??? Our logic here is very interesting indeed. I would rather us tag or sign Smith and develop him with the new coaching staff. If BA can fix Winston why can’t he fix our other underperforming players as well?
February 7th, 2019 at 11:26 am
@doolnuts i know right just doesnt make any sense hes a 4 year starter never missed a game. is he orlando pace nope!!! but is he a bottom lt helll no!!!. i just dont get it you have a guy that youve groomed that most can agree whose position coach was a bum but now you want to cut him because what he may make 15-16 mill? who else do we have to pay thats shown anything? kwon(injured) vh3(injured) winston (is he the guy)? hump(ok solid) nassib(1year) what do you think his replacement will be cheap or some rookie? you got a guy who is looking at worst to be a solid top 15 -20 lt at worst!!!! nope lets cut him let him go. durrrr durr.
February 7th, 2019 at 11:39 am
Don’t put a lot of stock if PFF, but for those that do they ranked Smith #46 and Beachum #48, and somehow they were both rated as “above average” on their scale. People use Penn as an example, but funny what a kick to the curb can do to a guy’s motivation. Everyone assumes he would’ve performed the same in Tampa as OAK if he stayed, but not sure that’s the case. Smith may become an All-Pro somewhere else, or he might melt.
February 7th, 2019 at 11:58 am
I prefer to keep Smith, who is younger, healthier and plays better…even if it is only marginally better.
But it’s not about what I want. Or what any ‘fans’ want. This year it is all about what Arians wants. The man has ultimate power. Licht has been neutered.
So we have to hope he makes good decisions and that all the hype is true.
#Don’tTellMe-ShowMe
#RefuseToLose
February 7th, 2019 at 12:00 pm
FlBoy84, Penn was fantastic here. He was cut for cap reasons.
February 7th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
That is a great ideal. A change of scenery for Beachum. But unless he really wants to come here, then expect D.Smith contract numbers to sign as well. If D.Smith’s market value is high then expect Beachum’s to be around the same. Do you really think because of Coach Bowles presence that Beachum would sign a team friendly contract? I don’t. The only avenue is to trade Smith for Beachum and work out a contract before he hits the open market and it becomes a bidding war. If I were Licht and Arians I would ask Smith to move to RT and pay him RT pay. If he refuses, trade him or let him go. At this point, I have more faith in a new rookie LT than I do Smith’s lazy @ss, without over paying him. He wants to make the big LT $money but his mediocre play has RT all over it. I think Cappa would probably be a better LT.
February 7th, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Fantastic might be a bit overstated imo. Penn was solid here, but he had a similar rep as Smith for taking plays off. Being that he had weight clauses in his contract and was consistently fined for being overweight, per reports, didn’t endear him to the FO or coaching staff I’m sure either. Hard to argue though that his release didn’t refocus him. People tend to forget that players are just like us, it’s easy to get slack and complacent at a job sometimes if your personality allows it.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:01 pm
In my opinion it’s not about who is younger or that some “experts” on here think D Smith is more talented regardless of the facts not supporting that claim. What it is about is that beachum will give you 100% and D Smith’s commitment to football has always been questioned. I’m not at all a D Smith fan. I think he is average or maybe slightly above average but the guy hardly ever plays to the whistle and is caught loafing even by the casual fan. F that. BA is going to require all hands be on deck and accountablility. Smith just doesn’t seem to fit the mold. I say get rid of that guy and bring in a comparable talent such as Beachum for half the price. Even better would be to pick up Beachum. Slide him to RT and draft our next LT. Perhaps Jonah Williams. I’m super high on that guy
February 7th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
Great idea with the Jets LT.
Jets fans are very dissapointed with their Oline. Their OL is seen as their biggest need this year. With their Top 3 pick the consensus opinion is to get a top Passrusher instead of OL.because the OL class is weak this year.
Because of this and because they are rebuilding they are probably the most likely team to trade their pick to a QB needy team.
February 7th, 2019 at 6:34 pm
DSmith is lazy, doesn’t play to the whistle, routinely gets beat in pass pro, very inconsistent run blocker
Any of our backup tackles would probably grade very similar if we let them have the snaps
Not saying Beachum is the answer, but DSmith is DEFINITELY NOT!!!!!
February 7th, 2019 at 11:01 pm
@BB
We cut Penn for 6.75 million and then when out and handed Anthony Collins a 6Mil per year deal. Pretty much sums up Lovies talent evaluation skills.
February 8th, 2019 at 7:29 am
I wonder if anyone has ever run through a wall for someone. Whered that ole saying originate? I’d love to see it happen at least once in my life since Ive heard a thousand people say theyd do it.
February 8th, 2019 at 11:33 am
Get Beachum and offer a one year prove it deal to move Smith to Guard and trade him if he refuses to the highest bidder of the three teams who want him for a draft pick this year. Also trade Jackson for a draft pick and we will be able to fill most of our holes in the draft using BAs judgment in Licht’s ear.
February 8th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Doing that we could move down in the draft and take Chester first, giving us a replacement for GMC if he moves on and refuses a reduced salary. With the 2d first pick take the best LT.