X-Factor Game For Ryan Smith
August 29th, 2019
Last call?
Remember three months ago when Bucco Bruce Arians said the Buccaneers secondary was “totally fixed” from last year’s mess?
Joe sure does. In that “fixing” Arians included cornerback-to-safety-to-kick-returner-to-cornerback Ryan Smith.
“Yeah, probably secondary, we’re really, really good,” Arians said with extra energy in his voice. “With Carlton [Davis] and Vernon [Hargreaves], we knew we had two solid corners. Now we got five solid corners. Ryan [Smith] came along. So yeah, earmarked as a problem set back in January, it’s totally fixed. Just knock on wood they stay healthy.”
Well, Smith, who has the most NFL games played at cornerback on the Bucs roster, went on to get popped for having performance enhancing drugs in his system. He’s suspended for the first four games of 2019, which puts his Bucs future in jeopardy.
However, Smith played solid football this summer, as in he’s looked like a true No. 4 cornerback, and he’s a strong special teams player. He’s likely the best Bucs corner on special teams, which holds an especially high priority for Arians.
Smith certainly will play tonight against Dallas in preseason Game 4. Joe believes this is a critical game for Smith. If he shines (like he should), then the Bucs likely will keep him, also knowing he’ll be gobbled up if he gets cut. If Smith can’t stand out against the future insurance peddlers, architects, pest control technicians and pharmaceutical sales reps, then Joe expects him to land on the street by tomorrow night.
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Presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating, TAMPA TWO is humming today with Bucs legend Derrick Brooks diving into your favorite football team. “The Sage,” Ira Kaufman, joins him as always. Enjoy this production from JoeBucsFan.com and The Identity Tampa Bay.
August 29th, 2019 at 3:44 pm
no need to cut him until week 5. Until then he will be on the reserved/suspended list and not count against the 53.
August 29th, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Wow…Joe upgrades by adding architects & pharmaceutical sales reps to the mattress movers…..
Ryan Smith is fortunate to have the suspension or possibly wouldn’t make this team.
A corner is usually injured so he would be a good replacement down the road.
August 29th, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Which Buc low-teamer is the architect?
August 29th, 2019 at 4:05 pm
No way they cut Smith. No decisions until week 5.
August 29th, 2019 at 4:16 pm
He could have trade value if someone gets hurts in the begging of the season and wants to trade a lineman for a good cb
August 29th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
My vote is to keep him until we have to make a decision.
What are the odds VHIII gets hurt for the season and ends up on IR.
August 29th, 2019 at 4:28 pm
He def won’t be cut until his suspension is over. But I don’t see him back, the young DBs will outplay him and make him redundant.
August 29th, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Tampabay, I thought the same thing. To be an actual architect in this state you have to have a master’s degree. Just a little bit different than driving a UPS truck or selling insurance.
August 29th, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Pharmaceutical sales reps? A la former Buc phenom QB Jeff Carlson? Joe is becoming more charitable every day. 🙂
August 29th, 2019 at 6:21 pm
and Vernon [Hargreaves], we knew we had two solid corners.
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Dude is so full of chit that I’m gonna start calling him Bruce Arian Trump.
August 29th, 2019 at 6:29 pm
Smith is the worst corner I’ve ever seen in my life – and that was while he was on performance enhancing drugs – just think of how bad he’s going to be once he’s forced to be clean.
Just cut this bum already and clear up that $2m in cap space.
August 29th, 2019 at 6:30 pm
Kenny – Trade value?!? LOL! What the Bucs should do is resign Chris Conte real quick, then they can package Ryan Smith and Conte with a 2nd round pick and try to see if anyone will give them back a 3rd.
August 29th, 2019 at 6:36 pm
All of our DBs look to be improved under Todd Bowles. They should be able to build some confidence throughout the first few games as we don’t square off against too many problems at WR. Smith’s suspension actually comes at a pretty good timing because of this.
A big Achilles heel for this defense has been covering TEs. That will be something to look for starting next week when we face Kittles then Greg Olsen. Giants after that and I think they hot a good TE too.
August 29th, 2019 at 6:41 pm
How can we judge how “this defense” covers TE’s?
This defense by Todd Bowles has not played a regular season game yet, but last years defense sure did have a problem covering TE’s.
August 29th, 2019 at 6:58 pm
TexBuc…….I stand corrected. Last year’s defense is what I meant & I expect this defense to do a much better job defending TEs.
And actually it might be more accurate to say that the Tampa2 defense had issues stopping TEs. Seem to remember Lovies defense getting shredded by TEs also.
This might be a key part why they say the Tampa2 is an outdated defense. The quality of pass catching TEs is much better in today’s NFL then it was back when Dungy created that defense.
August 29th, 2019 at 7:38 pm
What could hurt Ryan Smith’s chances of being reinstated week 5 is they have no-one they are willing to cut for him. But looking back at our history of the injury bug, he’ll probably be welcomed back with open arms through subtraction.
August 29th, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Let’s go Mazzi, show something.