“What’s Better Than Moving Grown Men?”
September 19th, 2019
The reliable NFL salary trackers will tell you that Donovan Smith is the fifth-highest paid left tackle in the National Football League.
Smith loves his job. He shows up every darn day and game (two of top-4 highest paid left tackles aren’t playing right now), and life is good for the 26-year-old former second-round pick.
Against the Panthers, Joe didn’t hear too many in the loud crowd crying about Smith’s alleged terrible play. And he certainly can’t be fingered as a “the problem” with the Bucs’ low-scoring offense through two games.
Smith is just grinding like he always has been, though a lot of fans don’t think that’s enough to warrant a fat contract.
In this new Buccaneers.com video below, Smith shares his perceptions of how difficult it is to be an NFL player and his love of the trenches, “What’s better than moving grown men?” (Joe can think of a lot of things).
Joe expects a huge game from Smith on Sunday against the Giants. First, he spent many years growing up in New York and no doubt will have a lot of friends and family watching. Second, he’s coming off extended rest. Third, Bucco Bruce Arians is committed to the run game now and O-linemen love that. Fourth, Ali Marpet alongside him has been balling, which bodes well for keeping Smith motivated.
September 19th, 2019 at 2:41 pm
You suck donovan smith … you are now the Gerald McCoy of the Bucs and you suck … you may be a good guy off the field … but as a player you suck
September 19th, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Donovan Smith has to be one of the worse left tackles in today’s game.
September 19th, 2019 at 2:46 pm
I have still seen him beat too many times even if it didn’t result in a sack. Worst rated lineman per PFF so far, behind Jensen / Marpet / Cappa / Dotson in that order from best to worst – for whatever that is worth (nothing lol?)
September 19th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
If Smith played for the NE Patroits he would probably be “all pro” because of Brady’s quick release. For the Bucs…he’s an average LT. Average isn’t terrible…hopefully…he will improve over the year.
September 19th, 2019 at 2:50 pm
Donovan Smith = Human Turnstile
September 19th, 2019 at 2:54 pm
Meng!
DS backed up the BRINKS armored truck to the Glazers vault at 3 am and took their loot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Average Tackle but yet he is being paid like he’s a good player????
September 19th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
You guys are trolls and awful fans. He’s playing at a high level. He might not make the pro bowl but he’s more than solid and he’s always there.
September 19th, 2019 at 3:05 pm
My only complaint with DS his not his grinding…it is his stopping the grinding before the whistle…play to the whistle…chase the play !
September 19th, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Lots of triggered idiots around here.
September 19th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
lots of things better than moving grown men.
September 19th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
DS has played ok….still can get better….
GO BUCS!!!!
September 19th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
I can’t believe they paid that fat, lazy pig all that money for 5 long years.
Gumpster Fire
September 19th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
Im not a hater of Smith at all. I’m a hater of an organization that sells its fans average/good players as superstars! They’ve been doing it since Barrett Ruud was team captain. Then it was Freeman who even novice football fan could see was not close to all the hype. Don’t forget the dozen or so D lineman and one even thought he was Batman. I’ve posted this before but just like the commercial says JUST OK is not OK!
September 19th, 2019 at 3:40 pm
Lamarcus Says:
September 19th, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Donovan Smith has to be one of the worse left tackles in today’s game.
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Oh man! Some of the Bucs fans are hysterical with their hot takes.
September 19th, 2019 at 3:40 pm
The point fans miss with these players is GREAT players can go to any team play under any system and will always be great because they refuse to accept anything else. Good/average players are there either because they lack the skill set to be great or they are too lazy to do the work to be great. Most in 2019 are too lazy but that opens huge opportunities for others who are relentless and have great work ethic.
September 19th, 2019 at 3:42 pm
On a positive note I’m loving the tough as SH!T play were are getting from the middle of our OLine
September 19th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
Lol weak minded fans always need a lightning rod for their misery.
This dude is good, just lazy, he needs to hold his blocks til the whistle and he’d be great.
September 19th, 2019 at 4:43 pm
anyone who thinks he sucks should go toe to toe with him
September 19th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
To ALL the negative POS in here, the difference between a pizza and your opinions is that I asked for the pizza. Some commenters are like clouds…when they disappear it’s a beautiful day. Y’all are playing STUPID again…and winning!
Ankle biters. You suck.
September 19th, 2019 at 4:53 pm
What sucks is O-line play is bad everywhere and it’s hard to find dominant OTs.
If you think Smith is bad then watch Garret Bowles for Denver. He gets literally like 4 holding penalties a game.
September 19th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Bobbo Donovan smith sucks and as a fan I can say that … if you send me request to say it to you I will
September 19th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
Todd it’s time to change your tampon … he sucks
September 19th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
20th best Left Tackle in the league getting paid like he’s a top 5 performer at his position…. SMH
I guess that’s what happens when you don’t prioritize the trenches on draft day.
September 19th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
If any you of guys recorded the Carolina gm,
take a look at the safety we got and watch Smith.
Nuff said.
September 19th, 2019 at 5:49 pm
smith is fine he gets beat some plays like all players and olinemen. hes not orlando pace reminds me so much of donald penn which we heard the same complaints about when he was here. kinda wish hed miss some starts just so all these morons can really see what bad left tackle play is.
September 19th, 2019 at 5:58 pm
Just grind until you hear the whistle blow – just like the 3 dudes to your right. The middle of our line is grinding – especially in the run game! Cappa – looking at you grinder!
September 19th, 2019 at 6:12 pm
I’m surprised Donovan still trusts Casey after she tricked him into confessing his fear of… …wait for it… …MOTHS right after he signed with the Bucs. I’m surprised he still talks to her. Also, and @Joe(s) I’ve been waiting for you to follow up on “Donovan and Moths” ever since I saw that interview: if Donovan Smith has an irrational fear of MOTHS, HAS HE encountered one of Florida’s renown palmetto bugs, how did that go, and is there a video?
September 19th, 2019 at 6:39 pm
This is Joe justifying his lack of criticism for the o-line. Donovan Smith is paid too much for a player who seems to take plays off a lot, and seemingly avoids contact on run blocking. You ever notice that we don’t sweep left very often on run plays? Everything is mostly run between Marpet and Jensen. If there wasn’t a shortage on tackles, Smith may not had been offered so much. JMO
September 19th, 2019 at 6:45 pm
I wanted to see 2 things from Donovan Smith:
1) I wanted for him to be pissed when Cameron Jordan disrespected him on social media (something along the lines of “we’ll get plenty of sacks against Tampa Bay”), but he laughed it off.
2) Come into this season in better shape, instead of weighing 338, more like 318 or so. I think that’s one of the problems of why he doesn’t finish, a fat guy in the Florida heat.
That said, I don’t hate Donovan Smith (or any player, coach, or front office member of the Buccaneers). The hatred towards D Smith and Jason Licht from Tampa Bay “fans” shows me that some people live for hate, and really need to get a life.
September 19th, 2019 at 7:34 pm
I always thought he was about 15lbs overweight, does that effects his play or not is the coaching staff decision! KEEP GRINDING !!! GET AN ATTITUDE !!!
September 19th, 2019 at 7:54 pm
Most of you don’t know if he is good or bad. You watch the foosball and never watch the trenches. He never misses a game and thank God because we don’t have OT depth. He has his moments but what I’ve noticed this year is that he’s getting beat on inside moves. These coaches will correct it or he’ll be gone. And yes, my tampon is fresh and new.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:13 pm
Average at best, but not one of the worst.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:38 pm
I like DS. . . he just needs to play till the whistle every down, There are times when he just seems to give up too early
September 19th, 2019 at 8:38 pm
@Lamarcus … “Donovan Smith has to be one of the worse left tackles in today’s game.” Statements like that make me wonder Lamarcus. How many starting left tackles could you name on the 32 NFL teams? Do you watch all the others and rank them? Blanket statements like that are usually overstatements with little basis in fact from what I’ve seen.
Remember Donald Penn? I always considered Donald to be a ‘serviceable LT’. He did get selected to the Pro Bowl once while he was with us (back in 2010 when we actually won 10 games) but mostly he was ‘just there’. IOW … serviceable. Played in 16 games each & every season while he was our LT from 2007 – 2013 … 112 straight games. Used to get a lot of flak for reporting to TC overweight as I recall. Like I said, nothing fancy, just ‘serviceable’. Bucs cut him loose after the 2013 season and brought in Anthony Collins to be his replacement in 2014 (thank you Lovie). Dude started 10 games for us that season, and we went 2-14. Collins was the poster child for ‘human turnstile’.
Donovan reminds me a lot of Donald Penn. He’s now started 66 straight games, starting with Game 1 his rookie year. No Pro Bowls to his credit. Nothing fancy, just ‘serviceable’. Y’all know who’s behind Donovan if he goes down? As of 3 days ago … Jerald Hawkins. Yup, that’s what I said … who? From what I can see he played in 5 games for Pittsburgh back in 2017 … and was listed as a tight end.
Hang tough Donovan, we NEED ya. BIG-TIME big fella.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:39 pm
DS is our best option. He’s far from perfect but we would be in worse shape if we had let him go to another team. The interior is pretty solid. Dotson is likely done at the end of this season. T will be a priority then. Upgrades will be made.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:52 pm
Well said and accurate, Defense Rules.
September 19th, 2019 at 8:53 pm
Joe and 95 % of the posters on this site suck monkey nuts and should never be called Bucs fans !! All you do is cry and complain!!! I wish that someone would shut this pile of crap down its pathetic!
September 19th, 2019 at 9:02 pm
Ben Real, you’re an idiot, nobody cares what your miserable ass thinks. Crawl back in the anus from which you came.
September 19th, 2019 at 10:46 pm
I just want to see a mean streak from this guy. The talent is there but he just doesn’t seem to want to be great from what I’ve watched. Hopefully that changes and the new coaches can bring out an intensity and drive we fans haven’t seen from him.
September 20th, 2019 at 6:15 am
There are a bunch of negative asses on here. Get a life.
September 20th, 2019 at 9:20 am
Rod Munch Says:
September 19th, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Lots of triggered idiots around here.
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Sumosam Says:
September 20th, 2019 at 6:15 am
There are a bunch of negative asses on here. Get a life.
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Ain’t that the d###ed truth!
September 20th, 2019 at 9:39 am
The Bucs knew what they were getting when they drafted him. He’s the same player now as he was in college. Lazy ass in college & the same now. Now the Bucs knew what they had when they gave him his big contract. Still a big fat lazy ass. The Bucs deserve what they got. The Bucs should draft at least two OL with the first two picks. Really good OL are hard to find.
September 20th, 2019 at 7:16 pm
Jamis holds on to the ball forever, and the line gets called out.
September 21st, 2019 at 11:33 am
Seriously. The guy is a good player and dependable