O-Line Coach Opens Up On Donovan Smith Inconsistency
September 1st, 2020
Candid O-line coach Joe Gilbert
Joe’s got the full transcript of candid chatter this afternoon from Buccaneers offensive line coach Joe Gilbert.
A faction of Buccaneers fans break out in hives when discussing veteran left tackle Donovan Smith. Some in the misguided lot are convinced that Smith is the greatest problem on the Bucs and is ridiculously overpaid/overvalued by the organization.
Most of that hate is rooted in Pro Football Focus nonsense dating back years, as well as Smith’s screwups on the field that seem to look worse than other people’s because a big percentage appear rooted in questionable effort.
Gilbert talked about Smith’s consistency challenge after last season, and Joe followed up today to see how the coach is evaluating Smith’s progress.
Gilbert didn’t hold back.
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, back at the end of last year, you talked about how Donovan Smith grew in his consistency but he still could improve there, sort of doing everything right for 65 plays [a game] instead of 60. Is that something you can work on in practice, or do you just wait to see whether that happens in games?
Offensive line coach Joe Gilbert: No, I mean you have it in practice consistently. You know Donny’s been really great in the offseason. I spent a lot of time with him, you know, through remote teaching and showing him things that, ‘Hey we need to get better on.’ And he knows he has to be more consistent. And I think that’s one thing to his credit that he’s opened up. He’s looked at it. He’s seen the bad plays and he realizes he has to eliminate them. And I think that’s No. 1, realizing there’s an issue.
We can say everything we want as a coach but if the player doesn’t buy into it, then it’s not going to go anywhere. I think that’s one thing he’s realized. And just like you said, that 60 out of 65 plays aren’t good enough. And that’s one thing that he’s trying to work on.
The other day when [Bruce Arians] said we had a bad offensive practice. You know, as I said to [Smith], I said, ‘Hey, you know it’s one thing about having a bad play, you can’t have a bad day.’ And he said, ‘I had a bad day.’ And that was coming from him. So he’s starting to realize that and we just gotta keep working to minimize the bad reps that he has and bad plays in a ballgame.
It’s almost like Gilbert was saying Smith didn’t fully acknowledge or accept his inconsistency until the offseason despite coaches harping on it during the season.
Regardless, Joe is very encouraged by all this. Smith improved last season and certainly wasn’t the issue in the Buccaneers’ No. 3-ranked offense. If Smith is determined to reach new levels of consistency, then the Bucs could have a top-10 left tackle on the field.
September 1st, 2020 at 12:31 pm
I’m sure Brady will let him know when he screws up!
September 1st, 2020 at 12:35 pm
That bad day just might be worse than what the sheep think!!!!!!!!!!! “Word on the street” is that the offense has been losing confidence in the coaching staff!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The “real” games will show exactly what all this could mean!!!!!!!!!!!! But even the sheep have to admit that the ole stale biscuit has crumbled under any signs of pressure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The truth is incontrovertible!!!!!!!!!!!! Malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 1st, 2020 at 12:43 pm
I believe his consistancy and overall effectivness will show a move up, having a QB this has a quick release.
September 1st, 2020 at 12:47 pm
its cool…the “real fans” have spoken!!!!!..
TheBucRealistSays:
June21st,2018at6:48pm
Huge pass to the coaching staff issued by the “real” Buc fans!!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 1st, 2020 at 12:50 pm
El Buco Realisto: you rants are taking me to the other side beyond comprehension …bring it back home, there is a landing somewhere in T Town!!
September 1st, 2020 at 12:53 pm
Joe is running out of players to bend over backwards in support of. It’s a kiss of death. GMC and Winston both got their rear ends kissed all the way out the door.
September 1st, 2020 at 12:59 pm
Dirty Harry… Magnum Force, “A man’s got to know his inconsistencies.”
Oops….”limitations”
September 1st, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Top 10 play would catch up to his salary. That’d make economic sense. Gota have it
September 1st, 2020 at 1:28 pm
”Most of that hate is rooted in Pro Football Focus nonsense dating back years, as well as Smith’s screwups on the field that seem to look worse than other people’s because a big percentage appear rooted in questionable effort.”
If one doesn’t have the talent then, he can be forgiven, if he is given his all. If he is not making the effort, it’s inexcusable. This is why some of us “break out into hives”.
This is year SIX in the league & we are still coaching out “laziness”. It’s unacceptable, unconscionable really.
September 1st, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Completely agreed, gp. All the great players and great leaders will demand accountability. Sapp used to scowl at guys who missed their gaps. Brady will scowl at Smith or anyone that doesn’t do their job properly. One scowl from Brady will to far more than a daily buffet of “W’s”.
September 1st, 2020 at 1:48 pm
Acknowledging you need to improve and doing it are two different things. We have all heard about accountability from YouKnowWho, but it didn’t seem to translate to actual action.
I’ll believe it when I see it, DSmith.
September 1st, 2020 at 2:05 pm
i think d smith will always have a few plays a game where he just completely sucks. i guess that will come with him in his career. hopefully it doesn’t get brady killed.
September 1st, 2020 at 2:18 pm
“It’s almost like Gilbert was saying Smith didn’t fully acknowledge or accept his inconsistency until the offseason despite coaches harping on it during the season.”
That’s what happens when draft picks are gifted positions. Everyone must come in with the mindset that they can lose their job at any given time. I would say that’s never been the case with Smith….and its showed.
September 1st, 2020 at 2:39 pm
I dont know about yall but I will tip my cap to this Gilbert guy……he developed Cappa. That alone is more OL developed then we had in the last 5 years….since Marpet/Donovan.
It was also very encouraging to see Donovan have his most solid year as a pro……After Donovans rookie year I expected him to get better with experience but that never happened…..Maybe this Gilbert guy will help D.Smith reach the potential I have been looking for.
I also though Jensen had his best season here as well…….I like where our OL is headed and I have great confidence they will developed Wirfs into a good pro.
GO BUCS!
September 1st, 2020 at 2:54 pm
I, for one, don’t want to realize the value of D Smith after he’s not there….I do appreciate his availability….
September 1st, 2020 at 3:45 pm
I’d love for you to list the LTs that you think are better if he isn’t considered by you to be too 10.
September 1st, 2020 at 5:08 pm
Its hard to be consistent when your on a crap team. He went from being on a team with the worst defense in history damn near, to getting a good defense and a in over his head play caller.
Now that he ( and all of the other players) have a good team across the board the effort level with rise with everyone!
September 1st, 2020 at 5:24 pm
I would hate to be Smith in the huddle or on the sideline after he gives up a QB sack or a QB knockdown.
September 1st, 2020 at 5:27 pm
No “almost”, Joe.
September 1st, 2020 at 7:49 pm
Lol. How truly pathetic.
Trying to convince your starting left tackle to give 100% and not be a fat last tub of sh/t.
Shouldn’t have to convince a starter to not take plays off.
I’ll be glad when he’s gone. I don’t care how many games he’s been in if you can’t guarantee you’re gonna give 100 everyday then kick rocks you fat lazy POS.
September 2nd, 2020 at 3:27 am
I think that Smith is above average and certainly overpaid, but outside of Gruber I can’t think of a tackle that we’ve had that’s better. Kenyatta Walker was decent, but Smith is better than that dude was.
September 2nd, 2020 at 11:06 am
D Smith is fine blocking big DEs, but he is horrible vs. speed rushers. Often he has to just hold them which generates penalties. Then he also is lazy and takes plays off. He is terribly overpaid. We are better off moving Wirfs to LT and starting Haeg at RT, and trading off D Smith to the Falcons since our former OL Coach believed Smith was “One of the top LTs in the NFL” and he is the Falcon’s OL Coach now. We could get a 1st round pick from the Falcons for him, and use it to grab another top OT in next year’s draft.