O-Line Makes Brady Smile
January 10th, 2021
Kind words from the GOAT.
In his always short postgame presser last night, three things got park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking Bucs quarterback Tom Brady smiling after the Bucs won their first playoff game in 18 years.
The first was the play of Leonard Fournette, who at the last moment learned he was starting due to Ronald Jones’ quad injury.
The second was Mike Evans and his toughness to return to play six days after hyperextending his knee.
Brady may have saved his biggest smile for the job of his offensive line. With all the chatter entering the game about mouthy Chase Young and the defensive front of Washington, it was the offensive line that stole the show.
The line had holes for Fournette all night. And pass blocking? Yeah, Brady got sacked twice but both came through backup right guard Ted Larsen who entered the game for injured Alex Cappa.
“Tristan [Wirfs] did a great job and Donny [Donovan Smith] played a helluva game,” Brady said of his tackles.
Smith had the last laugh after Young called out Brady after beating Philadelphia last week, saying he wanted Brady. Instead, he got a handful of Smith. Young had three tackles, one solo. That’s it. Goose eggs everywhere else.
“They played their butts off,” Brady said of his blockers.
On Washington’s defensive line, Brady said it is a, “big aggressive defense. They played hard. It was a good test for us.”
Joe loved that Smtih stepped up and stonewalled Young. That’s the type of play the Bucs will most definitely need next week, and beyond if fortunate enough to get there.
The games only will get tougher each week.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:43 am
Donovan Smith was excellent. He looked like a total bada$$. Fearless. He pushed the rook around and down. He spring Fournette for the TD.
Give the man his due.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:44 am
This possible Capps injury scares me to death.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:48 am
Smith takes so much flak, much of it undeserved. Nice to see him play a solid game in the playoffs.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:54 am
Move d. Smith to guard and play j wells at tackle
January 10th, 2021 at 12:56 am
O line exceeded my expectations for this game. It just feels really good to get playoff win!
January 10th, 2021 at 12:57 am
Look at Fournette’s TD run and a few other plays. Don’t get me wrong I’d rather have Cappa but with a full week of practice Larsen might be serviceable in the playoffs here.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:01 am
DS76 deserves a lot of credit.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:04 am
I love seeing D.Smith be a feature for an article. Donavan and the OL did establish the tone of the game IMO. Our OL, left-to-front, was dominate tonight. Our LT stepped up. Ive not been a fan of Smith but if he can rise his game even more and stop Cam Jordan next week he can literally make a new name for himself.
The Saints do got our number. The way to change that is guys like Smith winning their matchups to give the rest of the team a chanse to win it.
GO BUCS!!!
January 10th, 2021 at 1:11 am
And if you are looking at blocking for much deserved praise you absolutely must mention Gronk. He did his job as a reciever but he was an absolute forse sealing the egde for our RBs tonight.
Gronk has been a instant fan favorite, unless your a kneejerk. He played a great game tonight. You win with guys like Gronk!
January 10th, 2021 at 1:14 am
Hats off to the Bucs O-Line! Donovan Smith had the game I hoped he would have.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:32 am
What in the world happened to Godwin? He dropped several balls which killed drives. Got to man up!
January 10th, 2021 at 5:55 am
Godwin had a bad game on the biggest stage in his career. That won’t happen again. He’s allowed to have an off night, but luckily we got weapons around him. It was great that Brady kept trying to feed him though. He has been clutch his whole career. The announcers really jinxed him though talking about Brady saying he’s had the best hands he’s seen in his career.
I wonder who Brady yelled at for not breaking up field when he scrambled out of the pocket and got sacked.
January 10th, 2021 at 5:55 am
I like Cappa but He the most replaceable O Lineman and Larson can fill in well with a week of practice.
January 10th, 2021 at 7:09 am
@Adrnagy … “Move d. Smith to guard and play j wells at tackle”. Since Donovan really manned up & played a great game at LT, moving him to a position he doesn’t play might not be a great idea. Would much rather see us move Jensen to Guard & maybe bring up Shipley or someone to play Center. Larsen was a late addition, and I don’t know if reserve OLinemen like Haeg or Wells or Stinnie even play Center. Of course MAYBE Cappa will be in there next game … HOPEFULLY.
Noticed 1 thing looking through the Bucs’ current roster: not only is Jack Cichy back with us, but so is Deone Buchannon. Our defense is hurting for depth in virtually every position group.
January 10th, 2021 at 7:11 am
Cam Brate
January 10th, 2021 at 7:17 am
D Smith dominated chase young so bad, that Smith knocked him out in the 4th quarter with a block so punishing it left Young w a gimpy knee – not to be seen on the field the rest of the game.
January 10th, 2021 at 7:51 am
Young didn’t want anymore of Donnie by the 4th quarter. He flat out mauled his a$$. Watched some replays last night.
January 10th, 2021 at 7:54 am
One thing that impressed me about Chase Young, is how he sought out TB12 at the end of the game and congratulated Tom and showed his respect. His mouthy
talk before the game was partly because he wanted the challenge of competing
against Brady.
January 10th, 2021 at 8:02 am
The biggest knock on Smith is his lack of consistency.
TB12 shows up and now Smith is playing consistently well.
Hmmmm….
January 10th, 2021 at 8:12 am
30 points against that team was awesome, but our defense will be lit up when we play GB or NO. We must do better.
January 10th, 2021 at 8:41 am
Donovan Smith. Ive gotten on your case a couple times for some poor play, but props to you in the highest voice. You ruled your patch of grass and Young had nothing to say. Great game.LETS GO!
January 10th, 2021 at 8:43 am
All week I was worried about him. Big game on prime time against a good rusher. I thought for sure he would look hung over out there and even have a false start or two. Excellent job, good sir.
January 10th, 2021 at 8:44 am
Smith had a great game, and so did our entire O Line.
January 10th, 2021 at 9:37 am
Smith & Gronk kicked youngs ass. The entire oline is peaking at the right time and dominated. Apparently like Brady they don’t like to be challenged. I wish someone would call out Bowles & the D. The bend don’t break D doesn’t work if you can’t get to QB and your DB’S stink.
January 10th, 2021 at 9:39 am
Hats off to our o-line and GRONK!! They used him all night to help blocking and he did a damn good job….if we face NO (maybe well get lucky and bears will win and well play at home against LA)….were gonna need gronk again to protect brady!! Hats off to our OC for a balanced attack we ran the ball well and it wasnt all passing lol….but were gonna have to play better especially with the dropped balls guys we cant drop passes like that against these next teams..our CB gotta play tihgter coverage and make them pay for catching the balls LA CBs play very good coverage….but hats off for our safety coming in a few times flying and making damn good plays when it looked like WFT was about to break away for big gains…it seems like the no crowd thing affects our motivation?? Bc we were fired up against atl with our crowd…but we still put up the second most points on WFT than any team they played only browns put up more…damn good job BUCS and lets root for bears so we can play at home lol….TAMPA BAY ALL THA WAY!!!!!!!!!
January 10th, 2021 at 10:13 am
Happy to barely win against a 7 and 9 team lol. With no real QB playing against you. Both the Bears or Saints will slaughter the Bucs. Maybe next year guys.
January 10th, 2021 at 10:22 am
Having Gronk block is smart, just another facet of his game that goes unnoticed. I’m glad they won, Taylor Heinieke though. We had him in New England and let him go? Wtfek. He was awesome in the loss and Tom Brady was even like damnnnnn!! Antonio Brown being humble!? I’m loving it! Lol go Bucs #LFG!
January 10th, 2021 at 10:44 am
If I had a nickel for every story about “get pressure on Brady and he crumbles”…. That’s the case with ANY QB. Very mobile Russel Wilson was pressured on most of his dropbacks yesterday, guy had a Duane Haskins-like 17.6 QB rating, with a pick 6
January 10th, 2021 at 11:11 am
Mad props to Smith and Wirfs. The interior wasn’t quite as solid, but was good enough.
Unfortunately, both the Rams and the Saints have even better defenses (and offenses). Gotta clean some things up this week but I’ve got some faith.
LFG!
January 10th, 2021 at 11:20 am
How Cappa will be ok
January 10th, 2021 at 11:27 am
after the game i saw on tv:
brady went up and congratulated donovan or hugged him and said:
“great game big guy”
or something to that effect…
line played spectacular until the cappa injury…
then the DT leaked thru a couple times agains larsen
January 10th, 2021 at 11:30 am
sweat is super long…
it was interesting watching wirfs try to keep him at bay…
and he did…
dude has like spider arms or something…
and…
chase young went home eating his words – rookies should be quiet when playing the goat and his squad
January 10th, 2021 at 11:53 am
Be realistic people Says:
January 10th, 2021 at 10:13 am
Happy to barely win against a 7 and 9 team lol. With no real QB playing against you. Both the Bears or Saints will slaughter the Bucs. Maybe next year guys.
^^^^^^^
To say Heinicke isn’t a “real QB”, you either didn’t watch the game, know absolutely nothing about football, or both. I give that kid props for the game he had and his toughness.
January 10th, 2021 at 12:09 pm
” I give that kid props for the game he had and his toughness.”
Amen J in Mich! I get that some people do not like to see sportsmanship during the game…OK…but after the game. Give the kid credit. Tony Dungy certainly did as well as Phil Simms. Why can’t we give our opponents a pat on the back?
Back to Donovan…yeah he has been inconsistent and yeah Brady has elevated DS game as well. But IMHO it seems DS plays to the level of his competition. He plays worst of all against opponents he should dominate and his best against opponents that truly challenge him…hence his inconsistency.
He’ll have plenty of good competition the rest of the way. Motivation and challenge will not be an issue.