Donovan Smith And Grades
November 27th, 2018
The PFF tribe has spoken.
Certain societies on isolated islands in the south Indian Ocean shun contact by civilization.
And then there is the PFF tribe, which figured out how to use a modem dropped from a probing helicopter while dodging arrows fired from the tribe’s militia.
Nothing — and Joe means nothing — drives NFL general managers up a tree quite like the grades the PFF Tribe slaps on offensive linemen. Joe once was sitting at a table with an NFL general manager at the combine one wintry night in downtown Indianapolis and Joe thought for a second the GM was going to fall backward, he was so animated in his rage for the PFF Tribe’s offensive line grades.
(As Joe often asks, who is doing the grading?)
So Joe is just going to leave the following without comment about maligned Bucs starting left tackle Donovan Smith.
#Bucs T Donovan Smith did an excellent job protecting Jameis Winston on Sunday. Smith allowed 0 pressures on 45 pass blocking snaps. His pass blocking grade of 90.7 was the highest all offensive lineman in week 12. #Bucs
— PFF TB Buccaneers (@PFF_Buccaneers) November 27, 2018
Your thoughts?
November 27th, 2018 at 12:07 pm
I thought his pass blocking was decent but his run blocking was nothing to be admired.
November 27th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
I’m OK with Smith. He’s an average LT. Better at pass pro than run blocking. Better than a lot of other teams LT situation. But he isn’t a top 5-8 type guy at all.
November 27th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Donovan has no problem blocking….when he wants to.
November 27th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
one of the least problems on the team but fans are fixated on getting him out of town like we have better options behind him. Lets fill the other holes on this team. Smart fans know D Smith can definitely be a building block for our future
November 27th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
I’m more than OK with D Smith, as long as he isn’t paid like a top 3 LT
November 27th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
I do not disagree with Lord C’s assessment of Donovan as average.
But I still believe he has the potential for more improvement. His game is only lacking in one area but it’s critical…he’s far too inconsistent and sometimes he doesn’t play to the whistle. And that’s what makes him “average”. If he develops consistency he’ll be a really good LT IMHO.
November 27th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
I agree with PFF on all of their grades
November 27th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Don’t want to get him out of town- just want him out of the LT spot. Coming out every prognosticator was saying he is going to be a guard in the NFL- not us, like every other player we pick, we know better than every other team and expert and put him as our cornerstone of protecting the blindside of our QB’s. I was at the game this weekend, there was almost constant pressure on Jameis from all sides. The right was worse than the left but still the pocket was collapsing on multiple occasions by the time Jameis took the last step of his drop. If Jameis wasn’t so sneaky elusive, he would have been sacked 10 times. D Smith should be LG, Marpet at RG and either draft a LT AND RT or get in FA. Everyone wants to rip Jensen for not playing well but he has essentially been blocking for 2 this year.
November 27th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
We need a new LT if the team wants to move forward with Winston. You simply cant have an inconsistent LT with a QB that struggles with consistency….Smith is average in the run game. Maybe he can slide over to RT to replace Dotson and we can draft a stud LT who can pass/run block. If we had Mahomes or Brees as QB, then maybe we get away with lesser talent on the line but Winston tends to hold the ball too long and has a slow wind up…He needs a stud at LT and the line needs an upgrade anyways.
November 27th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Lord Cornelius Says:
November 27th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
I’m OK with Smith. He’s an average LT. Better at pass pro than run blocking. Better than a lot of other teams LT situation. But he isn’t a top 5-8 type guy at all.
Right on.
November 27th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
LC & Akick
i agree….
we should keep him but dont make him the highest paid LT in the league….he has the ability to dominate at LT but for whatever reason takes plays off….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
November 27th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Bucs fans want no QB pressures from all our O-lineman when we go back to pass over 50 times a game.
I think as a whole we are a better pass blocking offensive line than run blocking OL. If I had to have either in this current league, it would be have a good pass blocking OL.
If we can upgrade that right guard spot first on OL that might help us.
Webster looks capable of replacing Dotson next year at right tackle.
Id rather invest capital in corners and corners and corners and then another RB than a left tackle.
But 1st before getting those corners – get a coach for the corners. Maybe Todd Bowles as defensive coordinator next year?
November 27th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
Ding!
November 27th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
^^^^ Yea, you guys are probably right about that. I was really hard on Donovan after a recent game, and called for him to be gone. That was probably over the top, as he is definitely a serviceable LT in this league, and is the least of our problems.
November 27th, 2018 at 1:38 pm
^^^^ Yea, you guys are probably right about that. I was really hard on Donovan after a recent game, and called for him to be gone. That was probably over the top, as he is definitely a serviceable LT in this league, and is the least of our problems.
November 27th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
Good Lord, casual fans.
You do NOT have to have an All Pro at every position, or even LT.
Above average can get the job done well, and Smith is not an All Pro but definitely above average.
Like there is another option at LT.
Sheesh…
November 27th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
This year he is one of the least problems on the team if he is paid big money he will rocket up toward the top of the problem list if he doesn’t improve. Most OLinemen can pass block. You need attitude to be a good run blocker. We will see. New staff and maybe GM could value hin much lower than Klueless and Co.
November 27th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Smith has done well this year, the best year so far. He is still young and has shown to be very durable. I am not suggesting he deserves top 5 pay as a LT but surely he deserves better an average, especially just now coming into his prime. If he was older and injured prone, I would be okay letting him walk, but being young and with upside potential we need to lock him up.
November 27th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
LT is NOT a problem position for the Bucs. Stop trying to turn it into one.
November 27th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Does nobody remember him getting Jameis killed last year? Not saying he is terrible but when he does take plays off there is a consequence. If we keep him at LT, fine with me, as long as he doesn’t expect Top LT money. In this era of crazy salaries, he is going to command a huge guaranteed paycheck why do you think he refused to play guard. The salary difference is enormous. Having said all that, his durability his without question and that DOES have to be put into the formula. We will see what happens. It’s just funny because he and Marpet and Jensen are supposed to be our “Road Graders” and we can’t run the ball very well right, middle or left.
November 27th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Cobra
Exactly!
November 27th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
“one of the least problems on the team.” – Sure. I guess. I don’t disagree, but it doesn’t mean that he can’t be better. We sure as F can do A LOT better at the RG and RT spot though..
November 27th, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Just don’t send a missionary to try and convert the PFF tribe!
That’s way too dangerous for the missionary.
Send Flo from Progressive…she’s good with these uncivilized tribes
November 27th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
less than average…keep him at the right prize…….Do not overpay, as we usually do
November 27th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
I hope he is in a blocking mood Sunday. Panthers blitzed the heck out of Wilson.
November 27th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
@Lakeland
Did you agree with PFF when they graded out OJ Howard to have been the worst rookie of 2017? Because I think that couldn’t have been more inaccurate.
November 27th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
If anyone is thinking of getting rid of D Smith…..they may as well dump the entire team…..for the exception of ME13 & JPP…..unless, of course, there is some problem with them.
November 27th, 2018 at 5:07 pm
SchwiftyBuc
Yeah I agreed with PFF grade on OJ Howard last season
The problem with OJ last season
He played more than 600 snaps. He ran a route on about 40 percent of those snaps. What happened on the other 60 percent? He was asked to block a lot. And blocking is part of PFF grading system.
His run-blocking grade rated 47th out of 54 qualifying tight ends. His pass-blocking grade rated 69th out of 74 qualifying tight ends.
November 27th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Move him to RT and either draft or sign a better player to play LT.
November 27th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Move him to Left Guard. Draft or sign top left tackle and move marpet back to RG. Develop right tackle with onevic our other guys.
November 27th, 2018 at 7:39 pm
Send Flo from Progressive…she’s good with these uncivilized tribes
🙂
November 27th, 2018 at 8:29 pm
He’s soft and doesn’t have the right mentality. Kind of like the 93 of the o line. Same with Marpet. If you keep building around these happy guys in the trenches you’ll never be a good team
November 27th, 2018 at 9:41 pm
All Buc offensive linemen? Or league wide?
November 27th, 2018 at 9:41 pm
All Buc offensive linemen? Or league wide?
November 27th, 2018 at 10:14 pm
Proposed Changes for 2019:
D.Smith moved to L guard
Draft a Left Offensive Tackle in 1st or 2nd rd (immediate starter)
Marpet back to R guard
Liedtke develop for Right tackle
Jensen remains at center
Cappa swing and Wester swing and Evans backup center/guard
November 28th, 2018 at 12:22 am
@firethecannons BINGO!!!
November 28th, 2018 at 8:01 am
^^^ @firethecannons
Nicely done, man. Love it!