Donnie Dominance
November 4th, 2021
Unlike most coaches, Buccaneers assistant head coach/co-offensive-line coach Harold Goodwin doesn’t praise players unless they deserve it.
Heck, the guy took a shot at Team Glazer the day he was introduced in Tampa.
Joe loves Goodwin. He’s Joe’s kind of man.
So Joe was especially intrigued to hear Goodwin talk this week about Donovan Smith on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
A handful of weeks after Goodwin and Bucco Bruce Arians’ staff arrived, Smith’s film was studied and the Bucs granted him a contract extension for huge money.
Now 2 1/2 seasons later, it seems Smith is a greatly improved player.
“He’s so much better than when I first got here,” Goodwin said of Smith. [Joe Gilbert’s] doing a great [coaching] job with him individually. And I just think Donnie’s more locked in, more focused every day.”
It seems it was an arm injury, per Goodwin, that cost Smith one snap against the Saints on Sunday. But the Bucs’ ironman was back in a hurry.
Goodwin said Smith continues to work on improving his hands, punching and “being on target” in the running game.
Smith didn’t get a “Pro Bowler” description from Goodwin like another player did (more on that later), but it’s obvious Smith’s game is at an impressive level.
Another few seasons rolling at left tackle and Smith will have a strong case to be alongside Paul Gruber in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.
November 4th, 2021 at 10:57 am
I agree that he has greatly improved.
In fact, our offensive line has become one of the best in the NFL, from being one of the worst.
A Commentator noted that we could be a power running team, if we wanted to be.
November 4th, 2021 at 10:58 am
Two Things:
1. Haven’t heard Smith’s name a lot this season … that’s always a good thing.
2l Smith helps Wirfs a lot with technique.
November 4th, 2021 at 11:00 am
I don’t remember the last time a player got paid and improved. I remember not wanting to pay him for this reason, I’m glad I was wrong.
November 4th, 2021 at 11:03 am
I think he made a great improvement last year, seems to me like a new player…..Kudos to Big Donnie
November 4th, 2021 at 11:03 am
This comments section needs to be full of people eating crow.
Let’s hear it for Super-Bowl winning LT Donovan Smith !
November 4th, 2021 at 11:08 am
I guess he just needed a good QB to motivate him and move his feet.
November 4th, 2021 at 11:08 am
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:
November 4th, 2021 at 10:57 am
I agree that he has greatly improved.
In fact, our offensive line has become one of the best in the NFL, from being one of the worst.
A Commentator noted that we could be a power running team, if we wanted to be.
Anything happens to the GOAT, that’s or best option. Think Pittsburgh in 1976
November 4th, 2021 at 11:09 am
He’s finally improved says the coach. Needed to improve mentally & physically just like Pete told you
November 4th, 2021 at 11:17 am
NOOOOOOO!!!!! Who wants to talk penalties? Donnie is #8 in the NFL with 3 holds and 2 FS 43 yards working his way to the #1 spot again. People are LOST trying to back this guys contract up for next year. If Marpet wasn’t next to him this guy would be second string if that.
November 4th, 2021 at 11:27 am
SOEbuc Says:
November 4th, 2021 at 11:17 am
NOOOOOOO!!!!! Who wants to talk penalties? Donnie is #8 in the NFL with 3 holds and 2 FS 43 yards working his way to the #1 spot again. People are LOST trying to back this guys contract up for next year. If Marpet wasn’t next to him this guy would be second string if that.
^^^^^^^^
Agreed on the penalties, but if this guy was as bad as you say, would the Bucs have won a Super Bowl with him as the starting Left Tackle?
November 4th, 2021 at 11:32 am
Donovan Smith is one of those players that makes plays effortlessly…..It makes those watching him think that he is lazy…..but that’s not the case….at least the last 2 years……another difference is that he is now blocking for Brady. Everybody looks better because they are playing better…..
November 4th, 2021 at 11:37 am
Averaging 1 penalty per 2 games for his career isn’t ideal, but it does seem like the rest of his game has improved.
November 4th, 2021 at 11:38 am
Joe in Michigan
He has hit and miss games and the Super Bowl was last year. People are trying to say he’s some kinda top tier LT that deserves this money and it’s flat out NOT TRUE.
November 4th, 2021 at 11:53 am
SOEbuc: True, but he’s an okay football player. I wish he’d cut out the critical penalties, as everyone would that’s a Bucs fan.
November 4th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Donovan Smith is obviously a good LT, trusted enough to protect TB12’s blind side.
If one these, ‘physical freaks of nature edge rushers’ are about to get by him, he damn well better be holding, lol
November 4th, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Paul Gruber? Ring of Honor? No. No,
November 4th, 2021 at 12:23 pm
I don’t care about offensive linemen getting holding penalties if it keeps the QB from being murdered.
November 4th, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Nice to have a QB who doesnt hang on to the ball
November 4th, 2021 at 1:06 pm
I’ve hated Smith and his gigantic top five contracts. If there’s a sack it’s usually coming from the left side and Ali is a top tier LG. 7 of 22 sacks allowed in 2020. I know that was last year, I’m just saying mark it down when a flag flies or Brady goes down. Everyone pays more attention to his game people might start leaning in the other direction for this guy to receive $15.75M next year with $18.5M cap hit. GET THE F#CK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 4th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
SOEbuc,
You speak the truth.
November 4th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Yea and color commentary for Bucs/Saints points out how Dsmith is lazy and how he like to grab/hold to prevent being beat. Thats human holding call
November 4th, 2021 at 2:50 pm
DSmith is worth the money because he is dependable. If he was a liability, Brady would say something. He works really well with Marpet on the left side. I also think he is getting better.
November 4th, 2021 at 3:08 pm
Duane
Who the hell is Brady saying something to??? You??? The 90 percent BS media??? I was just looking at a list of our FA next year on B/R. Read it and get back to me on the subject that he’s worth the money.
November 4th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Donovan smith is being paid as the 9th highest LT in the league. My 3-year old can see that’s not top 5. He’s playing like a top 15 tackle, and doesn’t miss games, so I think that’s fair.
Some people on this board are so often down on consistently good Buccaneers that you’d be forgiven to question if they’re even Bucs fans!
November 4th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
It can’t be! Why there are posters on this here site more knowledgeable than Bucs coaches or management or teammates, that declare him an oaf and a lazy bust that should be cut. This can’t be true!
November 4th, 2021 at 5:06 pm
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 lacing up them 🤡👟 with this post
November 4th, 2021 at 6:50 pm
Yes he has been playing better but at least once a game he has a brain fart
November 4th, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Leighroy
You got me. 9th highest paid. 8th most penalties in the NFL on the most penalized team in the NFL. “Your an idiot dad.”
November 4th, 2021 at 8:31 pm
SOE – WHAT GAMES ARE YOU WATCHING ? MUCH RATHER HAVE A HOLDING CALL THEN A BRADY INJURY ??!!
SWAMPBUC- AGREED !!
November 4th, 2021 at 8:59 pm
SOE
Watch the rest of the teams…. He’s a top 10 LT and has been for a few years now, even before his contract. The only thing he ever had trouble with occasionally were speed rushers, very very few tackles don’t.
Having a hold every 3 games is not a big deal.
November 4th, 2021 at 9:55 pm
So dumb. Top 10 OT does not give up 7 of 22 sacks when you have Marpet next to you!!! And yes he gets the run around all day with speed rushers which is only increasing in the NFL. And I’m talking money here. NOT-F#CKING- WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!
November 4th, 2021 at 10:30 pm
His hold this last game saved Brady from getting clobbered. That’s his job, protect the QB. Holding in the run game is unacceptable.
November 5th, 2021 at 7:42 am
The excuses made for Durable Donnie would be hilarious if they weren’t so sad.
Holding is now justified?
How about learning proper technique?
Ya know, those skills that a highly paid athlete are supposed to have.
Watch him.
Really watch him during the games and tell me he’s worth the money.
November 5th, 2021 at 9:43 am
Right on DooshLaRue.
November 5th, 2021 at 10:09 am
It will be interesting to see what happens next two years because his salary jumps up tremendously.
November 5th, 2021 at 11:47 am
#1 LT in Bucs history…
Paul Gruber
#2… and a close one as that was…
Donald Penn… very very under rated but an absolute rock at the position while he was here. Bad QBs and a worse scheme hastened his unnecessary departure from Tampa. He went to the Raiders and played well for a while.
November 5th, 2021 at 9:39 pm
You morons who are dissing D Smith – seriously, you think you know more than the coaches, players, and experts who all think highly of him? Man I’d love to hear you discuss your “views” with BA or TB12, or basically anyone with the data and a brain stem. Warren Sapp is proven right again about the dumbassity of Buc fans.