Countdown to Cannons: Center of O-LineJustin Pawlowski @CommishOnlineJuly 25, 2015
With 21 days to go, we countdown the days until the Bucs' 1st preseason game, and discuss a different Bucs player at length every day.Like most of the Bucs other offensive linemen, Evan Smith must improve his play in 2015 to prove worthy of sticking with the Bucs for future years. Smith changing his name and dropping the "Dietrich" is the first of many changes he makes.Smith joined the Bucs as a free agent in 2014. He joined the Bucs after limited playing time with the Packers. The Buccaneers made him a starter immediately. While I do believe Smith can be a good player, he was caught up in horrific line play in 2014.Smith possesses a contract that is clearly in the Bucs favor. He counts $3.75 million against the Bucs' cap, but without any guaranteed money moving forward, Smith faces the possibility of being released at any moment. The Bucs hold all the cards on Smith's future with the team, but until a suitable replacement is found, there's no need to part ways with Smith and his favorable contract.One name to remember is rookie 2nd round pick Ali Marpet. I know the Bucs have said he's going to start out at guard, but leading up to the draft, NFL Network's Mike Mayock had said that Marpet could develop into a pro bowl center. With Marpet being as raw as he is, his rookie season might be solely devoted to adjusting to increased competition before focusing on the particulars of any one position...especially center. Until then, Evan Smith must continue to prove his worth.
