Pewter Plank Report: Getting to Know the Bucs' OT Donovan Smith by Jesse Uruchima 1h ago 
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL Donovan Smith (Penn State) and Sharon Thomas and Kim Denise Smith arrive on the gold carpet before the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY SportsIn an offseason which included adding numerous defensive assets, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers utilized the early rounds of this year’s draft to fill some important needs on offense. It began with drafting their franchise quarterback Jameis Winston. Early in the second round, the Buccaneers finally addressed a major need at offensive line by selecting their left tackle of the future, Donovan Smith.In the first round, five quality tackles were swiped, leaving the Buccaneers with the man they were excited to add to the roster with the 34th overall pick. Most analysts believe Smith went a little high while some think Tampa Bay got an absolute steal. In due time, we will find out if the 21-year-old lives up to the Bucs’ lofty expectations as the duty of protecting Winston’s blind side is his job to lose.In his three years at Penn State, Smith started 31 games where he was considered one of the focal points of the program coming off the team’s first bowl game since the NCAA sanctions from the Jerry Sandusky case. Smith’s performance at the Combine—running the 40-yard dash in 5.27 seconds and finishing with 26 reps in the 225 bench press—caught the attention of scouts.At 6-foot-6 and 338 pounds, the Owing Mills, Md. native is a big guy with ample strength, a strong football IQ and plenty of raw skills that can translate to success at the next level. But there are also concerns about his work ethic and motivation. So what was so intriguing that made the Bucs want to take a chance on Smith? We spoke to Barry Leonard from Victory Bell Rings to give us a glimpse at what Donovan can provide for the Bucs in 2015 and beyond.Which current NFL player would you compare Donovan Smith to, in terms of skill, size and potential? Or, is there a player from the past that he reminds you of?Donovan reminds me a lot of another former Penn State tackle, Levi Brown. Their size is similar and I see a lot of the same skills. Brown was selected fifth in 2007 and had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, Brown has dealt with injuries recently. Smith hasn’t been talked about the same way that Brown was, but I think as far as size and potential, it’s a good comparison.One of the major criticisms surrounding Smith has been his work ethic. Do you believe there is a cause for concern or is this something that is simply not true?Obviously, I was not around the program every single day in practice, but this doesn’t seem like a concern to me. I remember a few times, early in his career, feeling that he had a tendency to take plays off, but not since he’s matured. I wouldn’t worry about that if I were a Tampa Bay fan.Are there any other issues/weaknesses we should know about?From what I have seen, he does not always have the best technique and can get beat on the outside. He is a big guy, and sometimes it’s just hard to get all parts of the body moving in the right direction. He also tends to block too high at times.What impressed you most about Smith during his time at Penn State? Is there a specific game you can point to? I tired to pinpoint a particular game, but wasn’t able to. I would say I was really impressed this season when he was kind of the lone ranger on the offensive line. There was a lot of inexperience on the line this past season and it was up to Smith to hold it all together. Overall, I was impressed by his size and his ability to block, even when he played as a freshman. It was easy to tell early on that he was on the path to the NFL.In your opinion, is it wise for the Buccaneers to throw Smith right into the fire at left tackle this season? If not, do you think he is better suited to play guard or right tackle?Do I think Smith can handle playing tackle, particularly left tackle in the NFL? Yes, I do. However, I’m not sure that I would go for that right away. His build and skill really screams guard to me. I’d prefer to see him start at guard and perhaps move to tackle as he gains experience. Either way, the Bucs can rest assured that they drafted a solid NFL lineman who’ll provide a good foundation of protection for Winston.link
