Chiefs Sign Former Bucs LT Donovan Smith

[Dante84]

Donovan Smith started 124 games over the past eight seasons with the #Bucs. After signing Jawaan Taylor to a big deal in March, Kansas City continues to invest in protecting Patrick Mahomes. https://t.co/CK4z151PD8

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 3, 2023

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by JPH83

Didn't OBJ grade quite a lot better?

Specifically as a pass blocker. They were very similar.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Jesus Christ, listen to yourself. "We're getting the same quality of bottom tier play but only a 3rd of the price."

Yeah, no. I wanted a much better LT, not a cheaper variant of Brown Jr. I don't get why that's so unreasonable.

Who is that player you wanted at LT?

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Specifically as a pass blocker. They were very similar.

It's kinda funny if they get in pass spots and we throw BJ Thompson out there, that is the exact player that makes OBJ look awful.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Mecca

It's kinda funny if they get in pass spots and we throw BJ Thompson out there, that is the exact player that makes OBJ look awful.

Yeah, especially when paired with a strong interior rush that is going to create push and collapse the pocket. You send a speed rusher wide so Brown is chasing them around the arc and then let the power rushers crush the pocket.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

On the main Bengals board, they're going nuts looking at how badly Smith rated by PFF measures last year...

While completely ignoring Orlando Brown's grades...

It's ironic.

PFF grades are literally worthless. Arbitrary numbers regurgitated on a weekly basis. Go check out Trent Williams grades for a great example of this. Gives up 2 bad sacks back to back that completely ended any shot the 49ers had of getting back in the game, regardless of how slim they were at that point, and it's still the same score on a week to week basis.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

PFF grades are literally worthless. Arbitrary numbers regurgitated on a weekly basis. Go check out Trent Williams grades for a great example of this. Gives up 2 bad sacks back to back that completely ended any shot the 49ers had of getting back in the game, regardless of how slim they were at that point, and it's still the same score on a week to week basis.

Oh, I place no stock in them. Just thought it was funny they're all like "Look how bad Smith was! So many pressures! Bad grades!" while ignoring the same for Brown.

[JPH83]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Oh, I place no stock in them. Just thought it was funny they're all like "Look how bad Smith was! So many pressures! Bad grades!" while ignoring the same for Brown.

77 for Brown, 70 for Smith. Not really sure what that means to be honest but looking at other "scores" it looks a fairly reasonable difference. On the other hand Smith had a year with a higher score than OBJ has ever got.

[JPH83]

Originally Posted by Mecca

It's kinda funny if they get in pass spots and we throw BJ Thompson out there, that is the exact player that makes OBJ look awful.

I would love it if this happened. They think they've stolen OBJ from us on the cheap and then oops, our 5th rounder is his kryptonite.

[FringeNC]

https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2023...ec2200016d64f4

“Extremely gifted, one of the most athletic, physically gifted left tackles that I’ve seen in going on 13 years now,” Gabbert said of Smith. “And, I told Patrick (Mahomes) when we all got here, I was like, he’s going to help this team a lot. He’s going to help solidify that front, with JT (Jawaan Taylor) and Donny (Donovan Smith) on the edges and our interior guys that’s got to be the best, if not the best offensive line in the NFL.”

[AdolfOliverBush]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

"...that’s got to be the best, if not the best offensive line in the NFL.”

Well said, Blaine.

[Dunerdr]

Is this piece of shit an all pro yet?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Yeah, especially when paired with a strong interior rush that is going to create push and collapse the pocket. You send a speed rusher wide so Brown is chasing them around the arc and then let the power rushers crush the pocket.

I will note that Browns worst ass kickings came across his face due to the THREAT of the player in question running the arc.

I think someone like BJ Thompson can have some success against him, yes. But OBJ is a smart player - you can't play LT with feet like his if you're an idiot. If he knows you're going upfield on him, he can handle that. But what happened was he we look to cheat and then get smoked across his face to the inside because he doesn't have the agility to recover when he'd make that aggressive slide/set.

Can Thompson punish him like that? Probably not at the moment, no. Uzi, OTOH, who has some experience with interior rushing and seems to have a slightly better 1st step than Karlaftis, might be able to pull off something like that. He can get OBJ rocking a little then use that rip move to get across him and into Burrow's lap.

Thompsons best attribute might actually be as something of a decoy. You put him alongside Jones, for instance, and get him to draw OBJ off the line quickly before he can give the G any help, then you've created a really nice matchup on the interior. Omenihu might be another guy you could use there.

Karlaftis - Jones - Omenihu - Thompson might be the sort of alignment that gives the Bengals fits in small doses. I just don't see how they can block up that interior, especially if you're using Thompson on the weak side to simply pull the LT out into space as he runs the arc.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

PFF grades are literally worthless. Arbitrary numbers regurgitated on a weekly basis. Go check out Trent Williams grades for a great example of this. Gives up 2 bad sacks back to back that completely ended any shot the 49ers had of getting back in the game, regardless of how slim they were at that point, and it's still the same score on a week to week basis.

So why do so many people seize on 'pressures' as a viable statistic? Pressures are graded in almost an identical manner to anything PFF does. Moreover, many sources that are providing those pressure stats are providing the stat COMPILED by PFF.

We need to stop pretending like 'pressures' means anything. The concept does - legitimate pressure can impact plays obviously. But the statistic doesn't - it's simply not a reliable measure of any sort.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

So why do so many people seize on 'pressures' as a viable statistic? Pressures are graded in almost an identical manner to anything PFF does. Moreover, many sources that are providing those pressure stats are providing the stat COMPILED by PFF.

We need to stop pretending like 'pressures' means anything. The concept does - legitimate pressure can impact plays obviously. But the statistic doesn't - it's simply not a reliable measure of any sort.

PFF grades are very reliable when they back up whatever point I’m trying to make. Otherwise, they suck.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

PFF grades are very reliable when they back up whatever point I’m trying to make. Otherwise, they suck.

Amen. This is something that is over looked to often. If more people understood how this works it would be much more peacful around here.