Buccaneers Most Disappointing Players of the 2016 Season
Donovan Smith
For anyone that has read my posts, you know my feeling. The offensive line is the key to any offense. It doesn’t matter what the skilled position players do if the offensive line has a bad year. The Bucs offensive line took steps backwards this year and I look at Donovan Smith as the most disappointing. He’s the blind side protector and the most important player on the line.
In the passing game, the Bucs allowed eight more sacks in 2016 than they did in 2015. That’s never a good look for a team on the rise. In the running game, the difference was stark. In 2015 the Bucs averaged 4.8 yards per carry, in 2016 they dropped to 3.6 yards per carry.
When the run was designed to go Smith’s way the numbers dipped just as much. According to Football Outsiders, runs around left end in 2015 went for 4.94 yards per carry, and runs at left tackle went for 3.4 yards per carry. When adjusted to 2016, the runs at left tackle were about the same at 3.46 yards per carry. But, around left end, they dropped to 3.17 yards per carry.