The Pewter Plank
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4 Buccaneers who must step up in week 11 vs. New Orleans Saints

By Cory Kinnan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 06: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after being sacked by Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 06: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after being sacked by Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands off the ball to offensive tackle Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands off the ball to offensive tackle Donovan Smith #76 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /

LT Donovan Smith

This offseason, Saints’ defensive linemen were celebrating when Donovan Smith got his three year extension worth $13 million annually. In the first matchup, Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport and company showed why they were celebrating as they tallied six total sacks of Jameis Winston. Smith has been struggling all season, but the pewter and red need a better showing out of him this Sunday if they want an opportunity to succeed.

The Buccaneers need Smith to, at the bare minimum, just get in the way of Jordan, Davenport and the rest of the New Orleans pass rush. Him and right tackle Demar Dotson have both surrendered a large portion of the Bucs’ 34 sacks allowed; this ranks them as fifth in the league below just the New York Giants, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and the Tennessee Titans.

Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, the Buccaneers cannot part ways with Smith without eating nearly $15 million in dead money, a task the team has historically been unwilling to do. Smith could at least work his way up to a respectable left tackle for the rest of this season and next season since the Buccaneers have no choice but to keep him on the roster.

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