Rookie Voting Disrespected Lavonte David
February 3rd, 2013
Lavonte David had the second-most solo tackles in the NFL last season, and the most by a rookie. Plus, he made his team’s defensive calls from Day 1, and he was among the best in the NFL at tackles for a loss while being a force on the league’s No. 1 run defense.
David also managed a couple of sacks and a pick and played on all three downs.
So Joe was stunned to see David squeak into fifth place in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting unveiled last night. Deserving Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly won the award. However, David finished behind Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, Packers cornerback Casey Hayward and Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins, respectively.
For Joe, it was a travesty that the Associated Press team of writer voters gave Wagner 11 votes to David’s two.
Unlike David, Wagner did not make his team’s defensive calls all season, and he was off the field in passing situations for a chunk of the year. And Wagner didn’t have David’s solo tackle numbers. Wagner was a stud rookie, but it’s nothing more than ignorance that would have led a writer to vote for Wagner over David.
Joe suspects the horrendous Bucs’ pass defense numbers, combined with Seattle being a winning team, led to David losing the perception game among national writers who hardly studying rookies intricately. Regardless, that doesn’t take away from David getting disrespected.
February 3rd, 2013 at 1:15 am
Some great points here Joe. I thought this was a bunch of BS Lavonte got no love! I think the voting for MVP needs to be looked at also its way to much of a QB award
February 3rd, 2013 at 1:23 am
I agree Joe, it’s wasn’t fair for David after all his hard work. Not that one place up would have made a world of difference, but c’mon, the stats don’t lie. Matter of fact, Kuechly only had 103 solo tackles to David’s 112. It just seems that Tampa is being shunned one way or another on a national level. I’m even surprised they didn’t shun Sapp somehow. Thank goodness for Ira’s Sapp campaign.
February 3rd, 2013 at 1:26 am
You’re being kind Joe. I say David should have beat out Kuechly as well. Head to head, David made his presence known while Kuechly did not.
February 3rd, 2013 at 1:59 am
He was more deserving of mention than what he got, thats for sure. Total disrespect. But what can you do other than use it for fuel. Im sure thats what he’ll do too. With Lavonte on the team, hopefully one day he’ll hoist the only award that really counts, the Lombardi!
February 3rd, 2013 at 2:26 am
I love the fire you have in this article Joe carry it into the new season get excited, fire up the troops I’m ready, against all odds, lets prove something this year
February 3rd, 2013 at 2:37 am
@MadMax
“hopefully one day he’ll hoist the only award that really counts, the Lombardi!”
NICE … 🙂
February 3rd, 2013 at 7:50 am
This nearly sent me into another Jack Daniels binge. Anywho….On NFL Radio, Jim Miller said that Kuechly was “Clearly the best and it wasn’t even close”….but Adam Schein then immediately mentioned Lavonte. (i sent Jim a obscene tweet)
February 3rd, 2013 at 8:24 am
I would have voted Wagner over all the others. David a second. I don’t know how Jenkins got a single vote.
February 3rd, 2013 at 9:10 am
I turned off that show last night, after they didn’t even show a clip on him for DROY candidates.
February 3rd, 2013 at 9:13 am
Just another case of NATIONAL BAY AREA HATE coming down. Kuechly didnt do HALF AS MUCH for his team than Lavonte’.
February 3rd, 2013 at 9:48 am
In regards to MadMax’s take – the Bucs will use this disrespect as fuel for the “Us Against the World” battle cry. It will serve to rally all the troops.
These are clearly just opinion polls, and the under educated press are making the votes. Yes, I am a little bitter David did not get more love.
February 3rd, 2013 at 10:07 am
Joe.. Where you giving these writers that info and talking up David? You should be connected enough to know who these writers are. Ira did his job. Maybe we needed someone pointing these things out before the vote took place..
February 3rd, 2013 at 10:28 am
I say who cares….
We’ll see who’s the better player in 5 years…
February 3rd, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Joe, Warren Sapp said last night that when they were called the “yucks” by someone before a game in the 90’s, he turned to Brooks and said it stops right now, right here.
I can see GMC turning to David and the troops and saying from now on we will teach respect like the last generation of Bucs, plow them.You cannot piss off a Buc and expect to smile after the game.
We will see and enjoy what has started next year and the years to come.
By the way, what are your thoughts that the new special teams guy may start Mike Smith for returns?
February 3rd, 2013 at 1:55 pm
@Have A Nice Day said,
“I would have voted Wagner over all the others”
Please, …do explain?
February 3rd, 2013 at 4:35 pm
I think Wagner had the bigger impact and played the better game. Second in solo tackles among ILBs with only 8 missed tackles, one of the best QB coverage ratings, forth in defensive stops, 4th in tackles for loss, only allowed 3 total TDs, 4 PDs, 3 INTs and 2 sacks. That is a hell of a season. He was arguably the best ILB this season.
February 3rd, 2013 at 5:53 pm
@Have A Nice Day
He had 86 solo tackles, 3rd behind David and Kuechly.
He only had 6 stuffs totaling 17 stuff yards, compared to Kuechly’s 11 for 30, and David’s 19 for 44
Except for int’s he was categorically behind both Kuechly and David in overall stats.
Just like Joe said ” it’s nothing more than ignorance that would have led a writer to vote for Wagner over David.”
Much less over Keuchly also,
But somehow, you select Wagner over both?
Does being on a team that makes it to post season really mean more than the actual stats?
February 3rd, 2013 at 6:09 pm
I’m not surprised at all. The Bucs just don’t get national attention. Period. Remember, it took an injury to get Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson in the pro bowl. No one gives our team a chance and it pisses me off.
February 3rd, 2013 at 6:09 pm
Bobby Wagner plays for Seattle(#3 on Defense) He has all kind of supports.
Kuechly plays along side Jon Beason(one of the best LB in the league)
What did L. David have? Qincy Black? M. Foster? C’mon, it so obvious that David is the best Defensive Rookie this year!!!
February 3rd, 2013 at 7:04 pm
@4everBuc – Wagner also was tops in run stop percentage with 14.4%.
I am not one to sit and stare at plain tackle stats and believe that is the whole story. I know better. He was arguably the best ILB in the league and certainly the best 4-3 MLB. That can not be said of either David or Kuechly at their respective positions.
David did great and I am not putting him down at all. The guy played extremely well. Kuechly looked more like Ruud. Wagner was just better at his position.
February 4th, 2013 at 9:43 pm
I don’t have the link, but some time back, I read at PFF that David had had the most ”significant stops”–plays that really matter–than any other other player in NFL in years, in 2012.
Just a great year for rookies overall, unfortunately.