Defensive Player Of The Year?
December 12th, 2013
Joe is searching for words to continue boasting about the greatness of Lavonte David, and Joe’s running dry of superlatives without being redundant. Sometimes, the numbers speak for themselves.
It’s getting to the point where Joe likens David to Albert Pujols in his prime. No need to try to convince anyone how extraordinarily good he is, just sit back and enjoy the show.
David is playing at such a high level, that he is even turning the heads of ornery types like that of prickly Pete Prisco. The CBS Sports NFL scribe, who some refer to as the Skip Bayless of Twitter, is now on the David bandwagon and Prisco seems to be launching a campaign to have David named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David is a beast and now a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. He had two picks against the Bills and a sack. He now has five sacks and five interceptions. That’s enough to get him into the conversation.
Then, Prisco, as he is wont to do, turned to Twitter.
@PriscoCBS: Spent the past couple of days studying Lavonte David. Get that man in the DPOY talk. Beast
Should David be discussed as Defensive Player of the Year? You bet. Will he be named? Joe will be willing to lay cash he won’t.
This is not to say David isn’t deserving. He is. But it is hard to see how a player, unless he is the second coming of Lawrence Taylor, can be named Defensive Player of the Year when, at best, his team will have seven wins.
It doesn’t help that most remember David’s gaffe in New York on Opening Day that cost the Bucs a win. It happened in the media capital of the world. Had that happened in, say, Jacksonville or St. Louis, few eyeballs would have seen it much less remembered it.
Sadly, too few who vote for player annual awards don’t see or watch all NFL games, only highlights. That play to set up the Jets win is seared in people’s memories. Thankfully, for David, his play is overshadowing that dark moment in Gotham.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:25 am
LVD will only get better (hard to believe that’s possible) so he will make it next year or the year after if not this year.
If we had one more linebacker like LVD (Barr or Mack) and we pick up a pass rusher in FA, our defense could be the best in the NFL.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:42 am
If anyone can find one and I really mean ONE glitch in his game please inform me . this is the difference between the NFL and the NBA . when they find a player regardless of color with SUPER STAR talent and SUPER STAR attitude that player gets to shine and showcase his SUPERSTAR ways. LAVONTE DAVID is A SUPER STAR and the world will never know it because he will never tell you. You match his stats with anyone in his first two years ( HOF INCLUDED) and I bet they can stand tall . NBA vs NFL . no disrespect to Mr Abraham but he is old and on his way out the door . LAVONTE DAVID you have a upcoming stud . both have great weeks . now in the NBA LVD would of one that weekly award because they promote their future . now the NFL …well we see what they do .
December 12th, 2013 at 9:43 am
I like mack ALOT! That dude is going to be a stud, maybe means can pull some strings and get the bucs to grab him.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:52 am
Awesome story. The sun poking out from behind the clouds. LVD in particular, but can’t leave out GMC too! Then there are also some rays of sunshine from Dotson, Tim Wright, Revis is rounding into form, Banks, and Barron seems to be figuring it out.
Hope for the future. Who is responsible for finding these guys? lol
December 12th, 2013 at 10:17 am
It is fitting that his number is 54. Just one less than 55, but almost there.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:26 am
I still think the personal foul that cost us the game, called on David at the end of opener was a bogus call. He stinking pushed him out of bounds just before he stepped out. A homer call for that cesspool up there. Why is pro football tax exempt?
December 12th, 2013 at 10:40 am
The Bucs always get snubbed in the “… of the year” awards, even when they deserve it.
I agree GMC shound be considered as well.
December 12th, 2013 at 10:43 am
The difference in the Detroit Lions game was LVD’s 3 open field tackles on Reggie Bush, 2 on 3rd down. The man is a Stud
December 12th, 2013 at 11:00 am
He will get snubbed THIS year due to the BUCS’ W-L record
or
because this is the first year he is getting such notoriety.
Sometimes these awards come a year LATER than they should.
Either way,
LVD IS A BEAST!!!
Glad the Nation on Notice
December 12th, 2013 at 11:09 am
Also,
like stated above by others,
this team is only a player or two away from being a VERY Deadly defense.
Who do you game plan for?
GMC on the Line
LVD at LB
Revis and Goldston in the Secondary
December 12th, 2013 at 11:38 am
Prisco just wrote another article about LVD, breaking down a few plays from the past couple weeks. It’s a pretty good read.
December 12th, 2013 at 11:44 am
The only weakness in our defense is the scheme. Those stupid stunts that cause us to lose contain cost us the Seattle game and allow every mobile QB to run free. When we sent the DE’s in the Buffalo game they were getting pressure. I say keep that up. Gholston is starting to show up and even Bowers is getting there. Sure takes the pressure off of GMC and when the QB turns back inside GMC is there to finish him off. This defense took a long time to gel but it is starting to gel. If we could get Khalil Mack this could be like the Bucs of old. Frightening.
December 12th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Remember like what, 2 years ago, when Felix Hernandez won the Cy Young with (I think) a 15-13 record on a bad Seattle team? If LVD was playing on a 7-6 team right now he’d be the front runner to win DPOY. Unfortunately for LVD football, unlike baseball, isn’t a stats based sport. Worse players on better teams win awards all the time.
December 12th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
I have been preaching this for some time now.
December 12th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
*Lavonte David (2014) 1st Team All-Pro…Has a ring 2 it.
Draft
1st Round-Taylor Lewan (He’s played against some of the best, and haven’t yielded a sack this year)
2nd Round-Aaron Dobson (Dudes a Freakin Beast) Awarded the Nagurski Trophy & Lombardi Award. No to mention in 2013, finishing with 54 tackles overall, 26.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and a blocked kick. The 26.5 tackles for loss were more than any other player in the country, and Donald was the only defensive lineman to finish in the top five. Put him Next to GMC and it over!!
December 12th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
*Not to mention
December 12th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
LVD is Easily worthy of DPOY
Will he get it? Nooooo
But at least he will get Notoriety and get his name out there.
Just like Geno Atkins and Navorro Bowman, (both not first round picks) it took both two great years of playing to finally go All Pro. LVD is next.
December 12th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
Using this points list
Solo Tackles (1 pt)
Assistant Tackles (.6 pts)
Interceptions (12 pts)
Pass Deflections (2 pts)
Sacks (5.8 pts)
Forced Fumbles (5 pts)
Defensive Touchdowns (12 pts)
2002 Derrick Brooks 254.8 DPOY
2011 Terrell Suggs 218.2 DPOY
2012 JJ Watt 247.1 DPOY
Lavonte David 230.8
Kiko Alonso 190
Vontaze Burfict 173.8
NaVorro Bowman 161.4
Tamba Hali 160
Robert Quinn 158.8
Luke Kuechly 156.8
Robert Mathis 156.7
JJ Watt 142.1
Mario Williams 107.8
December 12th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
@ Alexstotle
That’s very cool