Takeaways
August 13th, 2014
Bucs LB Lavonte David talks takeaways.
It was a funny scene yesterday. Josh McCown dropped back and noticed wide receiver Chris Owusu breaking loose on a crossing pattern from the right to the left side. As Owusu neared the sideline, he shook linebacker Lavonte David loose and got behind him.
Trouble for McCown (and Owusu) was that David read the pass perfectly and was in position for a pick.
Instead, the ball careened off David’s hands and right into the arms of Owusu, who hauled in the pass and got two feet inbounds.
David was upset with himself, knowing he had a pick in his mitts. As he returned to the defensive huddle, Bucs coach Lovie Smith looked at David and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “You should have had that ball, Lavonte.”
After the practice, Joe had a chance to talk to David about takeaways.
“[Turnovers are] a big emphasis on this team,” David said. “That is one thing we want to take advantage of. When we get an opportunity to get our hands on the ball, we want to get it any way.
“I underestimated the pass [to Owusu]. I knew it was coming right to me but it curved over a little bit. So I reached my hand out, at least get a hand on it. I don’t handle the ball enough. I have to adjust. Receivers, they get the ball thrown right to them. So I have to adjust to it.”
David later explained why Lovie wants more takeaways from a team that was ranked No. 3 in takeaways last season.
“As a defense, you have to have high expectations for yourself to accomplish things, David said. “We want to be No. 1 in every defensive category, to be honest. It all takes a lot of work and right now that is what training camp is for.”
August 13th, 2014 at 9:29 am
Can players really do better by being told not to drop interceptions?
As if they wanted to drop it?
August 13th, 2014 at 9:32 am
They need to score 9 touchdowns this season.
Which will probably outnumber what our offense gets.
August 13th, 2014 at 9:37 am
Does anyone know if we conduct specific drills for the Dbacks’ receiving skills?….It seems to me that they don’t get that many opportunities to catch the ball in practice or in games. No wonder they have drops.
August 13th, 2014 at 9:41 am
How does McCown have any time to drop back in practice? I imagine McCoy in the backfield on every play.
August 13th, 2014 at 9:44 am
I love David’s attitude and fire. I hope he and the other defensive players take a cue from David’s quote “I don’t handle the ball enough” and take some time with the QBs throwing to them, or at least the juggs machine.
Lookin’ forward to this year!
August 13th, 2014 at 10:20 am
Joe- would you mind asking the “big dog?” Today to explain to us buc fans about his theory of the “complete random” nature of turnovers and therefore how Lovie is wasting time focusing on it? Would love to hear him dazzle us with this nugget of intellect again!
August 13th, 2014 at 10:21 am
How can you not love Lavonte David?
One of the finest linebackers in the entire NFL. Talent, desire and work ethic. Need more like him to become a playioff team.
August 13th, 2014 at 11:46 am
if he could catch he would be playing offense
August 13th, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Turnovers change and win/lose games.
Bowers could have had a monster int return (he was in stride) or possibly a pick six.
Wright dropped a pick that was, by NFL standards, thrown right to him.
These both would have been drive killers, but more importantly they give our offense another chance at scoring as well as team momentum.
On offense, we throw a pick six and have two fumbles. Coincidentally the game is lost by less than seven points.
But given how last year played out, winning the turnover battle means diddly-squat if you are running around out there with an inept offense. There were times that I felt like I was watching the final game of The Waterboy over and over. Teams weren’t taking knees and handing the ball over, but anytime we got a takeaway we played offense like the damned South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs.