High Praise For Lavonte David
July 26th, 2015
Good Sunday morning to you all.
Joe has a surprise. Based on the intricate data Joe receives about readers and their patterns (Joe know exactly what fans like to read), Joe’s going to go all positive here, which is bad for business when the Bucs are losing.
Joe guesses he could spin the following as vindication, which isn’t really positive but more revenge. It seems the wailing of Bucs fans may finally be ringing in folks ears.
The wailing? That would be the gross oversight of Bucs stud linebacker Lavonte David. He has yet to make a Pro Bowl — that’s not on fans — and Joe knows that David is frustrated because his stellar play does not rank him among the elite linebackers of the game.
That seems to be changing.
In a piece on the top 100 players in the NFL, Bill Barnwell, typing for Grantland.com, has David in the top-third of his top 100 and goes on to believe David may be the most overlooked player in the league.
31. Lavonte David, LB, Buccaneers (56)
He’s quite possibly the most underrated player in football, since the biggest moment of his career was that very questionable personal-foul penalty that cost the Buccaneers a game against the Jets in Week 1 of 2013. David led all outside linebackers in solo run tackles (59) in 2013, then topped it by leading players at all positions in solo run tackles (61) last year. He was also sixth in tackles for loss (17), which is remarkable for a player who rarely rushes the quarterback. After Watt, David is the best run defender in football.
Wow! Only J.J. Watt is better against the run? That is some significant high praise there, folks.
Reading this reminds Joe of talking to Gil Brandt about David two years ago. The famed architect of the 1970s Cowboys dynasty was at a Super Bowl media cattle call and Joe mentioned David’s name, and Brandt stood back and said, “Ooohhh… he’s sssooo good.”
July 26th, 2015 at 8:13 am
Show him the Money!!!!!!!!!!!
July 26th, 2015 at 8:14 am
Make the deal now!!!!!
“Show me the Money!”
July 26th, 2015 at 8:31 am
LVD should be the highest paid outside 4-3 LB in the game, because he is the best! That means paying him around $7million a year…above Butfict and Thomas Davis. So something around $42mil over 6 years, with $20 mil guaranteed would probably be the appropriate place to start.
July 26th, 2015 at 8:31 am
Good morning to you Joe. I don’t quite get the surprise. Do you mean Buc fans don’t read everything on the site? Or do you mean Buc fans get irate in unison when one of their teams star players gets overlooked? The first negative comment I’ve seen towards LVD came yesterday, someone with his David boo hoo nonsense. If you are saying Buc fans rally around David, well hell yeah!
July 26th, 2015 at 8:31 am
The best part about David is not just his play but his character. He wants to play hard. This guy is my number one buccaneer that needs to be signed and kept until he retires. All around he’s is what you want on your team. If they don’t extend him it would be a huge shock. I’m remaining positive right now. Jason light can’t be that stupid
July 26th, 2015 at 9:23 am
Can you imagine all the praise he would receive, if he actually played for a coach and dc that knew how to use him. We can only pray that LVD and GMC don’t get “Grubere’d” by this incompetent staff.
July 26th, 2015 at 9:38 am
Bucs don’t need to worry about a high guarantee for LVD….he will absolutely perform at a high level for years to come……Pay him..
July 26th, 2015 at 9:39 am
Lavonte David was frequently the best player on the field under Schiano. Currently my favorite player on the team. Hope incompetent Lovie Smith starts to find a way take advantage of David’s unique skill set. Hope lapdog Licht starts to earn his title of GM by crafting a fair deal that acknowledges his abilities and impact as a playmaker regardless of whether or not the poor coaching puts it to use.
July 26th, 2015 at 9:53 am
Pay the kid already. Both Stotle’s say so! lol
July 26th, 2015 at 10:05 am
Dallas, Lovie made alot of mistakes last year. But just because he dosent send 54 to blitz as often does not mean he is being used wrong. If you prefer a defense that sends the will to blitz with more man coverage underneath, thats fine. But to say one defense is wrong the way it uses a player is reaching a bit.
I have no problems with Lovies scheme and I expect us to pick up where we left off last year and be really good by years end. If not, Lovie will probwbly be gone, deservedly so. And thats his own fault. Bringing in Mccown and Collins and trading Zuttah for a sixth, I cant justify that. Thats why he went 2-14 last year. So he should be on the hot seat after that. But Lovie sucks because Lavonte dosent blitz?
July 26th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Everyone seems to be assuming that this is all on Licht to make the deal happen. It is not. LVD, and his agent, need to be interested in signing a Buccaneer contract. Lovie (and Frazier) need to convince LVD that they will make him happy here.
Think of it this way. Let’s say your boss was constantly turning down projects that were exactly what what your skills were meant for, the kind of projects you enjoyed and could further your career. How long would you want to work for this guy before you started scouting the companies that took those projects?
Not saying that this is the case, but…
July 26th, 2015 at 10:50 am
Implement a scheme that highlights his talents and pay him. David was a playmaker, under Lovie he’s not.
July 26th, 2015 at 10:52 am
LVD should sign with a stable team (Steelers, Patriots, Packers, etc) and go on to play where he will be well prepared, well used and well recognized.
July 26th, 2015 at 10:53 am
If the front 4 can’t get pressure and u have a lb that can get sacks why not blitz him more? Lovie showed by shipping Revis out he refuses to change his scheme to fit his players talents
July 26th, 2015 at 11:11 am
LVD should sign with a stable team (Steelers, Patriots, Packers, etc) and go on to play where he will be well prepared, well used and well recognized.
I do not question anybody’s “fan cred” as in they’re not really Buc fans. But that comment just sucks and isn’t even accurate. First off…again…who wants to live in Pittsburgh, Boston or Green Bay? Have you ever been to Green Bay in the winter? LVD will get to shelter half of that 20 Million? guaranteed from income tax. Mass taxes may be the highest…Pennsylvania and WI are not Florida.
Sadly it is what it is. LVD made the most boneheaded play of his life in the opening game in the BIG FREAKING APPLE with millions and millions of eyes.
Yes it was a questionable call, and for people who watch LVD regularly like Buc fans, it was certainly not typical. But it WAS an early dramatic impression on the rest of the nation and first impressions are always hard to erase.
The Bucs will win 10 this year and LVD will finally start to get his props.
July 26th, 2015 at 11:20 am
I wouldn’t fault him one bit if he left the team. No player wants to waste his prime years playing in the wrong scheme and for s losing franchise and coach.
Hope the Bucs turn it around but I’m not confident this team can turn it around until a GM or team VP is hired. Glazer Bros suck at picking coaches
July 26th, 2015 at 11:52 am
LVD is in the best scheme for his talent just like DB 55 was. DB took a few yrs to get it and so might LVD.
July 26th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
LVD and Levy from Detroit are by far the most underrated LBs in the league. I just pray that L&L aren’t thinking of replacing LVD with Alexander. Sounds ludicrous therefore it’s completely within the realm of possibility.
July 26th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
@ptwalk- did you see David under Schiano compared to Lovie? No sacks no ints under Lovie. Schiano and his staff knew how to use David
July 26th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Our best player.
July 26th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Tampa Tony I don’t recall DB55 ever amassing a great deal of sacks in a single season either and we all just watched him get inducted. You people talk as if you have professional experience in a field that you clearly don’t get paid in. Thank God for Lovie Smith”America’s HC”..
July 26th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
PAY DA MAN….NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 26th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Americas HC can barely win 2 games in a single season. Stop insulting America, please
July 26th, 2015 at 6:41 pm
@Dallas
I respect dissent but you’re statement is empirically wrong!!!
Americas HC can barely win 2 games in a single season.
That’s just wrong!!! Literally! You could have said barely won two games in 2014 and you would have been correct. You would have been honest then in admitting that base your loathing of Lovie on ONE SEASON!!!
Lovie Smith won 2 games ONCE!!! His next worse season he won FIVE!!!
One season he won 13!!! In two more he won 11. In two others he won 10 and then 9…good enough to win our sorry division.
And so this hyperbole, especially when it’s literally incorrect does not serve you well at all. You completely ignore context, history, and any perspective yet you expect us to take you seriously.
A little more BALANCE to your posts might gain you more cred…as in the verdict is still out on Lovie…he reached a Super Bowl and won eleven or more in three different seasons.
He had a horrible season last year. ONE YEAR!!! Against what otherwise was a good record.
People here can’t have it both ways!! If you are what your record says you are then last year Lovie did a horrible job. ONE horrid year doesn’t erase three seasons of 11 or more wins…another at ten another at nine. Even after last year’s disaster if you are what your record says you are…Lovie Smith is a winning coach. That’s a freaking fact and you can read it and weep.
IF he has another disaster this season like last then you’ll have more ammunition. Right now you guys are playing with nerf guns and no real ammo.
July 26th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
StPete- as the Bucs HC he barely won 2 games. You can bring up past years with another program and different players all you want but in this program that he took over and negotiated full control he lost 14 games in a single season. It is shameful and humiliating. Until he proves otherwise his record as the Bucs HC, “America’s HC”, he is the biggest loser. You can’t even give him credit for Winston because in all likelihood after earning the top pick in the draft the owners weren’t about to let him make another infamously incompetent Lovie decision.
When this guy wins more damn games then he has the opportunity to win back some credibility and respect from this fan.
And speaking of credibility, just because you don’t agree with me doesn’t make you the grand arbiter of sports blog contributer “cred”. Get over yourself and stop carrying water for a man that barely won 2 games as the HC of your favorite football team. You are embarrasing yourself.
July 26th, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Dallas
You are embarrasing yourself.
In psychological terms I believe that is referred to as “projection”. 🙂
If you wish to base your judgement of a man on 10% of his effort I’m glad I never worked for you. 10% of his career and you ignore the other 90%?
Because it was successful?
Do you believe you are what your record says you are?
Then Lovies record says he sucked for ONE year, was mediocre to poor a couple of others and then excellent for 70%.
July 26th, 2015 at 7:28 pm
Okay Doctor, shrink on the side?
If I hire someone based on some success that a candidate had in his previous position with another employer and then in the first year in my organization he makes horrendous decisions, displays poor judgement and overall proves to be incompetent I can assure that if still employed would be under harsh scrutiny and on a short leash. I hired this guy based on past performance with another organization but he will ultimately be judged on how he performs in his current job because it’s the real world with real money and real clear measures of performance. If you prove consistently that you cannot do the job by all the measures that count then you do not belong. Kinda simple as that!
July 26th, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Dallas
Last post made perfect sense. It’s the unbridled loathing that leads to the hyperbole.
Projection is just funnin’ ya.
And I think we’ve agreed that he sucked last year but you will change your take if he wins this year. That is fair and logical.
And I know your posts are at least 90% solid and so if you stumble occassionally I won’t make any blanket statements. Hopefully you and other posters will give me that same 10% screwup rule.
If you hired a chef to cook in your restaurant and your establishment had just been closed down by the health dept for food poisoning…the wait staff was totally incompetent and you had zero promotion…would you give that chef some time to turn it around?
July 26th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
StPete- that hypothetical is hard to judge but based on your scenario it is tough to argue giving this guy more time after he had my investment shut down.
Consider Donald Penn. Had a very good career with Tampa on some terrible teams and statistically had a bad year on a football team and organization in full meltdown mode. Did incompetent Lovie Smith and his little lapdog GM give two shts that he had a successful career before his last season? Nope and they unceremoniously kicked his ass to the curb only to replace him with a tiddy bar bouncer and part time appliance delivery man by the name of Anthony Collins (who?). Cuts both ways sir.
July 26th, 2015 at 8:12 pm
@noleonsatbuconsun- Brooks didn’t need to get sacks as he had a front 4 to get pressure. Since Lovie is too stubborn to adapt his defense to suit great players like Revis and David he will ultimately fail. Good coaches adapt their scheme to fit their best players, Lovie just doesn’t do that. He needs to, desperately