“Run-And-Hit Linebacker”
May 12th, 2016
Prized pupil for Bucs DC.
Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith may already have his favorite player. And it seems to be outside linebacker Lavonte David.
Joe is only guessing David is Smith’s favorite player because of the way Smith openly gushed about David during a meeting with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club today.
When Smith was asked about working with David, it was as if someone flipped an “on” switch. Smith beamed and gushed about the Pro Bowl linebacker.
“Oh, gosh! Oh, Lavonte has been a pleasure to work with!” Smith said with a smile from ear to ear. “He is very smart. He is a student of the game. He understands football. He understands schemes. It’s fun to have those types of conversations.”
To hear Smith talk, David very well may be the smartest guy on the defense.
“He is usually about three or four steps ahead of everyone else in terms of looking at the playbook,” Smith said. “He is a football junkie. He wants to be great and I can see why. It’s not just about what he does on the field but what he does in the classroom and what he does with his teammates.”
Joe is excited to learn just how Smith plans to use David. Smith made no secret he strives to have his defense be as flexible as possible, and Smith also noted today he will scheme against an opponent’s offensive strengths. What a concept!
With David being such a sideline-to-sideline player who can cover and blitz, the mind whirls at the thought of what an unleashed David could do to an offense.
Then Smith dropped a great line in describing David as a “run-and-hit linebacker.”
May 12th, 2016 at 3:17 pm
Our starting LB group is super solid. I’m excited about what LD54, Kwon and Daryl Smith may be able to accomplish as a group this year. It will be very interesting to see who the back-ups will be as well.
May 12th, 2016 at 3:25 pm
With stronger coverage from our CBs…..I think we can afford to send our LBs after the QB more often……the speed of LVD & Kwon can do some real damage.
May 12th, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Can’t wait to see david unleashed combined with the Wrath of Kwon. This D can be legendary if the CBs can cover long enough for us to get to get to the QB and cover well when we can’t.
May 12th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
“To hear Smith talk, David very well may be the smartest guy on the defense.”
Well, he DID call the plays right out of college.
May 12th, 2016 at 3:54 pm
I am excited to see what a real Defensive Coordinator can do with our Linebacker talent AND our entire Defense for that matter
May 12th, 2016 at 4:04 pm
after 2 seasons under schiano, LVD was probably one of the 5 players a D Coordinator would most want on his roster. I think he hade a better season than Kuechly the year LK won DMVP. Splash plays everywhere, and not just sacks or just picks, but a little of everything – TFLs, FFs, PBUs. there was a lot wrong with coach Schiano’s gameplans, but he definitely utilized LVD in the way he was born to be utilized. After the scheme change he disappeared frequently and appeared to lose all kinds of confidence.
I look forward to seeing the old Lavonte this season. That guy was one of the most exciting defensive players around. Fingers crossed, his resurgence coincides with more team success this time around and he gets the recognition his play deserves
May 12th, 2016 at 4:05 pm
@LVD54….START STRONG….FINISH STRONGER!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 12th, 2016 at 4:16 pm
My favorite player by a mile
May 12th, 2016 at 4:44 pm
Ummm we saw a lot of that under Schiano..
May 12th, 2016 at 5:22 pm
If it can stay healthy, this Bucs defense is going to surprise a lot of people. The starting talent’s there. Wish the depth was a bit stronger, but that’ll come.
May 12th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
pick6 covered about everything I was thinking. He expressed it better than I would have. LVD back to his sacking ways is exciting.
May 12th, 2016 at 6:02 pm
I hope Joe post most of the Coach Smitty interview!!! I can not believe the difference a year can make!!!! So excited to see some Buc Football!!!! I also loved hearing that this defense needs 15 starters for all the looks they will give!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!
May 12th, 2016 at 6:08 pm
I would be surprised if they aren’t scheming ways to use David and Alexander as pressure blitzers. Each of those guys could be 5+ sack guys per year with a coach that knows how to disguise coverages good enough to blitz. Seems like we have athletic enough rush ends in Smith and Spence to run some zone dog blitzes.
May 12th, 2016 at 8:26 pm
I love Mike Smith’s attitude. Two articles covered by Joe today and Smith is gushing about two different players
May 12th, 2016 at 8:27 pm
Enthusiasm is contagious! And Mike Smith seems to be bringing a sense of excitement. You got a love it!
May 12th, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Rush this!!! Scary BLITZ pkg
LD54 RA91 GM93 NS57 KA58
May 13th, 2016 at 9:46 pm
You know realist I knew you would be up here with that mess. For a grown man you are so juvenile. Why don’t you give it a rest and get out of his underwear. Let it go, grow up and stop being such a little girl. Anybody who thinks of another man as much as you do need to check his man card. Lovie Smith is gone and would like his scrotum back.
May 14th, 2016 at 1:34 am
I feel as Kwon is going to move to outside this season and LVD on the outside making this linebacking core superb if we can solid play from the middle from the veteran Daryl Smith. He’s proven to be able to stay healthy and bring pro bowl caliber play on the field with every snap. This is going to be a super fast and strong defense loaded with guys who get to the ball.