The Mental Check-Up
August 24th, 2016
Lavonte David talks to Joe
The health of the Bucs defense will be tested Friday against the Browns.
That’s mental health, Lavonte David told Joe after practice at One Buc Palace.
The Tampa Bay defense expects to play into the third quarter but the key test is mental not physical — in the brand new Mike Smith defense.
“The whole defense being able to communicate with guys you’re going to be on the field with, eliminating your mistakes, you know, going out there playing fast and playing football,” David said.
David said he’s “very curious” to see how the defense performs in a full-half test.
“We’re the one’s who are going to have to set the tempo,” David said.
“No setbacks” is a key, David said, and when adversity comes, David wants to see the defense “rebound and move on from it.”
Joe believes that is so very critical for David and his mates, considering the first play of the last regular season crushed David and the mentality of the team.
August 24th, 2016 at 12:29 pm
he’s right…sadly this team still has some mental weak players that are major contributors and that we count on to win games….we’ll see if things have changed….GO BUCS!!!
August 24th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
You really cannot blame them, Going into year 2 under that passive, obsolete system was very disheartening!!!! I know I was all offseason and preseason going into that year!!! know that the other team out game planed them and knowing that they were already out-coached in the first few minutes!!!
Now it is Coach Smitty job to instill that confidence and swagger!!! They really need to complete some plays vs Atlanta whether it is just a solid pass rush or to shut down the pass game will go a long way this year!!! A couple more weeks and it get “REAL” gentlemen!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
It seems the whole overall team is losing momentum/ juice/ fire lately
this YIPS gate is getting carried away
If Roberto shanks again at home this friday and the team plays with no juice…
what do we do?
Can this actually effect our whole season before it even starts?
im being serious
August 24th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
***wondering if its better to hold off on the new video boards this friday
August 24th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
This will be a real litmus test. I’m extremely curious about this defense. The 1’s played well against Philly but not so much against the Jags. WHO ARE WE?
August 24th, 2016 at 2:04 pm
@Bucsfanman
They are a team that had 2 practice games ( pre-season) against marginal teams!!!!!
August 24th, 2016 at 2:06 pm
I’d like to see the Buccs depth wide receivers get a shot with the 1’s towards the end of the first half into the third quarter to get a quality look at to at Krause, Bell, Reedy, Sheppard, etc….
August 24th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
I got it Realist! I’m just wondering who we really are. We’ve played vanilla offenses with vanilla defenses while shuttling players like face-cards at a Vegas casino. WHO ARE WE?
Aren’t you curious?!
August 24th, 2016 at 3:35 pm
I’d like to see no injuries then play backups Friday. These guys need to be motivated by losing their jobs, not coaches pep talks..
August 24th, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Maybe our D line improves. But I am not impressed with our backend.safeties that is. We will know what we truly have after about game six. Bucs need to win 3 of their 1st 5 to have a shot. Arizona and Denver will be tough for sure.
August 25th, 2016 at 8:28 am
I think guys like Ayers will not let this team be mentally weak anymore. They have a new mindset and more confidence this year so hopefully all that crap will change. U already know that crap wouldn’t happen on the other side of the ball with #3 in charge. Not a chance.