The Unspoken Upgrade
September 10th, 2016
The Bucs’ elder statesman, starting strongside linebacker Daryl Smith.
The guy nobody talks about in the Bucs’ defense will be a huge focus for Joe tomorrow in the season-opener.
Daryl Smith, a veteran of a whopping 172 NFL starts, lines up at strongside linebacker for Tampa Bay.
Little was seen of Smith in preseason, as he was being held out with a minor injury. But Smith is healthy and he’s used to being an impact player — in every defense he’s played in, including Mike Smith’s years ago with Jacksonville.
Consider this often forgotten statistic:
Lavonte David and Smith are the only two NFL players with at least 350 tackles, five sacks, five interceptions and four forced fumbles over the past three years.
There’s nothing trivial about that trivia. Smith is a major upgrade from departed starter Danny Lansanah, and Smith played about 90 percent of snaps in Baltimore last season.
John Harbaugh raved about him at the 2016 NFL Owners Meetings, saying Smith “still has a couple of years left.”
Joe is dying to see if Smith stays on the field at times on third down, and Kwon Alexander takes occasionally takes a seat.
But more than that, Joe wants to see if the Bucs have another impact player, a true upgrade.
September 10th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
A upgrade at every level of the defense. This is going to be fun this year. Go Bucs!!!
September 10th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Doesn’t Kwon have the headset helmet? Smith and LCD don’t, if remember correctly.
Wouldn’t that mean Kwon has to stay on for third downs?
September 10th, 2016 at 2:57 pm
I hate autocorrect sometimes. LCD=LVD
September 10th, 2016 at 2:58 pm
All we need from smith is reliability at that position which the bucs haven’t had in years!!!!!
Smith is a major upgrade but let’s not get carried away like he’s a “Rodney Harrison” type of player.
All smith has to do is to stay in his zone and ensure gap integrity. ….that’s it!!!
September 10th, 2016 at 3:22 pm
Smith is in the perfect position…because he doesn’t need to play every down. We need him to stay health…playing less downs give Bucs a better chance of keeping him on the field throughout the year.
September 10th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
G
O
B
U
C
S
!
September 10th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Those are some very good stats that LVD and SMITH have compiled…..even though LVD was playing in an old, non-exciting, poorly coach, out-dated, defensive scheme…….but I know players play! Go Bucs!! Hey LVD let’s start the year with 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass interception !!!
September 10th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
@bighogheinous
That is why Joe had to say “over the past 3 years”!!!! At the rate LVD was going in the “playing in an old, non-exciting, poorly coach, out-dated, defensive scheme……” as you put it. It would have taken LVD54 3 to 4 years to get the stats that he put up in 1 year in Coach Schiano’s System!!!!!
But keep asking questions bighogheinous we will slowly teach you football!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
September 10th, 2016 at 4:14 pm
Your a special kind of…..hold that thought!
September 10th, 2016 at 4:50 pm
1 year in Coach Schiano’s System!!!!!
—————-
BOOM SHAKALAKA BOOM POW ZING. LMAO. Theat fool don’t know football.
LVD avg 100 solo tackles and damn near 150 total tackles per year. In his rookie year he ranked #8 in the league in tackles and has improved every year since. 2013 he ranked #5 and in the last 2 years #3. 🤔
Best part? He’s missed 2 games in his career yet I’m convinced he would have played hurt if Lovie wasn’t such a pisser.
Now as to upgrades, I’d rather have Smith at Mike cuz he knows the def so well. He would be the best conductor.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Bucs signed tight end/fullback Danny Vitale to their practice squad.
Yay!
September 10th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Speaking of upgrades I’ve been tracking several defensive players from last year’s team and quite a few of them are unemployed so I’d have to say there are quite a few personnel upgrades on defense. Off the top of my head I know Sterling Moore was cut by Buffalo, Henry Melton was cut by Denver, Danny Lansanah wasn’t picked up at all, and Mike Jenkins is still barely hanging around on AZ’s roster but on injury reserve.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:48 pm
@DB55
year INt SK Tkls assist on tackles
2012 1 2 112 27
2013 5 7 106 39
2014 0 1 101 44
2015 3 3 85 62
How was this improvement??? other than having to play in zone and jumping on piles after the slant patterns that went for first downs!!!!
also in 2012 and 2013 LVD54 was 3rd in the league for Tackles for Loss!!!!
Its 5:47!!! So I just told you what time it is!!! Twice!!!!!
September 10th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
That’s telling waterboy.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:52 pm
DB and Realist!!! We all on the same sideline☺.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:53 pm
We arguing the same exact thing. LVD was best under schiano but he’s a beast in and of himself. Who’s your favorite player? Mr. 54
Here’s where I got his tackle #s
http://m.espn.com/nfl/leagueleaders?groupId=9&statgroup=defense&category=totalTackles&season=2013&seasontype=2
September 10th, 2016 at 5:54 pm
Nosbos
I know right? Realist be ready at all times.
September 10th, 2016 at 5:58 pm
@DB55
go here
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DaviLa00.htm
It is a little more in depth!!!!!!!!! It even has game logged stats or splits on “more david pages” and it will break it down by year, month, even breaks it down for 1st 2nd, 3rd and 4th Quarters for the year!!!!!
September 10th, 2016 at 6:39 pm
Year Tackles Solo Asst Pass Defended Games 2012 (139). (112) (27) (5) (16) 2013 (145) (107) (38) (10) (16) 2014 (146) (101) (45) (4) (14) 2015 (147) (85) (62) (13) (16) There are the numbers DB55 & REALIST, stats can be read and molded to conform to anyone with an assanine agenda! 85 solo tackles last year is the only minute drop off that I would equate to LVD having to play beside the rooki KWON, no shade towards KWON, but he was a rooki calling out the defensive plays, it’s my opinion LVD was doing a little hand-holding or should I say coaching KWON up during the game, so it is my opinion that LVD’s career has had a solid 4 years and I’m looking forward to the same this year. The numbers say we have two of the better linebackers in the league over the past three seasons DB (dumb/ass)55 & REAL JACK/ASS, I say the numbers don’t lie!
September 10th, 2016 at 7:07 pm
Daryl Smith will be a blue ribbon player/coach to LVD and Kwon. The younger guys respect him. Hope Dixie Chicks are ready. Atlanta’s D needs help, but they’re still scary on O. I just want to hear an elite young Offense aka Tampa Bay Bucs start coming into its own. 🙂
***Go Mighty Bucs and the Countdown Clock!!***
September 10th, 2016 at 7:08 pm
Lmao. Good one hog. You too sharp for me.
September 10th, 2016 at 7:14 pm
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house…
September 10th, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Real
My bad this is the link I used. Combined tackles improved every year.
http://www.nfl.com/player/lavontedavid/2532828/profile
September 10th, 2016 at 7:37 pm
If the Bucs start out the game in a nickel D will it still count as a start for Smith? It’s obviously irrelevant, but I’ve always wondered how that works.
September 10th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
Ooohh I love it we all agitated in anticipation of this quayle beat down tomorrow..
September 10th, 2016 at 8:55 pm
Its a new defense, I just want the lbs and secondary to put fear in every teams wr and rb like the old bucs did. meaning old days hugh greene and batman woods. now that was fear even if they acted like they wanted to catch a ball or run it was a price to pay.
September 10th, 2016 at 9:12 pm
Joe you forgot to mention Daryl Smith’s 29 passes defensed over the last 3 years.
371 tackles, 9 sacks, 5 Ints, 4 forced fumbles, 29 passes defenced
Major upgrade!! over Lansanah.
September 11th, 2016 at 12:21 am
Monday is my Birthday. A nice unexpected present would be roasted pheasant. A Saints loss would be great too. That would make us division leader for a week 😉