LB Coach Addresses Sackless Season From Kwon Alexander And Lavonte David
May 16th, 2018
If you asked Joe last year at this time to wager $10,000 on Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander combining for at least one sack in 2017, Joe would have found a way to come up with the cash and make the bet.
A no-brainer.
Sadly, Joe would have lost the bet.
The failure of all those blitzes by David and Alexander is one of the great mysteries of the 2017 season, right up there with Doug Martin getting so many carries.
Linebackers coach Mark Duffner was available to media today and Joe was determined to ask the question that needed to be asked.
JoeBucsFan.com: Coach, Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander, they blitzed their share last year and didn’t end up with a sack. Looking back at it, was there a lot of bad luck involved? Was it maybe something related to the defense itself? What can you say about that?
LB Coach Mark Duffner: I think really as much as anything we got to get better at our technique. Some of that’s timing. Some of that’s footwork. Some of that’s awareness. And so regardless of any other things, it’s our responsibility at linebacker as blitzers to make the quarterback feel it. Sometimes it’s not a sack. You can be a doggone good blitzer, but if you can get the quarterback off the spot, or you can get him to hurry throwing the football, that’s a plus. Now we love to get sacks, and we’d rather get sack fumbles, but when we blitz, the quarterback has to feel us. That’s when I think that the blitz is not successful, if he’s not affected. If we affect the quarterback with a hurry or a batted pass or something, we’d love to get the sack, that’s kind of the ultimate. But anything else that changes their timing is a plus for us.
So there you go, a detailed answer and a good one: technique tops the list.
Duffer added to another reporter that David and Kwon are focused on “improving their awareness” and becoming “quicker decision-makers,” keys to their season, Duffner said.
May 16th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Another example of “No Excuses”.
Its catchin on – I’m tellin ya….
May 16th, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Buckner has been preaching football IQ and I agree. Know what the opposition is doing or trying to do before they can execute. If you are going to blitz even though the other team has audibled bad things are going to happen.
May 16th, 2018 at 4:13 pm
My response would be that Mike Smith has the corners playing 15 yards off the LOS, so even if Kwon or David get through the line to get pressure there’s a WR or two standing absolutely wide open that the QB can dump the ball to, it’s not like David, who is the best edge rusher on the team, suddenly forgot how to play.
May 16th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Some of the issues are related to scheme or playcalling as well, not just technique. But with a better D-Line, you should also get much better LB play.
May 16th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
pickgrin
you a little late to the party!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!! has been up and running since January…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 16th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
pickgrin
that’s another example of poor coaching…..coaches are suppose to teach technique…..
the entire defensive staff should’ve gotten fired…..
@joe, when are you going to speak to the CB/DB coach?…..he has to answer some questions about VHG and RS29
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
May 16th, 2018 at 5:00 pm
@ rod
Smith addressed off coverage again today. Maybe fans like you should pay attention. Again, smith does not have the corners lining up off the wide receivers. He gives them the flexibility to line up where they feel comfortable. I mean you know you can listen to the press conference in order to educate yourself.
May 16th, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Well “feeling comfortable” is awesome….
May 16th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
QB drops back sees a guy wide open. No time to get a sack.
Said receiver catches ball and runs like a deer through a Kansas corn field.
Ergo no sacks.
May 16th, 2018 at 5:58 pm
When you pay a veteran LB $10m,.,….he needs to get a sack….period…..how about let’s not blame it on awareness…..at some point the player has to be responsible for failure…..like everywhere else nowadays….we don’t accept responsibility.
I love LVD….but he failed at that job last year.
May 16th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Not failed at LB….failed at attaining a sack….
May 16th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
It starts up front D-line!
May 16th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
Mr. Munch Good point and I Agee. It all has to work together. Can’t have weak links.
May 16th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
yea, 813 has been going HAM with the #NOEXCUSES since the season ended.
May 16th, 2018 at 9:22 pm
Pickgrin- Love your new meme. Great idea.
#NoExcuses. ~Pickgrin.
May 16th, 2018 at 9:23 pm
I posted at 5:59….its now 9:23…..my posts are still under m0deration…..what gives?
May 16th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Wait a second, did I miss something? How is that a good answer? I’m supposed to believe that Kwon and David combined couldn’t get one sack because their technique was not good enough? Their footwork and awareness was lacking? Is he saying those two highly respected LBs majorly regressed? I don’t recall David lacking technique, footwork, and awareness in schianos defense
May 16th, 2018 at 10:32 pm
I’m calling BS. David just forgot how to blitz. Been successful all his life but suddenly he needs to work on his technique. Okay!
May 17th, 2018 at 12:52 am
I’m with DB on this one^^^^
May 17th, 2018 at 1:10 am
It just mean they did not get sack period. Did the team get a sack a few times when david and kwon blitz? Im guessing yea because the bucs did not get many sacks when they only rushed the front four. You guys get caught up on stats and double digit sacks. The coach today in his press conference asked how many times did they disrupt, bat down a ball or move the qb? He too like buckner is letting you know its more important to get constant pressure. Stop harping on sacks. No david did not lose technique. He led the league in fumbles and fumble recoveries and he had a defensive td. Oh and ofcourse he is over 100 tkls. The defense was horrible as a whole point blank.
May 17th, 2018 at 6:40 am
Read elsewhere that Baker was getting knocked backwards a lot. So Baker and the blocker clogged rushing lanes.
May 17th, 2018 at 7:09 am
No sacks between those two is unconscionable!? However, their blitzes did effect plays, in the form of rushed passes, incompletions & timing disruption. The blitzes were not entirely ineffective. Once again, 10 yard cushions given by then DBs will disallow ANY quarterback pressure, regardless of the player or position.
May 17th, 2018 at 8:02 am
So technique is why they regressed? I disagree. Coaching is why they regressed.
May 17th, 2018 at 8:10 am
We were ineffective in many areas, so it sounds like we have not had any teaching coaches since TONY DUNGY was fired. I remember attending the many years of losing teams before DUNGY arrived. He was the ONLY teaching coach the Bus have ever had. Please keep the pressure up on all of our coaches and just maybe they will come through for the players and the fans.
GO BUCS
May 17th, 2018 at 11:09 am
Gonna have to agree with DB55 on this one. . calling BS
I dont think Kwon and David just forgot how to blitz.
These are 2 of the best LBs in the league – CYA all you want but you coaches didnt put these guys in a good position to succeed.
PERIOD