Professor Lavonte Says He’s Great In New Role
June 18th, 2018
“Watch how it’s done, Coach.”
While Lavonte David would prefer eliminating all records of his sackless and interception-free 2017 season, he certainly would enjoy a shiny apple and a letter of appreciation from his new students.
Yes, David has a new gig at One Buc Palace: teacher.
During a private chat with Joe last week, David revealed that the major behind-the-scenes rebuild of the Bucs defense and how it’s taught suits him very well.
In case you missed the story linked above, Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith ordered a tear down and re-teaching of Smith’s defense. It includes players often leading the way in front of the class and breaking down film.
“Accountability,” David said. “Making sure guys know what they’re supposed to be doing. You never know who it is. Coach will surprise you, call you up on the board and you better know what you’re supposed to be doing and what the guys around you are doing. It’s going real awesome so far, guys in their playbook, guys are studying and it’s showing out here on the field.
“In the past this time of year, it was mostly coaches going up and teaching and demonstrating. Coach talked to a couple of players and asked what we suggest to do that’s different, and that’s what some of the guys came up with and we’ve doing it every since.
“And it’s been working out so far. I’ve been enjoying it. I’m a great teacher. You know, Coach always tries to use me as an example sometimes, me Keith Tandy and a couple of older guys, challenging us to come up and teach just the way coach would teach it. We’ve been getting through to the guys. It’s a fun thing, too. You’re not getting up there just to bash your brothers; it’s a whole fun, educational process.”
Cool stuff.
Joe’s just glad that Koetter and Smith didn’t pull a “Coach My Scheme” and adhere to a process that wasn’t working.
June 18th, 2018 at 11:27 am
This is one the reasons, that the “real” fans like this coaching staff!!!!!! They don’t stop trying to reach and teach these players!!!!!! And we will not let one distracted, and injured season stop what is now being built!!!!!!!!!! And to put New players in leading roles, and to let them tutor what they learned just 2 off season ago, helps some learn and become more confident!!!!!!!
Great job again, by Coach Smitty!!!!!!!!! Thx joe for revealing the truth!!!!!! We know it is hard after all those meaningless articles that were written back in Jan and Feb to be proven wrong!!!!!!!!!
Keep fixing the “real” problem!!!!! The roster!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 11:28 am
Yeah that’s pretty cool. They said communication was key in 2016 during the surge of good play but then didn’t really do this kind of emphasis in 2017; likely thinking that momentum would carry forward; but then everyone got hurt week 2 and sh1t came off the rails super fast as we had no depth and the players out there likely didn’t know wtf they were doing.
We at least have way more depth going into this year – primarily on D-line/Secondary; and hopefully that depth will be as ready as the starters.
June 18th, 2018 at 11:46 am
I was thinking the same thing Lord Corn. The real question is why was that communication lacking so much in 2017?
And perhaps more importantly, will LVD and other players be able to move on after a bad penalty call in the beginning of the game? Or will they wilt in the wind like dead flowers?
June 18th, 2018 at 11:47 am
The problem is they only changed how they are teaching the defense and changed nothing about the defense itself. If he keeps letting guys line up an 1/8th of the field back in coverage they will never stop the pass for.a.3rd consecutive year.
I know what I’m banking on happening. Although I usually hate what Ian Beckles has.to say, he is right on target with his take on the defense. It’s ruining Jameis and wasting the careers of.some.really good players
June 18th, 2018 at 11:48 am
I’m good with it as long lvd doesn’t uses his “smartness”
June 18th, 2018 at 11:51 am
And that’s just going to be the third consecutive year under Smitty. Pretty much the same defense that Lovie ran and the same.results which have been embarasing. This team needs.to get.out of the past and start tweaking this cover two.to.be more aggressive and.less predictable.
June 18th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
lol….this isn’t encouraging imo…..a coach has been here 3years and players still cant grasp the defense…..gives up and says here, one of you players see if you can make something out of it…..
imo, this is the perfect example of “coach my scheme”….lol….he’s not switching things up or playing to players strengths along the defense…..he’s simply “trying” to get the same message across thru a different voice….
whats the definition of insanity…..trying the same thing but expecting different results…..lol…..he’s still “trying” to teach the same thing(scheme) but he’s expecting different results because its coming from LVD’s….lol….how about changing schemes not voices!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
The communication was lacking in 2017 because You got a Defensive Coordinator running his gametime Defense from the air conditioned pressbox eatin twinkies. DC Smith needs to make a few..guest appearances on the sidelines during games with his troops. He won’t though, He’ll just sit on his but in that upstairs AC with his new expensive binoculars for his..better view! Get on the field Smitty.
June 18th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
BucEmUp Says:
June 18th, 2018 at 11:47 am
The problem is they only changed how they are teaching the defense and changed nothing about the defense itself. If he keeps letting guys line up an 1/8th of the field back in coverage they will never stop the pass for.a.3rd consecutive year.
^^BINGO^^
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
All good posts on this subject..except for Realist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wish I could get some of what he’s smoking..get REAL man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 12:36 pm
“The real question is why was that communication lacking so much in 2017?”
It’s just a guess – but imo they thought the starters from 2016 would carry that flow into 2017; and they did in week 1; but we lost almost every starting defensive player in week 2 either due to sickness or an injury in the game.
Spence/David/Kwon/Ayers/VHIII/Grimes/etc all were banged up super early in the season and the lack of depth showed and the communication wasn’t there with most the backups. IMO. That’s why I’m saying it’s great we are at least 8 deep on the D-line and added 3 secondary players between Stewart/Davis/Whitehead. If we have to dip into depth those guys better understand their roles / the defense.
In 2017 we had Ryan Smith covering #1 WRs and Kendall Beckwith rushing as a DE despite him being a MLB. I think the horrid pass rush / d-line play was a big reason we stayed with soft bend-don’t-break coverages. I at least hope that’s the case.
Koetter has straight up said they will be playing more press this year. I expect more exotic blitzes as well. Praying for health to the D-line + Winston because I really do think good sh1t should happen if that’s the case; although we’ve all been burned a lot by this team lol.
Go Bucs!
June 18th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
Some of you guys are truly pathetic. 😂
I cannot believe some of our fans think they know more than a coach who had won COY. You guys don’t know ****. You’re not better than fans of other teams who comment on NFL threads about Jameis’s crab legs.
Reading jbf all day doesn’t mean you know football or even have the mental capacity to judge Mike Smith.
What a joke some of you are. 😂😂😂😂😂
June 18th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
unbelievable Says”
“why was that communication lacking so much in 2017?”
LC already gave the most plausible answer:
“everyone got hurt week 2 and sh1t came off the rails super fast as we had no depth and the players out there likely didn’t know wtf they were doing.”
That’s an overstatement – because Glanton clearly knew what he was doing and filled in well for Lavante. Also, Beckwith proved to not only be a quick study but also a damn good player as he was thrown into the fire at MLB week 2 of his rookie year and performed surprisingly well. Unlike Ryan Smith in the same position who along with Hargreaves got roasted early and often his 1st few games as a pro CB. Additionally – add to that hot mess of injuries the insertion of Justin Evans into the starting FS spot shortly thereafter. Evans made some nice plays and developed well as the year progressed – but he was pretty green as well early in the year.
So the 1st part of the 2017 season – that’s 4 new starters and 4 of the back 7 players being quite young and inexperienced just trying to hang on and hope they can make plays largely with instinct. Oh – and there was no pass rush btw – LOL
Glanton/Taylor did his job well. Beckwith and Evans came through their trial by fire looking pretty damn capable. Hargreaves and R. Smith? – not so much although Smith did improve with playing time and VH3 looked pretty solid in the slot for a couple games before going on IR for the year.
Long story short… All those new starters the 1st few games after the opener and the general widespread inexperience of the back 7 led to a lack of “communication”. Its hard to “communicate” much when you are inexperienced and thus caught up in your head just trying to make sure you remember where you are supposed to be in this alignment.
We had our chances to get somewhere last year despite the obstacles – but then the Kicker blows the Pats game, Defense folds in the 4th at Buffalo and 2-6 was the early result from which there was basically no chance of recovery…
June 18th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
@Pickgrin
Yeah the NE/Bufffalo losses were just super disappointing early on. We win those games and we’re 4-2 vs 2-4 and who knows where the season ends up. Either way we wouldn’t have done much damage though because we had a bottom 3 pass rush in the league and no team will win sh1t with that.
June 18th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
I agree with most posters on here. He is still teaching the same scheme. You can’t just have one scheme. The offenses are two good now. There are few teams that are loaded on defense like Jacksonville that can. But there offense is always going to suffer from all the money spent on defense. Look at the patriots they always have a bunch of no name defensive players and they are always top ten defense. Cause that coach actually puts his scheme for each team he is facing. And I watched some games they will have 7 defensive backs in the game. And it shouldn’t work but it confuses the offense. That’s all the defense is suppose to be to be is disguise coverages and confuse the offense into the wrong read or play. You can’t just go out there in a base prevent defense with your corners giving 8 yard cushions and expect to fool or confuse anyone. I know I am not a football genius. But I really feel like I could be an average offensive coordinator versus our defense. Everything would be quick passing playslanta and outs. And just march down the field. How many games do we have to watch every quarterback look like Drew Brees against. Seems like every game a qb has a career game against us. Don’t understand how some people can defend the defensive coordinator when we have watched for two seasons minus a 7 game stretch of some of the worst defensive ever played. Not just kind of bad but setting records all time worst defensive stats. Play some damn press coverage yeah are corners might get beat some everyone does. But when you give an 8 yard cushion you are already beat. What coach would single cover Julio Jones all game and never adjust. He has no excuses this year the talent is there and if we are horrible again he should be fired during the bye week. And if koetter won’t do it he should be canned on the spot to and let Buckner take over and audition for next year. I use to love watching the bucs I still do get excited for every game all week. But come Sunday afternoon I’m pissed from what I just watched. Just give a fan something to watch again please. So some kind of creativity. Every time we blitz it’s not disguised the linebackers are standing in between the gaps of the d line just showing what we are doing as the offensive line is pointed and sliding protection. Sorry for the long rant
June 18th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
me Keith Tandy and a couple of older guys,
———–
Does this mean Tandy is starting or are they going to start he who shall not be named?
June 18th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
Conte and Evans are your starters DB.
Unless Whitehead pulls a Kwon and shows early and often that his “4th rd” talent deserves to be on the field immediately.
Conte is a capable player IMO. Unjustly maligned. He will make quite a few good plays this year as will the entire secondary if the new and improved DLine can manage to get a consistent pass rush working…
June 18th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Pick
Stop, please, pretty pretty please.
June 18th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
I think keeping your players engaged in the process is a better teaching tool. Plus some of these players may decide that coaching and teaching football could be in their future after their playing days. Lavonte may very well someday coach the Bucs. Who Knows? But if this concept works and every player is always on the same page, things could operate as smooth as a finely crafted Rolex watch. Let’s hope so. Go Bucs!
June 18th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
LC
you know me….I hear the injury excuse but I aint buying it……
the question I have is,if the coaches noticed that “communication” was lacking, why didn’t they adjust?….why didn’t they simplify things?…..why didn’t they have LVD teach things starting in week8?…..
obviously, the starters assignments and responsibilities are too complicated for the back ups….why put them in position to fail?…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 4:55 pm
Recently saw a n article where they named the best player at each position and LVD was named best OLB in a 4-3 defense, but he did not make NFL top 100, interesting
June 18th, 2018 at 5:18 pm
@Realist … “This is one the reasons, that the “real” fans like this coaching staff!” I agree with you Realist. This defensive coaching staff especially has taken some brutal punches in the past 2 years, but with the mediocre roster (aka, talent) they were given, as well as the injuries that the defense sustained, I think they did a commendable job in the area that really counts: POINTS ALLOWED (18th & 22nd in the last 2 years). And I’m convinced that your “real” fans will see that this year, but even more-so next year as some of these young defenders gain experience.
@Pickgrin … “Conte and Evans are your starters DB.” I agree Pickgrin that Conte is often unjustly maligned. Safeties can look awfully bad if CB coverage break down & several antelope are running free.
June 18th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
They call on Tandy to teach because he is always prepared from hours and hours of study and preparation. Ask Jameis who is in One Bucs Place as much as him and he will tell you it’s Keith Tandy. If Smith wants to keep his job he better play Tandy because he didn’t in 17 and look what happened….. He almost lost his cushy job up in the press box!!!
June 18th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Funny how people complain when Mike Smith is in the booth instead of on the field,plenty of great coaches have and still do call the plays from the booth.some feel they get a better view of the game from the booth.with last year’s defense,it wouldn’t matter if you called the game from mons Venus it still would have sucked!
June 18th, 2018 at 10:45 pm
Joe
Michael rapport interviewed Sapp on his podcast today. It’s a must watch. I know you’re into that stuff.
June 19th, 2018 at 10:48 am
Buccernutter
re: Judging Smitty
#32 ranked defense in 2017…judgement is made.