“Coach Simplifyin’ Everything”
June 9th, 2019
Todd Bowles
Joe had 1-on-1 time with Lavonte David after a minicamp practice last week and Joe has more to share today.
David has made more starts (105) in a Buccaneers uniform than any player on the roster. He’s also breaking in his fourth coaching staff.
Joe asked David what he’s seeing from the current defense and how it’s progressing, and why.
JoeBucsFan.com: You’ve been around a lot of Bucs defenses and coaches. You’re watching the practice film. How fast is this group learning?
Lavonte David: Super fast. Super fast. Coach simplifyin’ everything. And then guys are learning whatever they got to learn. Basically the whole thing is know your job. That’s all it is. Everybody know and do your job, and then everything will be taken care of. As simple as that sounds, that’s just exactly what it is.
Joe: Is there a different way that this staff uses to simplify things? More coaches, different methods?
David: I just think it’s a lot of communication in a way that’s very productive. Coach does a great job detailing simple things. Guys have built a lot of confidence in a short amount of time. I’m happy with the way it’s going and the progress so far. Looking pretty good to me.
Off Joe’s microphone, David expressed that linebackers Kevin Minter and Deone Bucannon playing in this defense under Todd Bowles in Arizona has made a big difference in the learning curve with the linebackers. So their unit maybe a little different than others.
Joe will have more later in the week on David talking about the fun and flexibility that lies ahead for him in this defense. It’s represents a change and he’s looking forward to it.
What does Derrick Brooks think of the swap of Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh? You’ll find out on this edition of TAMPA TWO, presented by Caldeco Air Conditioning & Heating!! It’s another A+ production from The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan.com.
June 9th, 2019 at 9:36 am
I had the chance to meet David on the field the last falcons game. He’s a really great guy! He’ll belong on the ring before Mccoy
June 9th, 2019 at 10:07 am
DislocatedBF I agree with your ring of honor comment…
Lavonte has been grossly underrated his entire career…When it comes to football simple is almost always good, especially on defense…you don’t want guys thinking too much, that split second can be the difference between getting a TFL or giving up a TD run…You want your players reacting without thinking, playing fast, and making plays…I can’t wait to see this defense in action…
June 9th, 2019 at 10:21 am
Man, I can’t wait to see this D play!
Go Bucs!
June 9th, 2019 at 10:26 am
Good read, Joe. Yeah, we can always hope, but again…as a Bucs fan since their first 1976 season and having seen it ALL over the years, I am rightfully very skeptical. Let’s see, last time we heard “simplifying things” (regardlss of how it’s explained or played) on defense was with Raheem’s D. Then of course, they had laptops (during Lovie or Schiano reign?) to help them see, and study, and those got taken back up post haste when clearly there was no benefit. If memory serves me right, Smitty simplified things too.
A very good point, though also not new, is communication is key, but players still have to comprehend under fire and coches have to recognize when they are, or are not getting it inside their heads. Can these guys do it? I’d love veterans like Minter to step up and find his groove.
Some guys whine about negative vibes on this site, but anyone who has spent big money and time on this team, especially since their beginning, should be skeptical, having heard and seen it all. All coaches have come in with this great story that gives hope. Let’s only go back a decade. From Raheem’s “know the players” to Schiano’s discipline and “running game with shots downfield” to Lovie’s ine-year basement thinktank with Tedford analysis (fans were also ecstatic of Lovie returning), and Koetter’s brand of no one wanting to degrade Winston’s development by changing coaches (where the model of being “close” also included paying Mike Smith HC money to hang around–and a large majority of fans supported that, only to turn on him rightfully so, less than 1.5 years later). All of them except Lovie had stretches where things really pointed up, only to come crashing down.
Arians may indeed be the QB whisperer and this great coach. But history shows peaks and falls (Raheem, Schiano, Koetter) and Arians hasn’t won anything more than a division title (much less then Lovie), and he is no spring chicken now.
Talk talk talk is all we have so far. Let’s revisit all of this late October.
June 9th, 2019 at 10:35 am
@Dislocated and OneBuc 55….agree with both of you. I expect both of them will make it, and GMC probably before David because of age/timing alone. It would be nice for David to get more probowl appearances…I think the putrid D overall has pulled him down in how his play is viewed.
June 9th, 2019 at 11:19 am
I believe we’re all going to be shocked at how good our defense turns out to be this season.
June 9th, 2019 at 11:19 am
Unpredictability is an underrated aspect of both offense and defense; but especially D. Bowles seems to make this the heart of his defensive strategy. To handle this, he needs smart, quick, communicative players. David seems to exemplify this type of player. The opponent won’t know where the next blitz will come from. Looks like a plan to me. Looking forward to this new D and new season.
June 9th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Two things that LVD said REALLY impressed me. One was “Everybody know and do your job, and then everything will be taken care of”. And the other … “Guys have built a lot of confidence in a short amount of time”.
As simple as that may sound, that’s pretty much the approach that Tony Dungy & Monte Kiffin took when they arrived here in 1996. It took the team preseason & almost the first half of that season to ‘get it down’ but once they did it was ‘Katy bar the door’.
This defense has much better POTENTIAL than last year’s defense did IMO. The pieces are there I’m convinced, and I love what TB is building. May take a few games to get it to gel, but maybe not. If the big guys upfront can get penetration & pressure, AND shut down the run between the tackles, this defense might gel from the git-go. Our LBs should be fast enough to minimize runs outside the tackles. If they can effectively take away the run options AND get pressure on the QBs in the process, they’ll increase the likelihood of opponents making mistakes in the passing game I would think. And with a bunch of speedy ball hawks waiting for those mistakes to happen, this could REALLY be a fun season.
June 9th, 2019 at 12:38 pm
We all know the defense can’t be nearly as bad as last year. Bowles is a clear upgrade from Smith. The players are buying in and there’s a lot more speed on this roster this year than last. Vita Vea will soon be one of the best DTs in the game. Run D is gonna be better. Suh is an upgrade over Geraldini McIcecream. I just hope we can put pressure on the opposing QB.
June 9th, 2019 at 1:42 pm
Aggression!
That is what we have to look forward to on Defense as long as Todd Bowles is in charge.
After the last 5 years of Soft as Charmin Bucs defensive scheming under both Lovie and Smitty – this 2019 Buccaneers defense is going to be fun to watch!
June 9th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
I will not drink the kool-aid until I see at least 9 seasonal wins. Better than 500.
June 9th, 2019 at 4:54 pm
500 tackles 20 sacks 10 ints and 10 forced fumbles since 2012. They only player in the entire league with that line. LVD is a monster and now has a Butkus award winner lined up next to him. Oh yea mayhem coming soon.
June 9th, 2019 at 8:41 pm
Yes Todd Bowles is simplifying things for them preparing them for preseason play so they can play fast with confidence. But unlike our prior defenses Bowles will be doing like what Clemson’s DC did to Alabama and Florida’s DC did to Michigan during our games this season. It will not help any opposition OCs studying film of our last game because every game Bowles will teach new blitzes that haven’t been seen before and he will disguise his defenses so opposing QBs will be fooled and our ball hawks will eat them alive. They will be learning new things every week during the season. NFL QBs know how to pick zone defenses apart but fast physical corners with length can knock their WRs off their timing and stay right with them wherever they run and can reach right in and bat the ball away or jump the pass and take it to the house. And we won’t have to worry about anyone hiring Bowles away to be a HC after Bowles record as a HC with the Jets. We are set for the long haul!