Speed Kills
February 12th, 2021
Too quick.
Joe has heard a lot of analysis of how the Bucs won the Super Bowl from the simplistic (Bucs had a better pass rush) to the complex (defensive coordinator Todd Bowles crafted a defense that confused the Chiefs).
Joe has heard little about the Bucs’ inside linebackers.
Devin White, who has been an animal in the postseason, had 12 tackles against the Chiefs. Lavonte David had six (tied for second-most on the Bucs with Antoine Winfield and Sean Murphy-Bunting).
Well, Brian Baldinger decided to bring up David and White. Unlike what others have said, Baldinger demonstrated with film clips that the Chiefs did in fact try to adjust to Bowles’ defensive scheme with screen passes since Shaq and JPP were blasting Pat Mahomes.
Baldinger said David and White were simply too fast for the Chiefs’ screens to be effective.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs find a way to keep David. He turned 31 last month. In the NFL, 30 is about when teams start to implement replacement plans. As Bill Walsh always said, it’s better to say goodbye too soon than too late. And that guy got rid of Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott.
If David leaves, that would really suck. But as the players say, it’s a business.
You can see Baldinger’s take on the Bucs defense in the Super Bowl in the NFL Network video below.
@Buccaneers defensive game plan combined with @chiefs being out of sync early on contributed to dominant performance by the #Bucs in #SBLV #NFL #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/kL5eAd9bCY
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) February 12, 2021
February 12th, 2021 at 12:18 am
David is more than just a player. He’s the soul of the team, and I believe Arians and Licht know that. In the list of players we’d hate to lose, Lavonte is at the top of that list.
February 12th, 2021 at 12:33 am
LVD has been my favorite defensive player on tampa. I loved him coming out of nebraska and was extatic we chose him. I still think that shaq and godwin are higher priorities. In that video, it showed why shaq is so important. Having disruption on the line is paramount. And godwin is one of if not the best #2 recievers in the game with high end #1 potential.
February 12th, 2021 at 12:47 am
We saw what lacking Vea did to JPP and Shaq. I think losing Suh would have a similar effect, perhaps slightly less, still nearly 700 pounds of meat allows JPP and Shaq to get home. We certainly need Shaq and JPP or a great DE replacement for JPP. We saw Shaq is faster than JPP. Meanwhile Devin and LVD are needed behind the front 4. I think the defense is significantly weakened by the loss of any of these guys, so that unfortunately leaves Godwin as perhaps the most expendable ? I mentioned I hate to think of losing him in a prior blog, but I think allowing the defensive group to lose even 1 part significantly weakens the defense which we can’t afford to do.
February 12th, 2021 at 12:50 am
Rinse – Repeat from last Bucs SB Win…. Defense WINs championships!
February 12th, 2021 at 12:56 am
Vea-White-Winfield = Ngata-Lewis-Reed
The defensive design is not by accident. We just need our long-term Suggs.
February 12th, 2021 at 1:00 am
Love Brady – but his great contribution was NOT turning the ball over…. and letting the Buc’s D keep Mahomes from doing Mahomes magic.
And let’s get real. Mahomes guys let him down. Hill had a pass in endzone that hit him in the FACE that he normally catches. And Kelce dropped 2 key passes. Those 3 plays alone, were directional game changers.
Meanwhile, Brady was operating in savant mode. No TO’s, no silly chance plays, just taking what was there.
BOOM – SB win for Bucs —Youza. Go freaking Bucs!
February 12th, 2021 at 1:53 am
I think we keep David. Shaq will go. He watt already wants to come here. We’re not trying to lock shaq up for a 4 or 5 year deal. I have a feeling watt will come cheaper and be just as if not more effective than Barrett.
February 12th, 2021 at 2:20 am
Need to keep David until the end – he’s the Brooks of his generation and I’d hate seeing him somewhere else. Also David has made a good amount of money in his career, so perhaps he does do the hometown discount to retire here.
February 12th, 2021 at 2:26 am
I remember when the Reds replaced Tony Perez with Dan Driessan. Looked like a good move to an accountant….
February 12th, 2021 at 2:32 am
On a different note – if you want some entertainment go download the Boston sports talk Felger & Mazz podcast from Monday and listen to them bash Belichick for not resigning Brady for 4-hours. It’s fun listening, plus they throw in a bunch of radio calls from Gene Deckerhoff. Then listen again on Thursday when they recap the boat parade, again, fun stuff, it’s all about how Brady is giving the finger to Bill, it’s all about revenge, nothing about fun or being happy, just Brady acting out for the sake of revenge against Belichick. It’s good, completely over the top listening. Also they think Brady runs the team, top to bottom, including telling Bowles what defense to play in the SB.
February 12th, 2021 at 6:47 am
Bucs have ‘excess firepower’ on offense, but not on defense. Much more of our salary CAP $$$ also goes to offense as opposed to defense. Re-signing LVD, Shaq & Suh will be higher priorities than re-signing Godwin as a result.
SB winners rarely repeat because champions want to get paid. And why shouldn’t they? They busted their butts & earned it. Chris Godwin is a #1 receiver on just about any team, and deserves to be paid like one. But as we saw in the playoffs, he caught 16 of 32 targets for 1 TD … that didn’t get us to & win us the SB. The performances by LVD, Shaq & Suh were bigger factors IMO in our win.
February 12th, 2021 at 7:33 am
Defense rules
100 % agree
It sucks too cause godwin is such a great player who can also block. Another reason run game so good with him and mike. But gronk has really helped there in my opinion with blocking defensive ends so godwin not as vital.
With that said , this is crazy to say but bucs may have best front seven defense in football. What hurt this team over last few years per se …was more the secondary…
However, the secondary started to click toward end of season. If you remember brian kelly took year 3 to blow up! Year 3 is kinda year 2 playoffs if you really think about it
Bucs need to use tag wisely ..its true ..when a team wins a super bowl …other teams want free agents players from that team. But licht has helped solve this problem with drafting good quality players. This draft people forget about vaughn in third and johnson in 5th. Shoot the def tackle in 7th round got some playing time this year. And brady is here so guys can be replaced with other quality players on the cheap. Edelman would not be a shabby replacement for godwin. He is not as big but that guy plays tough. Someone here in florida i think will offer godwin something north of 16 mil cause of their new qbs ( dolphins tua and jags with shiny new qb lawrence likely destinations so godwin takes as positive that he gets to stay in fl )
February 12th, 2021 at 8:24 am
Rod munch totally agree. LVD is our DB55. Unfortunately he will prob start to loose a step and won’t be as fast anymore hard decision. Maybe give him a 1 or 2 year deal and maybe find his replacement in the draft. Gotta say he’s bin one of my favorite players. During the lost decade he’s bin the only bright spot for a long time.
February 12th, 2021 at 8:34 am
Plus everybody forgets about Godwin’s blocking ability as well. We can’t lose him. I would hate to lose David but something tells me it’s him. Go Bucs!
February 12th, 2021 at 8:38 am
We had what is likely going the recognized as one of the most stacked rosters ever in the history of the NFL.
February 12th, 2021 at 8:52 am
I agree with DefenseRules that Re-signing LVD, Shaq & Suh will be higher priorities than re-signing Godwin. We are loaded at wide receiver, and in a perfect world, we keep Chris Godwin.
But, we live in a world dictated by the salary cap, and there is only so much money to go around.
February 12th, 2021 at 9:17 am
Apologize for the savior bs you overweight pasty ging
February 12th, 2021 at 9:23 am
I agree Cannon. Now that the dust is settling and it’s not just preseason roster hype… This truly is the best collection of talent I’ve ever seen on one roster in the NFL. I’ve seen it a couple times in college ball but not at the NFL. Both sides of the ball just totally stacked with legit players and even some excellent depth at certain positions. One of the few times paper champions become actual champions.
February 12th, 2021 at 9:55 am
Wasn’t that about the same time they let Pete Rose walk for Ray Knight?
February 12th, 2021 at 10:47 am
This is what I said almost everyday up to and including the game day “double Hill and hit Kelce just enough to disrupt the timing” BINGO!!!!! they did it!!!!!
February 12th, 2021 at 10:53 am
I can see swapping Watt for Shaq, if Shaq really needs to break the bank. None of these dudes outperform for more than 3-4 years. Shaq has already given 2 top years, well this year just when Vea plays.
Does Watt still have the speed. We saw JPP couldn’t match Shaq chasing Mahomes.
February 12th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
I believe LVD should get the payday as this will be his last chance at it. Tom Brady is the GOAT and will finish his career on a different team. He and Mike Evans will be in the ring of honor in a few years
February 12th, 2021 at 3:14 pm
LVD is not only a great LB but we need veteran leadership for the young guys. I can’t imagine he would break the bank in this Covid era.
A lot of teams are going to flood the market with good players due to cap concerns. Player’s agents need to lock their guys up quickly before the money dries up.
February 12th, 2021 at 7:45 pm
White ran the middle level D. Not David.
February 12th, 2021 at 7:49 pm
This is awesome