Was Lavonte David On Bill Belichick’s Mind?
October 6th, 2021
Highest ranked Bucs LB.
Joe’s already been very clear that Lavonte David was the Buccaneers’ hero in New England when he batted down a Mac Jones pass on 3rd-and-3 that was headed to a wide open receiver with 1 minute remaining..
That set up 4th-and-3 and Bill Belicheat’s decision to attempt a 56-yard field goal to take the lead.
Pats kicker Nick Folk hit the upright and that ended the game.
The decision to kick a field goal there has had the stats nerds freaking out all week. They say their spreadsheets reveal that Belicheat made the wrong decision. (Joe would wager $10,000 that these statistical models don’t include factors based in reality).
Joe thought Belicheat screwed up, too, mainly because the Bucs had two timeouts remaining and Tom Brady.
So even if he made the field goal, the Bucs had a strong chance to win. Whereas if you make the first down there, the Bucs are unlikely to get the ball back with enough time.
Former Bucs quarterback Shaun King, one of four men to lead the Bucs to the NFC Championship game, was on CBS Sports Radio this week barking about how David likely was in Belicheat’s head when that decision was made.
King’s rationale was if Jones missed a wide-open receiver, then what happens on the next play when the Bucs likely ditch the soft coverage they were playing all night?
Joe thinks that makes a lot of sense.
One more reason to laud David.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:03 pm
Belichick outsmarted himself. Yes, time and timeouts were left on the clock, but at the same time Mac Jones was 10 for 10 for over 100 yards when he threw in Richard Sherman’s direction. He also picked up a fat pass interference call off of him as well. That’s who the Patriots should have picked on, rather than attempt a crazy long 56 yard FG in rainy, breezy weather.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:19 pm
Of course they made the wrong decision. They also had the Zebras. They could have thrown a pass an everyone else knows what would have happened.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:41 pm
It always seems to be the wrong decision when it doesn’t work……The wrong decision TBBF focuses on is our not trying to move the sticks on 2nd & 8 & 3rd & 8….not even trying to get closer for a FG……Pats had a timeout & 2 minutes left against our defense which was giving up yards all night…..the same can be said of our drive.
But…we won so ours is forgotten….it worked so it was the right decision.
October 6th, 2021 at 5:53 pm
Do you really think you know more about football and making good football decisions than Bill Belicheck and his staff at home?
Going for the field goal was the right call. Folk made 92% of his FG last year. 91% this year. He missed the kick by an upright (literally inches).
October 6th, 2021 at 6:16 pm
Sly… The cheat lost…and the team record this year will likely be a total disgrace in the eyes of the Pat. fans. A good coach…but over rated.
October 6th, 2021 at 6:39 pm
The distance to the goal posts, the rain and wind contributed to the miss. All the Pats had to so was move up a few more yards which seemed inevitable with Mac Jones carving up a certain member of the Buc defensive secondary. This decision might well be the product of Belichick missing the counsel of Ernie Adams, his resident quant guy.
October 6th, 2021 at 6:59 pm
I know you hate the PFF tribe and all, but Lavonte is grading out much MUCH higher than White. Top 5 in NFL actually. And from Eye test alone – he is still our best Linebacker. Yes, OBVIOUSLY. In any case, Money well spent on bringing the soul of our defense back. Soft spoken, humble.
October 6th, 2021 at 7:16 pm
He did not trust Jones in that situation! The PFF simulation suggests against the kick without factoring the conditions of the wet ball. Folk had that range before the game but the ball was different after being played.
October 6th, 2021 at 7:18 pm
Well given the fact that we missed a FG earlier in the game. If they make that FG there is no guarantee that we get back down the field for an attempt and actually make it.
It was the right call 100 out of 100 times. That that game situation that the statistics don’t show.
I would bet that if he made that FG we would have lost.
October 6th, 2021 at 7:21 pm
Regarding LVD. Nice to see his game is actually making a difference for a change. TO MANY HEROIC efforts by him have been lost in our losses.
October 6th, 2021 at 7:42 pm
David is da MAN!!!
October 6th, 2021 at 7:43 pm
Anything can happen in the rain. If you miss on 4th down the game is over. If you attempt the FG with a great kicker, even in the rain, you have a better chance to win vs no chance if LVD bats down another pass.
If the FG is good and the Pats go on to win, Belichick is a genius.
If the 90% made FG kicker misses, even by inches, Belichick is an idiot.
The only given is this scenario is armchair quarterbacks have never thrown an NFL pass, and armchair coaches have never never taken a pee in an NFL locker room. But they are the best “hindsight 20—20″ my takes a plenty” on the internet.
Anyway, thanks guys. Your entertainment value supersedes any TV sitcom who purports itself to be funny …
Keep it going!
October 6th, 2021 at 8:30 pm
What a NFL career LD has had !
October 6th, 2021 at 11:04 pm
Belichick is what his record is. Look at his record with and without brady. That tells the story. He panic bought free agents and is still losing. Below average coach who had a goat for many years.
October 6th, 2021 at 11:32 pm
I pity anyone who sides with Belichick rather than taking an objective look at the situation. Allying yourself with a coach with a great reputation might position yourself as a fellow great thinker might stroke your ego, but it doesn’t make you a great thinker. I thought during the game that Belichick was wrong, Mac Jones was accurate and destroying the Buc secondary, particularly Richard Sherman. All the Patriots needed to do was to move up a few more yards, and given the 100% completion rate against Sherman, it seemed likely. It would have eaten the clock, and it would have improved that likelihood of a successful FG.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:41 am
All this Sherman hate has got me wondering if people have lost their perspective. We won, and Sherman will be much better next week because he played this week! Geeze!
October 7th, 2021 at 8:15 am
I’m the biggest LVD punter/fangal on here. Belicheat went with what he thought would win. Too many times I’ve listened to Bucs losing heartbreakers by 1 point cos of this decision by the opposing coach. That’s in all kinds of weather including snow. I’m also sure Belicheat was thinking about other Buc defenders like JTS and VV. I am glad to see LVD getting the kudos he so richly deserves!
October 7th, 2021 at 9:11 am
@Captain Dan Lawrence
Yes, it’s Richard Sherman “hate” when someone brings up the fact that Mac Jones completed 10 out of 10 passes, and picked up one sizable pass interference call when he threw in Sherman’s direction. Since when do objective facts constitute hate?
October 8th, 2021 at 10:03 am
OMG.. the title of the article spelled the name of the greatest coach of all time correctly..!! LMAO
B.e.l.i.c.h.i.c.k. I know its pronounced “check” not “chick” so it’s kinda tricky.. lol