Lavonte David Irked By Missing A Shutout
January 17th, 2022
High standards.
Yesterday afternoon on his media Zoom call after the game, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians was positively giddy about curb-stomping the Eagles.
Well, except for one thing.
And that one thing was the Bucs let a rare playoff shutout slip through their fingers.
The Bucs gave up two lazy touchdowns after building a 31-0 lead late in the third quarter. The way Bucs fans turned the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway into MacDinton’s North after the two bang-bang plays of Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett going Dennis Rodman to pick off a Jalen Hurts pass and then the kill shot, a Tom Brady 36-yard pass to somersaulting Mike Evans, it seems Bucs defenders wanted to join in the mass beer-chugging and bro-hugging and they forgot the task at hand.
Arians grumbled — briefly. And it seemed Arians wasn’t the only guy irritated by the sudden lack of focus.
So too was Bucs stud linebacker Lavonte David. The veteran spoke with Albert Breer of SI.com after the game and he was not happy about the cheap Philly touchdowns.
[David] wasn’t quite to the point where he was ready to say the team’s hit the sort of stride it did at this time last year—mostly because it didn’t finish the way he’d hoped against Philly.
“I’m going to give you a hard no right there, because we did want the shutout,” he said. “We didn’t finish the game at that point. We had them where we wanted, but we had a lull in the defense, and that’s not the standard. That lull, we didn’t do what we needed. We had a great game plan going, but we kind of fell off a little bit. So we definitely, obviously got chewed out over that. Because our standard is different, especially around this time of year.”
Now think about this for a moment. The Bucs had just pounded the Eagles, their first home playoff win in nearly two decades — how many people at the game yesterday weren’t even born then? — and the leader of the defense is outraged they didn’t curb-stomp the Eagles enough?
Joe loves that kind of — to use David’s favorite two words — mentality and mindset.
And you know, with the Bucs so banged up on offense, it might take that kind of standard to carry the Bucs to Los Angeles next month.
If the Bucs want to play close football games with a bruising defense, Joe is cool with that when you have Tom Brady at quarterback. What other quarterback would you trust more in a close, defensive rock-throwing fight?
January 17th, 2022 at 11:35 am
It’s the mind of a Champion. Just ask Tom Brady.
January 17th, 2022 at 11:43 am
It is no secret that basically EVERY game where the Bucs lead early the D backs off, and the O shuts down. Happened again yesterday. There is a fine line between sportsman’s mercy and slacking off. It almost cost them the game against Buffalo, and in others the teams roared back at the end. If David wanted a shutout and didn’t get it, he needs to look in the mirror, at the players, and his coaches to answer why they are doing this. Nonetheless, great win, decisive victory over a team that didn’t deserve to be there. They need to play four full quarters going forward!
January 17th, 2022 at 11:44 am
“And that one thing was the Bucs let a rare playoff shutout slip through their fingers.”
No, it didn’t slip through their fingers. They almost entirely let go…again.
January 17th, 2022 at 11:46 am
LVD = Derrick Brooks
I thought I’d ever compare a LB to “Mr Brooks”…….but he’s been “all-world” since being drafted.
I sure hope LVD retires as a Buc
January 17th, 2022 at 11:50 am
@ Roy
……you gotta becareful there…..there’s this thing call “injuries”.
I’ve coached football for a few years and when you see how hard and how violent all the hits are IN PERSON on the sidelines…….you’d probably change your tune.
People this ain’t a video game……this is real life with real bodies.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
I think all the injuries suffered this year puts players in “protect yourself” mode when the game gets out of hand. Defense went from aggressive and physical to very passive. It’s understandable imo and the Eagles were determined to keep playing hard, while our guys were trying to just finish unscathed. But it’s good that they acknowledge the late game let down and I’m sure they’ll bring it all four quarters in what should surely be a closer game next week. Go Bucs!
January 17th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Our champion team Buccaneers still seem to lack the killer instinct. The questions might be to what degree more we as fans would like to see it emerge. I am sure there are a few of us who would be happy to see Suh stomp a guy with his foot like he once did during his younger days in the league. Most of us won’t go quite that far.
We have become a class organization because of our emphasis on intangibles and character. Of course we made the expedient decision last year by bringing in “hired gun”, AB, last year. That would be seen as hypocritical by some. Where you choose to draw a line is an old question. I still want to think we have already have or will soon have supplanted the Cowboys as “America’s Team”.
Go Bucs
January 17th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Isn’t anyone bothered by us playing our starters into the 4th quarter……I checked and the offensive starters were all still in the game with less than 10 minutes to play. That is awful risky considering our injury situation.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
“Our standard is different around here this time of year”
LVD, huh????
That’s funny and awesome.
2 years ago, your “standard” was sitting at home watching other team’s play. Now you’re a perennial championship caliber defense. Definitely a culture shift.
January 17th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Stumbled over my words again! LOL 🥵
January 17th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
we don’t need a shutout, we need players not getting injured , perhaps not playing for the shutout is safer
January 17th, 2022 at 1:01 pm
One more comment and then I’ll shut up for a while.
Had we maintained our shut-out BA surely would have pulled TB and others in order to avoid any possibilities of more unwanted injuries.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:02 pm
LVD is very good and I’m glad he’s a Buc.
He’s not quite Derrick Brooks though.
How many times have we heard LVD say something like this?
Too many times I think.
Step and stay focused the FULL 60 minutes.
As a leader on the D, that’s on you LVD.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:07 pm
Joe, would you say that Lavonte was Dominick’s best draft selection??
I would argue that VJAX was his best “transaction”, but was his best draft pick?
January 17th, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Not even debatable.
January 17th, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Thanks Joe! I love both Dominick and Licht as people, but it stinks Dominick didn’t get another chance somewhere else. He was just soooo likeable. Unfortunately, that only means so much.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:01 pm
TheBucsAnthem Says:
January 17th, 2022 at 11:46 am
LVD = Derrick Brooks
I thought I’d ever compare a LB to “Mr Brooks”…….but he’s been “all-world” since being drafted.
I sure hope LVD retires as a Buc
———————————-
AMEN X 100! LVD isn’t as colorful off the field like DB (that’s not a negative). You can bet he’ll have his posse ready next Sunday. Always been one of my faves plus a class act.
January 17th, 2022 at 2:46 pm
Was glad David was out there, but he clearly wasn’t anywhere near 100%, looks noticeably slow, which is something you’d never say about him any other time.
Still, David at 60% is better than Minter at 100%, but lets hope maybe David can get to 70% by this weekend and keep going up from there.
January 17th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
@Anthem…Yeah, I understand injuries, coaches, and playing. Yeah, this isn’t a video game. Thanks for that critical point.
I’m simply pointing out problems we’ve seen for two years with the O and D when they get up big. I put most of this on coaching…when they get overly conservative on O, and ease up on D…as I said…almost blew it with BUF, and did blow it in NO…eased off with NE and PHI earlier. Can’t do that now.
January 17th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
@TBBF
My thoughts exactly! I was stunned that Wirfs went back in when he literally had trouble trotting back onto the field.
And I know TB NEVER wants to come out but I think Romo was spot on…TB12 should have hit the pines at the start of the 4th Q.
January 17th, 2022 at 10:35 pm
LOOK AT 49ERS AND SHANNON GANES ON HOW TO BEAT PA, 9NERS OWN LA, LFGO!!! DEFENSE JA GOING TL HAVE TO GIT THEM HARD IN THIER MOUTHS!! THIER D WILL! WE OWE LA PAYBACK!!! TAMPA BAY ALL THE WAY
January 17th, 2022 at 10:36 pm
Love it.
The exact mentality needed this time of year