Lavonte David In Energy Conservation Mode
May 8th, 2023
Lavonte David played damn near every Buccaneers snap last season, 1075 to be exact.
That’s no easy feat for a 32-year-old linebacker, which David was in 2022.
Speaking this week on The Players Company show, David revealed that he’s got a secret to his success. And yes, he used the word “secret” when describing what helps him stay fresh.
“My film study, my preparation, helps me not use all that energy on the field for one play,” David said. “Like when I know when there’s a play coming, I know what I need to do to get over there and not waste all my energy so I can be able to come back … and keep my stamina going throughout the whole game.”
Joe sure hopes David continues using his smarts to extend his playing career at a high level.
Joe is excited for David to break the 1,000 solo tackles mark this season. He’s got 949 and should have no problem entering that special club of dudes with 1,000 or more solo tackles. For those wondering, retired Panthers lineabker Luke Kuechly has 690 solo tackles.
Perhaps David can pull a London Fletcher, the Washington inside linebacker who made his first Pro Bowl at age 34. Fletcher proceeded to qualify for three more Pro Bowls before retiring after the 2013 season.
May 8th, 2023 at 9:26 am
He’s definitely got a spot in the “ring of honor”…salute to L.D.!
May 8th, 2023 at 9:35 am
David was a gem when compared to Luke Kuechly, who was really good, but his statistics fall short of Lavonta David.
May 8th, 2023 at 9:38 am
Sorry for the unrelated comment, but is there any info about a new radio play by play guy to replace Gene? I haven’t seen anything at all about it.
May 8th, 2023 at 9:49 am
Gene ?
Bring back Jesse Ventura !
May 8th, 2023 at 10:12 am
I’m puzzled as to why DW seems to be above him in the pecking order
May 8th, 2023 at 10:20 am
Keuchly was a special linebacker who’s instincts were off the charts. But he’s been deified beyond his stature I believe. Even when he was active, David was on pace and I basically at the same level. Panthers had a better defense during that time period and Luke’s play coupled with his Clark Kent looks didn’t hurt. David has been one of the more underrated players at his position during the entire time he has played.
May 8th, 2023 at 10:34 am
Hopefully this year we can rotate in SirVocea and maybe Bates in for both David and White on like 10% of snaps.
May 8th, 2023 at 10:49 am
It’s a travesty that LVD has only made all pro (‘13) one time & the probowl (‘15) once in his career. Borderline HOF player and immediate ring of honor guy. Much less deserving players have gotten in the hall of fame.
May 8th, 2023 at 11:18 am
Koechly was a fantastic player, just too many injuries. It would have been awesome if the Bucs drafted both and they played side by side. Mark Baron turned out to be a disappointment. But Luke & Lavonte together would have been a duo for the ages.
May 8th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
@stanglassman – 100%
But that’s what happens when the majority of your career is spent playing for a dumpster fire of an organization… Even if you’re one of the top-3 linebackers in the league…
May 8th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
So what he’s saying is that he takes plays off and doesn’t go 100% all the time – ie, he’s smart.
Now cue all the idiots who have called Devin White a bust and an awful player before takes plays off and doesn’t play 100% all the time…
May 8th, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Great pickup on the London Fletcher story. We old dudes love these kind of stories. If LVD retains his health no reason he cant continue to play at a high level.
May 8th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
Stanglassman – David was ALL-PRO in 2020 as well (along with White), and what, only made the Pro-Bowl as an alternative? Just shows what a worthless con the Pro-Bowl is.
Here’s when the pro-bowl went from being interesting to a complete joke – although it did take a while. Anytime you add fan voting, it just means what you’re doing is going to be dominated by stupid.
“The NFL Pro Bowl first added fan voting for the game in 1995. Prior to that, players and coaches selected the teams. However, fan voting has undergone several changes over the years, including the introduction of online voting in 1999 and the incorporation of social media voting in 2014.”
May 8th, 2023 at 12:59 pm
“So what he’s saying is that he takes plays off and doesn’t go 100% all the time”
I certainly did not pick that up anywhere. You were right when you talked about playing smart not simply playing hard.
Knowing where to be from tons of films study so as to not waste energy is not the same as taking plays off. See Donavan Smith an LT with talent whom I admired but have to confess he was at times inconsistent and “taking plays off”.
May 8th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
David is just proving how underrated & important the preparation aspect is for players. Nobody in the NFL just wakes up Sunday mornings and turns “it” on, it’s usually days of work in a dimly lit room studying your opponent, trying to pick up on team/individual tendencies that can give you the player/unit an edge when the action is live.
May 8th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
I’VE BEGUN TO LOSE RESPECT FOR THIS “ALL ABOUT ME PLAYER”..I SAY “START LAVOCEA DENNIS & TRADE DEVIN WHITE TO THE L.A.CHARGERS FOR AUSTIN ECKLER ! !..HE’S NOT A DEDICATED BUCCANEER IN MY OPINION & COULD CERTAINLY USE AN ALL-PURPOSE BACK OF AUSTIN’S EXPERIENCE & SKILLSET. !
May 8th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
BECAUSE OF THE 5 YR AGE DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO PLAYERS , THE BUC’S SHOULD ALSO GET A MID-LATE ROUND PICK TO GO ALONG WITH THE DEAL..
May 8th, 2023 at 1:57 pm
Lmao @Tommy
My engineer here at work is a season ticket holder of the Chargers and is complaining about Eckler the exact same way and reasons that you’re complaining about Devin (being a me 1st type of player) he says Austin should be loyal because he was undrafted and the Chargers took a chance on him. Hates when I bring up the fact that last year Austin was their offense due to their WRs always being hurt. As much as I’m a bit over White I believe he’s gonna play his a$$ off this year and take a contract with another team next year and that works out fine for us I’d think.
May 8th, 2023 at 2:01 pm
Beej Says:
May 8th, 2023 at 10:12 am
I’m puzzled as to why DW seems to be above him in the pecking order
Beej, to keep the bird analogy going… “The biggest mouth gets the worm.”
The only thing missing from David’s game is self promotion.
May 8th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Rod Munch Says:
May 8th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
So what he’s saying is that he takes plays off and doesn’t go 100% all the time –
I’m not quite clear how you interpret his statement as ‘taking plays off, not giving it 100%.’ Playing smart doesn’t mean he’s sand bagging plays, simply an economy of movement. Knowing where to run and when to run there vs say JTS running wide and wild 8 yds away from the play. David colors in the lines to produce a beautiful picture leaving crayons to spare. DW on coverage scribbles wildly and useless nubs remain.
May 8th, 2023 at 3:49 pm
.45 cent brain
Is holding NO cards
I don’t know if it’s his agent or the voices in his head
May 8th, 2023 at 3:59 pm
He should take it easy for Bowles coming Super Bowl win no doubt.
May 8th, 2023 at 4:04 pm
@Rod – I don’t think anyone, or at least most fans, are claiming White is a bust.
He simply hasn’t lived up to his demand to be the highest paid LB in the league. He still doesn’t know how to properly tackle, and is still a liability in pass coverage. Bull in a China shop.
That said, the pass game deficiencies could be mitigated somewhat by just having him blitz more often, which is what he’s is truly best at.
May 8th, 2023 at 8:21 pm
Unbelievable man I couldn’t agree more. DW best ability is to rush the passer. Man make him an edge rusher or move him all over the field to rush him n stop the run. He could easily get double digit sacks if that was his main focus.
May 8th, 2023 at 10:26 pm
That would be interesting to see DW as a edge rusher. Micah Parsons is moved all over the place and is a fantastic edge rusher.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:40 am
Saving energy?
Playing alot?
I’m sure LVD could provide a much better story than …Saving energy.