“I Wouldn’t Call It Stat Padding”
March 12th, 2024
Joe looks forward to JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman rolling up his sleeves in 6 or 7 years and finding the proper angles to begin the process of getting Lavonte David into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.
It seems David has thought about it, too.
David was a guest recently on Schein on Sports, a SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio production.
Friend of Joe host Adam Schein hit David with a question about making it to the Hall. Schein is adamant that David already has a Hall of Fame résumé and is interchangeable in the Hall of Fame conversation with eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner and seven-time Pro Bowl LB Luke Kuechly, who played just eight years for Carolina before retiring. All three are from the 2012 draft class.
David appreciated the comparison, didn’t argue the notion and David said he’s aware that not being named to multiple Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams will affect his eventual candidacy.
“I’m not naive to that fact,” David said.
However, David seems to know he has historic numbers. David is an all-time great when it comes to forced fumbles at the linebacker position. He’s the active leader in solo tackles, as well.
Tackles for loss? David ranks 9th in the modern era, and that includes all the ferocious pass rushers and sackmasters. David doesn’t play a position poised for elite tackles for loss numbers but has them anyway. This year, David likely will pass Hall of Fame edge rusher Demarcus Ware and future Hall of Famer Jared Allen in that category.
Wagner and Kuechly combined have half the tackles for loss on David’s résumé.
David briefly acknowledged to Schein that he is aware of how importance his stats will be.
“I wouldn’t really call it stat padding,” David said. “But I’m just out there, you know, playing my best putting my front foot forward every time I step out on the field.”
For the record, Schein didn’t put the phrase “stad padding” in David’s mouth with his line of questioning.
As Ira Kaufman Podcast listeners know, Sage Ira has warmed to the idea that David indeed will get into the Hall of Fame conversation, though he acknowledges it could take years after David is eligible five years following his retirement.
March 12th, 2024 at 7:10 pm
Impending HOFer! Go Bucs!!
March 12th, 2024 at 7:12 pm
It should t take years with his stats. His numbers in games and production blow away Luke in every area except meaningless pro bowl selections. And yes pro bowls are meaningless. Especially if you got in by 3 or 4 guys ahead of you staying home.
March 12th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
What worries me is the Bucs are staying the same and the Falcons are improving their roster.
March 12th, 2024 at 7:19 pm
LVD and ME13 both deserve to be in the HoF. Two stellar players and people on the team during so many lean years. I was so happy for both of them when they won the SB.
March 12th, 2024 at 7:21 pm
CRAP!!!!
Danielle Hunter to the TEXANS!!!
2 years $49 million!!!
UGHHHHHHHHHHH
March 12th, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Licht, we need a freaken PASS RUSHERRRRRR
HELLOOOOOOOOOOOO !!
March 12th, 2024 at 7:26 pm
2013 Luke Kuechly
156 TKLS, 2 SACKS, 10 TFL, 4 INTs, 7 PDs, 2 QB Hits, 0 FF, 0 SAFETY
vs
2013 Lavonte David
145 TKLS, 7 SACKS, 21 TFL, 5 INTs, 10 PDs, 13 QB Hits, 2 FF, 1 SAFETY
Luke – NFL Defensive MVP
David – Doesn’t even make the Pro-Bowl.
The disrespect for David is legendary.
March 12th, 2024 at 7:50 pm
@ Rod
I agree.
That is ridiculous.
I’m confident that LVD will end up with a yellow jacket and will be in our Ring of Honor.
Who was the Bucs best linebacker?
I would say D. Brooks or LVD.
Man – I remember one season when D. Brooks had more TDs than our offense had at that point and it was like 4-5 weeks into the season.
That was the year Brooks won DPOY.
Did you realize the year we won our first Super Bowl the Bucs defense only allowed 10 TD passes and had 31 interceptions and had 42 sacks…
That is insane.
March 12th, 2024 at 7:59 pm
@ 1988
We might sign a pass rusher but it will be another cheap one year deal from the bargain bin just like when we signed Shaq B.
How about Jadeveon Clowney for one year $2.5M plus incentives?
March 12th, 2024 at 8:03 pm
Super Bowl winning Vita vea, lavonte David, and Antoine Winfield jr—we have a superstar at all three levels of our defense—defensive line, linebacker, and secondary. Similar to our Super Bowl winning, hall of fame Warren sapp, Derrick brooks, and John lynch
March 12th, 2024 at 8:09 pm
Super hyped to keep our players but some guys at positions we need are being snatched up. Rusher first n foremost. Another DB wouldn’t hurt
March 12th, 2024 at 8:13 pm
Pro Bowl appearances need to be dropped from the HoF process. The Pro Bowl has been a joke for years now. Guys like David don’t get the credit they deserve and don’t get the press either.
March 12th, 2024 at 8:18 pm
I have no doubt LVD will post up similar numbers to last year and possibly another if he wants to and lets see how the stats line up. He is as consistent as the sunrise and his numbers speak for themselves. He crushes it and so happy he is a Buc!
March 12th, 2024 at 8:37 pm
I believe we are a weaker team now than before free agency began. Because of the loss of Carlton and Shaq. Their back ups aren’t better. We need to sign or draft a couple of starters or quality rotational players to make up for our losses. We were only a couple players away last year. Go Bucs
March 12th, 2024 at 8:38 pm
Sorry to go off subject here, but man this is something else. Saw ole Winston is going to Cleveland. Wonder why that franchise is such a joke and is always the laughing stock of the league???? Stuff like signing Winston is why. No one?? No one stood up and said maybe we shouldnt do this? Maybe signing another QB that has a past of not keeping his hands to himself and no one said let’s pass?!?! Unbelievable!!! Welcome to the Cleveland Predators!! Where we don’t care what you’ve done in the past and we’ll pay you stupid money for you. How do you stay a fan of them??? What a joke!
March 12th, 2024 at 8:49 pm
Why was that a no no Joe?
March 12th, 2024 at 8:51 pm
He’s a Schiano man !
March 12th, 2024 at 9:08 pm
He should be a Hall of Famer but he won’t be. Look how hard it was to get John Lynch in the Hall. Those reporters care about pro bows, all pros, and all decade teams. He doesn’t have enough.
March 12th, 2024 at 9:19 pm
@Rod – don’t even get me started on the Lavonte disrespect.
March 12th, 2024 at 9:40 pm
By the time all is said & done, LVD will be in the Hall of Fame. Personally I think he’ll play at least 2 more years for the Bucs before retiring; maybe 3 or 4, who knows?
Also tend to think that Pro Bowl has already lost its’ significance, and won’t be a critical factor in future HOF voting. Stats do count in the final analysis.
March 12th, 2024 at 10:00 pm
Levonte will be in the hall of fame because he’ll out live all others on the football field, and they’ll have to put him in be default! Don’t ya see?
March 12th, 2024 at 10:03 pm
Not that Bowles doesn’t already, but I hope they scheme plays more than ever to let Lavonte splash out there. Send him on the blitzes they would have previously sent White. Let him spy RBs and be super aggressive for those said TFL stats. I am confident he will get in at some point but the average fans lack of awareness surrounding Lavonte is sad. He is absolutely every bit he player Wagner and Kuechly were, is doing it better longer, etc etc. I love that they didn’t dick around long and gave him a raise. Obviously deserved and I hope Lavonte feels valued with it.
March 12th, 2024 at 10:05 pm
Sage,
This is your most important job whenever David decides to hang up the cleats, you must get this criminally underrated Buccaneers great into the Hall Of Fame. A couple more years of Lavonte manning the inside linebacker spot for us and it should be an easy one for ya.
March 12th, 2024 at 10:06 pm
I agree with defense rules; pro bowls are a joke. They played in Orlando for christs sake
March 12th, 2024 at 11:06 pm
Marine Buc, you may be right!!
Don’t want Clowney on a 1-year deal
Still have 3 decent ones out there but Licht would have to trade draft capital….
1) Haason Reddick
2) Josh Sweat
3) Khalil Mack
Licht, can you snag us one of them???
Oh, also resign Whitehead 🙂
March 12th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Career Stats
Luke Kuechly – 690 Solo tackles -1092 total – 75 TFLs – 12.5 Sacks – 31 QB Hits – 18 Ints – 66 Passes Defensed –7 Forced Fumbles- 9 Fumbles Recovered
Bobby Wagner – 996 Solo Tackles – 1706 total – 89 TFLs – 33 Sacks – 94 QB Hits – 13 Ints – 68 PDs – 6 Forced Fumbles – 10 Fumbles Recovered
Brian Urlacher HOF – 1046 Solo Tackles – 1361 total – 138 TFLs – 41.5 sacks – 63 QB Hits – 22 Ints – 90 PDs – 11 Forced Fumbles – 16 Fumbles Recovered
Lavonte David – 1035 Solo Tackles – 1480 total – 160 TFLs – 33.5 Sacks – 67 QB Hits – 12 Ints – 64 PDs – 28 Forced Fumbles – 18 Fumbles Recovered
March 12th, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Marine Buc – That 2002 Bucs defense had 31 INTs, returned 4 interceptions for TDs, and held opposing QBs to an insane 48.4 passer rating. In the playoffs, against all top 10 offenses, they gave up a net of 3 points – total (31 given up, 28 scored).
Brooks was a 1st ballot HOFer, and while David I think will eventually get in, it likely won’t be on the first ballot – but that is more about the morons in the national media than him.
March 12th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Rest easy. Over the years, the Bucs have had umpteen chances to sign Clowney. Something about Clowney clearly spooks them. Not sure the two parties have every talked about signing with the Bucs.
March 12th, 2024 at 11:31 pm
Pickgrin – Those TFL’s and fumble numbers are insane.
Kind of surprised he doesn’t have more INTs, but those generally come from when you’re facing the LOS, where as David has been tasked most of his career having to cover TEs and WRs, where your back is to the QB. David is certainly the best coverage LB on that list.
While I personally have a very strong dislike of the Jersey Trash Greg Schiano, I will give him credit for being the one coach who basically unleashed David and let him do everyone, and he had one of the all-time great seasons for a LB in NFL history. However, once Lovie got here, he made him more of a coverage LB, and because he’s so dang good at it, that’s where he’s spent most of his career, which have actually hurt his numbers.
March 12th, 2024 at 11:33 pm
Joe Says:
Rest easy. Over the years, the Bucs have had umpteen chances to sign Clowney. Something about Clowney clearly spooks them. Not sure the two parties have every talked about signing with the Bucs.
———–
But he made that one play in the Outback Bowl over a decade ago.
March 12th, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Clowney? Is his health good enough? I think anyone who signs him would be lucky to get 10-12 games from him based on his past injury history. We don’t need another Julio Jones signing (plays only 4 games in a season).
March 13th, 2024 at 2:05 am
We could have had Luke Who?
March 13th, 2024 at 4:10 am
Even though David doesn’t have pro blows, he does have Super Bowl. Which is good for at least 5 pro blows. Also in that Super Bowl (so far) he shut down a future HOF TE and QB. Remember the Bucs were underdogs in that Super Bowl.
March 13th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Lavonte David > Luke who?
Also I see in Joes post that he says future hall of famer Jared Allen, look I loved watching Allen play but he’s no gold jacket material.
March 13th, 2024 at 9:47 am
@Allbuccedup
Your worried that we re signed two future hall of famers, top 3 kicker at least,all pro safety and a quarterback? lol falcons are gonna be good don’t get me wrong but there the falcons they won’t accomplish much when it comes time to buckle up or shut up